I was able to go to the range for the first time since early March. I took my S&W 1500 that has a 3x9 Nikon scope. I reloaded ammunition for the first time and the rifle really liked 150 grain Sierra Match Kings with 56 grains of IMR4350. I also shot some 150 grain Sierra Game Kings, most of the groups ran in the 1.75 inch range for 5 shots at 100 yards but for one group the jerk pulling the trigger did a little better and I got a 5 shot that was 1 inch edge to edge. Nice rifle.
3006 Reloads
- Thread starter Troystat
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scattershot
Member
Nice!! Message too short, fixed it.
Patrick L
Member
Very Nice!!
Yeah, those Howas were marketed by a lot of people before they started selling them under their own name. I have a Howa marked gun in .223 and I love it.
I never heard of anyone having one under any name that wasn't a tack driver.
Yeah, those Howas were marketed by a lot of people before they started selling them under their own name. I have a Howa marked gun in .223 and I love it.
I never heard of anyone having one under any name that wasn't a tack driver.
gwpercle
Member
Looking Good !
That load doesn't need muck "tweeking" at all... I see 1 inch groups in your future ...easy !
Good shooting ,
Gary
That load doesn't need muck "tweeking" at all... I see 1 inch groups in your future ...easy !
Good shooting ,
Gary
that's some darn good shooting Troystat . i need to do a little rifle shooting of my own . i don't reload but have never shot a 100 yrd group that good with any factory ammo . do you try different loads until you find what your rifle shoots best . that's what i do with factory ammo . kind of hard to believe 1 shoots so much better than others . great shooting . thanks for sharing . kenny
Somewhere around 56 grains of 4350 seems to be almost a magic pill in many boot-action .30-06 rifles with a lot of different bullets. It's one of those combinations that seems to deliver both speed and accuracy. That's nice shooting. You're off to a good start. 
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Congratulations on shooting five-shot groups and using a ruler rather than a caliper to measure group sizes.
DWalt
Member
I always use a transparent clear plastic ruler, graduated in millimeters - then convert to inches. I don't think I will be more than about 0.02" off. Have been doing it that way for many years.
10-shot groups are far more consistent than 5-shot groups in assessing grouping performance.
Never use 4350 for reloads to be used in an M1 Garand.
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Super way to start things off, very nice grouping.
That load should be around 2700fps, which is a good speed for the 150gr bullet for target work or Deer size animals.
The flat base bullet will do well out to 300 yards and the BT design will have a little less drop and drift at 500 yards, if you need to shoot that far.
I have a imr4350 hunting load at 2880fps with a 150g Rem. Core-Lokt but this year I am down loading it to around 2590 +/-
to see if it will still be accurate and give 30-30 plus energys for minimum meat damage.
My rifle also likes the 165 and 180g pills.............
Have fun with a great rifle.
That load should be around 2700fps, which is a good speed for the 150gr bullet for target work or Deer size animals.
The flat base bullet will do well out to 300 yards and the BT design will have a little less drop and drift at 500 yards, if you need to shoot that far.
I have a imr4350 hunting load at 2880fps with a 150g Rem. Core-Lokt but this year I am down loading it to around 2590 +/-
to see if it will still be accurate and give 30-30 plus energys for minimum meat damage.
My rifle also likes the 165 and 180g pills.............
Have fun with a great rifle.
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Full confession, that was the best 5 shot group of the day. I do think for the most part even from a rest the gun shoots better than I do. I also tried some of the same bullet with 58 grains of IMR4350 and it seemed slightly less accurate but I shot the 56 grain loads first so maybe it was me.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
The S&W 1500 was a contract version of the Howa 1500. The Howa was rated as the most accurate out-of-the-box production rifle by NRA American Rifleman testing several years ago. Excellent product in every way.
.30-06 reloads? Of course! I don't recall purchasing .30-06 factory ammo for at least 45 years or so, but I still shoot a lot of it! Tough to beat either 4350 or 4831 with most common bullet weights.
.30-06 reloads? Of course! I don't recall purchasing .30-06 factory ammo for at least 45 years or so, but I still shoot a lot of it! Tough to beat either 4350 or 4831 with most common bullet weights.
One thing about the old 30-06, is the vast amount of bullet weights that can be found, to try out loads in your rifle, from the small 100gr bullets up to the larger 220gr bullets, made by most ammo company's and bullet makers.
As for powders, you can go from mild powder puff loads up to full power loads that will make your teeth chatter and add color to your shoulder.
Over the years I have used;
Bullseye, Unique and SR4759 for X-lite loads........... as well as
BLC-2, W748, Varget, H380, H414.....
Imr4895, 4064, 4320, 4350 and 4831.
Most 06' rifles will have a sweet spot with the bullet and powder that you choose, that can be fine tuned with trying different primers.
I load with CCI200 & 250's as well as the WLR, that sometimes tightens my groups by 50% on the 180 or larger bullets, shot out of my 1903.
You have many happy days of shooting, ahead of you, enjoy.
As for powders, you can go from mild powder puff loads up to full power loads that will make your teeth chatter and add color to your shoulder.
Over the years I have used;
Bullseye, Unique and SR4759 for X-lite loads........... as well as
BLC-2, W748, Varget, H380, H414.....
Imr4895, 4064, 4320, 4350 and 4831.
Most 06' rifles will have a sweet spot with the bullet and powder that you choose, that can be fine tuned with trying different primers.
I load with CCI200 & 250's as well as the WLR, that sometimes tightens my groups by 50% on the 180 or larger bullets, shot out of my 1903.
You have many happy days of shooting, ahead of you, enjoy.
The 150 gr SGK over H4350 gives me top velocity (>3000fps) and accuracy in my Savage 116.
I used the RL15 under the 150 SGK for about 2600 fps for a lighter recoiling load for recoil sensitive folks.
Rosewood
I used the RL15 under the 150 SGK for about 2600 fps for a lighter recoiling load for recoil sensitive folks.
Rosewood
