I am thinking of reloading for my 30-06 for the first time and had a couple of questions
1. a good powder choice as far as accuracy for 150-180 grain bullets, Sierra Match Kings in particular.
2. Should I full length re-size or just neck re-size.

The rifle is a S&W 1500

Thanks

Full length size for hunting ammo and neck size for paper punching. I like maximum charges of IMR4350 for hunting ammo. Some folks think IMR4895 gives better accuracy but with less velocity. For hunting animals the size of northern Whitetail, I REALLY like the Sierra 165 grain SPBT. Your rifle will tell you what it likes best.



Bruce

If you are shooting a bolt gun try H4350 or IMR4350. If you are shooting a gas gun, a Garand in particular, you cannot use a powder that slow burning. The Garand was designed to use the original mil spec 4895. The powder most closely matching the original burn speed is H4895. You will never bend an operating rod or crack a receiver with either H4895 or IMR 4895.

If you want to talk about it or get data, call me a t Hodgdon Powder tomorrow. 800-622-4366 ext 110. My name is Mike. I can shoot you an email with any or all of our 30-06 data.

Mike

All of mine like IMR 4350 and 165g NBT's.

Mdaly hit it on the head, slow powders 4350 and 4831 are great choices and offer max speed out of a bolt gun.

Semi autos require 4895 or 4064 for the proper pressure curve to safely operate the gas system.

Classic m1 garand load is 49grs IMR-4895 @ 150 gr spitzer bullet.

Classic m1 garand load is 48grs 4064 @ 165-168 gr spitzer bullet.

Have fun

I like Winchester 748 & 760 depending on bullet weight. Very clean burning and accurate in my rifles. It is the same powders used by Winchester in their factory loads.

I don't have my data book in front of me, I do know my rifles prefer IMR4350 and IMR4895. I neck sized only for accuracy, but then I don't have a semi 06. For punching holes in paper I use 168 grain Hornady A-max and for hunting I had good results with Speer's low cost Hot Core in the appropriate weight for the game.

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Guy-Harold Smith II

Reloader 19 for your bullet weight.

I have always had excellent results with both IMR-3031 and IMR-4895.

Thanks everybody, since my 06 is a bolt gun I will give IMR4350 a try assuming I can find any in my area.

Thanks

Troy

I have used IMR4350 with good results. H4831 has also worked well in my bolt gun.

My dad has a Remington 760 pump .30-06 that is amazingly accurate with IMR 4350 and the original style Barnes 150 gr. X Bullet. It's the single most accurate load I had ever developed for any rifle.

On a more depressing note, I had high hopes for Hodgdon BL-C2, since it works so well for me in .223, .308 and .300 Savage. I was shocked to find that regular Winchester and CCI primers will not ignite this powder in the .30-06. Magnum primers are too much trouble for just this one load so for me BL-C2 is a no go.

Dave Sinko

Another vote for IMR4350 with a 165 gr. bullet.

wyo-man

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I have had good luck for accuracy with 3031 & 165's.

I have had awesome accuracy and higher than expected velocities from ReLoder 17. The standard book charge of 58 grains gave me ave. of 3052 out of a 22in Bbl with 150 grn bullets. Very similar burn rate to IMR 4350.

Alliant Powder - Reloder 17

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

I like WW760, IMR 4350, & IMR 4895. These are proven powders. I neck size all my ammo..........Creeker

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Joshua 1:9

My standard 30-06 load is the 165 grain and IMR 4350. I have only bolt actions.

When I was shooting High Power with my Match Garand, I used Match cases, Sierra 168 grn HPBT, and IMR 4895. I think it was 46.5 or 47 grains of the 4895. That was my best and most accurate loading.

I also used IMR 4895 in my Match .308 Win loads shooting a Match M1A. I believe that one was 41.5 grns behind the Sierra 168 Grn HPBT and Match cases.

I use nothing else than 4350 for 165gr or heavier bullets in a 30-06 bolt action rifle. (mostly H4350 over IMR or Accurate)

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SWCA #3437

I'm surprised no votes for IMR-4064. I found out that Federal uses it in their .308 Gold Medal Match round, and I've had terrific success with it in that round. I am going to work up a load for my Springfield 1903s with it next, .30-06.

I like H-414. It's the same powder as W-760 , just a different label. It's the ball version of 4350. Good for heavier bullets.

For 165gr and less , the Garand match shooters I know are having excellent results with Varget. It's in the 4895 burn rate class. Somewhat faster than 4350.

+1 on IMR 4064, some years ago I was looking for a single IMR powder with which to load .257 Roberts and .35 Whelen. After extensive research and range testing IMR 4064 became my powder of choice, I see no reason that it shouldn't prove to be an excellent choice in .30-06.

I have had good results in both bolt and semi .30-06s with H4895.
It's worked fine in both match and hunting loads with 147 and 150 grain bullets.

I have been using IMR 4350 with 190gr. bullets for years in my B.A.R. with excellent results. I'm using 52.5 grs. This is the same load that one many matches at Camp Perry. I do know that my B.A.R. does not do well with lighter bullets. It cycles too fast, but with 180-190gr. bullets she shoots very good. I never heard not to use this powder in a B.A.R. 190gr. Sierra H.PB.T. for targets and the great Hornady 190gr.B.T.S.P. for Elk. I can see that maybe it's the bullet weight that is the problem in some cases, not the powder. At least that was the case for me.

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AM-Tracks 66-69

4064 is a super powder for bullets up to 165 gr. Beware if you use it with heavier slugs as your load is either ok or too hot and it gets too hot quickly. No pre indicators, just too hot.

Do you have other calibers you are going to load for? I've had excellent results using 4064 for 30-06, 7.5 Swiss, 30-30, 250 Savage, and 22-250. Makes it so I don't have a bunch of different powders stacked up in the cabinet. My standard bullet weights for both 30-06 and 7.5 Swiss are 165 and 168 gr. Consistently excellent results with 4064.

iam using the imr 4350 and 150 corlocts
iam using imr 4350 and 150 gr rem cl seem to be working good i am getting 1in groups at100yds.try some differnt powder and heads to see witch ones your 06 likes best. have fun reloading and give us a range report

I lucked into approximately 500 rds of Lapua 170gr FMJBT'S. I'm loading them behind I4895; 46.0 gr for the Garand and 46.5 gr for the -03 and they have been very accurate.

I shoot competition with my .308 bolt gun and have been shooting Berger 175 LRBT's behind 43.0 gr of Varget. I've been using it for years now and it has to be the most stable powder in any temperature.

I will continue to use IMR 4895 in 30-06 as I save the Varget for targets.

I seldom get down to 150 gr bullets in a 30-06 since the bigger bullets will normally carry long distance in this caliber.

If you noticed my powder charges...they are not for the hardest hitting power but the most accurate shot placement.

On a side note has anyone noticed that there really is a difference in felt recoil between Varget and I4350? The Varget pushes against your shoulder and the I4350 slaps it.

^^THIS^^ With the exception that I use the flatbase bullet. Keep in mind that it's hard to load a 30-06 round that isn't accurate.

IMR 3031 - 150 Gn Hornaby PSP - works great for me.

I use IMR4350 with 150 and 165gr bullets. I moved up to the 190 BTSP Hornady for a while and had great results with H4831.

For anything up to 168gr., IMR4895 or H4895 is great.

For 175gr. and up, I would use IMR4350 or IMR4895. I shoot nothing but the 200gr. Sierra Match Kings in my .30-06 Savage 112BVSS, and get excellent results at 600 yards.