I have been reloading shotgun and pistol cartriges for about a decade but I am new to rifle reloading. I would like to start loading for my 30.06 and am wondering about a powder to use.

I have been using commercial reloads that use a Hornady Interlock Spire Point at 150gr. and it works well in my gun. The load is very accurate and I would like to emulate it. The only thing that I know about the powder is that it throws a lot of muzzle flash. When I shoot the rifle indoors I completely loose the target in a sheet of white flame. I would guess from this that the powder is a slow burning powder but could be wrong.

Does anyone have any ideas on a powder to use or suggestions on choosing a powder for this load?

On another note, do all 150gr. jacketed bullets for this calibre load the same or do I have to find a load that lists the Horandy bullet? I know that in shotgun loading, component swapping is not a good idea.

Chuck Graber

Chuck,

First of all, welcome to the wonderful world of reloading. I have been reloading for many, many years and it brings me a great deal of enjoyment. I use H4350 and Reloader 19 in my .30-06. They are fantastic powders for that caliber, especially with bullets of 150 grains and heavier. I have settled on the Sierra 165 gr. BTSP bullet for my gun. It is very accurate,holds together well and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. In my opinion the 165gr. bullet is the perfect weight for this caliber. Some people think the 180 gr. is better, but not in my opinion. I think IMR4064 works pretty well for lighter bullets as well. When loading for another manufacturers bullet of the same weight, I typically reduce the charges a little at first and work back up to an ideal load. Good Shooting!

[ 10-25-2002, 22:05: Message edited by: Shark Bait ]

Chuck -

Shark's suggestions are good. There are SO many usable powders in the 30-06 that you'll probably wear out a few barrels trying them all.

I've had good luck with Accurate's 4064 with 150's, but, my 30-06's like 165's better, so I use the "universal" 30-06 load of 57.5 of one of the 4350's and any decent 165 grain bullet.

If you start somewhere around the minimum load listed in whatever manual, you should be good to go with any 150 grain bullet.

Check out Steve's data http://stevespages.com/308_8_150.html

R-WEST

[ 10-26-2002, 00:03: Message edited by: R-WEST ]

I'm not the best expert on this site, but I can give a couple of pointers. The first is to start with the load data from either the powder manufacturere and bullet manufacturer that match most closely the components you are using. I really like the $6.00 load books you can get from Midway or a reloading store, they have nearly all the data published for a given caliber, though it's usually at least one edition behind the most recent published data.

If you're using starting loads (10%) below max, component changes are ok as long as you're only switching primers, cases or bullets of the same or lesser weight.

For the 30-06 most of the medium to slow burning powders will work well. I've worked with IMR 4895, 4350 and H414, H4895 for 150 g bullets. The 4895 powders won't give full velocity, but make nice mid speed target loads. H414 and IMR4350 are great for full power loads with 150g bullets. RE19 and 22 are good -06 powders too, but I've not tried them.

I think that most factory ammo for 150g bullets is loaded with a powder similar to IMR4350 or H414 (WW760). I got pretty good results with the 150g Hornady BTSP bullets and IMR4350. It's the first powder I tried and it works pretty well. I will try H414 next and based on results with other 150 g bullets in my gun I expect it to work better.

I did a survey here a while back about favorite powders for .30-06. To the best of my recollection the results were:

IMR4350
H4350
XMR4350
H414
IMR4831
Re 19
Re 22 **
H4831 **

** work best with 165g and up bullets

Everyone uses different powders and can shoot good groups at some point or another. First of I would take a cartridge that you have had luck with and pull the bullet and take the powder to some shooter that you know and see if you can identify the powder, weight is out and start from there. Good Luck

reload -

quote:

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see if you can identify the powder

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I don't know about trying to identify a powder visually. A lot of the factory loads use powder that's not available to us.

R-WEST

I suggest following R West's advice. Load some decent 165 grain bullets ahead of 57.5 grains of H4350, or IMR 4350 (I recently tested both powders in this application, and found that the IMR was more accurate).

But either will do nicely. If your 30-06 bolt action rifle won't shoot this load MOA or better, you need to have the bedding and bolt lug engagement checked. Period ...

Take care

Dan Newberry
green 788

And by the way...

What sort of establishment is it where this indoor shooting of a 30-06 is taking place?

Just wondering...

Dan

Hey green 788 -

Remember a little while ago we were conversing about the 57.5 4350/165 load, and you mentioned I should load up a batch using 57.5 of each of the 4350's with 165's and check velocities (or, did you get a Chrony yet )? Well, weather permitting (right now, it's 40 degrees and cold rain is coming down sideways), this weekend will see the great undertaking. I have two 30-06's in which to try each of the loads, and, hopefully will have some results to post by Sunday or Monday.

R-WEST

Thanks Guys,
Sounds like IMR4350 and H4350 are a good place to start, as far as powder goes. I have a good manual and a couple of contacts locally to ask about any problems so I don't forsee any problems.

Green 788,
Locally there is an indoor 100 yard rifle range built inside a long concrete bunker with a bullet trap at the end. The range charges $7 per hour for use of the range. It's a nice setup for sighting in the rifle without worrying about wind or weather.

Chuck Graber

The IMR powders were developed by Dupont as "improved military rifle" powders for the 30/06 for the most part. Thus most of these powders from imr 3031, 4064, 4895, 4320 and 4350 will give excellent performance with the 150 gr bullet in that cartridge. If I were only loading the 150 gr or lighter I would use imr 4064. If I might want one powder for the 150 and heavier bullets then it's 4350. Don't be tempted to buy cheap powder. Stick to IMR or Hodgdon.

The powder used in factory ammo is not available to the handloader. Many powders are available to the handloader that will give very good results in the 30-06 case. Every rifle is different and will like a certain powder with a particular bullet weight. My 30-06 likes 56 grains H-414 Winchester brass and Federal primers with the 150 grain bullet. Only through testing will you find that load your rifle likes best. Several more powders may work for you and most reloading books list most accurate powder tested to help you. Here are a few of the most compatable powders you try first in your 30-06 using the 150 grain bullet. IMR-4064, IMR-4350, REL-19.
I use the ladder test method to find my accuracy loads because it takes less time and uses less reloading supplies. In most cases you can find your rifles sweet spot with a given powder and bullet combination in less than twenty rounds using the ladder test method.

I use IMR4350 in mine. You`ll find it`s hard to beat either 4064 or 4350 in the `06 with 165gr and under wgt bullets.

If you want to use 150gr bullets, it's hard to beat 4064, 165's also work well with 4064, for 165's and 180's H-414 is a good choice.