I'm shooting a Winchester Mod 70 30-06 with 180gr Nosler partition protected pt. bullets. I was using 57.0 gr IMR 4350 powder with CCI 250 mag primers. After a few test runs I found loads to be too hot and were splitting necks even on new brass. I am now going to start from scratch at 53.0 gr IMR 4350 Powder, CCI 200 lrg rifle primers and work my way up by half grain loads. Wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a bettter starting point load to reduce wasting $ in Nosler bullets with trial shots. thx
30-06 Powder Loads
- Thread starter Nosler06
- Start date
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My notes show me as being happy with 50.0 grains IMR 4350, using Mil brass. I don't suggest you try going hunting without doing a couple of crony runs but here is a place to start.
Hodgdon data lists a 56.5Compressed as max. Where did you get 57.0 from?
In my two '06's, I got good results with IMR4350 from 53 to 55 in .5 grain increments.
You can try cheaper bullets and shoot more but eventually, you should be loading and shooting the bullets you will hunt with. It's part of the process of having complete faith in what you're doing.
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Hodgons shows 180gr with imr 4350, start-53grs/ max -56.6c. If your splitting necks that would not be my first indicator of hot loads. Usually check case head expansion and primers for hot loads. Your load is over max for Hodgon data back up to start loading and try again. You can try useing cheaper bullets to work up a load then switch to your preferede bullet. Just make sure you start below max and work up when you switch bullets. Bullets of the same weight but different make can show pressures signs.
Theres a lot of powders work good in 30.06 and the one you are using is very good, I have used it but I tried some RL 17 last fall it gave me the best acccuracy and speed of any I have tried Check out Alliant powders and go up to max very slowly 2/10s
manitou
manitou
Hot by any standards. I would think backing off two grains or three would be prudent. How you got to 57 without previous problems would be interesting. None of my books get to 57 - an old Hornady book shows 56, and that was the highest I found.
Agreed. I shoot 55 grans of IMR 4350 with a hornady 180 interlock and I get just over 2700fps. What more could you need? Interesting about the magnum primers too. I have never found a need for them unless using large charges of ball powders in cold temps. Neck splits are an indication of overworked brass. If you get neck splits with new brass either the brass is defective or your chamber is out of spec.
First though, I would go back to normal CCI 200 if I were you and back off your powder charge until you start getting good accuracy. Even if your load is 51 or 52 grains but shoots really well you are much better off with that than a hot load that lacks the repeatability and precision. Don't stress your gun. Sooner or later you will pay for that.
First though, I would go back to normal CCI 200 if I were you and back off your powder charge until you start getting good accuracy. Even if your load is 51 or 52 grains but shoots really well you are much better off with that than a hot load that lacks the repeatability and precision. Don't stress your gun. Sooner or later you will pay for that.
X3
Either the brass is old and work or age hardened or you have a chamber that is too large or has a burr that is cutting the brass.
As for 30-06 "power loads" the best I have ever found is 60 grains of Reloder 22 under a 180 grain Ballistic Tip. Close to 2800 fps with a fair bit less pressure than your 4350 loads.
Thank you all for your input. I will utilize all of your info as I get set up to reload several batches of powder loads to run trials. Lighter loads that I have reloaded (using my same dies only difference is 56.0gr and CCI 200 primers) for my dad who has the same gun do not show any signs of neck damage when shot through my rifle. So I believe that in doing that I ruled out any chamber damage or burr in my rifle that would be causing the problem. Some of the brass has been loaded up to 10-12 loads and is 15-20 yrs old. Probably time to look into new brass. Any ideas as to how long brass is good until it becomes hardened or brittle?
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
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I use RL 17 for my light magnum 30-06 loads using 180's and 210's; I've found I can get 100 - 150 fps more with it than with any other powder at similar pressure levels. I can safely get 2880 fps with 180s from a 22" bbl.
Oh,about that many
Different brands,different lot#s of the same brand will last differently. For simple 30-06 brass,I've run from 1/2 dozen to 2 dozen uses.Both are extremes.Then you add heavy or light loadings. If I have a split neck,that batch has the mouth closed and tossed.
Different brands,different lot#s of the same brand will last differently. For simple 30-06 brass,I've run from 1/2 dozen to 2 dozen uses.Both are extremes.Then you add heavy or light loadings. If I have a split neck,that batch has the mouth closed and tossed.
