Possibly the most popular cartridge in history, and I can scarcely find data for this bullet weight. (For the record, it's a Speer Hot Core SP.)
I'm hoping to get close to 2700 fps from a 24" bbl.
Any help is much appreciated!

Bwana-be, I use from 58 to 61 grains of H4831 with the 200 grain Nosler Partition in my .30.'06's. My top load gives me an average of 2680 FPS.

I've had good results with H4350 with heavy bullets in the '06. This powder may give a bit less velocity than one of the 4831s (IMR or Hodgdon), but it gave me excellent accuracy.

You just ain't lookin' in the right place!!

AA-2015 From 36.0 grains to 42.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-2230 From 39.2 grains to 43.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-2460 From 40.1 grains to 44.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-2495 From 38.7 grains to 43.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-2520 From 39.7 grains to 45.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-2700 From 46.4 grains to 51.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-3100 From 46.3 grains to 59.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-4064 From 41.4 grains to 46.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-4350 From 48.5 grains to 55.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AA-8700 From 55.8 grains to 62.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AR-2208 From 37.5 grains to 45.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AR-2209 From 43.0 grains to 53.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
AR-2213 From 47.5 grains to 57.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-205 From 51.5 grains to 54.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-380 From 41.0 grains to 50.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-414 From 46.0 grains to 53.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-450 From 47.0 grains to 56.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-870 From 63.0 grains to 64.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-1000 From 52.1 grains to 62.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-4350 From 50.0 grains to 57.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-4831 From 48.9 grains to 60.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
H-4895 From 39.0 grains to 47.6 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-3031 From 38.3 grains to 44.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-4064 From 39.1 grains to 47.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-4198 From 27.0 grains to 36.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-4227 From 27.5 grains to 28.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-4320 From 40.4 grains to 47.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-4350 From 44.2 grains to 55.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-4831 From 46.8 grains to 58.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-4895 From 38.9 grains to 46.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
IMR-7828 From 54.5 grains to 58.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
MagPro From 52.8 grains to 58.6 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
MRP From 52.0 grains to 56.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
N-140 From 44.5 grains to 46.4 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
N-150 From 43.0 grains to 49.7 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
N-160 From 45.5 grains to 59.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
N-204 From 49.0 grains to 53.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
N-550 From 41.2 grains to 50.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
RL-12 From 40.8 grains to 44.8 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
RL-15 From 38.5 grains to 47.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
RL-19 From 46.0 grains to 57.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
RL-22 From 50.1 grains to 60.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
RL-25 From 58.0 grains to 60.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
SR-4759 From 27.5 grains to 28.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
Varget From 42.5 grains to 45.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
W-760 From 44.6 grains to 52.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer
WMR From 50.0 grains to 57.5 grains
Winchester WLR Primer

So far so good.
Thanks for the replies, guys.
ricciardelli, I don't use Steve's Pages much as a resource, simply because I find it difficult to make any meaningful comparisons without any real data to go along with the powder weight suggestions.
That sort of thing is good if you have a can of powder, and don't know where to start.
I have a few powders, and am trying to narrow it down by figuring where my best luck might lie.

I haven't tried 4831 yet. Is that up there with RL-22 or more like RL-19 in burn rate?

I got good velocity and accuracy with 200 gr. Partitions and a maximum charge of H4350 -- can't remember the charge but I got about 2640 fps in a 24" barrel.

Some of you people amaze me!

First you bemoan the fact that you can't find loading data for the .30-06 with a 200 grain bullet. I point you towards my pages and you tell me that "...I don't use Steve's Pages much as a resource, simply because I find it difficult to make any meaningful comparisons without any real data to go along with the powder weight suggestions..."!

Now think about what you said!

I have 68 reloading manuals on my shelves at this time. NONE of them have the variety of data available that is on my pages!

I dare you to name one that lists 22 different bullet weights for the .30-06!

I dare you to name one that lists 48 different powders suitble for loading the .30-06 with 200 grain bullets!

I dare you to name one that has reloading data for 44 different .308 caliber rifle cartridges and another 10 .308 caliber pistol cartridges!

Just what do you mean by "...any real data..."?

My pages list the primer I found best suited for that bullet weight in that caliber!

It also lists what I found to be the best powder for that bullet weight in that caliber!

Are you referring to pressure and velocity readings? If so, you are showing your amature status!

If I were to open all 68 of those reloading manuals on my shelves I doubt seriously I would find three which would agree on the best powder! I doubt that I would find three that would have the same range of useful loading data! I doubt I would find three that would list the same velocity for the same powder load! I doubt that any three would list the same pressure readings for a particular load!

Is that what you call "useful data"? Data that is different in every manual you open? Balderdash!

If you are looking for the magic load that will beat all other loads in your firearm, there is only ONE way to do it! Spend the time and the money and try all the components available...

If you are lloking for shortcuts, then I suggest a different hobby, something along the lines of paint-by-numbers...

Well, there's a helluva lot of data on the 200 grain in the '06! Also, H4831 is similar to RE22, but takes up a lot more space in the case! I can't get 54 grains of H4831 into my 7X57mm cases, but CAN get 54 grains of RE22 (and MRP) into one!

[ 05-17-2003, 05:46: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

ricardelli, I have gone to your pages in the past and have had a similar experience (perhaps) to the poster above. When I reload, I am generally looking for maximum accuracy. If I were to deveolp a hunting load, I may want to maximize accuracy, but within a certain velocity range. Everything else being equal, I will choose a load that develops the lowest pressures. Perhaps this makes me a neophyte in your eyes, but that's the way I do things. Again, all other things being equal, I will chose the load that uses the least amount of powder. Your data does not help me with any of these objectives. I have several reloading manuals. The one I use the most is an old Lyman manual that gives the usual ranges, but also gives pressures AND recommended accuracy loads. By implication, this tells me whether the best accuracy for that bullet/powder is also obtained at maximum pressures and velocities.
Peter.

No manual can tell the exact pressure in an unknown rifle.Careful. You have to build the load. Also, less powder=faster powder=faster pressure peak,the velocity being equal. I wonder why you want to use as little powder as possible?

I do the opposite,I try to fill the case because I have noticed in several calibers that a case full of powder gives more consistent results,-06 being one of them. Some of my most accurate loads are compressed, especially if the COL gets too long otherwise.

This is one way,I�m not saying it�s the best one. 30-06 just happens to be one of my favorite "experimenting plattforms".

Load safe!

Okay, to answer all your statements...

All the data posted on my pages has been fired by either me or one trusted friend.

I base my "best powder" on accuracy, not velocity, since even the slowest loads will take down an animal with one shot, if you put the bullet where it is supposed to go. (If you notice, I very seldom use max loads.)

The primer listed is the one that gave me the best accuracy, and the highlighted powder is the one that gave me the best performance for a particular bullet in a particular cartridge. (Of course you would have read this information if you had looked at http://stevespages.com/page8c.htm which is the disclaimer page.)

IF YOU WANT MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, then I suggest that you visit both:

http://stevespages.com/targets.html

and

http://stevespages.com/table1.html

These two pages list my most commonly loaded "favorite loads" and compares the actual measured velocity to the velocities listed in the different major manuals .

And example would be: http://stevespages.com/7mmmag2.html
which lists my favorite load for a 7mm Remington Magnum using 175 rain Nosler partitions.

There is also: http://stevespages.com/7mmmag1.html
which lists my favorite loads for a 7mm Remington Magnum using 168 Sierra HPBT.

I don't know how much more "pertinent information" is required for some of you people!

You want to see example targets of the 7mm Magnum with the Sierra 168 HPBT, then go to http://stevespages.com/7mmmag.jpg

Again, there is a hell of a lot more on my pages than you will find in ANY reloading manuals ... take a look!
http://stevespages.com/page7.htm Firearms
http://stevespages.com/page7a.htm IPB Of Firearms
http://stevespages.com/page7b.htm Firearms Owner Manuals
http://stevespages.com/page8.htm Reloading
http://stevespages.com/page8b.htm Software Download
http://stevespages.com/page8c.htm Reloading Data
http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm Cartridge Drawings And Dimensions
http://stevespages.com/table1.html Favorite Loads
http://stevespages.com/table3.html All Kinds Of Good Stuff

So don't even tell me that there is no data on my pages...there are around 895 megabytes of data, and at least 12,300 files.

In addition they are updated on almost a daily basis...

What some of you people do not understand is that each an every firearm is a individual unto itself, and very seldom will two enjoy the same loading. (I have four .22-250's, three of which are Ruger 77V's [the old models] with consecutive serial numbers, and one 77R [again an old model]. They each have their own preference as to bullet weight and type, powder and powder charge. Again, you will see the differences in the above mentioned tables and pages.)

In addition, it appears that some of you don't even understand that something as insignificant as a different lot number of powder, primer, bullet or brass will make a significant difference in the performance of a particular loading!

Reloading is not just a hobby to save money. It is an art and a science to wring out the very best performance of a particular firearm! There is no "One Size Fits All".

And anyone who reloads just to save a few dollars a year is in the game for the wrong reason...

You pay $1000 for a decent rifle, you pay $600 for a decent 'scope, and then you expect to use a load developed in a Handi-Rifle as your 1000-yard target load, or 1000-pound big game killer!

It doesn't work that way, my friends...

The only thing I reload to save money in is my 12 gauge trap loads...and then you only save if you shoot around 20,000 to 40,000 targets a year.

As for using the load which uses the least amount of powder, I have found, as well as most experienced shooters, that your most accurate loads will be the ones which have a loading density of between 95% and 105%. Yes, in almost every case, the maximum charge I list for ANY cartridge combination is a compressed load. And there isn't a damn thing wrong with a compressed load...unless of course you turn it into talcum powder!

And how does the average shooter/reloader know which load gives him the "lowest pressure" readings? I doubt that there are more than 10 shooters out there who have installed a strain guage on their firearms. You are basing this "lowest pressure" on what is published in different reloading manuals. And believe me, YOU DO NOT HAVE A PRESSURE TEST BARREL on your firearm! There are many variables associated with pressure, and there are very few who understand pressure readings (after all, how many times have we seen someone post something like, "What is the conversion factor between CUP and PSI?", or "How come XYZ manual lists the pressure of the .567 Super-Duper-Killer-Magnum as 68,900 PSI, and the ABC manual lists it as 145,000 CUP?"). THERE IS NO CONVERSION FACTOR...they are totally different ways of measuring pressure, and the pressures they measure aren't even measured in the same place or manner. (Oh, did i forget to mention that I have a table on my pages showing the different reading between CUP and PSI for the exact same cartridges?)

[ 05-15-2003, 23:52: Message edited by: ricciardelli ]

StevesPages sucks. It is just a copy of a bunch of reloading manuals, that's it.

There is no way you could of found the best load for a 6.5/30-30 Improved/140 gr. bullet was IMR 4831, you only show 2 powders! Time to go back and re-test that 6.5/30-30 IMP with some newer powders! Or how about the 585 Nyati w/ 750 gr. bullet? You found IMR 4350 to be the best powder, but you show a powder charge that spans 25 grains! What powder charge did you get your best accuracy with? And you only tried two powders again. How come? Recoil of the Nyati get to you after only developing two loads?

Just plagiarism. The only plus is the daily pic of that handsome bastard.

[ 05-15-2003, 23:53: Message edited by: todbartell ]

Hahaha It's true, there is nothing in your website that is of any use to most shooters. All the pics of your targets are in black and white. Haven't found a good load since they came out with color pictures? LOL. I'd still like to know how you come up with these "optimum loads" for these oddballs cartridges. Maybe you read about them in an issue of Handloader from 1952? LOL.

P.S., I don't need my own "pages", I just will look in one of my manuals, or check out hodgdon.com or allintpowder.com if I want a load. That is all you do, and you post it on your site.

[ 05-16-2003, 00:21: Message edited by: todbartell ]

Is that your only answer to todbartel? To attack his nationality?

I really don't know anything about your pages or reloading data, having just checked out this thread to see what it was about. I do, however, know a bit about argument styles.

Your last response implies that you have nothing to say and you're attacking his nationality purely out of desperation. In court, and elsewhere, that tactic is called a "cheap shot." That's the message your statement conveys, like it or not.

Good luck to you, sir -- and to all those who read your pages.

Oh, my god, dude.
Quit freaking out.
FYI, I am an amateur; one of the reasons I'm looking for help.
If my use of the word "real" offended you, I apologize.
I'm sure the typing alone on those pages was a lot of work, so you just keep it up, and more power to you.
I was simply looking for something different.
[BTW, thanks for the replies; I'm still listening, digression notwithstanding!]

Bwana-be ,

I'd try RL22 or H4831, those seem to be the most popular in the 30-06 for anything heavier than 180 gr. bullets. I just got a 30-06, and haven't done much shooting yet, waiting for the scope rings to come in. I have a couple boxes of the 200 gr. Speer Hot Cor's, and plan on trying them this summer. One of these two powders will be what I'll start with. I think 2550-2600 fps is attainable in a 22" barrel, maybe a little more in a 24" tube. Good luck with your load.

ricciardelli
Who was booing the Canadian anthem in East Rutherford tonight? Eh?

[ 05-16-2003, 06:32: Message edited by: todbartell ]

Hey guys, we're here to help one another. We don't need to see this kind of slam duncking. Lets keep it simple and if one answer doesn't help maybe the other will, it isn't worth the harsh words. I come here to learn and help if I can, I get enough slam duncking from the inlaws, I don't like seeing it here. Lets be happy and help one another.

Steve's Pages are exhaustive studies of what works, based, as far as I can tell, on testing over a long and laborious period of time. Since, (as Bob Hagel used to point out, all rifles are individuals, which it never ceased to amaze him that one hell of a lot of morons could not internalize!!!), information as to velocities and other performance factors obtained by Steve are only applicable to the guns he used, THE ONLY INFO WE REALLY NEED FROM Steve's Pages is the type of propellants he used with the various combinations of cartridges, bullets, and primers; and the range of powder weights that are safe from minimum to maximum. This info is usable to develop your OWN BEST LOADS, but NO-ONE can develop the best load for your gun for you, unless you sent them the gun!!

I think we are fortunate that Steve published his findings, whether we adopt one of his loads, or merely look at his findings to get some idea of where to start. What do we gain by denigrating another's efforts (or his country)??? NADA, Senor!!

[ 05-17-2003, 06:00: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

Well, regardless of whether I get a razzing or not, I'm going to post a couple of observations from my personal experience with the 200 grain bullet in the venerable old '06. My pet load for many years has been 58.5 grains of Norma MRP in WW cases fired by a WLR primer. My 24" graphs 2740 with that load and it is very effective. The suggestions to use H4831 or Reloder 22 are good, I have used both those with success as well. My present Remington 700 SSDM will shoot 3 - 200 Partitions into one ragged hole @ 100 meters every time with the listed load of MRP. I have not recovered one of these bullets from any game yet, even from Moose, they always exit. Hope you are able to find something that works for you. Regards, Eagleye [another Canuck]

While I've shot several deer and two elk with a 30-06 loaded with 200gr Grand Slams, I'm not sure 2700fps is a reasonable expectation. I don't have my load books in here and my memory isn't what it used to be but I think I was getting less than 2500fps from my load. (the load wasn't chronied until long after I had gone on to other guns as my "elk rifle") That didn't seem to bother the game too much as they died handily enough. It seems that 27-2800fps was what I got from a 165gr bullet. But then, I don't as a rule motor my guns at the top end.

Hmm, at the risk of being labled an ingrate, my opinion on Steves work is that for MY use, I look in there all the time when I cant find info on this powder with that caliber or bullet. Sometimes he has it and other times not. I do wonder however why you list no velocities. And if you are going to tell me that velocities are irrelevant than "I" say balderdash. Its no more irrelevant than ANY data and personally I would rather have another 100 fs than an extra 1/16" moa for my hunting loads.

Hair splitting accuracy is for benchrest shooters who arent likley to learn much about optimizing their loads from your pages unless they are starting anew. I dont do benchrest, I hunt and I want performance. That means the best mix of accuracy and velocity combined.

That is just my .02c fwiw, I appreciate the countless hours youve put into your work and will continue to visit it when I need a more extensive database than Ive already got. But for me it is a secondary database because velocity matters.

[ 05-18-2003, 18:57: Message edited by: Wstrnhuntr ]

It appears to me that Steve presented his findings to the poster based on the posters request, he did him a service...

To condem Steve for this is just plain ungratfull, he didn't have to post anything..Is this where this board is going....

In the first place most reloading manuals have loads for 200 gr. bullets for the 30-06 at least all those who make a 200 gr. bullet, so the information is available to all without posting a request..

I for one found Steves postings interresting and he certainly has a lot of loads listed and you have your choice to take advantage of that or not, but why flame the man...

No one out there can tell Bwana-Be which load will work in HIS gun only HE can figure that out by shooting suggested loads, just because a load shoots in your rifle doesn't mean it will in his...

Alright everybody, I have 8 reloading manuals, and one has data for a 200gr bullet, so I must just have the wrong ones. [o.k., 2 - I looked.]
I do appreciate the responses, including Steve's.
[I didn't realize I was speaking with Steve, or I would've attempted a bit more charm and less frank.] I just wasn't able to make much use out of it for my purposes. Like Ray said, there's no sense bad-mouthing anyone here, unless you just want to make someone feel bad (which I don't).
Of course data from one gun won't apply to another, not to mention brass/primer/powderlot, weather, etc. But there IS something useful in comparing. I've always wondered at the amount of info on Steve's pages, but don't go there, since it doesn't show me what I'm looking for, i.e., comparisons of powders/charges regarding velocity, pressure, accuracy. I see now I'm not alone.
I didn't pay him to post the stuff, so I can't complain when he does, and I didn't.
A more exacting question for my purposes - which perhaps I should've posted from the beginning - is "what powders/charges/speeds are folks using for the 200 gr?"
No offense intended to anyone; this is a great resource, and I do not like that this thread has turned into "what do you think of Steve's Pages?"

I have a bunch of rounds loaded of RL22, next I'll try 4831 and let you all know how it goes.
Cheers!!

Sierra has 53.7 gr of IMR4350 vel 2700 @ 26" barrel
Speer has 54 gr of IMR 4350 vel. 2449 @ 22" barrel these are max loads so aproach with caution. This should get you started. If you want more I can give more powder choices if you want. I use a 180 gr spbt myself. So all's I can tell you is about that.