Best powders for 165 and 180 grain bullets for 30/06.

26 June 2018, 22:31

I have a used 30-06 new to me though. Drew a bull tag here in Oregon. Silvies unit. I got 165 grand slams and 180 partitions. What powders would be the best to try first? For a friends 06 It shot varget and 180 gr hornadys well. I'm gonna go and buy powder that I need. Thanks.

26 June 2018, 22:43

p dog shooter

IMR 4831 would be a top choice.

4350 4064 also

26 June 2018, 23:41

butchloc

4350

27 June 2018, 00:10

Atkinson

IMR and H4831 historically and still as good as any..Same for 4350s..

Today I like and use H414, and RL-22 almost exclusively in my 30-06s, for one reason it clones the above or betters them slightly, but it measures so accurately I don't have mess wit cutting grains and weighing loads..

27 June 2018, 01:34

30.06king

My first choice would be Reloder 17. In my experience with a lot of 30.06 reloading different combinations this powder works well for different makes of 165 and 180 gn bullets, giving accurate loads relatively easily.
One of my second choices would be H4350 ( rather than IMR 4350 liked by many ). H4350 top velocities should be a little better than IMR 4350 for the same charge and pressures, also with good accuracy.
Both RL17 and H4350 are short cut extruded powders that metre accurately and trickle nicely if you are fussy like me trickling the last few grains for consistent charges.

27 June 2018, 02:52

kennedy

Thanks guys, the powders that are mentioned I dont have. I'll go take a look and see if the local sporting goods has any of them.

27 June 2018, 03:10

A.J. Hydell

Varget.

Match shooters use it extensively because it's so much less sensitive to temperature changes than similar (burn-rate) propellants.

27 June 2018, 03:30

KY Nimrod

IMR 4895 for the 165 grain and IMR 4064 for the 180 grain.

For elk I would stick with the 180's

27 June 2018, 07:43

Snellstrom

I load for a house full of 30/06's for Elk hunting, either bullet you have will be great for Elk, I would start with IMR4350 and the 180 grain bullets, try same powder for 165's if not satisfied try Reloader 17.
My guess is you will find an accurate load with the IMR4350

27 June 2018, 07:59

TJAY

Ramshot Hunter

27 June 2018, 08:00

Keith1

RL 22 works good in my Rem 700. I have just started checking RL 26 with 180 Accubonds. In my rifle 4350 just does not work.

Regards

27 June 2018, 19:29

Stonecreek

quote:
Originally posted by kennedy:
Thanks guys, the powders that are mentioned I dont have. I'll go take a look and see if the local sporting goods has any of them.

What powders do you have? A range of powders work well in the '06, so maybe you've already got one in your inventory which would do as well as the suggestions here.

27 June 2018, 21:50

Atkinson

As you can see, many powders are excellent in the 30-06 with about any bullet, That's just one reason for its popularity, and there are many others...

28 June 2018, 04:36

wildcat junkie

quote:
Originally posted by 30.06king:
My first choice would be Reloder 17. In my experience with a lot of 30.06 reloading different combinations this powder works well for different makes of 165 and 180 gn bullets, giving accurate loads relatively easily.
One of my second choices would be H4350 ( rather than IMR 4350 liked by many ). H4350 top velocities should be a little better than IMR 4350 for the same charge and pressures, also with good accuracy.
Both RL17 and H4350 are short cut extruded powders that metre accurately and trickle nicely if you are fussy like me trickling the last few grains for consistent charges.

I use either RL-17 or Norma MRP in everything from 30/40 Krag to 8mm-06 A.I..

RL-17 in 30/40 Krag, 7mm-08, 8x57.

Only when case capacity/bore ration gets up there do I opt for Norma MRP. 280 W/140+ gr bullets and 8mm-06 A.I. W/200+ gr bullets.

Based on that experience I would opt for RL-17 W/165 gr in 30-06 and perhaps Norma MRP for 180 gr bullets.

28 June 2018, 17:10

Dogleg

Best is a tall order, but very good is easy. I've had a lot of luck with Varget and 165-168s for culling. By luck, I mean that it seems to work in several rifles with many different bullets. That tendency may not matter to a lot of people, but it sure is easy to get along with. 4064 also works well, but it's too hard to get in Australia.

For 180s, H4350 is as good as any and better than most.

29 June 2018, 15:18

Andre Mertens

My field proven petload consists of a 165 Sierra GK / N 160 / 60.5 (884 m"/2900 ft"). It's quite accurate too and my Sauer 202 groups 5 in .92 cm (.32 MOA) at 100 m. While smooth handling in the Sauer, I've found it to be a bit much for my 03A3 though (heavy bolt lift + flattened primers).

29 June 2018, 19:27

claybreaker

I've had very good results with one of the 4350's and 180gr pills.... also works well with the 165/168 gr bullets.

Be Safe,

29 June 2018, 20:00

Baldhunter

The 30-06 is a wonderful cartridge.There are so many powders that work really well.I probably load any of the 4350 powders the most,but any powder from Varget to Reloader-26 will work.My favorites are Ramshot Big Game,Win 760,H-4350,IMR-4350,Accurate 4350,Hunter,Reloader-22,heard a lot of good things about Reloader-26 and that one is on my list to try.I can find a good load for any of those powders listed,velocity from each powder does vary a bit.

29 June 2018, 20:18

Atkinson

Spot on Bald hunter!! Ive said before and I'll say it again, damn near any powder works in the 06...Only a few can make that claim..

29 June 2018, 21:54

kennedy

I have Varget, h4895, supreme780,hunter,biggame,xbr, theres a few others that i have but cant think of em. I have used hunter and 780 in a friends 06 but varget grouped better. I was using 46 grains i believe his load was with 180 grain hornadys. I'm gonna try that load with the partitions. I eithor need to find a scope that will work with the rings that are on the rifle cause the bolt hits the power knob on the scopes i have, or buy new rings n bases. The mounts that are on it, u can flip the scope to the left side n use open sight. Rifle is western field.

29 June 2018, 22:57

vines

150 grain or less, IMR4064 IMR4895, or RL-15
165 grain and over.. one of the 4350's

30 June 2018, 02:45

swampshooter

I prefer H-4350 behind a 180 Nosler Partition or a Hornady SP Innerlocking also 180 gr. I safely get over 2800 fps out of my 24" 30/06 with max loads of H-4350. But 2600, 2700 or 2800 doesn't matter much. I've taken a lot of elk with the above loads. I only use the Nosler Partition if I'm hunting heavy brush. I also occasionally use a 7mm RM but prefer the 30/06. I think it hits harder than the 7 mag.

02 July 2018, 19:34

Snellstrom

quote:
Originally posted by kennedy:
I have Varget, h4895, supreme780,hunter,biggame,xbr, theres a few others that i have but cant think of em. I have used hunter and 780 in a friends 06 but varget grouped better. I was using 46 grains i believe his load was with 180 grain hornadys. I'm gonna try that load with the partitions. I eithor need to find a scope that will work with the rings that are on the rifle cause the bolt hits the power knob on the scopes i have, or buy new rings n bases. The mounts that are on it, u can flip the scope to the left side n use open sight. Rifle is western field.

I would get rid of those bases and rings as fast as I could get them off of your rifle.

If you want to access your open sights use a quick release ring that has levers on them, like Talley, Leupold or Warne, to name a few. I have these and they are great and you can take them on and off easy and accuracy is repeatable.
If I recall several rifle manufacturers made rifles for Western field do you know which variety it is? (Win M70 type? Mauser type?) if it is a Win M70 I can send you some rings and bases although they are not quick release.

03 July 2018, 22:24

kennedy

Its the mauser action. I didn't take stock off but I been told its belgium made.

03 July 2018, 23:07

skl1

Almost hate to give you yet another option, but I've had luck with Winchester 760 (although it's apparently temperature sensitive). Also really like 4064.

03 July 2018, 23:28

jmm01

I have on hand:

RL15
RL17
RL19
RL22
Big Game
Hunter
Varget
4064
IMR 4350
H4350
IMR4831
H4831
H4895
W748
W760

and probably a couple of others. I have tried them all and had good success. Going forward, I am just using H4350 for everything except the 110 grain TTSX. It works great and is in the top 10% of velocity and accuracy.

04 July 2018, 09:29

jimmy j

I have been a fan of 4350 for many years, but as of late, I have been using H414 with 165 grain bullets with great success.

04 July 2018, 22:36

TJAY

I found 58 gr Hunter, Fed 215, 180 gr Partition in WW case shot less than MOA out of my rifle.

07 July 2018, 04:32

Atkinson

H414 and WW760 are the same powder..As good a powder as you can use in the 30-06, 7x57 and a number of other calibers..

Temp sensitive is manufacturers BS, a sales gimmick and over played..All of us have been using the old powders for our lifetime without temp problems, those that claim problems are guessing and the problem is probably primer contamination or something else..Just my 2 bits.

07 July 2018, 20:07

Joe Dean

I agree with you Ray. I have never had the problems with temp sensitivity as apparently others have. IIUC, the temp sensitivity issue is mainly toward hotter ambient temps and not cooler. I don't hunt in hot weather so it is of little importance to me. I still like H-414, H-335, and all the old DuPont powders.

10 July 2018, 21:26

Baldhunter

quote:
Originally posted by swampshooter:
I prefer H-4350 behind a 180 Nosler Partition or a Hornady SP Innerlocking also 180 gr. I safely get over 2800 fps out of my 24" 30/06 with max loads of H-4350. But 2600, 2700 or 2800 doesn't matter much. I've taken a lot of elk with the above loads. I only use the Nosler Partition if I'm hunting heavy brush. I also occasionally use a 7mm RM but prefer the 30/06. I think it hits harder than the 7 mag.

I use 165 and 168gr bullets for deer in my 30-06's.They usually run 2900-3000fps.They flat knock a deer down.The last deer I shot it broke the offside front leg without the bullet hitting it.I've only had this happen once before on a deer I shot with my 7mag.That one broke the onside front leg.The bullet entered behind the shoulder.Some say knockdown is BS,I say it is for real.As much as I like the 7mag,I think the 30-06 hits just as hard or harder.

11 July 2018, 01:19

Depending on which of my 06s I am loading for-either H4831sc or H4350 work well for me. CP.

18 July 2018, 18:21

M 98

i get 2880 with MRP and 2920 with R 17 behind a 180 partition in the 06
i get 2720 behind a 200 gn partition, and thats the only bullet i use now in my 06 for both small and large game....

Daniel

04 August 2018, 07:49

Atkinson

Im pretty well sold on the 200 gr. partition or Accubond for rockchucks to even a cape buffalo on occasion when its all I have in hand...The Accubond is great on small whitetail in the Texas Hill country and Elk in Idaho and Colorado..I sold my 338-06 for this very reason, couldn't tell the difference...I think the 338 Win. loaded properly is a tad better on elk, or so it seems to me...

12 August 2018, 20:30

GunTruck

My Best load for the 30/06 with 165gr Ballistic
tips is 65gr of RL26 with 215M primers and Winchester cases. In my rifle that gets 3008fps
with a SD13.4 using a 24" barrel. Just as good
was 63gr of Norma MRP with 165gr Trophy Bonded Tipped and 215M primers Winchester cases, at
3.280OAL. for 3027fps.

14 August 2018, 01:59

desert dog

H4350 works best in my 30-06 rifles with 175gr Barnes LRXs. Also works good with 168gr TTSXs.

19 August 2018, 09:23

Singleshotlover

Sako 75 Hunter wood stock in 30-06
Federal cases
CCI 250 magnum primers
IMR 4350 powder 55.5 grains
Nosler 165 Ballistic tip bullets
That load and either 55.4 or 55.5 grs of IMR 4350 has been shot in 4 pre 64 winchesters 3 of which were match rifles and one standard 1949 model 70 and now the Sako. The Sako even loves the old M72 match loading and almost but not quite outshoots the IMR load. Frank

20 August 2018, 22:54

matt salm

I remember when I first started handloading it was for a Win 70 in 30-06...read all about IMR4350 being THE powder for the ol '06. Tried it with 165's both in ballistic tips (when a box was 100 count) and the Sierra GK's. Didn't shoot well at all. Tried some other powders and Win 760 and IMR 4064 both shot very well, around 3/4 MOA and did the trick.