30 06 recipe

[easysauce]

so I am loading up my first 30 06,

168 grn bullet hornandy match BTHP,

51.3 grn of IMR 4064

sierra reloading manual says that load is about 2900 fps,

loaded up five cartridges to test when I get a chance to go to the range,

any pros see something wrong with my recipe? I will be walking up the charge slowly to around the max listed as 56.5 on my chart since I want to have some cartridges that will do ok in the 600-1000m range

 

[hometownhero]

I would start a little lower in the powder department. Looking on the hodgdon load data site for that powder and bullet it lists the min at 47gr and the max at 50.8 gr. I would start at 47 and work up to a higher charge.

168 GR. HDY HPBT IMR 4064 3.230"(col) 47.0gr(min) 2660fps 46,800 PSI 50.8gr(max) 2850fps 57,900 PSI

 

[easysauce]

ok, hodgdons chart disagrees with the sierra one but only with the max loads? the ratio of grns to FPS is the same...thats odd. but anyways I also read the max chamber pressure as 60k, so it may just be that sierra reload manual has a 2000psi safety buffer for their max, and hodgdon has a 2100psi buffer.

I will load a few at 47.5 and 49.4 grn and make sure they are good before i go all the way with 51.3

 

[hk33ka1]

Your start load is over max for Hodgdon Powder and Hornady Bullets loading data. I would reconsider and start lower.

Hornady manual for .30-06 168gr BTHP 41.8gr - 50.2gr MAX IMR 4064


Was the Sierra data for the Sierra Matching HPBT? What was the min and max for that exact powder? I do not have the Sierra manual but a quick search showed others loading mid 40s grains of IMR 4064 for this bullet and calibre.

Pressure, FPS etc are going to be different in different rifles, different cases, different primers, and brands of same weight of bullet. Most of the Manual Load data is made up in special pressure testing guns so FPS etc will not be the same in your rifle or the next Pressure testing gun.

 

[easysauce]

yeah sierra says 51.3, hornady says 50.2, hodgdon says 50.8 max

is this kind of variation normal in these tables?

 

[hometownhero]

yeah sierra says 51.3, hornady says 50.2, hodgdon says 50.8 max

is this kind of variation normal in these tables?

Yes.

With my 223 loads im using hornady bullets their min is ~23 and max is 26gr I think (I'm at 25.7gr) The sierra book says min is 25 and max is 27.Xgr

 

[Sask_Hunter]

yeah sierra says 51.3, hornady says 50.2, hodgdon says 50.8 max

is this kind of variation normal in these tables?

different components used, brass primers, slower or faster lot of powders and most importantly chamber and bore demensions.

i always cross reference and work up to rhw highest charge, start low and work up.

 

[RossArms]

as you always should start low and work your way up. usually somewhere in there you will find a threshold for accuracy before you meet the max load anyway, one of my Enfields likes 42gns with when max in my manual is 45 and min is 39. it wants it nowhere near max and I would never have found it unless I started at the minimum charge.

 

[easysauce]

thanks for the advice guys, tested out my 3006 load and 45 loads, all went well,

unfortunately the hand loads shoot about ~200fps faster then the standard hunting cartridages... so my zero changed a lot

the pistol hand loads were AWESOME, way less recoil and not appreciable loss of
accuracy.

the only scary thing? One of the FACTORY loaded .45 casing split about 75% down the casing (read NOT one of my loads, this was a factory round)
it ejected right into my forehead too... hard enough to nick it .... first norinco .45 to do that to me though out of about 2500

 

[RossArms]

I waiting for someone to jump down my throat for saying this but sometimes with factory or handloads........ Sh** just happens. I've had factory cases pooch before too, lets face it were all playing with fire.