30-06 load

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badbrass

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I just got a Tikka 695 a few months ago in 30-06, and put on a Leopold VX-2 4X12X40 on it.
Got to this load: 59.5 of IMR 4350, 150gr. Hornady bullet
which is close to max loading. would you say ( Good Enough )
or go closer to max load? I know I pulled on the second round which is away from the other 4, ( 5 rounds) Reloading gets into your blood.
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I look for minimal differences in velocity between all the shots in one group as well as where they hit the paper, but the two invariably coincide in my experience. Chronograph readings for your group (very nice by the way) would be of interest. I surmise there is little velocity difference from one shot to the next. I would certainly be happy with this load you have worked up.
 
Thanks! , I don't have a chronograph but like what I see, Just might just stay with what I have!
woodlotowner said:
I look for minimal differences in velocity between all the shots in one group as well as where they hit the paper, but the two invariably coincide in my experience. Chronograph readings for your group (very nice by the way) would be of interest. I surmise there is little velocity difference from one shot to the next. I would certainly be happy with this load you have worked up.
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woodlotowner said:
I look for minimal differences in velocity between all the shots in one group as well as where they hit the paper, but the two invariably coincide in my experience. Chronograph readings for your group (very nice by the way) would be of interest. I surmise there is little velocity difference from one shot to the next. I would certainly be happy with this load you have worked up.
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You should change that "invariably" to "usually", since I have seen loads that showed 100 fps variance shoot one hole groups at 100 M and under 1.5" at 200, but when you take them out past 300, then they start to show the vertical spread.

To the OP. If this load shoots well at 200 and 300 also, I would leave it as is. From experience with the 30-06 and that 150 grain bullet, the max load usually will be around 61 grains of IMR 4350

Regards, Dave.
 
Eagleye said:
You should change that "invariably" to "usually", since I have seen loads that showed 100 fps variance shoot one hole groups at 100 M and under 1.5" at 200, but when you take them out past 300, then they start to show the vertical spread.

To the OP. If this load shoots well at 200 and 300 also, I would leave it as is. From experience with the 30-06 and that 150 grain bullet, the max load usually will be around 61 grains of IMR 4350

Regards, Dave.
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Thanks Dave!
 
badbrass said:
Hornady states 59.9gr.? do you think more?
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Well, I have not attached a transducer to my latest 30-06, but 3 or 4 previous rifles digested 61 - 62 grains of IMR 4350 behind the 150 Hornady without exceeding 65K psi.

One caution....don't substitute monometal bullets with this heavy a charge....start lower and work up again.

Brass stands up well [unless you are using Federal, lol] Contrary to what you often hear on this forum, I have found most of my best shooting loads

at or close to working maximum. Not always, but more often than not.

Regards, Dave.
 
Hard to go wrong with 4350 in a 30-06. I've done some experimenting with 165 and 180, but with 150 gr. bullet I usually went to a bit faster powder.
Of note was once when I took my loading press to the range, loading a round and shooting it. I used the same case every time, in order to check if the primer pocket was enlarging.
I started at 56 grains of IMR4350 with 180 grain bullets and always loaded the next round one grain heavier. I shot each round over a Oehler chronograph, aiming at a target at 100 yards.
My fifth shot, which was 60 grains, gave a slightly harder opening of the bolt, so I dropped back a grain for my go to loads. But the primer pocket of the same case used five times, showed no sign of enlarging, that was noticeable in pushing in the primer.
When I checked my target, all five, with 4 grains difference from first to last, made under 1 1/4" group!
It should be noted that I had two 30-06 rifles and 59 grains was too heavy for the other rifle, so I dropped to 58 for it.
I always inter changed powder weights with 4350 and Norma 204. Thus, at home I loaded up 180 grain bullets with 59 grains of N204 and went to the range to chronograph them.
Those loads averaged 2810, with an extreme spread of 11.
This reinforced my belief that the heaviest loads are the most accurate.
Bruce
 
You should change that "invariably" to "usually", since I have seen loads that showed 100 fps variance shoot one hole groups at 100 M and under 1.5" at 200, but when you take them out past 300, then they start to show the vertical spread.
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It takes some people years to figure that out, and some never get it at all. Often when people first get access to a chronograph they discover that their load is all over the place for velocity but groups great at 100. Often enough they claim they "proved" that ES doesn't mean anything, but what they actually "proved" is that 100 yards doesn't mean anything.
 
Dogleg said:
It takes some people years to figure that out, and some never get it at all. Often when people first get access to a chronograph they discover that their load is all over the place for velocity but groups great at 100. Often enough they claim they "proved" that ES doesn't mean anything, but what they actually "proved" is that 100 yards doesn't mean anything.
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Good info. Is there any particular cause for variations in velocity? Is it just a matter of inconsistency's on the loading bench or is it a matter of not being in the sweet spot for a particular rifle?
 
Feel free to keep tinkering but if it shoots groups like that and can shoot equally well at 200 and 300 then you might as well just stick with it. Or come back to it after you tinker. Never hurts to have a safe place to go back to.
 
Take it out the longest range that you anticipate shooting and see what it does. Nothing but long range shooting will test a long range load, and nothing but long range practice will get you ready for it.

I assume that long range shooting is the goal, because its hard to screw a rifle up so bad that it isn't good for short range hunting.
 
I've always favored IMR4350 with 180gr bullets in a bolt rifle. IMR4064 is well worth a try with 150, 165, and 168gr bullets in either a bolt gun or a Garand. IMR4064 has been consistently superior for me in these bullet weights. Both the Sierra and Lyman manuals recommend it as a preferred propellant for accuracy with these bullet weights. IMR4895 and H4895 are also worth a try. Not many people talk about IMR4320 these days, but it was originally developed waaay back in the 1930s for .30-06 match ammo with a 180gr bullet. The .30-06 is pretty versatile so it pays to try a number of propellants.
 
Dogleg said:
Take it out the longest range that you anticipate shooting and see what it does. Nothing but long range shooting will test a long range load, and nothing but long range practice will get you ready for it.

I assume that long range shooting is the goal, because its hard to screw a rifle up so bad that it isn't good for short range hunting.
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Too much common sense on this post!
Remember, this is the internet and 1 MOA hunting rifles are old school and certainly not accurate enough for modern hunting.
You just got to find that sweet spot.
Oops, I almost forgot. This is the internet, so a good keyboard will accurise any rifle.
 
I am a devout user of H4350 and/or H4831 with 180 grain bullets in the 'ole ought six. The variances in velocity from shot to shot have always been very low. I agree that max loads in the .30-06 are not usually the tack-drivers. This hasn't been my experience with magnum cases and calibers though. But that being said, 4350, stout 180 grainers and the .30-06 are the reason people consider it good to go for anything on this side of the pond.
 
My 06 seems to thrive on 48.5 grains IMR 4320 under 165gr BTSP, have yet to chrony this load or get it past 100 but that is next on the list.
 
59.5 of IMR4350 is 1.5 to 2 over max for a 150, according to Hodgdon. Max being 58.0. H4350 runs to 62.0. Both are compressed. Compressed not being a big deal.
Partial to IMR4064 for .30-06 and 165 or 168 grain bullets.
 
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