Loads for 30-06

[squirrelduster]

I am planning on working up a load for my Brother who has an 30-06 with a 24" barrel 1:10 twist. We are planning on the 180 accubond. Any recommendations for a powder to try first?
Thanks

 

[2506]

One of the 4350's has been the standard powder for 06 180's.

 

[3sixbits]

The powder for the 30-06 is indeed 4350 and for a number of other ctgs also.

A second powder you might want to try is 760 WINCHESTER powder. I like the long shelf life of the ball powders.

 

[Preacher]

Unless your hunting really big critters a 165 may be a better option than a 180 grain in a 06.
H-4350 is real good as mentioned, and AA-2520 is also a good one to try with any bullet weight you choose.......

 

[hopefullbencher]

I use N160 in my loads for 168gr. sierra's. But I also use alot of IMR 4350.

 

[expiper]

30-06!!!!!!!!OK now ur talkin....there is prolly no better hunting round ever....I have had one since I was a kid, 8yrs now..hahah--dog yrs..)..as others mentioned 4350 is the best most used....but...i have had great luk with 4895 and bullets 155 and lighter...and Rx-19 and bullets 155 and UP....you will not ever go wrong with H-4350 Roger

 

[2506]

If you are going after deer size game I would not use 180 gr bullets in the 30-06. 165 gr bullets are about heavy as you should go for any deer size game. Now for Elk I would use the 180 gr. For bullets 150 to 165 gr IMR 4064 is a very good powder. My pet load for 150 gr bullets is 51.2 grs IMR 4064 for 2900 fps. For a real 150 pound class deer/pronghorn bullet try the 125 Nosler Ballistic Tip at 3000 fps. It shoots flat and it drops them in their tracks. I use it in my 308.

 

[sbisch]

Yep, H4350! RL-19 is also a good powder for the '06 with 165 to 180 gr bullets.

 

[rem_kujawa]

My favorite load is 4350 pushing a 180 grain bullet,the 165 fail safes were a good bullet.

 

[Heavies]

Has anyone tried RL-17 with 178 amax's? I've tried Rl-17 and 22 with 208's with some solid groups.

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

I'm working up loads with RL-17 with bullets from 165 SST's to 190 Bergers. Unfortunately its been too cold to go to the range to do my testing for groups and velocity. Rl-17 is close to 4350, so it should work, especially with heavy bullets in the 30/06. I'll make a report when I don't have to scrape the ice off of the shooting bench!

German Salazar and Robert Whitley have an article on 6mmBR.com about some limited initial testing of RL-17, which was showed velocity increases of around 150 to 200 fps over 4350. Do a search for the article.

 

[Heavies]

I don't have any 178 amax's right now but I do have 175 smk's. I going to the range this weekend and try them out rl17 and see if they are any good.

 

[Heavies]

Oh yeah. I read that artical on 6br. That was one of the reasons I am trying r17 in the 06. Only thing is r17 does not fill the case very well with those 208's. But still the accuracy is there. I need to chrono and see where the velocity is at, however, I need to find a spot to set the chrono up. The way my public range is set up there is not enough level area to position the chronograph.

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

Heavies-

Hopefully, you will share your results with us on the 175 SMK. I'll also be testing loads on the Berger 185 Match BT Long Range.

Thanks

 

[Heavies]

I didnot have any 178's but i did have a few 175 smks. here's what I got...

17 did not look so good... rl-22 was better. No pressure yet at that load so i think ill go higher. Gotta work on it

 

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

H4350 or IMR 4350 will do the job just fine. my standard load has been with IMR 4350 and a 180grn Nosler BT. drops em were they stand

 

[bohemR13]

Heavies: I shoot 59.5gr of RL22 under a 208 Amax from a 26" barrel and get 2885 from my 30-06. I've used 61gr of RL22 under a 178AMax with no pressure signs at all and they come out at 3000fps. I'm sure I could go higher, but I haven't explored that load too much.

I did have a very very nice hunting load that is 57.0gr of H4350 under a 178 Amax and it would shoot .45" for 5 shots. I started to see pressure at 59gr with that, but 57 shot Oh, so nicely at 2940 fps.

 

[Heavies]

Went out today and tried my previous loads of 51.5 of RL-17 with the 208 amax's and got repeatable results with groups. Also, I tried finding a higher node and upped the charge. I used up to 54.5 grains of RL-17, and I got a little flattening of the primer at that load. 54 grains got me a nice tiny group about 1/2" ctc, I think the temp sensitivity is an issue. On the cold bore shots the RL powders shoot very well, but when you shoot a while and throw one in a hot chamber it looks like pressure increases enough to throw your groups out of wack.(by like a few inches.) I think it would be a ok hunting load especially here in Hawaii, where it is usually between 80 and 90 degrees. Cold bore shots would be dead ringers. I guess I will be going back to the 4350's. That is always the most consistent powder for the 06, it seems. Too bad tho, cause those RL powders hit hard!