so ive decided to try some RL-19 in my 30/06 :roll: my plan is to start at the min powder ( 55gr ) and work up one grain at a time till i hit max ( 59gr ) or run into any pressure sighns,, im gonna go by the book ( speer #14 ) on all measurments,, trimed cases to 2.485, bullets will be nosler partitions in 165gr set at a coal of 3.250,, my plan is to see what grain in powder is gonna give me the best groups, once i have that i want to move up a half gr up and down to see what i get before i start messing with distance from the lands.... if you have any input or tips and tricks let me know,,,,,,,,
input please,,,,,
- Thread starter romex2121
- Start date
Romex,
Sounds to me like you have a good plan. However your looking for some hints and tips from others.
I rarely start out at min suggested loads with a cartridge new to me. I tend to start in the middle of the road and with a case the size of the 06, go up at 1/2 gr increments. One thing I have noted that there tends to be two accurate points/nodes. One at lower velocity and then another shows up just prior to the psi signs showing up. Key words here are "tends to, not always". Always stop when seeing signs of hi psi.
Some rifles show it far earlier than the books says you should. Find the combo of fps and accuracy your looking for and then try the deating depth thing. With that I first consider am I gonna single load em like bench shooting or do I want a magazine full. With bench shooting in mind I start at "touching" the lands. With a magazine to consider, I go .050 less than what my mag well can take. From those points I will start seating the bullet deeper in the case at .020 increments to find the better grouping and then fine tune from there.
I will also do all the above shooting over my chrony to get an a idea where I am at with my expectations. Remember, do not change more than one varible at a time.. Speaking of varibles, control them all the best you can. Go with no wind, shoot the same way off the bench, shoot at the same pace and remember sometimes you wont even come close to the published velocity....
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Rod
Sounds to me like you have a good plan. However your looking for some hints and tips from others.
I rarely start out at min suggested loads with a cartridge new to me. I tend to start in the middle of the road and with a case the size of the 06, go up at 1/2 gr increments. One thing I have noted that there tends to be two accurate points/nodes. One at lower velocity and then another shows up just prior to the psi signs showing up. Key words here are "tends to, not always". Always stop when seeing signs of hi psi.
Some rifles show it far earlier than the books says you should. Find the combo of fps and accuracy your looking for and then try the deating depth thing. With that I first consider am I gonna single load em like bench shooting or do I want a magazine full. With bench shooting in mind I start at "touching" the lands. With a magazine to consider, I go .050 less than what my mag well can take. From those points I will start seating the bullet deeper in the case at .020 increments to find the better grouping and then fine tune from there.
I will also do all the above shooting over my chrony to get an a idea where I am at with my expectations. Remember, do not change more than one varible at a time.. Speaking of varibles, control them all the best you can. Go with no wind, shoot the same way off the bench, shoot at the same pace and remember sometimes you wont even come close to the published velocity....
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Rod
6mm Remington
Ammo Smith
- Feb 27, 2006
- 5,275
- 698
nodak7mm":9b57nf4e said:
nodak7mm's comments were all right on to a tee. You do have a good plan set to begin your load work for your 30-06. I too go up 1/2 grain increments with 30-06 size cases. When he talks about pressures, he hits it spot on that you cannot predict how a particular rifle with it's slightly different bore roughness, throat length, headspace, and many many different variables will respond to your load. Watch carefully and as he said, stop right away when you start seeing pressure signs. I would go one step further to say that when I encounter pressure signs, even if the load I am using is SUPPOSED TO BE safe in this caliber, and I have yet one more load to try that is only 1/2 gr. higher, I stop. I will not shoot those last three rounds because I do not want to take the chance to hurt my rifle, myself, or someone else.
I used to not have a chronograph when I first started loading, but several years ago I purchased a basic chronograph that did not cost that much, just over $120.00, but I will not work without it now. It shows you a lot. You can see how consistant a load is with your extreme spreads and how much the velocities vary. The more consistant the better. I also pay close attention to the chronograph speeds, and if I'm getting maybe 30-40 fps more velocity with each 1/2 gr. increment, but I all of a sudden get a jump of 100 fps or more, it's obvious that I've hit a pressure spike, and it would be very prudent to not go higher and to drop back down to the lower charge weights. As nodak7mm said, you can then start playing with seating depth, different primers, or other factors to find THAT load for your particular rifle.
I shot 165gr. Nosler Partitions in a Remington 700 ADL with 57.4 grs. of IMR4350 loaded to 3.375. There is plenty of room in the Remingtons magazine for that length, and I had enough chamber throat to use that length. That exact same load and length is what I use in my Ruger #1B. It shoots equally as well in this rifle as it did the Remington. IF the R19 does not work out for you, I would highly suggest IMR4350 & maybe H4350. Both seem to really work well in the 30-06. I use this exact same load for my 165 gr. Accubonds in my 30-06 without any changes on the seating die. With the slightly longer tip and ogave curvature, the Accubonds are slightly longer. They shoot the same and to the same point of impact. I'm very lucky it works that way. The length might be a problem in a bolt rifle with limited magazine length, maybe, but in the single shot, it isn't a factor.
I know this is a little lengthy and I hope it helps a little. Again I will say that nodak7mm is right on with his thoughts.
6mm Remington
Ammo Smith
- Feb 27, 2006
- 5,275
- 698
romex2121 out of curiosity, what is the rifle make and model you are working with in the great 30-06 cartridge?
RL-19 is a tad on the slow side in the '06 for 165 grain bullets. You might have better success with IMR 4064, IMR 4320, or H 414. These powders are in the middle of the burn rates suggested for this cartridge/bullet weight and have been taking game and winning shooting matches longer than most people reading this post have been alive. There is tons of data for these powders available, and you'll find lots of pet loads from other board members using them. IMR 4350 would be another good choice if you plan on also loading 180 grain bullets. 4064 is my first choice in my M1 Garand with 168 gr BTHP noslers.
- Thread starter
- #6
Rem 700 BDL its been bedded and the barrel is floated its a good shooting rifle,, ive been loading with IMR4350 at 57.5gr and have used the H4350 with the same bullet as above about .030 off the lands im getting on average 3/4'' groups,,, ive got a buddy whos gotten back into reloading for his ought6 and hes getting aroind .5 and sometimes better groups with RL-19 thats what has got me courrious about the alliant,, also i do realize the 4350s will have more velocity than the RL-19 but for some reason i just wanted to try it :roll:6mm Remington":27esy9rh said:
Divernhunter
Handloader
- Apr 1, 2009
- 812
- 172
+1 for IMR4064. I have found Win760(or H-414) or RL15 works excellent. These will give you more speed and top notch accuracy.
Powerstroke
Handloader
- Feb 24, 2006
- 1,800
- 71
romex,
A lot of good info above. I to generally will work with .5 grain increments. I think mostly cause I like to shoot and gives me more of an excuse :grin:
I've had a chrony now a little over a year, and I don't leave the house anymore without it. As above, I've seen instances where I'll step up in powercharge and gain next to nothing.... no sense in buring the extra powder then either.
A lot of good info above. I to generally will work with .5 grain increments. I think mostly cause I like to shoot and gives me more of an excuse :grin:
I've had a chrony now a little over a year, and I don't leave the house anymore without it. As above, I've seen instances where I'll step up in powercharge and gain next to nothing.... no sense in buring the extra powder then either.
