I've been loading for many years now, but never for an '06. I just aquired a very nice one and intend to hunt W/T's with it. Will probably shoot a 165 bullet. Looking for some pet loads from some of you fellas that shoot one regularly for hunting. Accuracy is my main objective not necesarily velocity, but it wont hurt.Thanks in advance for the replys.
Pet 30-06 hunting loads
- Thread starter Deton8tor
- Start date
I hunt with Berger Hunting VLD bullets. They have very good ballistics and are a very accurate bullet. They also kill very good and quick, a friend just killed a 6X6 bull elk at 546yds one shot went 8yds after being hit. We are both shooting the 7mm Rem Mag but Bergers work very good in most rifles. I shoot 185gr VLD's in my 06' target rifle for 600yd matches. Youmay want to try the 168 VLD Hunting bullet with one of the 4350 powders (IMR or H versions) Accurate Powders also has a 4350 powder but I have not tried it. I would use the Fed 210 primer or the Wolf/Tula large rifle magnum Primers
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
My 30-06 deer load has been a 150gr Ballistic Tip; 60gr of IMR 4350 & a Federal match primer. This load averaged 3010 fps out of my Ruger M77 with a 22" barrel and was very accurate. I now use it in my Cooper Custom Classic, also very accurate but I have not run it over the chrono yet. That bullet shoots as accurate as most hunting rifles are capable of shooting and is a great killer. Some loading manuals now show that powder charge as being a grain over max, but it has been shown in many manuals over the years and should prove safe in any modern rifle. As always.... Start low and work up. I have also received very good accuracy using Varget and IMR 4064 powders.
Good hunting,
Gary
Good hunting,
Gary
quickkillaught6
Gold $$ Contributor
My savage 110 (30-06) like 150sst light mag ammo. I began reloading for said rifle. I load 150sst, 57.5 IMR 4350 3.25"aol. Shoots better than I can
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
mack daddy load for deer is 59.0g of IMR or H 4350 with a 150g Hornady Flat base...you simply will not believe how deadly this load is. The Hornady will NEVER explode on a shoulder, rib, or hip due to how the base of the bullet's core is locked into the jacket. Much more penetration on this bullet vs a same weight in a Nosler ballistic tip.
Playing with seating dept will greatly increase accuracy of this load.
If your deer are wearing bullet proof vests, then switch out to the 150g Accubond, but it does not drop deer like the hornady.
For hogs over 350 lbs, I shot a load of 56.0g of H4350, win primer with the 180g Hornady BTSP, glory...hogs looked like they had been chewed up by a chain saw.
Playing with seating dept will greatly increase accuracy of this load.
If your deer are wearing bullet proof vests, then switch out to the 150g Accubond, but it does not drop deer like the hornady.
For hogs over 350 lbs, I shot a load of 56.0g of H4350, win primer with the 180g Hornady BTSP, glory...hogs looked like they had been chewed up by a chain saw.
56.0 grains of imr4350 and a 168 berger hunting hybrid brought my hand me down Remington 742 semi auto jam master back to life. Shoots .5-.75" groups regularly.
Larryh128
Silver $$ Contributor
I've played with several over the years but my hands down 06 deer load is 57grs of Varget with a Barnes 130 TSX in front. CCI200 primer & it hits 3400fps out of a 23-24" barrel. Lightning in a bottle. Flat , fast & deadly. Hit anywhere in the chest/shoulder area, they don't move. Complete pentration with BIG exit holes. It will shoot south to north on a deer. My bud killed 2 this weekend with the load. Snuffed. Just dumps them which is important especially on swamp edges which both of his were.
59 grs H4350, Wolf LRM, Berger 168 HVLD jammed .010", @ 2825fps. Silly accurate out of my 700BDL that visited GAP for their accuracy job. Still has the stock barrel but was rechambered with their reamer.
This is a stout load, but no loose primer pockets and kills WT's very quickly.
FWIW, IMR4350 works almost as well as far as accuracy is concerned and pushes the VLD's faster, but I don't need the extra velocity and the rifle recoils enough as it is. Use mostly 6.5 Creedmoor's now.....
This is a stout load, but no loose primer pockets and kills WT's very quickly.
FWIW, IMR4350 works almost as well as far as accuracy is concerned and pushes the VLD's faster, but I don't need the extra velocity and the rifle recoils enough as it is. Use mostly 6.5 Creedmoor's now.....
IMR 4350 most excellent in 30-06
57.0 with 165gr Sierra BT
55.0 with 180 Nosler part
Fed 210 primer in FC brass duplicates Fed Prem loads
Love the 30-06 since boyhood
In my youth i hunted Maryland with a Savage 110 in 30-06.
Go to has been 165gr Ballistic Tip over IMR 4831.
Out to 200 yards, bang flop.
I literally never had a deer move from where i shot it.
I should note though, that i'm a broad side hunter and shoot for the heart.
I did have a button buck (i thought it was a doe at the time) standing slightly quartered away at 125 yards. At the shot, i saw the deers belly as it was picked up & flung several yards.
Good heart shot behind the front leg on the onside.
Punched a hole through the opposite shoulder you could put your fist in.
Moral of the story. Don't shoot the shoulders!
Go to has been 165gr Ballistic Tip over IMR 4831.
Out to 200 yards, bang flop.
I literally never had a deer move from where i shot it.
I should note though, that i'm a broad side hunter and shoot for the heart.
I did have a button buck (i thought it was a doe at the time) standing slightly quartered away at 125 yards. At the shot, i saw the deers belly as it was picked up & flung several yards.
Good heart shot behind the front leg on the onside.
Punched a hole through the opposite shoulder you could put your fist in.
Moral of the story. Don't shoot the shoulders!
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For the hunter that's wants to shoot or hunt with a lighter bullet with extreme accuracy and massive internal organ damage dont' over look the speer 130 grain hollow point. 3006 with 54.0 to 55 grains of IMR 4064 behind the speer 130 grain hollow point and a 210M primer will not be disappointed. if you require a exit wound your more than 90% sure your not going to have one. this bullet states it's a varminter bullet in design however for medium size game like white tail deer it is devastating. I have taken many deer with this bullet over a long time.
Great Buck!!! I would be smiling too. Congratulations
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