Here’s the setupâ€
Brand New Ruger M77 Hawkeye 30-06 All Weather
Bullet: 165gr Hornady SST
Powder: IMR4350
Primer: CCI BR2
Brass: Federal

Prep the brass using the following method:
Tumbled
Full Length Resized
Trimmed, cleaned primer pockets, champhered (sp?) and re-tumbled
Wiped down and blew out cases with compressor
Weighed each piece of brass and grouped
Hand Primed

Now with the brass ready I measured each charge working from the min to the max according to Hornady. My lee manual’s max was a little lighter than the Hornady manual I was using.

Tested the rounds and as I approached the Hornady max of 57grs the groups were tightening up. I never reach anything better that 1.5â€. My velocity topped out at 2800fps on the max charge rounds. Needless to say I started perusing borrowed manuals from reloader friends and I find a lot of conflicting min and max ranges more so on the max numbers. I have in my hand right now a IMR load data sheet listing 60grs max for a 165gr bullet in 30-06. This is 4grs more than I loaded as my max.

Who should I use as a max?
Why are there such varying data out there?
Anyone with experience using my components listed above?

PS: Absolutly no pressure signs

I'd let my brass tell me.....and I'd be willing to load up to 62 grains of that stuff behind a 165 grain bullet.....it'll be quite compressed but if it fits.....stuff it in......and be watchful of pressure signs.....

62 grains should get you about 62,500 PSI the same as factory loaded .270 rounds.

At this loading level one might see velocity of 3,000-3,100 FPS....but again.....be watchful of pressure signs and work up 1/2 grain at a time at most!

Remember a couple of things. There's data for a specific bullet and there's more generic data---that is data for a specific caliber and weight but not the specific bullet. In other words, there's data for the .308 165gr SST and there's data for .308 165 gr cup and core bullets. Use the more specific data if it's available.

My recollection is that the Lee Manual does not specify data by specific bullet only generically, so that would have to have a bit of margin for any 165 gr bullet then. I also seem to recall that the Lyman manual does list by specific bullet so you might look at it. Regrettably, work is separating me from loading manuals.

Looking at the Hodgdon website they show a max of 60 grains for the 165 Sierra and 58 gr for the Hornady 168 gr hollow point. If I recall correctly, Hornady uses the same load data for the same bullets. That is their manual shows the same load data for the same weight class of bullets.

Also, and Vapodog alluded to this, there's some pressure room to work with here. The SAAMI max pressure for the 30-06 is 60k psi but is 65k psi for the .270 Win. Several reasons for this, but it results in load data that is much more conservative than it MAY need to be in a MODERN firearm.

So I agree with Vapodog on this one. As long as you go slow and careful, you can try a bit more. I'd go in 1/2 gr increments and stop if there's no continued improvement. But if you were starting to see improvement then another grain or so may make a huge difference.

LWD

I know a guy that experimented with the 4350's in a '06 with 165 hornady bt's and he had pressure testing equipment. He did make it to 62 grains with both H4350 and I4350 but was at 65k pressure. This doesn't mean your gun can do it but as the others say you probably can work up some from 57 grains.
ONe last comment...the sst is terrifically explosive...are you trying for some longer range hunting of deer??

My take on this is if you are starting with a brand new load be careful!
I have some loads that are well below maximum in the data books that I used to work the loads up back a few years. When my new book had a reduced load I contacted the manufacturers of the powder and bullets to see if any of th components had been revised. After a lot of communication I found out that nothing had changed except that in some weaker guns there had been problems. I continue to load using the load I have been. I get no pressure signs and cases last more than ten loadings. I am sure that they are safe in my gun. I am also sure that in some cases components do change. If you get more than a few loadings from the brass then it is probably safe in your gun.

Be cautious when going above the recommended max load even when there is a conflict between manuals. I assume the lowest max load to be the max load and proceed from there with caution. Always go up in small increments and watch closely for pressure signs and you'll be OK.