Loads that have stood the test of time

A

Alderman

Handloader
Apr 5, 2014
1,310
762
The very first loads I ever hunted with were done by my father.
This was a 30.06 load consisting of a 165 grain bullet over 48 grains of IMR 4064.
I still use that load today in three different guns and it continues to be the go to for 165 grain.
Curious to see if others have a load they started with and still use?


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Your load would be kind of a classic load that probably many people used at one time or another. Mine would not fall into that category but early on in my Winchester featherweight 270 Winchester I started loading a 130grain Ballistic Tip over 60 grains of AA3100. I hadn't shot that gun in years until a few weeks ago. I was chronographing a reduced load I was testing for someone else but I took along some of the AA3100 loads that had been loaded probably 15 years ago or so. Three rounds averaged 3068 fps and shot into just under 3/4" at 100 yards which is about what it always shot from the pencil thin barrel. My rifle never liked the classic load of 130 grain bullet and 60 grains of H4831 that Jack O'Connor touted.
 
Although it wouldn't generate as much speed, that 48 gr of 4064 with a 165 would be an easy on the shoulder load if it works. I'll have to try it.

Another classic in the 30-06 is 57 gr of IMR 4350 with a 165 gr bullet. Some guys like a little hotter than that but in Remington cases which tend to be a little less case capacity, that formula has worked very well in every 06 I've run it through.

Another one that is not touted so much but has proven itself over and over to me, is 56.2 gr's of IMR 4350 with a 180 gr bullet. Spitzer or round nose, that formula in Remington cases is 1/2"-1" load right out of the gate in any 06 I've tried it in that can shoot.
 
43.3gr. of Varget behind 150gr Hornady SP in my 7400 Rem 308 win. A little slow but dang accurate.
 
In the 6mm Rem over the years I have found in different rifles and barrels that 46.gr IMR, Sierra 85HPBT, Rem Case and Fed210M primer has worked quite well for me.
 
George Foster":1458gkbz said:
In the 6mm Rem over the years I have found in different rifles and barrels that 46.gr IMR, Sierra 85HPBT, Rem Case and Fed210M primer has worked quite well for me.
Click to expand...

I do this kind of thing also, so not making fun just clarifying. 46 of which IMR? 4350? In a 6 mm I've used 47.5 gr of IMR 4831 with that same bullet with Rem cases in several rifles with the same good results and consistency in all of them. Been a good load for me in that cartridge. 48.5 is Hodgdon's max with the 85 Partition.
 
Sorry, I forgot to put IMR4831. Actually I meant to type 46.5gr IMR4831 I was in to big a rush when I posted.
 
In the 270 Win 57grs of IMR 4831 has grouped well in different rifles of this caliber with a 130gr bullet. Dan.
 
wvbuckbuster":19jzvsvn said:
In the 270 Win 57grs of IMR 4831 has grouped well in different rifles of this caliber with a 130gr bullet. Dan.
Click to expand...

Just to piggy back on what you're saying, I don't have a 270 so I couldn't say what the charge was, but I know different guys that I heard say that around XX gr's of IMR 4831 with a 130 gr bullet is what they used for years in a 270.
 
30:06 ----61 grains 4831, 180 Partition, elk and deer.
308 ---- 43.5 grains Varget 168 custom comp , dime sized groups
300WM --72 grains H-4350 , 180 Partitions, elk and deer.
280 AI ---65 grains H-1000, 160 AB, elk

The AI is a new one but this load is a keeper, the others have been with me for years, the others for decades.
 
I've been looking for a 30 cal rifle to fill a void. If I were to get a 30-06, I would go back to my go to load which is a 180 gr bullet with 57.0 grs IMR4350. That load served me well for many years.

JD338
 
4.5 Gr Unique with a 158 LRN in .38 Spl. This load is a few generations older than me, and it still dings targets and takes bunnies in the woods with little meat damage.

Due to various shortages, I've shuffled the powder selection a bit but kept the same performance levels. Rationing my precious Unique for special purpose applications.
 
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