FishingPilot
US Veteran
I picked up a 'new to me' 30-06 yesterday. I have dies on the way. Do you guys have any favorite powders/bullet weight combos you would like to share?
new to me 30-06
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venomballistics
Member
Got time for a big book?
06 is a sweetheart of a cartridge, capable of covering a lot of ballistic territory.
165 grain btsp over 4831 is one of my favorites for heavy business.
150 grain cast flat point over blue dot, 2400, 4227, should make you care a lot less about 22 shortages.
200 grain rn cast over 4227 is a great range load. Same over 3031 gets field worthy.
This bullet over about 8 grains of blue dot with magnum primers is an excellent subsonic load. Tune to 1050 fps .1 grain at a time. Very consistent, and low report.
150g flat point tunes similarly in the same combination.
110 g Hornady sp over 3031, is a prolific producer of crimson mist.
This can crush a bunny, leaving only a patch of skin to pick up.
I've rarely found even bone left behind.
06 is a sweetheart of a cartridge, capable of covering a lot of ballistic territory.
165 grain btsp over 4831 is one of my favorites for heavy business.
150 grain cast flat point over blue dot, 2400, 4227, should make you care a lot less about 22 shortages.
200 grain rn cast over 4227 is a great range load. Same over 3031 gets field worthy.
This bullet over about 8 grains of blue dot with magnum primers is an excellent subsonic load. Tune to 1050 fps .1 grain at a time. Very consistent, and low report.
150g flat point tunes similarly in the same combination.
110 g Hornady sp over 3031, is a prolific producer of crimson mist.
This can crush a bunny, leaving only a patch of skin to pick up.
I've rarely found even bone left behind.
180 gr Speer spitzer with IMR 4350.
A lot of '06s respond very well to IMR 4064 or its Accurate equivalent, AA 4064 at about a grain more...
Also, C. E. Harris said 13 grains of Red Dot behind a 150 to 180-grain cast bullet in the '06 was pretty much textbook, if memory serves...
Also, C. E. Harris said 13 grains of Red Dot behind a 150 to 180-grain cast bullet in the '06 was pretty much textbook, if memory serves...
DWalt
Member
There are literally thousands of .30-'06 loads, and every reloading manual provides many. There is no such thing as a single "Best" load, only your interpretation of your best load. What do you want? A short-range target load or a long-range target load? A load for large game, medium game, or small game? And different rifles shoot tighter groups with different loads. A load which shoots 1" groups at 100 yards in my rifle may give a 3" group in your rifle. Or vice-versa. In summary, no one but you can define what a "Best Load" for you is.
"Also, C. E. Harris said 13 grains of Red Dot behind a 150 to 180-grain cast bullet in the '06 was pretty much textbook, if memory serves..."
That's often called "The Load". It's a light load which is most useful for small and medium game at short range, and for casual and informal shooting. It essentially converts a .30-'06 into something a little less powerful than a .30-30. Its main advantages are economy and light recoil. The use of "The Load" is not confined to .30-'06. You can use it in most any cartridge from .270 up to .45-70, with about any bullet weight and type, including cast lead. It's very good for young kids to use in learning to shoot dad's rifle due to the light recoil and mild report. I have fired thousands of similar loads in .308 using cast bullets. It won't shoot tight groups, but fine for fun shooting, and cheap.
"Also, C. E. Harris said 13 grains of Red Dot behind a 150 to 180-grain cast bullet in the '06 was pretty much textbook, if memory serves..."
That's often called "The Load". It's a light load which is most useful for small and medium game at short range, and for casual and informal shooting. It essentially converts a .30-'06 into something a little less powerful than a .30-30. Its main advantages are economy and light recoil. The use of "The Load" is not confined to .30-'06. You can use it in most any cartridge from .270 up to .45-70, with about any bullet weight and type, including cast lead. It's very good for young kids to use in learning to shoot dad's rifle due to the light recoil and mild report. I have fired thousands of similar loads in .308 using cast bullets. It won't shoot tight groups, but fine for fun shooting, and cheap.
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I've been into....
I've been into much reduced loads with light bullets and have moved to lead in the last year to get through the crisis. These things are crazy fun to shoot.
My powders are IMR4895 and SR4759. SR 4759 for the stuff under 2000 ft/sec and the super versatile 4895 for 2200 to 3000. I haven't a need for any bullet over 165 grains but some lead bullets are heavier. For the range I shoot a lot of 100 grain plinkers and 110 grain spire point. This keeps the cost down. For really cheap I use 100 grain lead carbine bullets but the last word isn't in on how these work.
I've been into much reduced loads with light bullets and have moved to lead in the last year to get through the crisis. These things are crazy fun to shoot.
My powders are IMR4895 and SR4759. SR 4759 for the stuff under 2000 ft/sec and the super versatile 4895 for 2200 to 3000. I haven't a need for any bullet over 165 grains but some lead bullets are heavier. For the range I shoot a lot of 100 grain plinkers and 110 grain spire point. This keeps the cost down. For really cheap I use 100 grain lead carbine bullets but the last word isn't in on how these work.
180 gr. bullet, 55 grs. IMR4350. I have never shot anything bigger than deer but it seems to kill them ok. It will also kill snakes, chipmunks and rabbits and it has enough power to shoot through both sides of a tin can. Larry
To add to what DWalt stated, we also do not know the type of rifle you have. Different loads are required for military than for sporting rifles. Different loads work better in a pump or semi-auto than bolt action, so tell us a little more about your rifle and intended use?
MichiganScott
Member
If you can't kill it with 56gr. IMR4350 under a 180gr. Nosler Partition, you need a bigger gun.
Years ago I owned a five groove Eddystone that had been semi-customized with a Bishop stock. The military barrel was throated long, and the load I worked up to was 58.5 grains of IMR 4350 in front of a CCI 200 and pushing a Speer 165-grain Grand Slam seated to .010" off the lands. I never checked it for velocity, but MERCY, was it accurate! Bolt lift was normal, case expansion within limits; just a lights out load!
OP
FishingPilot
US Veteran
Yes, I forgot to mention some details. My apologies. It's a Mossberg 100 ATR bolt action, 22" barrel. I'm mostly looking for good deer hunting loads. Range work would be limited to getting sighted in ~100 yards. My plan is to get back into hunting again: deer and bear. Got turkey hunting covered already.
If you're hunting deer and bear and want one load,I'd use a 180 gr bullet,for deer only a 165 would be perfect.
To be honest, if you need a deer hunting load, I would buy a box of 180 grain Remington CorLokt. Since most often you need only a half-dozen rounds to sight in and one more to shoot your deer, a box will last you a few years. Easy and inexpensive solution to your dilemma.
OP
FishingPilot
US Veteran
I see a lot of you have used 180 gr over some 4350 so I will start there and see where it goes. Thanks for the comments.
No disrespect intended, but I am curious why you would purchase dies and all the components for hunting deer at 100 yards? Each his own, but seems like a lot of work for a box of standard hunting ammo. You can buy Core Lokt for $16.95 on sale.
OP
FishingPilot
US Veteran
It's not just about costs but the joy/satisfaction of shooting a round that you load yourself. For me, I think it would be cool to take a deer with a round that I loaded. I do appreciate your comments though. The guy I got the rifle from also gave me a box of 20 Winchester Ballistic Silver tip ammo, 150 grain. As soon as I get a scope I'm hitting the range. Thanks again for the comments.
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Thanks - I am in the middle of reloading 500 rounds of 30-06 for my M-1 and would buy factory ammo in a second if the cost of reloading was not so advantageous. The best I can do for M2 Ball ammo is CMP at $130 for 200 rounds of 150 grain FMJ. That is $13 for 20 and I am reloading for $6.00 for 20.
Guess I better get back to loading.
Thanks - I am in the middle of reloading 500 rounds of 30-06 for my M-1 and would buy factory ammo in a second if the cost of reloading was not so advantageous. The best I can do for M2 Ball ammo is CMP at $130 for 200 rounds of 150 grain FMJ. That is $13 for 20 and I am reloading for $6.00 for 20.
Guess I better get back to loading.
Surplus bullet 22¢, powder 22¢, primer 4¢. Contemporary prices.
Ditto that. I loaded a Sierra 165 grain SPBT & IMR 4064 that worked like magic on deer and caribou. It was point blank up to 300 yards. For moose I moved up to 180 grains, which I would reccommend for black bear, 200 grains for the bigger ones.
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