branden,,,your rifle will tell you what it likes....you will get lots of "guesses" from some very experienced shooters,,,and the best will say,,,"you gotta try it"////.....my keyboard advice is,,,use max loads of H-4350 --a bushing that actually gives .003 of squeeze (you goota measure it,,)and try jumping em .020-.040"....Roger
Want to begin reloading 30-06 - your advice please!
- Thread starter sbranden
- Start date
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
Don't know about loadin for woods walkin type hunting, as out here most shots are 150 yards and up with 300 being normal. My dad took an antelope last week at just over 300 yrds with 180 nosler ballistic tips going about 3000fps. I shoot old school H450 with 150gr psp down a 95 year old barrel and can hit a frying pan at 300 yards.
So, hopefully you find a load to work for your hunting arena! .020-.040 off the lands off a no turn chamber is fairly normal, starting somewhere in there is where I would.
-Xander
So, hopefully you find a load to work for your hunting arena! .020-.040 off the lands off a no turn chamber is fairly normal, starting somewhere in there is where I would.
-Xander
Thanks guys. Lots of votes for 4895. It seems like 4064 is pretty popular too with the 150's (around 52 grains). And IMR-4350 with the 165's then, around 57 grains. And about 55 maybe of IMR-4350 with a 180 class bullet.
The info about starting .020-.040 off is helpful, thanks. I don't want to get too close with what are hunting loads and in a gun this powerful. Just don't need any spikes due to bullet length inconsistencies or whatever.
So Sciorocco / Accubond (bonded core bullets), or SST (Interlock), or Interbond, or something really premium for an Elk application like the Swift A-Frame - this becomes my next question. I think for my needs, that 165 Accubond and even some cheaper 165 hpbt's, along with my 150 sbt Gamekinds from Sierra - should serve me just fine. But if anyone has a favorite bullet for guaranteed, consistent mushroom on really big deer or even elk, call it out.
The info about starting .020-.040 off is helpful, thanks. I don't want to get too close with what are hunting loads and in a gun this powerful. Just don't need any spikes due to bullet length inconsistencies or whatever.
So Sciorocco / Accubond (bonded core bullets), or SST (Interlock), or Interbond, or something really premium for an Elk application like the Swift A-Frame - this becomes my next question. I think for my needs, that 165 Accubond and even some cheaper 165 hpbt's, along with my 150 sbt Gamekinds from Sierra - should serve me just fine. But if anyone has a favorite bullet for guaranteed, consistent mushroom on really big deer or even elk, call it out.
So I sorted my Sierra 150 SBT's last night, just base to tip. 1.088 to 1.100, with a lot in the 1.092 & .094/.095/.096 range. Is it normal to have this much spread though?
I know these old SP tips create a lot of variation sometimes and I do still plan to sort base to ogive within these length groups.
Still looking for a 180 class recommendation also. I really like the Accubonds from what feedback I've seen so far. SST's didn't have real positive feedback when I was researching 95's in my 243 a while back, but in 30cal they seem to be doing better for folks.
I know these old SP tips create a lot of variation sometimes and I do still plan to sort base to ogive within these length groups.
Still looking for a 180 class recommendation also. I really like the Accubonds from what feedback I've seen so far. SST's didn't have real positive feedback when I was researching 95's in my 243 a while back, but in 30cal they seem to be doing better for folks.
The 30-06 responds very well to the heavier 180gr pills as compared to the 308 I'd knock the powder down a notch or two in burn rate, the '06 seems to like a slower powder.
M118 bullets (173gr) and lighter really respond well to IMR 4895, but I've found that the heavier pills like a 4350, or slower in my 24" barrel, this is where the ballistics of the 30-06 improve (slightly) over the 308.
Varget works nice for an all-around, as does BL(c)-2, but powders near that burn rate can be hard to find.
-Mac
M118 bullets (173gr) and lighter really respond well to IMR 4895, but I've found that the heavier pills like a 4350, or slower in my 24" barrel, this is where the ballistics of the 30-06 improve (slightly) over the 308.
Varget works nice for an all-around, as does BL(c)-2, but powders near that burn rate can be hard to find.
-Mac
good info, and a few good articles there on the 30-06 and reloading in general, thanks guys.
I think my one buddy may have decided on Hornady 180 SST's for his Elk load, so I guess I'll try imr-4350 there. that or maybe even reloder 19. I have both of these, but unfortunately I don't have any imr-4895 (or H4895), or H4831, or 4831sc, or Reloder 22 which I've also seen some folks loading the heavier bullets with.
I think my one buddy may have decided on Hornady 180 SST's for his Elk load, so I guess I'll try imr-4350 there. that or maybe even reloder 19. I have both of these, but unfortunately I don't have any imr-4895 (or H4895), or H4831, or 4831sc, or Reloder 22 which I've also seen some folks loading the heavier bullets with.
Well, been slow going.
Had great results with Hornady 165 flat base SP Interlocks with IMR-4064.
Haven't found anything of interest yet with the 180 Nosler Partitions.
59.0 of H4831sc was about 1 1/4" @ 100, but fell apart then badly at 60.0.
RL22 also looked like it "could" come together for us at 59.0, with seating depth adjustment. We should probably shoot 60-61 yet with this powder. But I think I will try IMR-4350 next time out, in the 55-56 range.
As for my Howa, I got the trigger smoothed out really really well. Had to tear it down a couple of times, but it was shooting factory Winchester 150 Ballistic Silver Tips wonderfully last time out. I have some 150 NBT's on their way now that I will try to load up at some point. Also picked up a box of 165 HPBT's.
.005 off? .015 off? .030 or .040 off? more??
I'm thinking after this next set with the 180's, we'll just pick one and then do a full series of seating depth adjustment tests with that one consistent charge. But the rifle trying to shoot these 180 Partitions is the one that is frustrating me the most at this point, by far! Trigger is great. Gun has a good reputation. I'm sorting the bullets by length. I sort all my brass by lengths also before loading groups. I am neck sizing only, using a comparator against the measurements we got from his specific chamber for this specific bullet. It's Lapua brass for crying out loud, and Fed210GM primers. Each charge is very carefully measured, one at a time. Anyway, hopefully I will catch a break with this particular load and it will come together for us with IMR-4350 next time out.
Had great results with Hornady 165 flat base SP Interlocks with IMR-4064.
Haven't found anything of interest yet with the 180 Nosler Partitions.
59.0 of H4831sc was about 1 1/4" @ 100, but fell apart then badly at 60.0.
RL22 also looked like it "could" come together for us at 59.0, with seating depth adjustment. We should probably shoot 60-61 yet with this powder. But I think I will try IMR-4350 next time out, in the 55-56 range.
As for my Howa, I got the trigger smoothed out really really well. Had to tear it down a couple of times, but it was shooting factory Winchester 150 Ballistic Silver Tips wonderfully last time out. I have some 150 NBT's on their way now that I will try to load up at some point. Also picked up a box of 165 HPBT's.
.005 off? .015 off? .030 or .040 off? more??
I'm thinking after this next set with the 180's, we'll just pick one and then do a full series of seating depth adjustment tests with that one consistent charge. But the rifle trying to shoot these 180 Partitions is the one that is frustrating me the most at this point, by far! Trigger is great. Gun has a good reputation. I'm sorting the bullets by length. I sort all my brass by lengths also before loading groups. I am neck sizing only, using a comparator against the measurements we got from his specific chamber for this specific bullet. It's Lapua brass for crying out loud, and Fed210GM primers. Each charge is very carefully measured, one at a time. Anyway, hopefully I will catch a break with this particular load and it will come together for us with IMR-4350 next time out.
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