I have been loading handgun stuff for a while with no problems. Now I am starting to develop
2 loads for my 30-06.

Components:
150 gr. and 165 gr. Rem PSP bullet
XMR 4350 powder
Federal Large Rifle primer
LC 68 MATCH brass

My question is on figuring the powder range to use. I have read that mil brass can have a
smaller case volume leading to higher pressures. My goal is a safe load at around 2800FPS. I
would do a water volume test, but don't have any commercial brass to compare to.

Any suggestions for a powder range to use?

MR_MAGOO,
I've played with the .30-06 and military brass, the books are right. Military brass usually requires loads to be reduced 1.5 to 2.5 grains. I'd suggest that you start at 54.0 grains with the 150 grain bullet and 52 grains with the 165 grain bullet. Work up the load in half grain incriments. One nice thing about match brass is the primer pockets are not crimped. A common problem with it is that the case thicknesses vary a good deal. This usually demonstrates itself with unexplained fliers. If that problem rears its ugly head, either junk it or turn the necks. Once the necks have been turned, neck sizing only will nullify the thickness variances in the case body.
I hate to give you bad news, but I've tried the bulk Rem. core-lokts serveral time and have been unhappy with them every time. So much so, that I wonder if the bulk bullets are factory rejects. I wish you luck. Please let us know what kind of luck you have with them.

BigBob,

I have been attempting to keep the costs down. The brass is match brass I got in bulk from G.I. Brass at a very good price. Unfired pulldown stuff. The condition was very nice. I decided on match brass because I had the idea it would be somewhat uniform. See what I get for thinking?

Sorry to hear of your luck with the bulk core-lokts. I only bought 100 of each to try out, mostly because they can be purchased in bulk. (Is there a trend here?) I will post a followup to this in a few weeks after I go to the range. It is a 2 hour drive to a rifle range so I don't get out there very often.

Thanks for the advice on a load range, with my just starting out on rifle loads I tend to be careful. I want the rounds to go bang, not Ka-Boom!!

I shoot 30-06 from "reclaimed" military ammo bulk purchases. The brass is mixed, but I'm getting very consistent loads in the remanufactured ammo. I know they're not sorting and weighing their brass.

When I hear "30-06 military" a flag goes up in my head.

Garand reloads need to be loaded to military spec more or less. You want about 2450 fps for a velocity. I was looking to reload for the Garand with Hodgdon H-414 and crank them up to 2800 fps. I got lots of warnings about bending my operating rod.

The Garand loads are mil spec with 4895. Both Hodgdon and IMR make 4895.

I talked with a guy who blew his Springfield 1903 bolt action to pieces with reloads. Some of the '03's are re-tempered and some are not. Evidently his was not. (Low serial number issue)

So . . .

That's my dos centavos --

Genghis,

Maybe I should have been clear. The rifle is a new Rem. 7600, in 30-06. Fresh out of the box.

Match Brass is very good, AND it does not have a crimped in primer.

Just start an extra 2 grains below commercial brass and you should do just fine.