30-06 Loads

[crash0ride]

What are some good velocities for 165/168gr bullets out of 30-06 ?

I've done 2911fps using 56.5gr of IMR 4350 but it seems to be on the hot end. 54gr of H4350 shoots ok and is doing 2864fps. Both of the loads shoot under an " in my Savage if I do my part.

Does everyone typically go for the hottest load they can get? Mainly I use my guns for hunting or just target shooting for fun.

 

[Guy Miner]

I don't usually seek the hottest load my rifle will stand, or even the max load in the manuals. Sometimes it works out that way, as in the case of my .25-06, I got great results with max level loads, also the .308 Win.

With my .30-06, I don't see any real need to push it, though the cartridge is capable of stellar performance, and you're certainly getting excellent velocity with yours. I usually load the 165's to about 2750 - 2800 fps, and the 180's at around 2700 - 2750 fps.

Can't say there's ever been a shot I didn't take, because the velocity wasn't 100 fps higher. Haven't had any complaints from the game hit either. They all seemed to think impact velocity was at least adequate... :grin:

With a hunting load, I look for reliable performance. Time after time. Good accuracy is a must. High velocity is optional.

Regards, Guy

 

[Guest]

I'm pushing my -06 at max load, but only because the groups kept getting smaller the higher up the workup I went. When I got to max, with no pressure signs, I decided a sub-.5MOA load was perfectly acceptable and have not done anything else but load a bunch and try to find deer with them.

 

[FOTIS]

About 2800 fps with the 165 BT for me.

 

[PJGunner]

Funny thing is, I haven't loaded for or shot the 30-06 in years until recently. :shock: I used a .270 Win. in 2009, a .35 Whelen in 2010, didn't hunt in 2011 even though the wife and I drew tags for deer. I forget the reasons why we decided not to go. Rifles to be used .257 Robt. for the wife and 7x57 for me. No tags again in 2012 so booked for elk with the hunt un january 2013. Took the .35 Whelen with (GASP!) the 30-06 as back up. Shot the elk with the Whelen. I didn't draw for anything again in my home state so booked for another elk hunt in New Mexico. Due to circumstances I may not be able to use the Whelen on this hunt due to doctor's orders so I'm prepping a .280 Rem. and 30-06 for the hunt. I'll be trying the 180 gr. AccuBond and Partition in the 30-06 and am thinking 150 gr. ABLR for the .280 if the gun likes them. I not the Parttion and Grand Slams will be tried. The hunt doesn't begin until next January so I do have some time.
Paul B.

 

[hunting1]

My go to load is 49-grains of Varget and 165 NP and I average around 2850. I have loaded H4350 from 57.5-59 and got up to 2925 and used to run 61-grs RL22 around 2900. I hope to wack a bull this weekend with the first mentioned.

 

[Firebird]

I recently started working with my brothers 30.06 trying to find a great powder bullet combo for use on both deer and elk. My pre 64 Winchester loves max loads with 165 grand slam bullets. So I started there with his remington 700 bdl LH. Horrid results with my own "pet" load. Switched powders etc but no love with that bullet.
Switched my plan to 165 AccuBond which the Winchester hates. Started at min load and worked up eventually finding that rifle loves that bullet at a mid range load of powder. When I worked to max load the accuracy got lost. We stayed with the most accurate load and at 220 ish yards clobbered a cow elk with pass through broadside ribs and devastated lungs.
Summing up- different guns love different bullets and different loads and the fun is finding the bullet and powder loading your rifle loves. Good luck

 

[35 Whelen]

Back in the 80's we messed around with a dozen different powders and for us the best powder without high preasure that got over 2900 with the old Nosler Solid Base bullets in 165gr was a load Jack O'Conner published, that he shot, of 52 grains of 4064 .................... that would give us 2930fps out of a 24" barrel from a Styer Professional and out of my Win Model 70 Stainless[ no flattened primers, or sticky bolt lift, with either rifle, and much nicer to shoot, recoil wise than most other powders we tried] with a 22" barrel it is just under the 2900fps most of the time, with one every now and then breaking the 2900fps .................... I now shoot Hornaday SST for Deer sized stuff, or Nosler BT bullets, and that loading works fantastic on game up to 300 lbs. And about the only time I every use anything else with the 06 is if we have a hunter wound a bear and its getting "darkthirty" I always carry some 220gr bullets loaded fairly warm if I have to do the alder deal...............
I of course use the Whelen if I have the option to, but sometimes I just don't and I normally hunt with the Model 70 about 95% of the time........ 8)
ps I am fully aware that load doesn't jive with todays manuals............

 

[longrangehunter]

I've had great success with Reloader 22, 19 in my '06 with various bullets, and you should be able to safely reach 2900-2950 with RL 22 and a 165/168 grain bullet.

Whether or not it's super accurate in your gun is another story?

 

[crash0ride]

Did I mention I'm 5800' above sea level?

Seems like I'm 100fps over what most books claim and I'm w/ a 22" barrel.

 

[FOTIS]

Did I mention I'm 5800' above sea level?

Seems like I'm 100fps over what most books claim and I'm w/ a 22" barrel.

I am at 6500 where I shoot. :wink:

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I have been playing with my 30-06 BDL and 168gr BTs. I have worked up loads to just above book max with three powders and have yet to break 2775fps. This is the first year I have shot this rifle across a chrony and have been a bit disappointed with my velocities. It shoots several of these loads right at 1" @ 100yds. Nothing spectacular but certainly more than good enough. The powders and highest charge weight with velocity are as follows:
RL-22 - 62.5gr @ 2775fps (very compressed)
IMR-4064 - 52.0gr @ 2742fps
IMR-4350 - 58.0gr @ 2708fps

I have two loads worked up using H4831 & SuperPerformance. I don't expect anything game changing. Think it's just a slow barrel.

 

[Oldtrader3]

In my .30-06, I now shoot mostly 165 grain AccuBond bullets with 57.5 grs of IMR 4350 and BR-2 primer. This load has a muzzle velocity of about 2850 fps and is very accurate.

 

[Elkman]

crash
Does everyone typically go for the hottest load they can get? Mainly I use my guns for hunting or just target shooting for fun

.
As long as I am happy with the velocity, and can shoot under 1/2 min or so I am happy with a load. I have not found many animals that can tell the difference between 2750 and 2800 fps. A good bullet does make the difference.

 

[Oldtrader3]

None of my loads with IMR powders are considered hot loads Bill, most of them are 75 to 100 fps under Saami Max. I shoot mainly for accuracy.

 

[Wincheringen]

The only 30-06s I load for anymore are Garands, so no, not even close to maximum. Excellent accuracy in a Garand is 2 MOA, so you don't have to be particularly precise with the powder measurements. I really like the short cut grain powders for metering.

 

[SJB358]

I have two loads worked up using H4831 & SuperPerformance. I don't expect anything game changing. Think it's just a slow barrel.

FWIW, I don't particularly believe in a slow barrel.. I believe you may have a larger chamber,that allows your case to grow more, but I think anything but about 50FPS difference has had more to do with chamber dimensions than anything else. Give me some H20 capacities of your case, and lets see where it stacks up CC. I am not saying two identical barrels with the same reamer used might run slower faster, but difference isn't usually as much different as most would think. Just my thoughts on it CC.. That is why I really enjoy QL, as you can input the data for your individual rifle..

You may also have a slower lot of powders, but since you have tried 3 different ones so far, I am betting on a larger chamber which will take more fuel to get normally seen speeds.

Cartridge : .30-06 Spring. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .308, 168, Nosler CT BalSilTip 51160
Useable Case Capaci: 59.818 grain H2O = 3.884 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-22

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 101 56.25 2514 2358 39032 10008 88.6 1.290
-09.0 102 56.88 2547 2419 40449 10160 89.3 1.269
-08.0 103 57.50 2579 2482 41924 10309 90.0 1.247
-07.0 104 58.13 2612 2545 43461 10455 90.7 1.226
-06.0 105 58.75 2645 2610 45062 10597 91.4 1.206
-05.0 107 59.38 2678 2676 46731 10736 92.0 1.185
-04.0 108 60.00 2712 2743 48472 10871 92.7 1.165
-03.0 109 60.63 2745 2811 50289 11002 93.3 1.145
-02.0 110 61.25 2778 2880 52182 11128 93.9 1.126
-01.0 111 61.88 2812 2950 54164 11251 94.4 1.107
+00.0 112 62.50 2846 3021 56232 11368 95.0 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 113 63.13 2880 3093 58391 11481 95.5 1.070 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 114 63.75 2914 3166 60657 11589 96.0 1.052 ! Near Maximum !
+03.0 115 64.38 2948 3241 63027 11691 96.4 1.034 ! Near Maximum !
+04.0 117 65.00 2982 3316 65506 11788 96.9 1.016 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 118 65.63 3016 3393 68105 11879 97.3 0.999 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 112 62.50 3021 3404 69208 11471 99.4 0.998 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 112 62.50 2621 2563 45227 10590 85.9 1.204

Cartridge : .30-06 Spring. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .308, 168, Nosler CT BalSilTip 51160
Useable Case Capaci: 59.818 grain H2O = 3.884 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : IMR 4064

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 90 46.80 2559 2443 46258 8869 98.1 1.213
-09.0 91 47.32 2584 2491 47672 8952 98.4 1.196
-08.0 92 47.84 2610 2541 49128 9032 98.6 1.179
-07.0 93 48.36 2635 2590 50626 9110 98.8 1.163
-06.0 94 48.88 2660 2640 52168 9184 99.0 1.147
-05.0 95 49.40 2686 2691 53756 9256 99.2 1.132
-04.0 96 49.92 2711 2741 55390 9324 99.4 1.116 ! Near Maximum !
-03.0 97 50.44 2736 2792 57073 9389 99.5 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 98 50.96 2761 2843 58807 9450 99.7 1.087 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 99 51.48 2785 2894 60592 9508 99.8 1.072 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 100 52.00 2810 2946 62431 9563 99.9 1.058 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 101 52.52 2835 2998 64326 9614 99.9 1.044 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 102 53.04 2859 3050 66278 9662 100.0 1.031 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 103 53.56 2884 3102 68290 9706 100.0 1.017 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 104 54.08 2908 3155 70364 9746 100.0 1.004 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 105 54.60 2932 3207 72503 9785 100.0 0.991 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 100 52.00 2905 3147 72824 9221 100.0 0.992 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 100 52.00 2673 2665 52124 9598 96.7 1.145

Cartridge : .30-06 Spring. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .308, 168, Nosler CT BalSilTip 51160
Useable Case Capaci: 59.818 grain H2O = 3.884 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : IMR 4350

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 95 52.20 2538 2402 44380 9184 92.8 1.228
-09.0 96 52.78 2566 2456 45863 9298 93.3 1.209
-08.0 97 53.36 2594 2511 47397 9409 93.8 1.191
-07.0 98 53.94 2623 2566 48985 9518 94.3 1.173
-06.0 99 54.52 2651 2622 50629 9624 94.7 1.156
-05.0 100 55.10 2679 2678 52324 9727 95.2 1.139
-04.0 102 55.68 2708 2735 54073 9827 95.6 1.122
-03.0 103 56.26 2736 2792 55878 9924 96.0 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 104 56.84 2764 2850 57747 10019 96.4 1.089 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 105 57.42 2793 2909 59682 10109 96.8 1.073 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 106 58.00 2821 2969 61687 10197 97.1 1.058 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 107 58.58 2849 3028 63765 10281 97.4 1.042 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 108 59.16 2878 3089 65919 10361 97.8 1.027 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 109 59.74 2906 3150 68153 10438 98.0 1.012 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 110 60.32 2934 3212 70469 10511 98.3 0.998 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 111 60.90 2963 3274 72873 10580 98.6 0.983 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 106 58.00 2951 3248 72993 10126 99.9 0.985 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 106 58.00 2651 2622 50716 9802 90.7 1.152


Just by tweaking the actual H20 capacities, I bet we could neck it down to get you pretty close.

 

[Guest]

I neglected to post earlier what I'm loading and the velocities achieved. My workup was with H4350 and I used current published data showing a max load of 59gr. I'm getting right over 2900 (2920fps) average and consistent half-minute accuracy from the bench, and regularly enough from field positions to know its not the rifle or load when groups open up. I'm shooting a Colt Light Rifle with a 24" barrel.

I tend to agree with my jarheaded friend Scotty about slow versus fast barrels. I suspect either the chamber is on the large end of SAAMI specs or perhaps the bore is on the large end of acceptable tolerances for .308cal. But Scotty is a smart fellow and a good handloader and I'd take him up on his offer of custom QL data based on your brass capacity.

 

[Guy Miner]

A few years ago my youngest son became enamored with the ancient .30-06 that has served our family well for four generations. Since then he's taken two bucks and two bears, at ranges from 20 yards to 320 yards.

All with the 165 gr Nosler loaded to a modest 2750 fps, via H4350.

I think the kid is onto something.

Guy

 

[SJB358]

I think the kid is onto something.

Guy

Me too Guy.. Kids seems to have something going pretty well for him!