Light Loads for a 30-06

[Evan]

Muzzle brakes are cheap on e bay and enable you to take the guess work out of powder charges along with the recoil pain. Clamp on brakes are available too.

I appreciate the suggestion but I find brakes intolerable to shoot next to. I won't subject those around me to something I wouldn't want to shoot next to. A 20" barreled 30-06 has enough bark as it is.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

5744 powder will work .

 

[ebb]

look up light loads with H4895. I loaded some for a neighbor who is getting older for his 308win 60% of max I think is as low as you can go. Please check this out for yourself.

 

[krummarine]

I used H4895 and 120gr Nosler BTs to make some light loads for a friend's 300 Win Mag. They shot under an inch at 100 and kicked less than a 308. He killed a Minnesota north woods deer with it that fall.

 

[mikeinct]

I download lots of cartridges each year for the Ladies & kids..Truth be told, I just like to play w/ my hunting weight rifles. Each Year I load Unique powder for most of those cartridges. I use IMR 4198 but it requires a lot more fussing. Example, I see vertical stringing at only 50 yds in some bullet weights. I've had good results with 65 to 66% loads of IMR4895 or the H brand in the 30 calibers . I use that powder in my 375 H&H for reduced loads as well. Last summer I put together a 75% loading of IMR 4064 & 125 grain bullet for a 308 Lt Wt sporter..Most excellent results to 200 yards. You can get there, ask questions, use good judgement. Having fun shooting is the most important thing. Mike in Ct

 

[mikeinct]

Link For You... http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/30-06-project-rifle-w-lite-loads.3994904/

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Nozler don't make 120 grain 30 caliber bullet's.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

His prob talking about 125gr BT, in a 30.06 they are amazing, even going full speed they are a hammer on med size game

 

[KY_Windage]

I shoot a lot of 150 gr hard-cast with 4227 and find it to be as clean and accurate as anything.

 

[dolek]

I shoot a lot of 150 gr hard-cast with 4227 and find it to be as clean and accurate as anything.

Do you have a favorite 150 grain bullet ? All my reduced loads are with jacketed bullets ,have been thinking of trying cast .

 

[rockhound78]

NOE makes a few 30 cal molds that might be what you want,a 311-158 fn, and a 311-137 rnfp, both with gas checks. If you don't plan on going over 1600fps or so, the 158gr in a plain base should work. If you don't cast, you can buy powder coated bullets and run them up to about 2000fps or so if desired

 

[dolek]

NOE makes a few 30 cal molds that might be what you want,a 311-158 fn, and a 311-137 rnfp, both with gas checks. If you don't plan on going over 1600fps or so, the 158gr in a plain base should work. If you don't cast, you can buy powder coated bullets and run them up to about 2000fps or so if desired

Thanks for the info . I do not cast so sounds like powder coated is the way to go . I saw those while researching but did not dig into them to learn yet.

 

[KY_Windage]

Do you have a favorite 150 grain bullet ? All my reduced loads are with jacketed bullets ,have been thinking of trying cast .

I shoot everything from 115 gr to 200 gr. They all work great. Just depends on how much lead you want to sling downrange. There are several mfgrs selling cast, gas-checked bullets, like Oregon Trail.

 

[mikeinct]

Try these before you buy a mold, go one or two thou over bore diameter. These are just a bit hard for my hunting needs but shoot very well. https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/308-lyman-311041-173gr-fn-gc/ mikeinct

 

[dolek]

I shoot everything from 115 gr to 200 gr. They all work great. Just depends on how much lead you want to sling downrange. There are several mfgrs selling cast, gas-checked bullets, like Oregon Trail.

Thanks for the info.

 

[dolek]

Try these before you buy a mold, go one or two thou over bore diameter. These are just a bit hard for my hunting needs but shoot very well. https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/308-lyman-311041-173gr-fn-gc/ mikeinct

Great link, that site is impressive .

 

[cinch29433]

3031 is accurate and smells the best...

 

[biggun2869]

Can't remember the writer but maybe 20 yrs ago in American Rifleman called make any gun go boom MAGGB 10 grn 2400. From hornet on up it really does work. At least it has for me.

 

[Newtire]

Hi all. I've got a handful of boxes of 155 SMKs from a while back and was thinking about loading them up in my Grandpa's 30-06 (Mauser 98, 20" sporter barrel) to target shoot with and wanted to load them way down; something really nice and pleasant to shoot from a bench in a light hunting rifle. I've done some research and identified the following loads to try:

30gns of 4227
23gns of 4198
35gns of 3031

Do you guys have any thoughts about what will work the best (cleanest burning, most accurate, least muzzle blast)?

Another set of loads is from 33 to 38 gr. of RX-7 (Alliant Reloder #7).

 

[wboggs]

What daleboy said !

I've done the h4895 sixty% rule reduced loads and they're perfect.

It works on any cartridge that has data with h4895. I doubt there is a better option unless you're going for subsonic.

I have used the H4895 reduced load data in .308, 30-06, 300wm with nosler 125BT. Excellent accuracy up to .0.5 moa and grealy reduced recoil. Currently you may have trouble locating the 4895.