Want to begin reloading 30-06 - your advice please!

[sbranden]

So I've loaded 22hornet to 25-06 so far, but just recently (within the past year) picked up a NIB Howa 1500 in 30-06.

I *may* also get into reloading for a couple of buddies with -06's (Rem 700, Tikka). Mine will be for crop damage work that I occasionally get called in to do for the local farmers. The Rem 700 will be PA Whitetails gun all the way, and possibly an Elk somewhere down the road. The Tikka - Elk almost exclusively.

For the Howa, I was thinking 150 sbt but could be persuaded to go even lighter (125 Sierra ProHunters maybe?), to increase speed and flatten out my trajectory better for 200-300yd shots. More of an all-purpose load for varminting/deer.

For the Rem700, 165 hpbt's maybe?

For the Tikka (Elk in Washington State), what do you think - 165's still, or bump on up to something like the 180 sbt's?

I'd be interested in anyone sharing their experiences / bullet preference, as well as details about their loads for 30-06. Please try to include how far off the rifling you are, or just OAL guidance at least for whatever bullet type you are using.

My experience with premium bullets has been just OK to-date. Not sure we really need them, but if somebody feels I just shouldn't go out in the woods without a Barnes, or an Interlock, or a Partition style bullet of some sort - well, give me your reasoning. I've taken down plenty of whitetail with a 243 though, so at a time when the price and availability of these components is difficult at best, I may need some convincing. For the other guys maybe, for me though - I shoot a lot. So I want something extra accurate without going completely overboard for the occasional doe dropping mission. Thanks!

 

[bheadboy]

this is one of the easiest to load for, start with 4895 medium loads as recommened by tables and work up, it is funl

Bob

 

[Barlow]

I have a buddy who has killed around 30 bulls with a 30-06. He uses 165 gr Nosler pt at around 2850 mv iirc. Barlow

 

[2506]

For 125 gr bullets get you some Nosler ballistic tips and Varget powder and keep your impact velocity below 3000 fps and you will be amazed at how fast a deer hits the ground dead as a hammer. 53.1 grs Varget is really accurate and will do between 3000 and 3100 fps at muzzle.
For 150 gr bullets either the Nosler ballistic tip or Sierra Game king or Pro hunter spitzer and 51.2 grs IMR 4064. Will do around 2950 fps at muzzle and is super accurate and kills deer well. I have used both of these loads to kill a bunch of deer.

For Elk I would suggest 180 gr bullets. I have never hunted Elk but have friends that have and one of them has always used a 30-06 with 180 Nosler Partitions with 56 grs IMR 4350 and averages a little over 2800 fps at muzzle. He has killed a number of Elk with this combo.

 

[K22]

Great cartridge!

IMR 4350 with 165 grain bullets is a proven combo - accurate and deadly on game.

 

[Lapua40X]

When I want a lighter bullet I usually load my '06 with 165 grain Swift Scirocco II on top of 57.9 grains of IMR 4835. Moving up to heavier bullets I focus on 175 grain Berger VLDs in front of 44.5 grains of IMR 4835 or 175 grain Berger VLDs using 55 grains of IMR 4831.

 

[sbranden]

From earlier research, I had seen a bunch of folks using IMR-4064 with the 150's, and IMR-4350 then with the 165's. Hadn't really thought about trying Varget for this rifle, but I guess I could look at that. I know Varget is great in .308 for example.

Thanks and keep it coming! We have time. Deer season in PA doesn't come in until about Dec 1st I believe. Appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. I have no doubt we can do better rolling our own than the factory fodder tried so far.

 

[alf]

Easier to build one load to do it all....

I'd do either the 180 Accubond or the 180 TSX pushed by H-4350.

No problem getting 2800 out of a 22" barrel at sane pressures.

 

[22BRGUY]

If reloading is for a better or higher grade of accuracy, my suggestion would be to first of all carefully consider exactly which loading dies and reloading die setup (arbor press hand dies vs. standard press dies) you would like to go with. Over my many years of reloading I've discovered that I've wasted a lot of time and money on reloading dies and equipment that gave me less than acceptable accuracy and have also learned that if I had have known what I know now, I could have saved a lot of that time and money. Perhaps you already have some of the good reloading stuff such as a very good accurate scale, concentricity gauge, perhaps an arbor press in addition to a regular style press, bushing type dies, neck turning equipment etc etc. I'm sure several guys here that are excellent shooters can share what they use to build excellent and very accurate ammunition.
Best Wishes to you with your project.

 

[navyrad8r]

I think the 165 game king works well with good old imr 4831. not sure how well on the elk though? I think you are on the right track with a 180 class bullet for that quarry. if you do go light though, hard to beat those 125 nosler ballistic tips already mentioned!! if you need a little help with some brass let me know..Good Luck!
cheers,
doc

 

[bigedp51]

Your BIO tells me your from Maryland, I live and hunt in Pennsyltucky........

The average deer is shot at 40 yards or less in PA.

My 03-A3 Springfield 30-06 is my rain and foul weather rifle, it is loaded with 170 grain flat tip bullets at 2500 fps.

I had a .270 but I sold it after finding out Jack O'Conner never lived in Pennsyltucky...............

 

[sbranden]

don't disagree, and the woods can be so thick you need them to go down RIGHT NOW - like they were hit with a big 'ol hammer, otherwise you run the very risk of losing them.

 

[bigedp51]

don't disagree, and the woods can be so thick you need them to go down RIGHT NOW - like they were hit with a big 'ol hammer, otherwise you run the very risk of losing them.

And 80% of the time I'm hunting with a Winchester 30-30 Trapper Model with a 16 1/2 barrel for fast shooting in the thick stuff. After 09:00 the deer are hiding up high in the mountain laurel and you have to kick them in the back side to get them moving.

So pick a bullet and load that will put them down at any angle and not turn the meat into unusable hamburger. Did I say there is no substitute for bullet weight and a bullet doesn't have to be going 3000 fps when the deer is 20 yards away. :

 

[Ringostar]

I've been hunting with 30-06 for over 30 years. I love the cartridge, but sometimes it's more than you really need for whitetails. My load that has proven itself very well both on the range, and on the animals is 50.0 gn of H4895, 150 gn Sierra matchkings, and CCI primers. I've tried H4350, but I got better groups with H4895. This load is used in my Weatherby Mark V, and my sons Tikka. Shoots very well from both guns. We use it at home in Wisconsin, and for Muledeer in Wyoming. I'm planning on working a load with 165 gamekings for elk this year. I'm also building a new 260 rem for antelope. I'm getting excited to get to Wyoming this October, which is why I'm not at Roton right now shooting.

 

[Bulseyetom]

The 30-06 and 4895 powder remind me of McDonald's . They used to have on there sign over a million sold, then over 2 million sold. Now they just say billions sold. I would hate to imagine how many rounds of 30-06 have been loaded with 4895 over the life of the cartridge. Tom

 

[p-man]

You have picked the most versatile round to load and shoot for North America - there is so much out there for you to choose from but from experience I can tell you that the base powder to start with - and I promise you will continually return to - is IMR 4350. Don't know what the twist is on your rifle but most production 30-06 barrels are 1 in 10" so your rifle should digest anything from 150 - 200 grains with no problems - personally if I had to shoot one bullet weight in the 06, it would be the 165 grain. Plenty of load data out there, grab a Nosler or other bullet manufacturer's book and have at it.

 

[madderg]

I like a 30X284...almost exactly the same loading data better all around in every department except you can't buy em in the stores.

 

[sbranden]

Well, I had some dies and a first box of 150gr Sierra Spitzer Boattails arrive yesterday for mine, and my one buddy has a box of 165gr Hornady Interlocks now that we plan to try in his. If I do try the 125's, I'll probably give Nosler the nod over the 125gr Sierra ProHunters. I have to work on my trigger, and maybe my float a little also, before I can really get into this.

So are 165's definitely OK for Elk, or should we go 180 all the way? If 165, bonded - interlock - partition - a barnes, what should it ideally be? I just haven't been able to get Barnes to shoot in a 243 I load for. (85TSX or 80TTSX either one).

 

[sbranden]

Thinking of bringing in a Redding Competition Seater for this project as well. Mainly interested right now though in bullet selection, and how far off anyone is loading for their 30-06? Is everyone measuring to their specific chambers, or trying to seat long - and if long, what's any safety advice for a powerful cartridge like this? Should I stay .020 off at least maybe?

 

[sbranden]

Ordered the Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater today instead of the Redding thanks to a tip from BoydAllen. Thanks & any/all advice still very much welcome.

Seating depth rule of thumb for the 30-06, or any particular bullet types you may be using - would be most appreciated. I know for example in 243win, the Barnes bullets were recommended to be seated .050 off. In 22-250, a lot of folks have found that seating anywhere but at what the loading manuals suggest, can be counterproductive. I've heard in the more powerful cartridges you shouldn't try to get as close to the rifling as in other calibers, so just looking for some real world experience from the folks on this site to steer me right. I'm still expecting to measure all bullet types to the specific rifles that I will be reloading for, and in all cases we won't be exceeding max magazine length for any of them since these are all hunting guns. Best bullets w/seating depth (base to ogive, or OAL either one) recommendations still wanted though - thx!