As above really chaps.

The more I use a 30.06 the more I love the cartridge, I've settled on 150 grain conventional softs doing 2850 fps using H4895.

I am tempted to switch to a slightly heavier bullet, say between 165 and 180 grains and declare load development over.

This would then free up mental capacity to be used in obtaining and tweaking another rifle!

I would therefore appreciate if you would take a moment to vote on this vox pop of sorts with perhaps a sentence or two on the whys and wherefores of your favourite load, bullet brand, powder brand, stiffness of load, that sort of thing.


With thanks,

GH

Question:
For odd grain weights, eg 154gr, 175, 190 etc Please round off to the nearest choice presented

Choices:
150 grain conventional
150 grain premium
165 grain conventional
165 grain premium
180 grain conventional
180 grain premium
200+ grain conventional
200+ grain premium
>150 grain conventional
>150 grain premium

 

I shoot 2 loads
150g/ 57.5g Imr 4350/Fed 210
180g/ 58g Imr 4831/Fed 210
If I want to play, then I load cheap CC bullets.
For bigger stuff, load a partition. These 2 loads shoot to the same poi in my 06.

Going on four decades now I've played with loading my 06s with 100-250 grain bullets (and even some buckshot pellet gallery loads). A case can be made that 165-168 grains is the best weight for the '06 but life's too short for me to to prove it to myself.

I've taken much of my game with 150, 180, and 220 grain factory ammo. These days the Federal Promium 180 grain Nosler Partition is so good in my two '06s I scarcely handload hunting ammo for the cartridge anymore.

Lately I've puttered around a bit trying to recreate a suitably accurate version of Ken Waters' "30/30'06" load, a 150 grain roundnose soft @ ~2400 fps, for off-season trigger time and close range venison harvesting.

Thank you chaps, I realise that to some this is a deeply tedious topic, most game animals not being bullet-proof, but to a relative novice like myself raw data can be very illuminating.

I ask that you humour me please and keep the loads coming!

Regards,

GH

My fav for blacktail is 150gr TSX over 51.0gr of IMR4320. Runs about 2750fps. Works for hogs also.

I got distracted and mis-cast my vote. I was thinking that the most popular would likely be the 180 gr. premium bullets...and then got called away for something else. When I got back to the computer, I reflexively voted for that bullet and weight.

It is NOT, however MY choice for the '06. I use the '06 only for Canadian moose. My favourite .30 bullet for moose is the 200 gr. Nosler Partition ...preferably the older version with the turned external belt at the partition, and a generously round nose.

It will penetrate the full length of a moose at about 2,350 fps striking velocity, which is just the ticket for my use in the dense bush where I hunt them.

Also develops very moderate chamber pressures when loaded thus, which I think is a plus so long as it still does its job....which it does.

I voted for the c&c 180 grain bullet. It is probably the best multipurpose bullet weight for any 30-06 offering flat trajectories and plenty of thump downrange. If one needs more, switch to a premium 180 and be happy.

That said, my favorite bullet for a scoped bolt action is the 165 grain Ballistic Tip. More specifically: 165 grain Nosler #39584, 57.5 grains IMR 4350, FC case, F215, COL 3.3". It's hands down the best deer and Antelope bullet offering speed and power, it offers more than any 150 grain bullet can without noticeably increasing recoil, and it doesn't make humongous holes like some 150s can. For the man with more than one rifle, it's a great choice.

You will find out the 30-06 is a handloader's dream come true. Operating at modest pressures, it will produce results that the old 30-40 and 303 strain to obtain, and when its potential is unleashed, it offers everything the magnum 30s do, just 75 yards closer

Used to prefer the 150s over Varget or 4350. Much prefer now the 130 grain TTSX now. Much, much better bullet. I find 53 grains Varget is pretty close for half a dozen '06s I have worked up. Runs about 3150 and is usually very accurate.

my favroite 30-06 loading?
cut the case off at the groove and shoulder, and fill with lead to shoot in my .475 barreld 470 AccRel!

but, if i really answer the q, 165gr bullets at 2700fps

It's a sledgehammer!

The 165 grain Partition over 60 grains of IMR 4350 produces 2915 FPS in my Remington 700 and knocks elk dead. This load was developed by Bob Hagel. It has worked for about 30 years for me.
Regards, Keith

I all depends on what you use it for. I use mine on whitetail deer and hogs and a 150 gr. soft-point Hornady works great on them.

My load is 59.0- H4350 (max load) @ 2910 fps. It gives me 100 yd 3-shot groups under 1" from a sporterized 1903 Springfield.

Varget and a 150grn bullet of your choice is pure magic

Each has their preference and what works for them. For me, 55gr H4350 pushing 180gr Swift A Frame does the trick, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

150 gr. sierra or speer btsp.. with 52 grs of IMR 4064. great deer size game load..

Armin,

Nosler 165 gr. Ballistic Tip w/57.6 grs. H-4350

Nosler 165 gr. Partition w/60.0 grs. VVN-160

Sierra 165 gr. HPBT w/61.0 grs. VVN160

CT 168 gr. Ballistic Silvertip w/61.0 grs. H-4831SC

Hornady 180 gr. RN w/55.0 grs. H4350

Gee, how'd ya figure out I voted for 165 gr. bullets? I use the 165 gr. Nosler Partition more than any of the other bullets but they're all excellent loads in my rifles.

My favorite load has been 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip using 48 grains of IMR4064 powder with Remington Brass and Winchester Large Rifle Primers.

In my five years of reloading this has been my best round. I have taken several deer with excellent results. One shot, one kill, no need for a second round to be fired.

Wanting to work up a varmint round for the 30-06.

Favorite load depends on what you're using it for. I don't have any use for bullets lighter than the 150's which I use for deer. The 150 Ballistic Tip propelled at 3,000 fps (24" bbl using the proper charge of 4895 or 4350) is great for deer-antelope-feral hogs, etc. It shoots plenty flat for shots out as far as are advisable with any caliber. For larger game like elk and African plains game, a 180 grain Nosler Partition at 2,800 fps (24" bbl using the right charge of H4831) has performed to perfection for me.

Bullets lighter than 150 offer no advantage, nor do bullets heavier than 180. The 165 seems neither fish nor fowl, so why compromise by using it?

150gr Nosler Balltistic Tip
62gr H-4350
Federal Brass
Federal 210 Primer
3080 fps from 24" Winchester Barrel
1.5" 3 shot group at 300yds

quote:

Originally posted by Dom:
Each has their preference and what works for them. For me, 55gr H4350 pushing 180gr Swift A Frame does the trick, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

Almost just like mine but I use 55 grns of I4350 topped of with a Sierra 180 grn Game King.

Krochus, what's your velocity and charge weight? After the holidays I'm working up a load with the 150 Sierra Soft Point for both a .308 Garand and a Savage in .30-06. I don't think I can beat that.

i use 180gr partitions and imr4350 for everything in my ruger mk2.

My most accurate load in 30-06 is a plain old fashioned 150 gr, Hornady roundnose with 57 gr. of VVN 160.
I tried a variety of 180 gr. bullets and they group reasonably well; around 1 MOA.
The 150 gr. bullets yhough, group less than 0,5 moa consistantly. More 30-06 reloaders share this experience.

Is it true to assume that 150 gr. bullets are generally more accurate in 30-06 rifles than 180 gr. bullets? So what would be the optimum bullet weight for this calibre?

quote:

Results (63 votes counted so far):
9 (14%)
150 grain conventional
1 (2%)
150 grain premium
13 (21%)
165 grain conventional
14 (22%)
165 grain premium
10 (16%)
180 grain conventional
14 (22%)
180 grain premium
0 (0%)
200+ grain conventional
2 (3%)
200+ grain premium
0 (0%)
>150 grain conventional
0 (0%)
>150 grain premium

Thank you to everyone who posted and voted.

There is some really good data on this thread, together with a nice and large sample size for the poll.

Please don't take this thank you message as a hint to stop posting loads however!

Have ended up using a maximum charge (55-57 gr.) of IMR4350 with a #3070 Hornady 180 gr. Spire point and a Federal Match grade primer; in every 06 I've had. Has proven to also be the most accurate that I've found, in my rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by DWright:
Have ended up using a maximum charge (55-57 gr.) of IMR4350 with a #3070 Hornady 180 gr. Spire point and a Federal Match grade primer; in every 06 I've had. Has proven to also be the most accurate that I've found, in my rifles.

pretty much ditto on what DWright says. I did switch from the Nosler PT to Hornady 180 SP and then to Hornady 180 SPBTs many years ago. I mostly have loaded it over 55.5 -57 gr of IMR or AA 4350 (depending on make and/or lot) and have gotten excellent accuracy with velocities around 2750 fps out of my 24" barrels. I have killed lots of and lots of deer, 12 elk, 2 caribou, 2 bear, and a Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep with this load along with too many to count coyote, jack rabits, rock chucks, badgers and other assorted varmints. As an example of the excellent Hornady bullet performance the elk were killed from about 25 yards to 478 yards. Accuracy, pentration and expansion all provided excellent terminal ballistics. All wer one shot kills except the 478 yard one. I did shoot him twice but had i waited another 5 seconds before the second shot he would have fallen over dead from the 1 shot which was through the heart. I recovered that bullet and it shows excellent expansion even at that range. I did have one "bullet failure" though. On the 25 yard shot the bullet went through both shoulders and was found under the offside hide. It was expanded clear back to the "inner belt" and one side of the jacket was pretty well peeled back. When I was back packing a quarter 2 1/2 miles out The core seperated from the jacket while the bullet was in my pants pocket. I wrote to Hornady about the "failure' and their response was "yeah, right!" It was good for a laugh anyways.

Accross practical hunting ranges it is very difficult to improve upon that load. However i have another 24" barreled '06 that has an affinity for the 190 Hronady SPBT over a full case of H4831SC. Velocity is 2740 fps and accuracy is excellent. The psi (M43 Oehler) is right up there for magnum level cartridges though so it is a cold weather elk, moose or bear load.

For the smaller antelope a 165 gr Hornady SPBT over 59.5 gr of AA4350 in WW cases with WLR primers run at 2840 fps and 58,300 psi(M43) out of my 24" barreled M70 with excellent accuracy (10 test shots in 1.18" at 100 yards/1st 5 shots in .85")

Larry Gibson

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Gibson:
The psi (M43 Oehler) is right up there ...blah, blah, blah ...and 58,300 psi(M43) ...

Nope. larry doesn't have a clue about what the "real" pressure is. His totally worthless M43(except when it $$$stimulated$$$ the economy), is non-calibrated and uses guessed at dimensions for a reference, with no Fudge Factor to adjust for a Correction Factor.

A HSGS = Reloaders Pyrite(aka Fool's Gold)

You are much better going by ANYTHING ELSE for a Pressure Indicator than a worthless HSGS. For those of you who do not like reading that, feel free to stick it up your clinton.
-----

Best Load I've found for several 30-06s used beyond 250yds is either a 165gr Hornady BTSP, 165gr Sierra BTSP, 165gr Speer BTSP with either H4350 or H414. Closer Deer do a bit better with a good old 165gr Speer Hot-Cor or a 165gr Nosler Partition with the same Powders.

Nothing wrong with 150gr bullets, but I prefer them in a 308Win and 180gr bullets in a 300WinMag.

Any other Varget shooters? Looking for Sierra 150 Boat tailed soft point and 175 matchking.

Ah, we see Hot Core is his usual bitter self. He can't stand it when someone provides accurate information. Anyone care to guess what 61.5 gr of H4831SC under that Hornady 190 gr bullet is doing psi wise. Apparently Hot Core has a lessor understanding of what "right up there" is than the rest of us. Sad that he always shows his ass like that.

Larry Gibson

165gr Hornady SP/56gr H414/Fed 210/Win brass
180gr Hornady SP/54gr H414/Fed210/Win brass

While not prairie scorchers, both loads shoot very well in my Rem/Zastava and the 100M POI is close enough (within .5") that no scope adjustment is necessary should I switch between the two. The 165gr load provides more than ample terminal performance on WT deer.

If you just want pure accuracy for target shooting short range to 300y.IMR 4895.168gr match,light load
And if your making a hunting load 165gr Nosler Accubonds RL 17 you will never touch better powder, I have used many powders over the years
but nothing better than RL17 shot a .920" group at 300y with a Factory Rem 700 BDL 22" barrel

Sierra 165 GK / N 160 / 60.5 and 180 Pro-Hunter / N 160 / 56.5 out of my Sauer 202 :

GH
I use a Winchester 95, 30-06, as an understudy for my Winchester 95, 405.
My favorite load is a 208 grain very hard cast bullet, with what ever the load for 210 grain jacketed bullets, of IMR 4895.
It's cheaper then jacketed so that a hundred rounds off hand banging the gongs.

Jim

Hube, look into joining up at www.ammoguide.com. Just $18 a year and there is so much there. You'll find hundreds of '06 loads for just about every .30-caliber bullet there is. Lots of other really neato stuff, too. I especially like the trajectory grapher-- just input your data and watch it graph out the flight in seconds with oodles of data listed below for how many increments you want in the distance you supply from gun to target. Also, there are both ballistic and visual comparators for up to eight shells at a stroke, a costing tool for reloading and a library of over 750 rounds for you to look at and delve deeply into to learn just about everything you might want to know about each one. For these 750-some rounds, there are over 21,000 loads listed. There are several hundred apiece for rounds like '06, .308, .223, .45ACP, et cetera. I'm on my second year's scrip, and never miss an opportunity to push the site. Try it; you'll love it...

165gr bullet and 46.5grs of IMR-4064

I settled on two different loads in my 30-06 (a custom Springfield '03 with a 24" Shilen barrel). Hornady 165 interlock BT and W-760 for 2900 fps, and Hornady 190 interlock BT and RL-22 for 2775 fps. Both group well and kill well.

In days of old, HP shooters with the M1 Garand seemed to like the 168gr. Sierra MKs over IMR-4064. This was not a hunting load and the powder suitable for the M1 Garand had to be in this burn range or you would end up with a bent op rod. Slower burning powders might work better in bolt guns.

Ghubert, I assume that you want to use the '06 for hunting. So I would pick something in the 165 grain range for an "all-around" bullet. The 168 gr. Barnes TSX bullet is my current .308 Win. bullet of choice.

With the additional velocity of the .30-06, something in the 180gr. range might be better for elk and larger game.

I voted 165 gr.Premium.

Mine shot well with Speer 165grn Grand slams over 49 grains IMR 4064. Smokes em!

quote:

feel free to stick it up your clinton.

.....

My favorite bullet for the .30-06 is a 180 Grain A-Frame.....I almost exclusively use it for critters larger than deer so prefer the better bullet.

For a deer bullet I'd prefer a 150 SST....I've used that with good success in the past