30-06 and 180 grn Accubonds.

[C.Smith]

I just bought some of these at Cabellas. Have not been able to find any locally. Looking forward to trying them in my Tikka T3 lite. Not sure which powder would givebetter velocities, RL22 or H4350? With 165 grain bullets I get better velocities out of this 30-06, would itbethe same with the heavier bullet? I'm looking for a muzzle velocity of 2800 fps, I think I can get that with the/3 inch barrel?

Corey

 

[Guy Miner]

I'd say a solid 2700 fps is easily possible with the 180's and H4350.

2800 fps, probably - but we don't have to push our rifles hard for good results on game or on targets. Just a thought.

Have used RL-22 in the .30-06 as well, with good results for accuracy and velocity. Never pushed the 180's to 2800 fps though.

Guy

 

[C.Smith]

Yeah that is a thought have not messed with 180 s much. That's why I'm asking. I suppose with good BC it should work well out to at least 300 yards.

Corey

 

[Guy Miner]

Nothing wrong with working towards 2800 fps and seeing what you get. Might get there no problem at all. Might go somewhat beyond.

Oh heck yes, even a 2600 - 2800 fps load is great to 300 yards! :grin: Zero it at 200 and depending on the bullet you've got around 9" of drop at 300 yds. That's what I do with both the .30-06 and in recent years the .375 rifle. Not hard to push it beyond 300 either. Not at all.

Somebody here will pop up and tell you how to get 2900+ fps with 180's from your .30-06, but I thought I'd drop in with a word in favor of the traditional 2700 - 2800 fps loads first...

Regards, Guy

 

[C.Smith]

I'm sure I will not be able to safely touch 2900 with this rifle, I can not get the 165s to go 2900 in this rifle. In fact with RL22 i could barely get it going 2800 fps. Now with H4350 I was able to consitantly and safely get to 2850 fps or so with the 165 grain AccuBond. I'm just not sure what powder to use. Nosler's manuel has no H4350 guide either so maybe thats a clue. I'm sure that I will be happy with what I get. I'm really looking for "The Load" in this rifle because I have not really found it as of yet. I've come close but not quite where I want it.


Corey

 

[Guy Miner]

Best doggone article on loading the .30-06 for hunting that I've ever read:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/newsletters/May_2009.html

Saved it on my computer, just for reference. Also, Hodgdon had a great little article a few years ago about how well H4350 works in the .30-06, with several different bullet weights. Don't know if it's avail on line, but I think I still have it hardcopy here somewhere in my loading room. I'll try to dig it up.

Guy

 

[C.Smith]

Guy that would be near and greatly appreciated.

Corey

 

[YoteSmoker]

I have found that a healthy dose of RL-22 works great with this bullet in an Interarms Mark X. Another 30-06 Browning A-bolt prefered IMR4350. They both shot sub MOA, so those are two powder recommendations I would start with. On deer and bull elk, the 180 AccuBond worked phenominal. All pass throughs from 80 yards to 324 yards.

 

[SJB358]

Seems like H4831 would be another to go along with RL22 for the 180's. I have 0 experience with 180's in the 30-06 for handloads, but I think I would be looking in about the same spot you are. Seems like Nosler has some data with the 180's pushing really close to 2800.

Like Guy said though, you don't need to push the 180gr bullets super hard to make them perform. My old man killed, moose, elk, deer, black bear and other stuff with the Federal Premium 180gr PT's in his Browning BAR 30-06. Mean, he destroyed EVERYTHING with that load and rifle. I hated it! That is why I am still apprehensive to own a 30-06 as I am scared I will like it and shun my other rifles. I really doubt the Federal load go much over 2600 in his 22" barreled BAR either, and he has shot fine out to 300.

Just some food for thought also, I run the Whelen at 2650FPS with the 250gr PT. With a 3.5" high zero at 100 and at 250 it is dead on. 300 is a couple inches low. Out at 400 it is about 20" low. So the 30-06 which is about the same trajectory would be plenty easy and powerful enough out to at least 400. Just my thoughts, I wish you ton's of luck, I don't think you will have issues breaking 2700+ really easy though. Scotty

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Nothing wrong with working towards 2800 fps and seeing what you get. Might get there no problem at all. Might go somewhat beyond.

Oh heck yes, even a 2600 - 2800 fps load is great to 300 yards! :grin: Zero it at 200 and depending on the bullet you've got around 9" of drop at 300 yds. That's what I do with both the .30-06 and in recent years the .375 rifle. Not hard to push it beyond 300 either. Not at all.

Somebody here will pop up and tell you how to get 2900+ fps with 180's from your .30-06, but I thought I'd drop in with a word in favor of the traditional 2700 - 2800 fps loads first...

Regards, Guy

I agree completely, if you need more than 2700-2800 fps with a 180 grain bullet which few people actually do, then buy a magnum. But this load in a 30-06 is a great all-around. Should shoot well too. I vote for the H4350, it shoots the tightest groups with any bullet weight of 150-180 in my Winchester 70.

 

[velvetant]

I helped my buddy work up a H4350/180NAB load for his 30-06.
Consistently under an inch and if I remember correctly he was around 2740fps with a 22" barrel

 

[SJB358]

I helped my buddy work up a H4350/180NAB load for his 30-06.
Consistently under an inch and if I remember correctly he was around 2740fps with a 22" barrel

See what I'm saying, those kinda loads are what scare other rifles in my safe. What would my wife say if she knew that load could do EVERYTHING! My rifles might become orphans and I could not do that to them. Scotty

 

[C.Smith]

Now you have me wondering if I should have gone with the 180 PT instead of the AccuBond, which requires a mininum of 1800 fps to open, which is roughly 500 yards are so (guessing on velocity as of right now). Not that I plan on shooting that far, especially in the field. I hope to be able to get proficiant enough to do that in the field if neccessary though. Oh well I will go with what I have, thanks for all the replies and help guys.


Corey

 

[SJB358]

Corey, I say PT, but the AB is the same darned bullet for the most part. I just like the PT more, but in all actuality, they will both act and do about the same thing. Plus, the AB is less expensive to shoot. That is important to us nuts, allows us to become proficient at 500 yards! Scotty

 

[C.Smith]

Corey, I say PT, but the AB is the same darned bullet for the most part. I just like the PT more, but in all actuality, they will both act and do about the same thing. Plus, the AB is less expensive to shoot. That is important to us nuts, allows us to become proficient at 500 yards! Scotty

That is a very good point for sure.

Corey

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Plus the Nosler brochure points out that the PT needs the same minimum 1800 fps to open reliably. So like has been said the AB and PT pretty much do the same thing, shoot the one that shoots the best. My 30-06 likes them both but I had a 300 Win Mag that would print Partitions on top of one another and throw Accubonds like buckshot. Go figure, but hey thats the fun of being a gunny, your work is never done! :mrgreen:

 

[C.Smith]

Plus the Nosler brochure points out that the PT needs the same minimum 1800 fps to open reliably. So like has been said the AB and PT pretty much do the same thing, shoot the one that shoots the best. My 30-06 likes them both but I had a 300 Win Mag that would print Partitions on top of one another and throw Accubonds like buckshot. Go figure, but hey thats the fun of being a gunny, your work is never done! :mrgreen:

Well I guess that settles that. Thanks I appreciate it.

Corey

 

[PJGunner]

There is a book, "ONE MAN, ONE RIFLE, ONE LAND" by J.Y. Jones, an eye surgeon who decided he wantd to hunt all 29 species of North American big game. His rifle was a Remington M700 ADL that IIRC had the barrel free floated, a trigger jod to 2.5 pounds and a recoil pad installed. The scope was a redfield (Original, not the remake by Leupold) NOt much detil on his ammo other than he had his gunsmith load it for him. I was thiking he used the 180 gr. Nosler Partitons for everything but in double checking, he use the 165 gr. pattions for deer and like size game and the 200 gr. Partition for elk and the bigger stuff. Counting all the game he took including subspecies of some types he took 41 game animals with his rilfe up to and including the great bears.
Personally, if I had the money to go that route and had to use the 30-06, I believe I would have simplified it by just using the 180 gr. Nosler Partition and not worrying about anything else. Actually, you could even get away with the 200 gr. Partition for everything if you want.
Paul B.

 

[SJB358]

That is the danged problem with a 30-06 Paul. It is too good for just about everything. Wouldn't have anything to do. What would I do with all these extra bullets I have? Yeah, I could never have that. Scotty

 

[Richracer1]

My 24" tubed Vanguard likes:

180 AB load, 55.5gn of H414, GM210M, Nosler brass, COL of 3.390" and getting around 2830fps.

180ET load, 53.5gn of H4350, GM210M, Win brass, COL 3.390" and getting around 2750 fps.