30-06 180gr PT load development

[Norm]

I loaded up some 180gr Partitions with to try out for my first hand loads and have a few newbie questions. All loads were using CCI 200 primers, Remington brass, and H4350. My rifle is a Howa 1500 with a 22" barrel. Because of the deep snow I was only shooting at 50yds and it was 25F out

load 1 - 57gr H4350, COL 3.340 - 1- 1/2"

load 2 - 57gr H4350, COL 3.355 (.010 off the lands) 1-1/2"

load 3 - 56gr H4350, COL 3.340 - 1"

load 4 - 56gr H4350, COL 3.355 (.010 off the lands) - 1"

Factory Remington core-lokt 180gr - 1/4" (COL 3.285)


I'm thinking of trying the above loads with 54 and 55 grains and using standard COL of 3.340 since loading close to the lands did not seem to make a difference.

Does any know what type of powder Remington uses? My gun has always loved the green box 180gr core-lok and I would be a happy camper to get close to those groups with 180gr Partitions.

Should I set the COL the same as the factory Core-lokt?


Thanks

 

[YoteSmoker]

I would set your oal to 3.340" like you are thinking already (you can always play with seating after you figure out the load later--if you need to). H4350 is better used with 150-165 grainers imo. I have had good luck with RL-22 and IMR 4350 in a few '06 rifles. H4831 or IMR4831 might be good to try also. Try working up in half grain increments 2 grains below max. I have always loaded WLR primers for the '06 (just no reason to change), but CCI should work for you.

 

[JD338]

Norm,

Welcome to the forum.

+1 to what YoteSmoker said on powder suggestions and COL.
Many times the ammunition manufactures load with powders that are not available to the general public.
IMHO, start with RL22. :wink:

JD338

 

[OU812]

I recently started loading for my Remington 742 and like your rifle mine loves the core-loks but I wanted a better hunting bullet. I started with a 200 grain NP, IMR-4350, WLR primer and a COL of 3.285.

With this load I can cover a 3 shot group with a dime at 100 yards. For the 06 I think IMR4350 is a pretty standard go to powder and I think it really comes in to it's own with 200+ grain bullets.

 

[JungleJim]

Should I set the COL the same as the factory Core-lokt?


Thanks

Not necessarily. It does pay off big time to experiment with COL. That COL 3.340 is just a SAAMI recommendation for MAX length of the 30-06. I would be real surprised if you best accuracy obtainable was at 3.340 COL. Most 30 06 I have worked with like shorter than Max COL for optimum accuracy. Consider COL as a tunning aid. Same with primers.

Also consider trying Reloader 22 or slightly quicker burning MRP with 180s in your 06 if the 4350s don't seen to be getting were you want to be.

 

[Norm]

Thanks for the replies, I was little hesitant to try RL22 because of the temperature extremes we see during hunting season (0F-75F). Maybe I'll give IMR4350 or IMR4831 a try.

No one has Federal primers in town, and even Winchester are getting hard to find so I bought a few hundred CCI's to try.

 

[FOTIS]

Play with differnt powders, find one it really likes and then once you find that, then play with seating depths.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I've had very good experience with CCI 200 primers and easy to ignite stick powders such as H4350 and H4831, but the WMPR are usually a better choice with the harder to ignite RL22. Part of your issue might be the bullet. Partitions great for crushing bone and shooting through things, but they are not Noslers most accurate bullet. The 30.06 usually shoots a 180gr bullet around 2700 to 2800 fps. This is a great velocity range for loading the Balistic Tip if your hunting deer and antelope, or the AccuBond when hunting... well, anything you could possibly want to shoot in North America.

 

[Alaska]

H4350 @ 56.0 with 180gr
H4350 @ 57.5 with 165 gr

Fed 210Match primers or CCI Br2
WW Cases

 

[JD338]

Partitions great for crushing bone and shooting through things, but they are not Noslers most accurate bullet. The 30.06 usually shoots a 180gr bullet around 2700 to 2800 fps. This is a great velocity range for loading the Balistic Tip if your hunting deer and antelope, or the AccuBond when hunting... well, anything you could possibly want to shoot in North America.

Actually, if you find the right load, partitions are very accurate. I have shot many sub .5" groups with PT's in several different calibers and bullet weights.

The single biggest hurdle is finding the right powder. Once you do, you can try different primers and adjust your COL to "fine tune" your load.
JD338

 

[FOTIS]

My 7mm rem mag shot them 150 PT's at 3150+ and .6" at 100 yards. They can be very accurate.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

WoW. Nice group.
I can only imagine what you do with the Custom competitions 8)
I noticed you like the RL powders. Do they have a tendency to work better with the partitions?

 

[JD338]

I started using RL19 in my 280 Rem, well under MOA with both the 140 gr PT and BT bullets. (The 160 gr PT went .400" with IMR4831).
My 338 RUM has only seen RL22 and RL25. All the Nosler bullet offerings go under .5" except the 225 gr AB which is just over .5".
My 280AI loves RL22 for 140 gr and 160 gr AB's. Sane can be said for my 257 Roberts and RL22. The 35 Whelen is really liking RL15.
Yeah, I guess I am having good success with Alliant powders. :lol:

JD338

 

[kiddekop]

I loaded up some 180gr Partitions with to try out for my first hand loads and have a few newbie questions. All loads were using CCI 200 primers, Remington brass, and H4350. My rifle is a Howa 1500 with a 22" barrel. Because of the deep snow I was only shooting at 50yds and it was 25F out

load 1 - 57gr H4350, COL 3.340 - 1- 1/2"

load 2 - 57gr H4350, COL 3.355 (.010 off the lands) 1-1/2"

load 3 - 56gr H4350, COL 3.340 - 1"

load 4 - 56gr H4350, COL 3.355 (.010 off the lands) - 1"

Factory Remington core-lokt 180gr - 1/4" (COL 3.285)


I'm thinking of trying the above loads with 54 and 55 grains and using standard COL of 3.340 since loading close to the lands did not seem to make a difference.

Does any know what type of powder Remington uses? My gun has always loved the green box 180gr core-lok and I would be a happy camper to get close to those groups with 180gr Partitions.

Should I set the COL the same as the factory Core-lokt?


Thanks

I have a copy of an article that appeared in the 3/86 American Rifleman "Reloading For The M1 Rifle "I used the data for hunting loads for Mule Deer (killed one)with my Garand & in my Sako Finnbear 30-06 165gr Nosler BT,Rem 9 1/2 LR mag primer; Win,Rem ,Denver 42 & 43 Brass , 47.5gr of IMR 4895 .If anyone wants a copy send me your email addy & I'll send it .Data for 150gr,168gr,180gr,190gr & 200gr.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Now that sounds more like my experiences with Nosler Partitions. Kiddie, you might want to take a page from JD and try some Alliant powder with those partitions.

 

[GSSP]

Norm,

Take what you have and explore it further. Don't start from scratch with another powder. Take your 56 gr load and go up or down in .5 grain increments yet keep your OAL the same. Then, once you settle on a charge weight, experiment w/ OAL, seating up or down in .05" increments. Once you settle on a OAL, all you have to do is try different primers for final tweeking.

Bullet, powder, charge weight, OAL and finally primers. In that order. Only change one variable at a time so you know which variable changed for the good or the bad.

If by then you still don't like your groups, you'll need to start again with either a new powder or bullet.

Good luck!

 

[big rifle man]

Norm, one other thought on your OAL. Make sure the round is going to fit in your magazine. I know you don't want a single shot rifle, and I have also found that an OAL of 3.280-3.285 works good in the accuracy department.

 

[Norm]

I might play with OAL a bit and H4350. I found a Hodgdon Xperiment pack at the local reloader store. The pack has 4 - 1/4LB bottles of H414, Varget, H4895, and H4350. I'll probably load 3 rounds of each in a couple of powder weights and test them out. Spring bear is just around the corner, but I still have a couple months to play around before the season starts.

 

[kiddekop]

Now that sounds more like my experiences with Nosler Partitions. Kiddie, you might want to take a page from JD and try some Alliant powder with those partitions.

I use H4831,IMR4831 for PT's up to 220gr.