220 Grainers in 30-06
- Thread starter Crazytrout
- Start date
I haven't loaded any of those for about 7 years. My last memory was that they were a mouthful in the recoil department. I wasn't afraid to load them to max or near max when I was full of piss and vinegar in my younger days. But , I do remember coming to my senses and sticking with the bonded or solid 180 grainers. More effective with less recoil. I was pleased with the sierra gamehunters (I think they were called???) But let me tell you, if you are used to 150's and 165's, these will be pretty different. The trajectory is very different, and the recoil is about 40% more than a 150. Just a warning. Plus if you download them, they will only reach 22 or 2300 fps . Just as well to go with what I did........ a 444 marlin.
Of course, I still use my .30-06 as my go-to rifle, but 180 is the tops in my books.
Always worth a try to use any different bullet. Might just be what gives YOU the perfect load. Don't let me dissuade you from trying them, they sure work good on impact. I just didn't like the setup I was using at the time. (rifle didn't fit me well, scope had poor eye relief, etc) Good luck and let us know if you do try and what they did for you. Cheers
Kearney
Of course, I still use my .30-06 as my go-to rifle, but 180 is the tops in my books.
Always worth a try to use any different bullet. Might just be what gives YOU the perfect load. Don't let me dissuade you from trying them, they sure work good on impact. I just didn't like the setup I was using at the time. (rifle didn't fit me well, scope had poor eye relief, etc) Good luck and let us know if you do try and what they did for you. Cheers
Kearney
I've used 220s and bigger in my 30.06. The good part is very good penetration even compared to 180s. Bad part is the peak energy and velocity drops when you exceed 180, they drop fast, so if you want to shoot anymore than 200 yards, you need to find an alternative.
220s are great for moose, drops them on the spot, but can make a deer into 2 or more pieces. 30.06 is my preferred rifle for hunting, but I like the 180s the best for range and retained killing power. I don't find there is much benefit with 220s over the 180s for the hunting that i do.
220s are great for moose, drops them on the spot, but can make a deer into 2 or more pieces. 30.06 is my preferred rifle for hunting, but I like the 180s the best for range and retained killing power. I don't find there is much benefit with 220s over the 180s for the hunting that i do.
I have found 220 grain bullets very accurate in my 30-06 rifles. I have never tried "downloading" any, but I have reloaded them and fired them over a Oehler chronograph. With a good charge of H4831 the lowest went 2425 and the highest of five went 2447. That gives a foot pounds of energy figure of a hair under 3000, which is no slouch of a bullet. With it's high weight to diameter ratio, it will hold up surprisingly well, and is not just a short range bullet. Hardly could compare to the large diameter, light weight bullets of the 444.
Also, it is often said on these threads that "your mileage may vary." My opinion varies on the recoil. I don't think the 30-06 kicks any harder with 220 grain bullets than it does with any other weight hunting bullet, if each is loaded to full power.
I am not saying it is the best bullet for general use in the 30-06, but for an encounter with a grizzly bear in the bush, it would certainly be hard to beat.
Also, it is often said on these threads that "your mileage may vary." My opinion varies on the recoil. I don't think the 30-06 kicks any harder with 220 grain bullets than it does with any other weight hunting bullet, if each is loaded to full power.
I am not saying it is the best bullet for general use in the 30-06, but for an encounter with a grizzly bear in the bush, it would certainly be hard to beat.
I think the 220 bullet is accurate enough, just not very flat shooting by comparison to 180gr. I really don't know where the recoil issue comes from, but I've never felt it was a problem , even in my featherweight model 70. I still have a dozen or so boxes of Winchester 220s that I used to shoot years ago. I switched to 180 gr to gain more flat shooting over horsepower, but never felt I needed to go back. The 180s are simply an all purpose round and I don't change for different hunting.
H4831... How do you find the H4831 powder in different temps? have you used that for 180s as well? I'm finishing off a case of winchesters, but going to reload again soon. I was using 4350, but don't like the way it changes in big temperature drops. ( apologies now for going off topic)
H4831... How do you find the H4831 powder in different temps? have you used that for 180s as well? I'm finishing off a case of winchesters, but going to reload again soon. I was using 4350, but don't like the way it changes in big temperature drops. ( apologies now for going off topic)
About 44 years ago I had a bear hunt lined up and was working on getting a max load.
A full case of IMR 4831 was compressed, and the flame during a night test was awesome.
A switch to Norma 205 and got peak performance but I do not remember the load however it was accurate. I took one deer and the bear hunt fell through.
A full case of IMR 4831 was compressed, and the flame during a night test was awesome.
A switch to Norma 205 and got peak performance but I do not remember the load however it was accurate. I took one deer and the bear hunt fell through.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I don't understand why you'd want to go to the trouble of loading a 220gr bullet in a 30-06. In the old days of non-premium bullets there might, might, have been a case for the 220. That was 50 years ago before the introduction of the Nosler Partition. Nowadays there are so many good premium bullets that there is no need of going heavier than 180 grains. TSX, Partitions, A-Frames etc. No real reason to suffer through the poor trajectory and increased recoil of 220s.
why not?
It'd be a fun load to whack black bears with. I'd bet the 220gr Partition would work well inside 200 yards. Suffering from 30-06 recoil? man up BUM! 
why not?
I'm with Dr. Bartell. I mean, have you seen his new glasses! Wow!
If you really want to challenge your rifle see if it will stabilize the 250's. Why? Because you can!
I've been loading up the 220gr in my old Krag and if it goes as planned, one may get put into an Elk this fall if it is inside 200yds. These little Hornady's hold up great and shoot very well too. I haven't any field data to share yet. Heaviest I have hit game with in the 30-06 is the 200 grainers, they certainly put them down.
Recoil for me is less of a sharp kick, more like a heavier shove.
IMR4831 seemed to work best in the Winchester I was using.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I've got a 9.3x62 for the close range bear whacking. If you want to over-bullet your 30-06 for a hoot, have at 'er. There's just no need to do it.
I found some 396gr 9.3 for you.
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I shoot a BRNO ZG-47 that was made in 1957 and this old girl loves 200 grainers. I think it's because in europe, in the 50's, larger grain bullets were the favorite. This rifle is absolutely awesome though. If anyone reading this thinks they might want one, don't hesitate. These things are really sweet and a CGN sponser named Twade Ex or something has a few in stock. They're not cheap but there's a reason for that. Fondle one and fire one and you'll find out why. I have some 220 grain silvertips kicking around but i havn't fired them yet so i dunno how they actually are at the range or on game. So to recap, 200 grainers + 57ish grains of IMR 4350 + BRNO ZG-47 = bloody awesomeness. Don't think, just buy one!
has a few in stock. They're not cheap but there's a reason for that. Fondle one and fire one and you'll find out why. I have some 220 grain silvertips kicking around but i havn't fired them yet so i dunno how they actually are at the range or on game. So to recap, 200 grainers + 57ish grains of IMR 4350 + BRNO ZG-47 = bloody awesomeness. Don't think, just buy one!
I agree. With premium bullets so common now and affordable why go heavier than needed? Let's stick with the 30-06. Today vs. 1980. Back in '80 (took my first buck) we had to go heavier to be sure we had enough jacket to bullet surface area to not have core separation and too shallow penetration. So we all shot 180gr in our 30-06's and 303's then. Well actually we did because the elders said to. What did we know we were 16 and just happy to out with the men!? Today if I was to use another 30-06 I'd go with a 165 Barnes TripleX for everything and call it a day. Otimum trajectory and no fear of ever under penetrating anything, even moose. Today's bullets let us reclaim some velocity lost to decades gone by.
And BUM with your recoil issues how did you ever get through your Africa hunt?
Suka
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
For moose in our iron sights '06 a 220gr partition @ 2500fps is our choice.
If you look at ballistics and compare speed/trajectory/energy this combo is actually on paper one of the best "bush" gun choices. Truth be known on paper this combo is actually much better than most traditional short range(under 200yd) choices.
It is super accurate and I think does kick a little more. While it won't turn your '06 into a 450marlin, it definitely turns it into a 450's slightly younger brother.
If you look at ballistics and compare speed/trajectory/energy this combo is actually on paper one of the best "bush" gun choices. Truth be known on paper this combo is actually much better than most traditional short range(under 200yd) choices.
It is super accurate and I think does kick a little more. While it won't turn your '06 into a 450marlin, it definitely turns it into a 450's slightly younger brother.
Regarding H4831 and temperature, it used to be never thought of. You just loaded up and shot. Once in the summer time, I put some 30-06 loaded with H4831 in the deep freeze over nite. The next day I packed them in insulation and fifteen minutes later was shooting them over a chronograph.
That test proved a failure, as I couldn't detect any difference.
Regarding Norma 205, that was my all time favourite slow powder. It's main advantage was the density of it compared to H4831. One time I did tests with the two powders in the 270 Sako. 60 grains of either with 130 grain bullet gave the same point of impact at 100 yards. I sighted about 2½ high at 100, then aimed dead on the centre of a target at 500 yards that was tall enough to catch the hits. There was really no difference between the two powders, regarding the drop at 500. I had no chrono then, but later this proved out with a chronograph. However, I was using the old war time surplus H4831. The new H4831 appears to be slower, or at least, drives the bullet slower than did the old.
The old Norma 205 developed into the MRP, Magnum Rifle Powder, and it was stated the new powder was better for changing temperatures.
No where did I say a 220 bullet was the best for a 30-06. Read that again.
I too, use Nosler, I drive the 200 grain Nosler at 2700 fps and that just might be the best bullet out there for long or short range.
But talking about the 220 soft nose bullet in the 30-06, it should be remembered that its counterpart in the 303, the 215 grain bullet, was a great favourite with old moosed hunters.
That test proved a failure, as I couldn't detect any difference.
Regarding Norma 205, that was my all time favourite slow powder. It's main advantage was the density of it compared to H4831. One time I did tests with the two powders in the 270 Sako. 60 grains of either with 130 grain bullet gave the same point of impact at 100 yards. I sighted about 2½ high at 100, then aimed dead on the centre of a target at 500 yards that was tall enough to catch the hits. There was really no difference between the two powders, regarding the drop at 500. I had no chrono then, but later this proved out with a chronograph. However, I was using the old war time surplus H4831. The new H4831 appears to be slower, or at least, drives the bullet slower than did the old.
The old Norma 205 developed into the MRP, Magnum Rifle Powder, and it was stated the new powder was better for changing temperatures.
No where did I say a 220 bullet was the best for a 30-06. Read that again.
I too, use Nosler, I drive the 200 grain Nosler at 2700 fps and that just might be the best bullet out there for long or short range.
But talking about the 220 soft nose bullet in the 30-06, it should be remembered that its counterpart in the 303, the 215 grain bullet, was a great favourite with old moosed hunters.
Add me to the list of people that say it would be a hoot to load some up and shoot black bears, grizzlies, moose etc, with a 220gr out of the .30-06.
I keep getting the notion to load some up in my .300H&H, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Woodleigh makes a 240gr conventional, lead core bullet in .308 caliber. Those would be fun!!
Heaviest I have loaded and shot with in the .30-06 are 200gr bullets.
I keep getting the notion to load some up in my .300H&H, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Woodleigh makes a 240gr conventional, lead core bullet in .308 caliber. Those would be fun!!
Heaviest I have loaded and shot with in the .30-06 are 200gr bullets.
