The old 165gr vs 180gr .30-06 thread...

Well with the nice weather I finally decided to get back to this.


Previous shooting with the info off Nosler Load Data (https://www.nosler.com/30-06-springfield),has been so close to my M-700 barrel/results, that today I loaded 2 loads, directly off there.

I did IMR-4350, 56.5grs with 180gr Hornady BTSP, and H-4350 52.5gr also with the 180gr Hornady BTSP.

The IMR-4350 @56.5grs was supposed to do 2736fps mv, my rifle avg'd 2784fps. Deviation of 48fps...
The H-4350 @52.5grs was supposed to do 2565fps mv, my rifle avg'd 2436fps. Deviation of 129fps...





Both targets are just bad enough to think there's gotta be accuracy there?

I'm gonna try both again, reduce the IMR-4350 but 'bump up' the H-4350.
 
I have 8+ lbs H-4350.

Decided to check COAL and adjusted seating die out to 3.333" (.30-06 max is supposed to be 3.400").
I am not really thrilled with the bullet being seated out that far, I'm definitely gonna seat it back deeper, but I will have to take a measure,




Loaded 53.7grs H-4350 and got this crappy group.
Avg vel was 2545fps.


I'm not sure how much of this is the load vs the shooter...:confused:
 
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You might need to get into the ballistic tables for significance, but our Model 70 in 308 Win (22" barrel) has been throwing 165 Speer Hot Cor bullets over my Shooting Chrony around 2,800 fps, since late 1980's - with RL-15 and Fed 210 primers. Is pretty much as given in the Speer manual as max loadings. Seems to me at least equivalent to store bought 30-06 shells with 165 grain bullets. So, good luck getting better out of the 180's in 30-06.

I can assure you that 165 grain 30 caliber, with muzzle velocity of 2,800 fps, is plenty enough for Saskatchewan White Tail and Mule Deers - many dozens taken by me and our son - and we each took our first elk with that rifle and loading. Not sure that I can tell you what is a significant improvement from that level - I would hope that 30-06 might get to similar velocity with 180 over the 165 in the 308 Win - but not really certain what amount of difference that would actually make, on impact?
 
Demonical said:
I would be perfectly happy with a 180gr load that shoots 2500fps and is accurate.

Not seeking max velo!
Click to expand...

have any varget on hand? 44gr up to 47gr , i think you will find accuracy in here?!

im about to try this shortly ish- using varget an 180 btsp's aswell in a 20inch 06.
 
So, your post got me curious and I loaded up 20 180 grain #3072 BTSP that I have on the shelf.

I used a magneto speed to show me appx velocities.

The rifle is an Antonio Zoli bolt action, an Italian copy of the Husqy 1900 but much smoother cycling and IMHO more accurate. It shoots all bullet weights from 100grain to 220 grain well, if I do my part.

I started with 45 grains of Varget over CCI250 primers. This load was mild, no slouch. 2560 fps over 3 rounds from a 24 inch bbl, so appx 2450 fps in a 20 inch bbl

46.0 grains Varget - same primers. This load was similar to the previous at 2525 fps average, 3 rounds

47.0 grains Varget - same primers. This load was stouter and velocities went to 2610 fps/ 3 rounds

48.0 grains Varget - same primers. More noticeable recoil, velocities were 2655 fps/ 3 rounds.

The last loads were at 49.0 grains Varget. Recoil was similar and velocities wer at 2690fps/ 8 rounds.

The last load was the most accurate in my rifle. The only loads that showed primers starting to flatten were those 47.0+

Your rifle should be able to handle the 49.0 grain load of Varget over CCI250 primers.

My OAL was as long as the magazine well, minus appx .050.

My rifle has a ''deep'' throat, that's quite tight, so around .100 in off the leade, but still in the case neck when entering.

IMHO, Varget is a bit fast for the 180 grain btsp.

Still, at 49.0 grains and 2690 fps average over eight shots with a total 20+fps spread it's a very consistent performer that gives very good accuracy.

Temps today were right around 12C and humidity was high. Elevation is right around 600 meters.

Time 2pm 3/30/2022

You should easily be able to safely exceed 2500fps with your 20 inch bbl.
 
bearhunter said:
So, your post got me curious and I loaded up 20 180 grain #3072 BTSP that I have on the shelf.

I used a magneto speed to show me appx velocities.

The rifle is an Antonio Zoli bolt action, an Italian copy of the Husqy 1900 but much smoother cycling and IMHO more accurate. It shoots all bullet weights from 100grain to 220 grain well, if I do my part.

I started with 45 grains of Varget over CCI250 primers. This load was mild, no slouch. 2560 fps over 3 rounds from a 24 inch bbl, so appx 2450 fps in a 20 inch bbl

46.0 grains Varget - same primers. This load was similar to the previous at 2525 fps average, 3 rounds

47.0 grains Varget - same primers. This load was stouter and velocities went to 2610 fps/ 3 rounds

48.0 grains Varget - same primers. More noticeable recoil, velocities were 2655 fps/ 3 rounds.

The last loads were at 49.0 grains Varget. Recoil was similar and velocities wer at 2690fps/ 8 rounds.

The last load was the most accurate in my rifle. The only loads that showed primers starting to flatten were those 47.0+

Your rifle should be able to handle the 49.0 grain load of Varget over CCI250 primers.

My OAL was as long as the magazine well, minus appx .050.

My rifle has a ''deep'' throat, that's quite tight, so around .100 in off the leade, but still in the case neck when entering.

IMHO, Varget is a bit fast for the 180 grain btsp.

Still, at 49.0 grains and 2690 fps average over eight shots with a total 20+fps spread it's a very consistent performer that gives very good accuracy.

Temps today were right around 12C and humidity was high. Elevation is right around 600 meters.

Time 2pm 3/30/2022

You should easily be able to safely exceed 2500fps with your 20 inch bbl.
Click to expand...

BH this is awesome info!! Thank you!

I was sure the ADI/WPODLEIGH data was on the soft side when reading velocities...... your test proves that!

Im similiar to Demonical in the sense i dont need the FPS, either. So your testing gives me a good place to start an work on!!!

Appreciate that mate...Good ol 2208 ay
 
So today I read a bunch of hoo-haa on c.o.a.l. and decided to heck with messing with that. I adjusted my seating die to where the bullet seated right to the front edge of the crimp ring that's on the Hornady Interlock. That produced a c.o.a.l. of 3.227" (.30-06 c.o.a.l. is supposed to 3.400").

Then I looked at last 2 results, was thinking of going the middle of those, but instead I went up 1/2 a grain.

So I had done 52.5, then 53.7 this load was 54.2grs H-4350.

MV's were: 2578, 2609, 2589, 2586, 2586, which is avg 2589.6 fps.


This is a 5 shot group...

 
Went down to the bench today thinking I was gonna do another batch with that 54.2grs H-4350, but decided to 'tweak' instead. Loaded 5 @54.4grs, gonna shoot that in the morning, hopefully before the breeze kicks up.

I'll post up results.
 
I know this is slightly off the center of the thread, but in experimenting with a whole slew
of "medium" burning powders in the 30-06 with 180 grain bullets, I came to the conclusion
that they are acceptable, but not optimal. [IMR 4064, 4320, 4895, Reloder 15, Varget, IMR 3031 etc]
Some yielded very fine accuracy, but mostly at 308 Winchester speeds.

My pet loads with 180 Grain bullets in the 30-06 for velocity and accuracy are all slower
burning powders. [IMR4831, 4350; H4831, 4350; Reloder 19, 22; Norma 204, MRP; Superperformance;
Vihtavuori N560, 160, 165; Winchester 760, WXR]

I have 2 30-06 rifles at present, both have 24" barrels. Both easily break 2800 fps, and
stay moa or better. Dave.
 
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