Reloading Recipes for the 30-06 Springfield
- Thread starter Carbon12
- Start date
3200 fps with that load is an over-pressure sign.
The SAAMI sets the maximum chamber pressure for a given cartridge for the oldest and weakest action it will be fired in.
In the chart below a 180 grain bullet in a 30-06 is loaded to the same chamber pressure as the .270 Winchester.
If you have two new Remington 700 rifles side by side one in 30-06 and one in .270 Win why does the 30-06 have to be loaded 5,000 psi lower than the .270 in chamber pressure.
Cartridge Pressure Standards
http://kwk.us/pressures.html
.270 WIn 65,000 psi or 52,000 cup and the 30-06 60,000 psi or 50,000 cup.
In the chart below a 180 grain bullet in a 30-06 is loaded to the same chamber pressure as the .270 Winchester.
If you have two new Remington 700 rifles side by side one in 30-06 and one in .270 Win why does the 30-06 have to be loaded 5,000 psi lower than the .270 in chamber pressure.
Cartridge Pressure Standards
http://kwk.us/pressures.html
.270 WIn 65,000 psi or 52,000 cup and the 30-06 60,000 psi or 50,000 cup.
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And your point is?
3200 fps with a 150 grain bullet is ~64,000 psi in a 300 WSM. The same velocity in a 30-06 would be somewhere between 70,000 - 75,000 psi. Maybe not enough to spontaneously disassemble a rifle but definitely enough to start setting bolt lugs back or expose any faults in the action forging or casting.
This is a very good question. The only thing I can think of is that the 30-06 cartridge has been around longer and there would be older firearms still in use and the 60,000 psi maximum was chosen to provide an additional margin of safety.The SAAMI sets the maximum chamber pressure for a given cartridge for the oldest and weakest action it will be fired in.
In the chart below a 180 grain bullet in a 30-06 is loaded to the same chamber pressure as the .270 Winchester.
If you have two new Remington 700 rifles side by side one in 30-06 and one in .270 Win why does the 30-06 have to be loaded 5,000 psi lower than the .270 in chamber pressure.
Cartridge Pressure Standards
http://kwk.us/pressures.html
.270 WIn 65,000 psi or 52,000 cup and the 30-06 60,000 psi or 50,000 cup.
The Outsider
CGN Regular
1981 Remington 700 BDL in factory condition, shooting with sandbags at 100 yards.
63 grains of RL22 165 gr Accubond
Compressed load
COAL 3.435
Average velocity is 2950 fps.
There are actually 5 bullet holes there.
63 grains of RL22 165 gr Accubond
Compressed load
COAL 3.435
Average velocity is 2950 fps.
There are actually 5 bullet holes there.
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The OP stated he got 3200 fps with a 150 grain bullet using a chronograph and I do not think he is exaggerating or lying about it.
And you could say my point is I had a Remington 760 Gamemaster pump in .270 Win and a Remington 700 in 30-06 and the pump could be loaded 5,000 psi hotter than the max rated 30-06 pressure. And I can tell you I have loaded my Remington 700 30-06 warmer than the manual with no ill effects. And see no reason doubt the OP velocity readings without any pressure signs.
What Affects Rifle Chamber Pressure and Critical Factors You Need to Know
https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/critical-factors-affecting-rifle-chamber-pressure/83492
"When the same amount of pressure is exerted against 150-grain bullets in the .30-06 and .270 Win., velocity will be a bit higher for the .30-06 for two reasons. Its larger base diameter gives propellant gas a larger surface area to push against and a shorter bearing surface makes it a bit less resistant to being pushed down the bore of a barrel."
The photo below was posted at accurateshooter.com by someone else making a point about chamber pressure and the ability of the case to withstand pressure. This reloader said he increased the load until he got brass flow into the ejector and then backed off 1 or 2 grains. Meaning he tested the elastic limits of his cases and then reduced the load to ensure the brass would spring back after firing and withstand the pressure for that type action.
I'm not telling anyone to load above the manual, and all I'm saying is the 30-06 is underloaded due to all the older type 30-06 rifles still being used. And simply meaning the 30-06 is under loaded if you have a modern bolt action rifle.
That being said the average range a deer is shot in the woods of central Pennsylvania is 40 yards. So I down loaded my old 03-A3 30-06 to about 2400 to 2500 fps using a 170 grain 30-30 bullet.
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The OP stated he got 3200 fps with a 150 grain bullet using a chronograph and I do not think he is exaggerating or lying about it.
And you could say my point is I had a Remington 760 Gamemaster pump in .270 Win and a Remington 700 in 30-06 and the pump could be loaded 5,000 psi hotter than the max rated 30-06 pressure. And I can tell you I have loaded my Remington 700 30-06 warmer than the manual with no ill effects. And see no reason doubt the OP velocity readings without any pressure signs.
What Affects Rifle Chamber Pressure and Critical Factors You Need to Know
https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/critical-factors-affecting-rifle-chamber-pressure/83492
"When the same amount of pressure is exerted against 150-grain bullets in the .30-06 and .270 Win., velocity will be a bit higher for the .30-06 for two reasons. Its larger base diameter gives propellant gas a larger surface area to push against and a shorter bearing surface makes it a bit less resistant to being pushed down the bore of a barrel."
The photo below was posted at accurateshooter.com by someone else making a point about chamber pressure and the ability of the case to withstand pressure. This reloader said he increased the load until he got brass flow into the ejector and then backed off 1 or 2 grains. Meaning he tested the elastic limits of his cases and then reduced the load to ensure the brass would spring back after firing and withstand the pressure for that type action.
I'm not telling anyone to load above the manual, and all I'm saying is the 30-06 is underloaded due to all the older type 30-06 rifles still being used. And simply meaning the 30-06 is under loaded if you have a modern bolt action rifle.
That being said the average range a deer is shot in the woods of central Pennsylvania is 40 yards. So I down loaded my old 03-A3 30-06 to about 2400 to 2500 fps using a 170 grain 30-30 bullet.
Thank you for this detailed information.
I believe I have tested the case/rifle max pressure and will be clocking back my powder charge as suggested by 1 or 2 grains to get something resembling a Hornady Superformance factory ammo load ... 3080 fps or so.
The Weatherby Vanguard has two massive bolt lugs ... and a 90 degree lift
I will be working on accuracy now for this load recipe modifying other parameters ...
The Superformance and the IMR 4350 seem to group very well in your tests ... I wonder how Reloader 16 and H4350 would compare. I am still testing my recipes ... I will post more this fall. I have reloaded several test batches at reduced powder charges and I will be shooting in much cooler weather conditions. I will be testing the Nosler 150 and 200 grain partitions with Hodgdon Superformance. I would like to get your load groupings for Superformance at 100 yards.
Finally my gun club opened and I got to shoot my reloads at the 100 yard range yesterday. Man it was a warm day! 34 degrees celsius in the shade ... but no wind
So ...
for my Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifle in 30-06 with a 24" barrel at 100 meters (109 yards) I obtained the following results.
Reload Set 1
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Partitions 150 grain
Superformance Powder @ 64.0 grains
>>Average velocity = 3106 fps (20 shot data set)
>>Hi velocity = 3146 fps
>>Lo velocity = 3054 fps
>>ES = 87 fps
>>SD = 27 fps
>>Best 5 shot group = 0.75"
>>Worst 5 shot group = 1.2"
... not bad for hunting ammo ... but I can do better ... I would like to have the ES less than 50 fps and the SD less than 15 fps.
The probable reason for the higher ES and SD values is that I disassembled a previous shot ladder and resized (the neck only) the cases and reseated the bullets.
The neck tension was probably not ideal and/or as consistent as what I would accomplish normally. Rifle and ammo warming probably added to this as well since it was a 34 degree celsius peak afternoon temperature in the shade. However the shot groups are respectable enough for hunting ammo. Slight bit of pressure signs on the primers ... not much though. I generally hunt in November so temperatures are much colder ... 0 Celsius
Going forward I will try reducing the powder charge to 63.0 grains to see if I can get lower ES and SD numbers and more accurracy without loosing that much in velocity.
Now for my second set of reloads ... I was very pleased with those ...
Reload Set 2
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Partitions 200 grain
Superformance Powder @ 56.0 grains
>>Average velocity = 2655 fps (15 shot data set)
>>Hi velocity = 2688 fps
>>Lo velocity = 2635 fps
>>ES = 53 fps
>>SD = 17 fps
>>Best 5 shot group = 0.4"
>>Worst 5 shot group = 0.75"
No pressure signs ... this recipe is a keeper! Considering the hot day (I shot this at 4PM when is was 34 degrees), my hot gun barrel, sweat in my eyes, and a slightly sore shoulder ... this is my moose medicine!
So ...
for my Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifle in 30-06 with a 24" barrel at 100 meters (109 yards) I obtained the following results.
Reload Set 1
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Partitions 150 grain
Superformance Powder @ 64.0 grains
>>Average velocity = 3106 fps (20 shot data set)
>>Hi velocity = 3146 fps
>>Lo velocity = 3054 fps
>>ES = 87 fps
>>SD = 27 fps
>>Best 5 shot group = 0.75"
>>Worst 5 shot group = 1.2"
... not bad for hunting ammo ... but I can do better ... I would like to have the ES less than 50 fps and the SD less than 15 fps.
The probable reason for the higher ES and SD values is that I disassembled a previous shot ladder and resized (the neck only) the cases and reseated the bullets.
The neck tension was probably not ideal and/or as consistent as what I would accomplish normally. Rifle and ammo warming probably added to this as well since it was a 34 degree celsius peak afternoon temperature in the shade. However the shot groups are respectable enough for hunting ammo. Slight bit of pressure signs on the primers ... not much though. I generally hunt in November so temperatures are much colder ... 0 Celsius
Going forward I will try reducing the powder charge to 63.0 grains to see if I can get lower ES and SD numbers and more accurracy without loosing that much in velocity.
Now for my second set of reloads ... I was very pleased with those ...
Reload Set 2
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Partitions 200 grain
Superformance Powder @ 56.0 grains
>>Average velocity = 2655 fps (15 shot data set)
>>Hi velocity = 2688 fps
>>Lo velocity = 2635 fps
>>ES = 53 fps
>>SD = 17 fps
>>Best 5 shot group = 0.4"
>>Worst 5 shot group = 0.75"
No pressure signs ... this recipe is a keeper! Considering the hot day (I shot this at 4PM when is was 34 degrees), my hot gun barrel, sweat in my eyes, and a slightly sore shoulder ... this is my moose medicine!
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I will also be creating a charge ladders for Nosler AccuBond 180 grain and Nosler Partition 150 grain projectiles using Alliant Reloder 16. Apparently it is very accurate and temperature insensitive powder according to testing posted on the Internet. Some say it rivals H4350 (which is impossible to get for a long while now). Just before this whole pandemic debacle I purchased 8 lbs of RL16 since it was available at a good price at Bullseye.com ... I can hardly wait to test it.
On the Alliant Reloading Recipe site below they have some recipes for 180 and 150 grain bullets ... these are maximum loads ... -10% for a starting powder charge value
http://alliantpowder.com/products/powder/reloder16.aspx
http://alliantpowder.com/products/powder/reloder16.aspx
| Caliber | Bullet | Case | Minimum OAL (inches) | Bbl Length | Primer | Powder | Charge Weight (grains) | Velocity (fps) |
| 30-06 Spring. | Nosler 180 gr Partition | Federal | 3.23 | 24 | Fed 210 | Reloder 16 | 56 | 2,824 |
| 30-06 Spring. | Nosler 150 gr BT | Federal | 3.27 | 24 | Fed 210 | Reloder 16 | 58 | 3,048 |
| 30-06 Spring. | Speer 150 gr SP | Winchester | 3.25 | 24 | Fed 210 | Reloder 16 | 59.6 | 3,041 |
So ... Yesterday at the gun club I did some charge ladder testing of my latest reloads ...
for my Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifle in 30-06 with a 24" barrel at 100 meters (109 yards) I obtained the following results.
Reload Set 3
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler AccuBonds 180 grain
Alliant Reloder 16 Powder @ 56.5 grains
>>Average velocity = 2875 fps (5 shot data set ... sample of a larger charge ladder)
>>COAL = 3.320"
>>Looks promising for accuracy
>>No pressure signs
>>Outside temperature was 23 Celsius with 80% Relative Humidity
>>Slight breeze, some rain, some sun
Reload Set 4
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Partitions 150 grain
Alliant Reloder 16 Powder @ 60.0 grains
>>Average velocity = 3064 fps (5 shot data set ... sample of a larger charge ladder)
>>COAL = 3.275"
>>Looks promising for accuracy
>>No pressure signs
>>Outside temperature was 21 Celsius with 60% Relative Humidity
>>Slight breeze, some rain, some sun
I will use the 150 grain Nosler partition for whitetail deer and the 180 grain Nosler AccuBond for moose. I will make a reload group of 20 for each and conduct some more testing to get ES, SD and 5-shot group size information. Most likely in July.
for my Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifle in 30-06 with a 24" barrel at 100 meters (109 yards) I obtained the following results.
Reload Set 3
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler AccuBonds 180 grain
Alliant Reloder 16 Powder @ 56.5 grains
>>Average velocity = 2875 fps (5 shot data set ... sample of a larger charge ladder)
>>COAL = 3.320"
>>Looks promising for accuracy
>>No pressure signs
>>Outside temperature was 23 Celsius with 80% Relative Humidity
>>Slight breeze, some rain, some sun
Reload Set 4
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Partitions 150 grain
Alliant Reloder 16 Powder @ 60.0 grains
>>Average velocity = 3064 fps (5 shot data set ... sample of a larger charge ladder)
>>COAL = 3.275"
>>Looks promising for accuracy
>>No pressure signs
>>Outside temperature was 21 Celsius with 60% Relative Humidity
>>Slight breeze, some rain, some sun
I will use the 150 grain Nosler partition for whitetail deer and the 180 grain Nosler AccuBond for moose. I will make a reload group of 20 for each and conduct some more testing to get ES, SD and 5-shot group size information. Most likely in July.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Interesting. Might have to give RL16 a try. Currently using IMR4350 with 165BT.
... more charge ladder testing ... 30-06 loves Alliant Reloder 16 ... IMR 4955 looks good too!
for my Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifle in 30-06 Win with a 24" barrel at 100 meters (109 yards) I obtained the following results.
Reload Set - Moose Load 1
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Partition 200 grain
Alliant Reloder 16 Powder @ 54.0 grains
>>COAL = 3.295"
>>Average velocity = 2664 fps (3 shot data set)
>>Hi velocity = 2670 fps
>>Lo velocity = 2660 fps
>>3 Shot Group Size = 0.8"
>>Looks promising for accuracy
>>No high pressure signs ... primer a bit flat ... no pin cratering or ejector marks ... or primer pocket dark rings
>>Outside temperature was 24.8 Celsius with 68% Relative Humidity
>>light breeze, sun
Reload Set - Moose Load 2
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Nosler Partition 200 grain
IMR 4955 Powder @ 57.0 grains
>>COAL = 3.395"
>>Average velocity = 2620 fps (3 shot data set)
>>Hi velocity = 2629 fps
>>Lo velocity = 2614 fps
>>3 Shot Group Size = 0.7"
>>Looks promising for accuracy
>>No high pressure signs ... primer a bit flat ... no pin cratering or ejector marks ... or primer pocket dark rings
>>Outside temperature was 26.2 Celsius with 58% Relative Humidity
>>light breeze, sun
... will do more testing with 10 or 15 shot strings to get some ES and SD data to determine the cartridge pressure dynamics. Then I will conduct 3 or 4 5-shot strings to determine the rifle dynamics and see if they produce small groups.
for my Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifle in 30-06 Win with a 24" barrel at 100 meters (109 yards) I obtained the following results.
Reload Set - Moose Load 1
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Partition 200 grain
Alliant Reloder 16 Powder @ 54.0 grains
>>COAL = 3.295"
>>Average velocity = 2664 fps (3 shot data set)
>>Hi velocity = 2670 fps
>>Lo velocity = 2660 fps
>>3 Shot Group Size = 0.8"
>>Looks promising for accuracy
>>No high pressure signs ... primer a bit flat ... no pin cratering or ejector marks ... or primer pocket dark rings
>>Outside temperature was 24.8 Celsius with 68% Relative Humidity
>>light breeze, sun
Reload Set - Moose Load 2
Hornady Brass (fire formed)
Winchester Large Rifle (WLR) Primers
Nosler Nosler Partition 200 grain
IMR 4955 Powder @ 57.0 grains
>>COAL = 3.395"
>>Average velocity = 2620 fps (3 shot data set)
>>Hi velocity = 2629 fps
>>Lo velocity = 2614 fps
>>3 Shot Group Size = 0.7"
>>Looks promising for accuracy
>>No high pressure signs ... primer a bit flat ... no pin cratering or ejector marks ... or primer pocket dark rings
>>Outside temperature was 26.2 Celsius with 58% Relative Humidity
>>light breeze, sun
... will do more testing with 10 or 15 shot strings to get some ES and SD data to determine the cartridge pressure dynamics. Then I will conduct 3 or 4 5-shot strings to determine the rifle dynamics and see if they produce small groups.
