Weatherby Vanguard 30-06 Load

[trsmith1818]

Forum

I just acquired this new rifle and I am excited about working up a new load for it. I will be using 150gr Accubonds over H4350 powder. Any experience on what C.O.L or distance from the lands I should start for this rifle. Thanks

 

[DrMike]

Welcome to the forum. You'll meet some great fellows here that are willing to help a serious hand loader to extract the maximum performance from his rifle or handgun. You have an excellent rifle in the Vanguard. I'd recommend loading to the magazine first. If you are able to do so (though I doubt it will be possible in the Vanguard), 0.010 inches off the lands is often a sweet spot. Some will find that 0.020 to 0.030 is required. However, load to the magazine and work from there.

 

[FOTIS]

Doc Mike covered it pretty well.
But hey, welcome to the forum. :wink:

 

[trsmith1818]

Doc,

When you say load to the magazine, do you mean to the C.O.L? or is there a length I should look for from weatherby to find this measurement?

Thanks for the warm welcome, there is definitely alot of information on this site that will be invaluable

 

[Guy Miner]

If you haven't already seen it, here's a link to an excellent article on loading the .30-06 for hunting:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/newsletters/May_2009.html

 

[DrMike]

The article Guy references is well worth reading. When I say "load to the magazine," I mean to load so that the finished cartridge fits the magazine. The column overall length (OAL, COAL, COL are all used by various individuals to refer to the same thing) will permit you to load the magazine. If you load so that the bullet is near the lands, it may not fit into your magazine. In such an instance, you have no choice--if you wish to use the magazine--except to load to the magazine, or load so that the cartridge fits into the magazine.

 

[trsmith1818]

The article Guy references is well worth reading. When I say "load to the magazine," I mean to load so that the finished cartridge fits the magazine. The column overall length (OAL, COAL, COL are all used by various individuals to refer to the same thing) will permit you to load the magazine. If you load so that the bullet is near the lands, it may not fit into your magazine. In such an instance, you have no choice--if you wish to use the magazine--except to load to the magazine, or load so that the cartridge fits into the magazine.

totally agree with you. What i'm wondering is if there is anyplace i can look up and see what the actual length is the magazine will tolerate, outside of trial and error? I've beeen on wehterby's website but that info isn't available.

thanks for the link, great article. Its nice to know i'm using a good poweder to reload.

 

[DrMike]

Use your calipers to measure the box. Even if it is turned slightly, it will give you a good idea of what you're working with. The Vanguard should be slightly larger than SAAMI standards. I have witnessed some Remington magazines, for instance, that were actually less than SAAMI standards.

 

[SJB358]

Doc Mike covered it pretty well.
But hey, welcome to the forum. :wink:

Mike said it all too well!

Welcome to the forum! Best place I've found to learn thus far! Scotty

 

[Guest]

If nothing else, you can seat a bullet well out of the case, and then via trial and error (in just a few minutes) you can shorten it up to where it will "just" fit and feed through the magazine. Once you set this, you can build three or four dummy rounds (or live rounds, your choice) and test the "full magazine" cycling of this length. I then make a note in my logbook regarding the max feed length for that particular rifle, and test it against any new bullets I plan to use.

I just did this for one of my bolt guns (just started into loading for it) and even with it being a blind magazine, I was able to find the length and test the full magazine cycling in about 4-5min.

 

[trsmith1818]

thanks for the help i will start by measuring the magazine well and go from there, as I definitely dont want a single shot 30-06 :grin:

 

[ROVERT]

as I definitely dont want a single shot 30-06 :grin:

With a .30-06, that's all you need.

 

[SJB358]

as I definitely dont want a single shot 30-06 :grin:

With a .30-06, that's all you need.

Man, I knew that was coming from someone. I figured Guy would have jumped on it though! Scotty

 

[DrMike]

I started to mention the effect of a single-shot 30-06, but I didn't want to come across as a smart aleck.

 

[SJB358]

I started to mention the effect of a single-shot 30-06, but I didn't want to come across as a smart aleck.

We would have never thought that about you Mike! :shock:

 

[Richracer1]

I have a 30-06 Vanguard Sporter. I went with a COL of 3.390". I measure from bullet tip to brass base - crude but it works for me. If I remember correctly, the 3.390" is .020 to .025 from the lands but it's been since 2008 when I developed loads for it. By the way here's some suggestions:

180AB
Nosler Brass trimmed 2.84"
55.5gn of H414
GM210M
COL 3.390"
Avg Velocity: 3832 fps

180ET
Win brass trimmed 2.84"
53.5gn of H4350
GM210M
COL 3.390
Avg Velocity: 2750 fps

 

[trsmith1818]

Rich,

Thanks for the load suggestions and bullet measurements. I am going to begin workup this weekend and will let everyone know.

 

[338winmag]

For a Savage 30-06 I am using the following:

165 Sierra GameKing
Winchester Brass trimmed 2.84"
54.2 gr H4350
WLR
Avg Velocity: 2830 FPS

It cost me alot of trips to the range, and a good little bit of powder, primer, bullets and range trip gas, but I found that my barrel's harmonics wanted .090 - .093 off the lands (base to ogive). I am back to consistent 1/2" groups thanks to the guys on this site!! I am back out to the range on Thursday to shoot a few validation targets for the rifle owner. I will post then.


My Lesson Learned: This is the 3rd rifle I have reloaded that works either on the lands or is .090 or greater off the lands (base to ogive) for the bullets I am using, so don't quit at .080 or less.

 

[Guest]

If it helps any, I can speak to the value of H4350 under 165/168gr bullets in the -06. Plenty of people said that's the first load to try, and so I looked through my load manuals, found out that 59gr is max or just under max in several of them, and worked up from start charges. The results were, in initial testing, excellent. I still have to go back and shoot confirmation groups, but the first group at 59gr (work up to this, as it's max!) look like this:

Good luck with the pursuit.

 

[bullet]

Hey man, welcome to the forum, you got a lot of good advice. Hey dubyam, who shot the target for you :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Nice group indeed. :shock: :grin: