30-06 can it be versatile?

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cmass

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I'm hoping to be able to load from 100gr bullets to 180gr just to make it more versatile until I can afford my 25-06 or rather the optics for it. Got any input especial at the lighter end.




No matter what you say eventually someone will be offended, so screw'm all and hold nothing back.
 
I have loaded the Hornady 110 V-max over 4895 with execellent results. Currently I am loading cast lead bullets with reduced loads of 2400 with some pleasing results. Getting some nice groups with "easy to shoot all day" recoil. PS the rifle I am using weights just over 7lbs with scope.

Cheers
Curly1
 
The 30-06 is probably the most versatile chambering available at present.
Bullets for the .308 groove diameter are available from 100 grains up to 250 grains.
The '06 is quite capable of handling any of them.
Some rifles, however, will show a marked preference for one, or possibly two weights.
Others will shoot anything well. [I happen to have one of these at present]
Before I acquired a "real" varmint gun, I shot hundreds of Columbia Ground Squirrels with my M700 Carbine in 30-06. My load was that 130 Speer HP and 55 grains og H4895.
It truly vaporized them, and was scary accurate in that rifle. [I hit right out past 350 yards]
You will not know how "your" '06 like the lighter offerings until you try them.
Don't give up after trying only one powder, though. A change may also change your results dramatically.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Just remember point of impact on both ends of bullet weight.
Elevation will change for sure.
Windage may change as well.
Load a bunch up and go shoot at the range.
Pen and paper to write down the results.
You could also mark the targets with the loading info and date and
take pictures of them with a digital camera. Good reference for a later date.
 
The .30/06 is generally considered the most versatile cartridge for North American game and if one was restricted to the use of factory ammo, that might very well be the case. The '06 is perhaps my favorite cartridge, but in truth I doubt if it is any more versatile than any number of other cartridges, that are handloaded. The cartridge can be made even more versatile by loading cast or FMJ military bullets at reduced velocity for small game hunting, with bullet weights up to 240 grs it can be used for the largest game, and with light 100-125 gr bullets loaded to high velocity it produces the explosive performance sought by varmint hunters. As a beginners rifle with 125-130 gr game bullets loaded to 2600 or so, it produces mild recoil and good deer killing performance. Loaded with match bullets the .30/06 will hold its own on the rifle range in any sort of casaul competition. As stated by others, you rifle will probably show a preference for a narrower range of bullets, but it is unlikely that you would be able to make use of the difference in the field.
 
what about barrel twist?????

depend on the twist of your barrel you will have to stay in a certain weight range, probably more around 180 than 100.....

if your berrel is not good to stabilise 100g your accuracy will sucks!!!!!
 
The '06 is one of the most versatile of cals. as it shoots good with most bullet weights also makes a great cast bullet gun.
 
Sounds like you need two rifles. As was mentioned before, what is your twist rate. Most early 30-06s have 1- 10 in twists. (1-20cm)

Personally, I don't really watch the twist rate much. The big thing for me with 30-06, 308 Win and 30-30 with 100 grain bullets is the tightness and length of the throat. In the early rifles, and even most of the new ones they are chambered with long throats that are a tad sloppy, so that they will chamber commercially produced ammunition from all manufacturers.

The biggest problem you will run into with the 100grain bullets is that they will already have left the neck of the case before they enter the leade. If the throat/leade are made to maximum spec, there is a very good chance they won't start out straight down the bore. It doesn't take much to make a big difference. In all honesty, I haven't found a commercially chambered sporter that will shoot the 100/110 grain offerings yet. I've had a few people tell me about their wonder rifles shooting miniscule groups but there was only one that would do it. It had a custom chamber cut, after the barrel was set back. The fellow did a good job on it. It wasn't really obvious at first glance. He had borrowed a reamer from now deceased Les Viel. It would easily handle all bullet weights right up to 220 grain round nose. The biggest problem with the longer bullets is that he had to load them deeper into the case. He wasn't worried about that because he never shot anything heavier than 150 grain Remington Kling Kores.
 
I had a Sako 85 .30-06 with a 1:11 twist that would put 3 110gr vmax under an inch at 100, and 3" at 300yds. Powder was IMR 4895, velocity was 3500fps.
 
I have used 110 grain Speers right through to 220 grain Hornady's in a number of .30-06's with absolutely no issues and very good accuracy all around. It is the caliber one thinks of when the word versatile is used.
 
Versatile

Thanks for the responses. My biggest concern was that in the past I had heard stories about the lighter bullets tumbling, and I'm more about placement rather that knock'm down with a bus. And thanks for any future direction.
 
M. Greener wrote the theoretical formula for barrel twist. He understood it was theoretical, and a useful guide for a gunmaker. A handloader need only use experience as a guide. My experience has been to not buy very heavy nor very light bullets for caliber in bulk, until I have mucked about a bit with powders and seating depths, to see if my particular rifle agrees with Greener. Some do, some are an exception, especially if speaking of hunting accuracy, rather than benchrest competition.

Don't fall into the trap of pushing velocity in heavy bullets, in an attempt to impart sufficent rotational velocity to stabilize a theoretically unstable projectile. Thar be dragons.
 
I have an a-bolt gold medallion in 30-06 with 10-inch twist. I have loaded 100, 110, 150, 165, 180 and 220 grain bullets, all group under 1 MOA for 5-shot groups. To those who speak about twist problems for lighter bullets I would recommend to pass more time at the range than reading misleading articles.
 
mihasic said:
I have an a-bolt gold medallion in 30-06 with 10-inch twist. I have loaded 100, 110, 150, 165, 180 and 220 grain bullets, all group under 1 MOA for 5-shot groups. To those who speak about twist problems for lighter bullets I would recommend to pass more time at the range than reading misleading articles.
Click to expand...

That is a very remarkable rifle!
 
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