First Post and Question.

[db102550]

I recently bought a TGR in 30-06 and have been working on load development with it. I bought a few boxes of Nosler TG 150 grain PT to use as well. I was wonderring if there was a way I could find out what load this gun was tested with at the factory. Also for any of you that have experience with these rifles, do they tend to favor the heavier bullets like the 165's and 180's over the 150's? Appreciate any help anyone can give me with this rifle as far as loads go. What I am seeing so far is two shots in pretty close and the third outside the group. Are these rifles pretty sensitive to heat, it is pretty hot out there to be doing a lot of shooting. I've been doing all of my testing with three shot strings and cool down and cleaning in between.

Don

 

[FOTIS]

Welcome to the forum bud.

I would call Nosler ans ask them.

 

[SJB358]

I would bet that rifle should shoot almost everything reasonably well. I imagine if you stick with the known good 30-06 powders like the 4350's and others along that burn rate you will find success with the 165's and 180's. Congrats on the new rifle and I bet, like Fotis said, a call to Nosler will probably get you a bunch of information and good place to get started.

I would bet they are as sensitive to heat as any other rifle. A little cooling between shots should help it out alot. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on picking up a fine rifle; the TGR is one which many forum regulars would love to own. I'll add my voice to what has already been stated. Phone Nosler to ask what ammunition they used for testing your rifle and also to get their recommendation for bullet weights. I will guess that because it is a 10 twist barrel, you should be able to shoot any bullet weights from 150 grains to 180 grains without difficulty. I don't own the TGR; I shoot a Model 70 Featherweight in that particular chambering. It shoots 150s and 165/168s quite well, but it is very sensitive to heat. I give it lots of time between groups and time between shots. I know that there has been quite a bit of heat for many areas throughout the States this summer, and that can certainly have an effect on our accuracy. I really haven't used 180 grain bullets, primarily because it shoots so well with 165s, which were just made for the 30-06.

 

[db102550]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm a long ways from done with this rifle but I don't have a lot of experience with the 06. I'm hoping to find a super accurate load with the 165 BT. My TGR in 257 Roberts shot everything I tried in it into itty bitty groups right from the beginning. My plan is to have two near identical rifles so that I am basically shooting the same rifle all the time. The 257 is my everything else gun and the 06 my Bambi slayer, not that the 257 won't do a fine job there as well. I've been moving toward this 2 same gun concept for awhile now and the 06 will be enough gun to kill anything I will hunt.

Don

 

[JD338]

db102550

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your TGR.

Call Shawn Finley at Nosler and he will help you out. 800 285 3701
Let us know what you find out.

JD338

 

[db102550]

JD338: Thank You and I will let you lnow what I find out.

Don

 

[db102550]

I just got off the phone with Shawn and he said that they most generally test the 30-06 with the trophy grade ammo in the 165 AB. If anyone out there has any of this ammo please measure the OAL and post it for me. I have some 165 BT and will load some up with the recommended load in the no 6 manual and start there. It hasn't shown a preference for the trophy grade 150 PT ammo but it is well within minute of deer at reasonable range. I will fire up the rest of the 150's to continue barrel break in and to fireform brass. I caught a blemish sale on the trophy grade ammo loaded with the 150 PT for $25 a box so that makes it nearly as cheap as a box of 50 pieces of brass. I think I will go ahead and order a couple boxes of the 165 AB's while they are on the buy two get one free sale. So the adventure continues......

Don

 

[Nosler4]

You could've asked me when we talked! :grin:

The last few batches of TG 30-06 165gr. AB's were loaded to a COAL of 3.260".

Good luck!

-Shawn

 

[JD338]

Don,

Glad Shawn was able to help you out.
Let us know how the 165 gr loads shoot in the TGR.

JD338

 

[russ808]

They do have a great bunch of guys and gals there.
Russ

 

[db102550]

Nosler 4 - when i talked to you I really wasn't thinking about reloading for this gun if the test round was readily available ammo. It wasn't intil later that I got impatient and decided to load up some rounds to go shoot this weekend, thus the question about OAL. Thanks a bunch for the information. I noticed that in manual #6 it recommends WLR primers with IMR4350 at 57 grains as the best load. All of the factory nosler ammo I have on hand sure looks like they were using Fed 210 primers. To all who have posted, thank you and I certainly agree that Nosler has some top notch customer service. I hope I haven't left anyone with the impression that this gun isn't performing as advertised, because it is. The first ammo I ran through it was some loaded up with 168 gr Sierra Match Kings I shoot in my 03 Springfield and out of the TGR you had to look awful close to see space between the holes.

Don