30-06 O.A.C.L.’s

[nosler06]

Hi all

I’m loading up some 30-06 rounds to do some ladders tests. I’m using H4350 powder and 165gr Partitions. Just wondering if any out there can respond with what the have used as there O.A.C.L? I was running my 180gr Parts at about 3.334. This is in a Winchester Mod 70 bolt action. Just trying to figure out some starting points. Book says 3.320”.

 

[TackDriver284]

I would load them long enough that it fits in your magazine of your rifle. Check to see what your OAL length is touching the lands and seat .020" off the lands if it fits in your magazine but it's crucial to test and fine-tune for your specific rifle and load to achieve optimal accuracy.

 

[jimbires]

I like to start out long , then I only have one way to go , that's shorter . I start out at the max length that my rifle allows . that length will be either the bullet touching the barrel lands , or the magazine box length . I'll find the length to touching the lands and go 0.010 shorter , and check to see if this length will fit the magazine . if it does fit , I start there . if it doesn't fit , I measure the magazine length and load 0.010 shorter and see if that length will feed ok . if it does I start there . if it won't feed , I go another 0.010 shorter , and see if it feeds . I keep doing this until it feeds, and start load development there . usually 0.010 - 0.020 shorter than the magazine box length feeds good .

 

[salmonchaser]

The only thing I would add to the above; if you are pushing magazine length check that they will feed in a fully loaded magazine. Years ago a batch I loaded for my brother just barely fit in his Browning A bolt. Fully loaded those cartridges wouldn’t budge in the box magazine. That problem was discovered on an elk hunt, thankfully the bull fell over while he was trying to get another round in him.

 

[grry10]

I usually start a new load by seating bullets .020" of the lands, but in some cases your magazine will dictate otherwise. As an example, I was loading for a friend's Browning .300 Win Mag. His choice was the Berger 190 grain VLD hunting bullet. In testing, it required that I start .180" of the lands just to feed through the magazine.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I would start with the book recommended OAL and go from there. Nosler’s OAL recommendations have been pretty close if not right on for me in pretty much every cartridge I have used their bullets with.

 

[6mm Remington]

Hi all

I’m loading up some 30-06 rounds to do some ladders tests. I’m using H4350 powder and 165gr Partitions. Just wondering if any out there can respond with what the have used as there O.A.C.L? I was running my 180gr Parts at about 3.334. This is in a Winchester Mod 70 bolt action. Just trying to figure out some starting points. Book says 3.320”.

OAL in my Remington 700 and then later my Ruger 1B was the same at 3.375. That is with teh same 165 gr. Partition that you are using. The same seating depth, case, primer, and powder & charge weight stayed the same for both. It shot fantastic in both rifles. Powder was IMR4350. I do not recall the MAX overall length that the rifles would allow. I do not have the Model 700 any longer.

 

[longrangehunter]

@nosler06: Not sure if you know how to check your rifle for where the lands are or not? But a easy way is to load them long with new brass and drop them down the chamber, and see it they will fall out on their own when you tip up the muzzle?

If they're way too long the bolt won't even close on them. When you're very close and they just touch it will be easy to close the bolt down and extract them. That's when you're there and the next shorter (.010") rounds fall out or can be plucked out with your finger nail on the extractor groove.

This will always be Plus/or Minus .010"-.015" as bullets/rounds are never the exact same due to variances in each bullet/case length, etc. It won't matter once you find where your rifle likes the bullet you're using. Different types of bullets have their own seating depth preference. Some are really close to the same, i.e. 7mm 160 BT, 7mm 160 AB. But the bonded bullet will more then likely need it's own seating depth of not.

There are tools too, but doing it as above will give you the same results.

Good luck with your load development, and I tend to change only one thing at a time. The rifle will either like the bullet or not, I tend to ditch a bullet that doesn't work pretty fast, but I've also been doing it for decades. The old standard Nosler BT had always been easy to tune a load for and it still is to this day..... Plus it's a great hunting bullet! The last thing I change to test is the primer.

 

[RL338]

Nosler’s OAL recommendations have been pretty close if not right on for me in pretty much every cartridge I have used their bullets with.

Very true on my current 30-06 barrel.

 

[SJB358]

I like to start out long , then I only have one way to go , that's shorter . I start out at the max length that my rifle allows . that length will be either the bullet touching the barrel lands , or the magazine box length . I'll find the length to touching the lands and go 0.010 shorter , and check to see if this length will fit the magazine . if it does fit , I start there . if it doesn't fit , I measure the magazine length and load 0.010 shorter and see if that length will feed ok . if it does I start there . if it won't feed , I go another 0.010 shorter , and see if it feeds . I keep doing this until it feeds, and start load development there . usually 0.010 - 0.020 shorter than the magazine box length feeds good .

Same here, but these days I will start at the lands with a PT or similar cup and core. Not jammed but touching.

The only thing I would add to the above; if you are pushing magazine length check that they will feed in a fully loaded magazine. Years ago a batch I loaded for my brother just barely fit in his Browning A bolt. Fully loaded those cartridges wouldn’t budge in the box magazine. That problem was discovered on an elk hunt, thankfully the bull fell over while he was trying to get another round in him.

That's truth and facts that should be followed before hunting with anything in my opinion. The worst time to find out is with a bull trying to get away from you!

 

[SJB358]

OAL in my Remington 700 and then later my Ruger 1B was the same at 3.375. That is with teh same 165 gr. Partition that you are using. The same seating depth, case, primer, and powder & charge weight stayed the same for both. It shot fantastic in both rifles. Powder was IMR4350. I do not recall the MAX overall length that the rifles would allow. I do not have the Model 700 any longer.

I am glad you found the light and found yourself with a proper Model 70 buddy. It warms my heart...

 

[SJB358]

@nosler06: Not sure if you know how to check your rifle for where the lands are or not? But a easy way is to load them long with new brass and drop them down the chamber, and see it they will fall out on their own when you tip up the muzzle?

If they're way too long the bolt won't even close on them. When you're very close and they just touch it will be easy to close the bolt down and extract them. That's when you're there and the next shorter (.010") rounds fall out or can be plucked out with your finger nail on the extractor groove.

This will always be Plus/or Minus .010"-.015" as bullets/rounds are never the exact same due to variances in each bullet/case length, etc. It won't matter once you find where your rifle likes the bullet you're using. Different types of bullets have their own seating depth preference. Some are really close to the same, i.e. 7mm 160 BT, 7mm 160 AB. But the bonded bullet will more then likely need it's own seating depth of not.

There are tools too, but doing it as above will give you the same results.

Good luck with your load development, and I tend to change only one thing at a time. The rifle will either like the bullet or not, I tend to ditch a bullet that doesn't work pretty fast, but I've also been doing it for decades. The old standard Nosler BT had always been easy to tune a load for and it still is to this day..... Plus it's a great hunting bullet! The last thing I change to test is the primer.

And holy smokes! Great to see/read you on here again!

 

[flyingagg]

For my needs, I load my M70 Classic Stainless 30.06 with 150 grn BT, H4831 and 0.010 off the lands. Get a real real tight group. My daughters is the one who hunts with it, always DRT.

 

[6mm Remington]

I am glad you found the light and found yourself with a proper Model 70 buddy. It warms my heart...

Me too Scotty. I have wanted a controlled round feed Model 70 forever. When I found that essentially new Classic Sporter I just new I had to buy it. It became a 280AI and the rest is history.