Just got my first rifle and have always been intrigued with reloading my own bullets. I bought a weatherby vangaurd s1 and was wondering if anyone has any tips with specifics of powder,bullets,primer,books,and equipment that has proven worthy for them
30-06 reloading tips for a beginner
- Thread starter Ballchinion
- Start date
Reloader 22, 180 grain bullet, accubond is good, Federal large rifle primer. Max in book is 61 grains. Always start 10% lower and work up looking for pressure signs. And before you take my word look up nosler load data for the 30-06. It's free on the internet. Never trust what is said on forum's without verifying first.
back40sniper
CGN Regular
- Location
- South east Sask.
If a load of H4350 and a 165 grain won't shoot in a 30-06 there is probably something wrong with the gun. Work up in your rifle and hunt most anything on this continent.
300_savage
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Brunswick
IMR4350 is one of the more common powders used in 30-06, in my opinion it is one of the very best for 30-06 especially for 165-180 grain bullets.
For bullets 30-06 uses.308" diameter bullets, plain cup and core flat base bullets are usually easy to find an accurate load for, and perform great on deer at 06 velocity. Speer Hotcore, Hornady interlock, Sierra pro hunter, Rem Core loct & Win Power point are all good bullets at decent price points that will work fine for both hunting and target.
For primers 30-06 has large primer pockets, you will need large rifle primers, pretty much any large rifle primer will do for stick powder (like IMR4350), for ball powder (like Win 760) best to go with a magnum large rifle primer (ball powders are harder to ignite).
For books lots of good ones to choose from, I use the Speer, Hornady, Sierra and Nosler manuals they are all good & if you have a preference for a brand of bullets, the bullet manufacturers manual would be a good place to start. The first section of the loading manuals have very good instructions to read & will help a lot to get started out. If you know any local experienced hand loaders they would probably be happy to pass on their knowledge in their loading rooms.
For loading equipment the sky is the limit for pricing, you can save quite a bit picking up used dies and equipment sometimes. If you haven't already request access to the EE plenty of good deals on used loading equipment, as well as many of the site sponsors have good deals on new reloading dies & equipment and are very good to deal with, some have sales on right now.
For bullets 30-06 uses.308" diameter bullets, plain cup and core flat base bullets are usually easy to find an accurate load for, and perform great on deer at 06 velocity. Speer Hotcore, Hornady interlock, Sierra pro hunter, Rem Core loct & Win Power point are all good bullets at decent price points that will work fine for both hunting and target.
For primers 30-06 has large primer pockets, you will need large rifle primers, pretty much any large rifle primer will do for stick powder (like IMR4350), for ball powder (like Win 760) best to go with a magnum large rifle primer (ball powders are harder to ignite).
For books lots of good ones to choose from, I use the Speer, Hornady, Sierra and Nosler manuals they are all good & if you have a preference for a brand of bullets, the bullet manufacturers manual would be a good place to start. The first section of the loading manuals have very good instructions to read & will help a lot to get started out. If you know any local experienced hand loaders they would probably be happy to pass on their knowledge in their loading rooms.
For loading equipment the sky is the limit for pricing, you can save quite a bit picking up used dies and equipment sometimes. If you haven't already request access to the EE plenty of good deals on used loading equipment, as well as many of the site sponsors have good deals on new reloading dies & equipment and are very good to deal with, some have sales on right now.
redbirddog
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Maple Syrup land Ontario
take you time.....read lots...... you have your whole life to get into it. Enjoy the learning experience. Find a buddy you can shoot the breeze about it with.
PS even after 30 years reloading... i still learn new things all the time!
PS even after 30 years reloading... i still learn new things all the time!
Research pressure signs, and how to recognize them. Then realize that not all loads listed in all manuals are safe in all rifles, which is why every manual recommends starting with a reduced load and working up the load, while watching for pressure signs. Also realize that the printed velocities and most accurate load are for their rifle, not yours.
mudgunner49
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Buy Richard Lee's "Modern Reloading". Read the whole thing. Then buy your reloading set-up and get started with crafting your own ammunition.
You will be light years ahead of many people who have been loading for years.
Realize that there is a significant difference between "reloading" and "handloading" and it usually involves the word "precision"...
You will be light years ahead of many people who have been loading for years.
Realize that there is a significant difference between "reloading" and "handloading" and it usually involves the word "precision"...
- Location
- Western Manitoba
There is a decent writer named John Barsness who uses 165 grain (Hornady, Speer, Nosler) with IMR 4350, or H4350, at near max loads shown in most manuals, for accuracy testing a new-to-him 30-06 rifle. In the three rifles that I used that load in, it worked perfectly. You must start with the "Start" load and work your way up, to be sure that your rifle reacts similar to the rifles that were used by the loading manual companies.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Currently using IMR4350 and 165gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. Devastating on deer.
OP:
I've had good success with Varget under 165-168 gr bullets in my 30-06. The 165 loads seem to work well (on paper, anyway) in my BAR MKII as well.
For a bolt action, you could get away with neck sizing. For any other type of gun, and possibly hunting loads, full sizing would be in order, but make sure you don't overwork the brass. Also, watch the case length. OAL will be what works in your gun, and magazine length may be a consideration.
I've had good success with Varget under 165-168 gr bullets in my 30-06. The 165 loads seem to work well (on paper, anyway) in my BAR MKII as well.
For a bolt action, you could get away with neck sizing. For any other type of gun, and possibly hunting loads, full sizing would be in order, but make sure you don't overwork the brass. Also, watch the case length. OAL will be what works in your gun, and magazine length may be a consideration.
