Help with which 30 calibre bullets to start with for new reloader

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canoetrpr

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Just starting up some research on components. I will be loading for a Winchester 70 30-06 and Ruger Mark 2 Target .308 Winchester.

Trying to figure out which bullets to start with. The 30-06 is meant to use to hunt but for the next many months it will only be used on the range.

It would be nice to get some decent quality bullets but they don't have to be the most premium bullets now as they will be used on the range primarily. I am shooting the .308 on the bench out to 300m. Currently shooting the 30-06 at only a 100m but plan to shoot it out to 200 or so. While I'd like to see what the 30-06 can really do at its best with ammo I will hunt with, it would also be nice to load it up with not too expensive stuff for casual practice from field positions.

Some thoughts:

- Hornady Match and A-Max for the .308 - 180gr
- Can also play with the Hornady above for the 30-06 for casual shooting (thats the reason I picked 180gr instead of 150).

- Nosler Partition and/or Accubond - 180gr
- Hornady Interbond - 180gr
- Barnes TTSX - 180gr

It would help if I could start with sticking with one bullet manufacturer for now and buy their manual.

I'd appreciate your opinions on bullets, primers and powders to start with.
 
Depends how fat the wallet is.
I shoot 150's out of my 308 and I would think 180's would
work for the awt six.
If money is tight, find one bullet size you can live with.
For a while way back, I was using 165's in my 308win and
the same bullet for the 308 Norma Mag.
Crunching numbers back then.
Worked decent enough for both rifles.
CCI large rifle primers.
IMR 4320 for the 308 and I thing the IMR4350 for the 30-06
should please it well enough.
 
165gr Nosler Ballistic tips will likely shoot well out of both but are pricey. 168gr HPBT match for target from Sierra or any of the majors. Most 180 soft points would be fine too in either.
 
I'm in the same boat. I use Hornady SST 150gr for
range work and Hornady GMX 150 for hunting. Same b/c
and SSTs are $35-$40/100. GMX are $40+/50. Yes, I
could go heavier, but a premium bullet like the GMX or
Barnes TSX doesn't need the extra weight a less reliable
bullet does. Some will argue, but don't seem to mind hunting
with even lighter bullets in 260,270,280,7mm Mag etc.
I have used Varget for both with good results, but H4350
seems better suited for the 30-06.
 
hk33ka1 said:
165gr Nosler Ballistic tips will likely shoot well out of both but are pricey. 168gr HPBT match for target from Sierra or any of the majors. Most 180 soft points would be fine too in either.
Click to expand...

Bolded gets my vote for both as well. Find one powder that works for both and work with it to find the best recipe and have fun.
 
If you will be hunting, a 180 gr is an excellent all round choice for deer and moose sized critters.

For shooting to 300 yards, I would try a 180 gr pointed flat based bullet. Sierra and Hornaday both make a good one. These are accurate and forgiving to load.

You could buy a box of 180 gr match bullets and see if they do any better than the pointed flat base. The cheapest might be the best.
 
Some excellent thoughts here. I certainly appreciate them. I like the idea of going with one bullet for the range which is cheaper but has the same ballistic coefficient as another with better construction. Then one can switch over before hunting season to the more expensive variant and verify the performance.

The Hornady SST and GMX (or Interbond) are a good pair for this as pointed out. Nosler Ballistic tip also has the same BC as Nosler Accubond. I've heard good things about Nosler Accubond and Hornady Interbond in my very limited knowledge. $0.40 or $0.50 a bullet isn't terrible for premium ammo. I can pick up some cheaper soft points in 165 gr or match bullets and adjust the point of impact as necessary when practising from field positions.

I think I'll start with 165gr bullets for now; Hornady SST/GMX/Interbond or Nosler Ballistic Tip/Accubond for the 30-06. For my .308, I'll start with the Hornady A-Max... depends what I find in stock at the local LeBaron store. They just got a shipment of Hornady bullets in.

I just picked up the Hornady manual today and it suggested Varget and IMR4831 as powders with best results for this bullets in 30-06. Varget also shows well for .308 Winchester for the bullets I'm considering. That might be a good powder to start with.
 
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