I have owned many .30-06 rifles and loaded thousands of rounds for this superb cartridge, including about an honest 1500 Nosler 180 Pts. I have used all of the powders you have, but, my main powder has always been IMR-4350 in the following recipe.
Win. or Fed. brass, 180 Nosler Pt., CCI 250 or Fed. 215, 57 grs. IMR-4350
This is a top load and has NEVER given me any excess pressure signs in any rifle I have owned. Start at 52 grs. and work up, depending on your conponent lots and individual rifle. I am, of course, well aware of the difference in case capacity of the above brass, but, it works fine in these rifles.
Browning Safari Grd. LE
Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine
Brno-ZG-47 LWT
Brno ZG-47 Std,
Pre- 64 Mod. 70 FWT
With barrels from 20"-23.5", I get from 2725-2780 fps. MV and sub. MOA accuracy. I would expect the H-4350, up to 57.5 grs. to do about as well. What more can you ask for?
I also load 57 grains of 4350, with the 180 Nosler partition. Velocity runs around 2815-2825 fps out of my custom Springfield 03. Groups at 1" or less. Have taken 5 elk with that load, all one shot kills. Work up though, as your throating etc. will surly be different than mine.
In my stainless 22" bbl'd M70 fwt I use 57.5 H4350 for 2,820 and 61 RL22 for the same velocity. I use a Lee factory crimp die and that does seem to boost velocity a bit but these are book loads and show no signs of being excessive. Another identical M70 runs the same loads about 60 fps slower.
H4831sc couldn't give me the same velocity as H4350 or RL22.
As an aside, I just picked up some "Protected Point" 180 Nosler Partition's yesterday... the "Spire Points" were ridiculously battered in my magazine this year and they'd have had less BC than the protected point because of how flattened the tip's had become... I figure the PP's are the better way to go unless someone knows a way to prevent that sort of battering. I'll report back as to accuracy.
Quote: As an aside, I just picked up some "Protected Point" 180 Nosler Partition's yesterday... the "Spire Points" were ridiculously battered in my magazine this year and they'd have had less BC than the protected point because of how flattened the tip's had become... I figure the PP's are the better way to go unless someone knows a way to prevent that sort of battering. I'll report back as to accuracy.
BA
Buy some 180 Accubonds. Basically same performance as the NP, and better BC and ........Usually accuracy!
Posts: 3865 | Location: Cheyenne, WYOMING, USA | Registered: 13 June 2000
Quote: As an aside, I just picked up some "Protected Point" 180 Nosler Partition's yesterday... the "Spire Points" were ridiculously battered in my magazine this year and they'd have had less BC than the protected point because of how flattened the tip's had become... I figure the PP's are the better way to go unless someone knows a way to prevent that sort of battering. I'll report back as to accuracy.
BA
Buy some 180 Accubonds. Basically same performance as the NP, (especially at 30-06 velocities) and better BC and ........Usually accuracy!
Posts: 3865 | Location: Cheyenne, WYOMING, USA | Registered: 13 June 2000
Since 1972 in my old Remington 700 BDL (restocked three times) ...57 grains IMR 4350 WW Brass, 180 Nosler Partitons, WLR primers. <1 inch groups and 2,725 fps. Shot a lot of game with it. Work up to that load. I tried it in my 700 Rem. Mt. Rifle and blew a primer!
Rich Elliott
Posts: 2013 | Location: Crossville, IL 62827 USA | Registered: 07 February 2001
If you don't get good accuracy with your rifle shooting boatails check the muzzle crown ,it may need recrowning --a nick or muzzle wear can cause exiting gas to induce a slight side thrust to the heel of the exiting bullet. I also use 4350 the most for 30/06.
Brad, I've been shooting 180 gr, Nosler Partition Protected Points almost exclusively in my .300 Win. Mag. for the last several years. I have at least of score of these that I've recovered from stuff as small as Coues deer, and from stuff as big as Cape eland. Over the years, I've been amazed at how many rifles shoot this bullet well. Extremely consistent on game, and the Protected Point design DOES resist battering very well. You give up some BC compared to the regular SP Partition, but in the real world, that hasn't proven to be much of a handicap. A superb hunting bullet in all respects.....
As a sidenote, I don't care if boatails shoot well for me or not. Flat-base bullets make for better hunting bullets in everything but varmint rifles, pure and simple. Ross Seyfired made extensive note of this recently, and I agree with his conclusions.
My best .30-06 loads have been built around Winchester cases, Federal 215 primers, IMR 4831 powder, and 180 gr. Nosler Partitions. If that was my only .30-06 load for all purposes, I'd be completely satisfied.
