A bit confused from the answer of my last post about long range for My 30-06 ???

Mobeasto

Mobeasto

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Hi guys, I'm a bit confused about your answer in my last post a bout long range shooting in my tikka t3 30-06..

My barrel is 1:11, I have made a compilation of what you told me and you recommended me everything form 155 gr. to 210 gr... This make a lot to try..

So is there anybody That actually have a 30-06 with a 1:11 barrel that do some long-range shooting with it and have a nice bullet that groups well....

All thanks in advance guys for your answer and that you very much for your last answers...
 
Well you have a ball-park, and I'm guessing most people suggested trying bullets on the heavier side for long distance.

The thing is, every gun is different, even those of the same make and model. The stock will mate with the action slightly differently, perhaps the barrel will have pressure points along the stock that differ, and differences created in the manufacturing process (how much screws are tightened, tolerances, etc) all have a bearing on how a gun will shoot certain ammo.

The only way to find out is through experimentation, and even then, you are not limited to factory ammunition. Reloading opens yet another can of worms where you can experiment with the amount of powder, cartridge dimensions as well as the type and weight of bullet used.

There is no one that can tell you with absolute certainty that the best cartridge to use in your .30-06 is "the federal stuff with UPC code X ###X X". Have fun at the range! :)
 
Here is what I would try, just a hunch:

168-grain Hornady AMAX or 168-grain Nosler Competition (generally the cheapest match bullets, and superbly accurate). If you plan to hunt deer at longer ranges, you could try the 165-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. The other bullets are generally designed for target shooting only, although the AMAX has proven itself effective on deer for others.

On the other hand, the Sierra 168-grain Matchking is the accuracy standard against which all target bullets are compared, and that bullet is virtually guaranteed to work in this task.

I would stick with Vihtavuori N560. It should give the best velocity and accuracy. If you want to go cheaper, you could try IMR 4350 or Reloder 22. I like Reloder 22, myself, but many others prefer IMR 4350.

I wouldn't be surprised if the same charges that work with a 168-grain Barnes Tripleshock work with these bullets, but I'd work up from below as usual.

Use a Winchester case, or any case that will give you a bit of extra space because any of these loads tend to fill the case with powder.

Use whatever primer works the best.

Go shooting. Assuming that your rifle is up to the task, these loads should be accurate at least to 800 yards, probably 1,000.

There is a lot more to shooting accurately past 600 than simply dialing in the elevation. You'll see for yourself once you start doing it.
 
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Thanks P-17 my friend... I'll try those.. I'll surely try a cheaper powder for target shooting And I'll Keep this precious N560 For thunting.. Cause with shipping that's a bang for the wallet to order The N560... For the Load I have tried 165 Ballistic Tip and the is the same load as the Tsx that work perfectly.. But I'll try the other 168 gr. bullets
 
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I would choose at least a 200 gr bullet for shooting 500 to 1000 yards. I find the heavier bullets work better and I get a better grouping longer distances rather than lighter ones. I shoot an old rem 721 30'06 and its one of my most accurate rifles.
 
Mobeasto said:
Thanks P-17 my friend... I'll try those.. I'll surely try a cheaper powder for target shooting And I'll Keep this precious N560 For thunting.. Cause with shipping that's a bang for the wallet to order The N560... For the Load I have tried 165 Ballistic Tip and the is the same load as the Tsx that work perfectly.. But I'll try the other 168 gr. bullets
Click to expand...

I would recommend using the same powder for hunting as target. One less change to make. For a target tip, grab some cheap 168 grain match(Sierra/Hornady), and some 175 SMKs, and see how it works. If you are going to hunt with a 180, use the 175 SMK on paper. If you are going to hunt with a 165, use the 168 for target. In all likelihood, you will find several powder/tip combos that are plenty accurate. Then shoot the barrel out.
 
"...grab some cheap 168 grain match(Sierra/Hornady)..." Cheap? Over $300 per thousand last time I looked.
"...try a cheaper powder..." Don't go cheap for long range shooting. Use 168 grain match bullets out to 600 yards and 175 grain match bullets past 600. 155 grain Palma bullets are used in big, heavy, usually single shot, iron sighted, target rifles.
 
Just make sure to try the heavy bullets out in the cold before deciding on them. Stuff that stabilizes in spring/summer, doesn't necessarily do so in the fall/winter.
 
kgs said:
I would choose at least a 200 gr bullet for shooting 500 to 1000 yards. I find the heavier bullets work better and I get a better grouping longer distances rather than lighter ones.
Click to expand...

Very interesting perspective. However, since I shot in the World Long Range Championships last year in Ottawa at 700, 800 and 900 metres (with 155 Noslers), and I've been a competitive shooter for a number of years, I have a bit of experience in this area.

I'll reiterate: go with the 168 Sierra, Nosler or Hornady AMAX if you plan to stay inside 600 metres. With a hunting rifle like your .30-06, that's a reasonable maximum. If you use Reloder 22 or IMR 4350, you won't quite get the velocities of your N560 loads, but you'll probably be within 50 to 100 feet per second, and your accuracy should still be excellent. Personally, I'd just stick with N560. Pay a few extra bucks, but keep all your loads consistent. One less variable to worry about.

If you seriously plan to shoot 1,000, you need to use a bullet that was designed for this purpose. There are a number of legendary 1,000 yard .30 cal bullets out there, like the 155 Sierra, AMAX, Nosler and Lapua. The 175 Sierra is also a standout, as is the 178 AMAX and the 185 Lapua Scenar. Of course, the old Sierra 190 has a huge following, but with a bullet like that, you're really boosting the recoil. (I pushed some 190 Sierras once out of my .30-06 with a heavy charge of N560, and I got recoil like a .300 Winchester Magnum -- but it was accurate.)

Do not waste your time with the real heavy bullets: the 208 AMAX, 210 Berger or Sierra, etc. Of course they work. But you don't need them and they will get you away from the mindset of your hunting loads, which are built around 168-grain bullets. Plus, your rifle is fairly light and you don't need the recoil that these monster bullets will generate. Trust me.

Seriously, David, I'd say just get a Nosler or Sierra 168-grain target bullet and use N560. You might end up with a load that is virtually identical to your TSX load, and even shoots to the same point of impact inside 300 yards. That would be the ideal situation because you could practice without having to change your scope settings at all.

Don't get too carried away with all this 1,000 yard talk.
 
P-17, that is the best long range bullet advice I've seen written in a long time. I'm a die hard heavy bullet fan, but my personal prejudices aside, your argument for the choice of a mid-weight bullet for long range work with the .30/06 is compelling to say the least.
 
Thanks for the vote of confidence. For the last little while I've been offering some practical suggestions to the original poster about appropriate .30-06 loads for his specific hunting rifle. My last post was an attempt to distill the information to some simple and practical guidelines that will work for his particular situation.

I agree with everyone who swears by the long range heavy bullets. For this particular gentleman's situation (and ultimate goals), however, I believe the medium-weight target bullets I suggested are a more practical (and educational) choice. :)
 
Thanks again P-17.. I really can't be more on track than now....

Really thank you very much.. Will do like you say And give you some news on it...

David
 
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