30-06 H4350 velocity reality check

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fat but funky

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Hi Guys,

I worked up some 165 Nosler Ballistic Tip loads in my 30-06 using H4350 and Win LR Mag primers. Rifle has 24" barrel 1 in 10 twist.

My chronograph is telling me that 58.5 grains of powder (that's the accuracy node) is giving me almost 3000 fps muzzle vel.

I guess I find that number a little hard to swallow

It was about -7C and a cloudless day (although I did use the skyscreens) when I did the shooting. Wondering if maybe the battery was too cold or something.

Speer #13 says 60 grains of that powder with a 168 grain bullet will not quite make it to 2800 in a 22" barrel

Hodgdon reloading center says 59.0 grains on a 165 bullet reaches 2938

Thoughts?

Fat
 
Sounds about right to me. You are shooting out of a 24in barrel after all with slightly hotter primers. It will increase velocity. But i'll bet you are very close to your max load...if not maybe a bit over.

How do the primers look? are they getting real flat...perhaps with bolt face imprints? The firing pin print should not be 'bulging' out around the edges either.

And...just for curiosity sake, what rifle receiver, barrel and brass are you shooting?
 
no signs of overpressure. Been there done that.

Primers fine, no sticky bolt, no ejector imprint, pushed it all the way up to 59.0 and everything seemed fine

Fat
 
Sounds happy to me. I have loaded for many fine firearms that seem to like a slightly hotter loads. Be careful with your bullet seating depth..and bullet type/brand even if the weight is the same...as this too can change the pressures drastically.

I'd run with it..you have speed and accuracy by the sounds of it :)
 
I would say use your Chronograph to find your pressure. The brass and bolt may not tell you the whole story always. I would back off to 2900-2950fps but your call!
 
58 grains of 4350, give or take depending on brand is a very well known load for 30-06. Does sound like you have a "fast" barrel, life is good! I would be curious what yours would do with 180"s.
 
Maybe the crony?
I have an one that matches the velocities given with my buds, yet my neighbour has a newer chrony of the same make that consistantly reads 75fps higher than the other two.
 
fat but funky said:
no signs of overpressure. Been there done that.

Primers fine, no sticky bolt, no ejector imprint, pushed it all the way up to 59.0 and everything seemed fine

Fat
Click to expand...


The best measure of pressure signs is the 3000 f/s your load is generating. 58.5 gr of H4350 is a max+ load in most manuals. The Current Nosler manual lists the max load for that bullet at 57.5 for 2873, that is consistent with my previous results.
 
3000 fps sound quite fast for 165 gr, dont forget that Superformance 165 gr push them hard at 2940 fps, would be carefull for signs... Cheers. JP.
 
I have had a number of 165 grain loads that were in the 2900-2950 fps area without any excess pressure signs.
They included powders like H4350, IMR4350, RL19, Norma204, Vihtavuori N160 & 550
Higginsons Nobel HP104 [47N] W760 & H414, etc.
Depending on Barrel & chamber dimensions, it may take more or less of a given powder to get there.
3000 is usually pushing it a bit, so be careful.
I am usually happy if I get 2900 [+ - 25] in a 24" 30-06 using a 165/168 grain pill.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
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