What are considered ideal powders for the .30-06? What powders are designed specifically for the .30-06? Which consistently produce the best groups in a variety of rifles?

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What are considered ideal powders for the .30-06?

Who knows but I get excellent results with Varget and 165 to 168 gr. bullets.

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What powders are designed specifically for the .30-06?

Probably some old military stuff. Why would you care? The powders now are probably better than those specifically designed for it.

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Which consistently produce the best groups in a variety of rifles?

I guess one would have to have several 30/06 rifles to know this. I guess I can't answer that question except to say I've found Varget to give very accurate loads in a number of different cartridges including my 30/06.

Red Since there is such a wide variety of bullets weights that can be loaded in a 30-06 there is no one powder that is best.There are a wide variety of actions availible as well.Pumps,autoloaders and levers may not handle as much pressure as most bolt actions will. For some lighter bullets in the 110 to 130 range powders like 3031, 4895 &4064 are good choices. 150,165 and 180 bullets may be better with slower burning powders like 4064,4320,H414,and 4350. heavier bullets yet like the 180,190 200 and 220 are likely better with 4350,4831,RL19 and RL22. This only covers a few powders from Hodgdon,IMR andthe Reloader
series. There are several other powder suppliers that have other powders in the same burning speeds as some I've mentioned. What bullet weights are you planning to load for ? A bullet/powder combination that shoots good in one rifle may not be very good in another. Some rifles are fussy that way. You may have to try several before you find that sweet spot in your rifle. Thats part of makes handloading fun.

You might as well ask "What is the Meaning of Life?"

Bulleye is too fast. Surplus WC 872 is too slow. There are about a hundred powders somewhere in between those two that are "ideal" for certain bullet weights and velocity parameters.

I shoot nothing lighter than 150 grain bullets and nothing heavier than 180 grain bullets in my .30-06's. IMR 4350 works very well with either of these weights (and those weights in between). It is not "ideal" since it meters through a powder measure like concrete bricks, but from a ballistic point of view, it is close. Powders up to 15% faster and 5% slower generally do well in an '06. If you like the burning characteristics of the IMR series, then the relatively new, fine grained IMR-4007 should do well, particularly with the 150-165 bullets. Maybe it is the "ideal" '06 powder.

Red,

I have found that IMR or H 4895 works very well for all bullet weights up to 165 gr...

Heavier slugs (180, 200 grs), seem to like IMR 4350, H4831SC or RL19...

You should not have any problem finding a powder/bullet combo that will work in the 06...

Good luck.

IMR 4350 is often called a miracle powder and with good reason ...it flat works in .30-06.
That said, I wouldn't feed such loads to a M1 Garand.

H4831SC

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Originally posted by buckshot:
IMR 4350 is often called a miracle powder and with good reason ...it flat works in .30-06.
That said, I wouldn't feed such loads to a M1 Garand.

Ditto that. You need a certain pressure curve to cycle the Garand properly. A lot of modern loads and slower powders that are choice for bolt guns can stress the Garand.

I think IMR 4895 or its surplus equivalent is about ideal for the Garand with 150-165 gr bullets.

I've always been happy with IMR4350 for full power loads with 180-250 grain bullets. WW760 is convenient for metered loads but I've yet to find a sweet spot. I've also played with IMR3031, IMR4198, and RL7 for "30/30'06" loads starting 125-150 grain bullets in the 2200-2500 fps range.

With the 150gr. bullets, I had good luck with H-414. Haven't used it with 165gr, or 180gr, IMR 4350 works fine there.

6.5 SWEDE.

my vote goes for H414. best grouping and velocity out of my 7400 carbine

With 150 and 165 grain bullets I've had the best success using W-760. My favorite "heavy bullet" load is the Hornady 190 BTSP and RL-22 (almost 2800 fps in a 24" barrel).

I use Vhit N160. Extremely accurate and clean.

For me it has been H-414 with 150's H-4350 with 165's and 180's I also like H-4831 with 180's 200's and the Hornady 220 RN.

The old 06 is pretty easy to find a good load for with out too much fuss.

H-4350 and RL-22

H 4831 or varget here.

Another vote for N 160.

4064 for 150s -165s.. 4350 for 180s and up

I should have mentioned what bullet weights I'm going to be shooting. They are: 165 grain and 180 grain. Thanks so much for all the help.

I found great results with IMR 4064, shoots 180g Hornady interlocks @ 2600 fps into a group of .750 give or take a little @ 100 yds out of any of my 3 30.06's, all 24 inch tubes.