I had a few hundred hornady 190 grain btsp bullets left over when I used reload 300 win mag and wanted to use them up in my 30-06. So I looked for some data on that bullet. I was using imr 4831 powder and large rifle match primers and Hornady brass. The rifle is a Tikka t3 lite in standard form. The scope is a meopta 3x9 x 40. The load data was gathered off a rifle with 24 inch barrel and the Tikka had a 22.4 inch barrel . The the load data called for at maxium load:55 grains of imr 4831 / OAL of 3.22 I tried 54 grains of imr 4831 and it was not very good, poor accuracy I wondered why the bullet was seated to such a short overall length. It has a shape that brings the bullet in contact with the lands farther towards the tip than most bullets but thought it would be worth trying to lengthen the OAL a little at a time. The results were surprising to say the least. After a a few days of testing I got tack driving accuracy out of 54.5 grains of imr 4831 / federal large rifle match primers / Hormady brass / and a OAL of 3.305. This is the best round the Tikka has ever shot. Best group was 3/4 of an inch at 200 yards and can do 1 inch more often than not if I am up to it. At 100 yrds it does under an inch every time if you hold steady. That for my purposes more than I could ever ask for. I like the heavy bullets for 30-06. I use this gun for moose. But I am still wondering why Hornady was asking for this bullet to be seated so far into the case it even has a groove that I am at 3.305 OAL am nowhere near. Am I missing something here? The cases are showing no signs of excessive pressure. I am using Lee dies and I crimp the cases.
30-06 190 grain btsp
- Thread starter bniz
- Start date
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
My guess - their test rifle must have had either a short magazine or short throat or both. My 300 WM Sako 85 Grey Wolf has a long magazine and throat so I can exceed the standard OAL and seat bullets as shown -
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I want to load 210s for my 30-06, seeing how your 190s work out this makes me feel better.
The length is simply for magazine length, compare similar bullet length and profiles from different component companies and you will see different lengths.
I know why they give a number though, the depth seated into the case impacts the pressure as well so seating deeper can change the pressure so they are covering their butt by giving a number.
The length is simply for magazine length, compare similar bullet length and profiles from different component companies and you will see different lengths.
I know why they give a number though, the depth seated into the case impacts the pressure as well so seating deeper can change the pressure so they are covering their butt by giving a number.
