best powders for 30-06?

[Boomer]

Good luck with Chapters, as book stores go they don't seem to be very gunny. What you should look for are the manuals from Lyman, Hornady, Sierra, and Hodgdon to start. After you have those any others you can pick up are a bonus. If you intend to shoot Barnes bullets, one of their manuals is a good idea, although the powder selection in the new edition is poor.

One of the cool things about the .30/06 is that it can perform so well with a broad range of powders with mid-weight bullets. For bullet weights from 150-180 grs any powder bracketed by IMR 3031 on the fast side and H 4831 on the slow side will perform very well. Don't try to make a .300 magnum out of the .30/06 and it will reward you with good accuracy.

 

[mihasic]

I use IMR 3031 for 110gr, IMR 4064 or IMR 4895 for 150 and 165gr and IMR4350 for 180, 190 and 220gr. All group under 1MOA.

 

[JasonYuke]

I have Always liked IMR 4064 myself with 165s and 180s.

If you want 200s try 4350

 

[Old Ranger]

Just bought my 31st lb of 4064. (I keep records). Probably more than half has been used in my 3006's (BAR, Garand and O3A3) all with 150 and 165 gr bullets. I've tried 4895, R-15, Varget etc and accuracy was never quite as good. Only down side is that it doesn't meter as well as ball or short grained powders.

 

[lowmark]

just wondering

dosnt every gun have its own sweet spot maybe I'm full of s...t but shouldnt you try different ones till you find one your gun likes. Have to buy different powders but wouldnt be a problem selling the ones that dont work with a outlet like this one?

 

[purple]

After thousands of reloads in approximately 50 different .30-06 rifles over the yrs;

150-168gr: Use IMR 4895/H4895 or IMR 4064(marginally more accurate).Stick to these two for a Garand.For bolt guns also try Varget or IMR 4320(seldom mentioned nowadays).

180gr: Use IMR 4350/H4350 or W760/H414

Individual rifles do exhibit an accuracy preference for various propellants,charge weights,bullets,and bullet seating depth so it takes time to find their "sweet spots".Accuracy always trumps velocity.

 

[Boomer]

dosnt every gun have its own sweet spot one?

An accurate rifle will shoot any reasonable load pretty well. If you want to tweak a load beyond MOA accuracy you certainly can, if your needs or your interest requires that level of accuracy.

Generally speaking, the best accuracy can be realized when the powder capacity of the cartridge is filled to about 90%, although there are exceptions to the rule. I have seen .30/06 rifles shoot very well with fast powders that require a lighter charge and with slow powders that require a slightly heavier charge with any given bullet weight. It is unlikely that one single powder would produce significantly better accuracy than any other, although you hear this is the case from time to time. Accurate rifle shoot well, mediocre rifles not so much.

 

[H4831]

dosnt every gun have its own sweet spot maybe I'm full of s...t but shouldnt you try different ones till you find one your gun likes. Have to buy different powders but wouldnt be a problem selling the ones that dont work with a outlet like this one?

It SHOULD BE a problem selling cans of opened powder, with some used out.
Any savy reloader won't touch those with a ten foot pole!

 

[sunray]

"...books from Chapters..." They don't sell any books related to firearms of any kind. Corporate policy is extremely anti-firearm ownership. No books or magazines on or about firearms.
Go to your local gun shop and buy a Lyman manual.
The .30-06 loves 165 grain hunting bullets or 168(out to 600 yards) and 175(past 600 yards) grain match bullets with IMR4064, IMR4895 and Varget. Among others. The IMR4064 gives very consistent accuracy.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I'm using IMR 4350 and Nosler 180 Partitions in mine (with CCI 250 primers) and it shoots 1/2 MOA or better consistently.

 

[Pathfinder]

4064 pushes 150's at about 3050 fps in a max charge (in a gun I was loading for). Not too shabby. Good groups when you find the right charge.

 

[303carbine]

I was getting 2511 fps with IMR 4831 under a 220 Hornady RN out of an 06.

 

[heavyBullet]

"...books from Chapters..." They don't sell any books related to firearms of any kind. Corporate policy is extremely anti-firearm ownership. No books or magazines on or about firearms.
Go to your local gun shop and buy a Lyman manual.
The .30-06 loves 165 grain hunting bullets or 168(out to 600 yards) and 175(past 600 yards) grain match bullets with IMR4064, IMR4895 and Varget. Among others. The IMR4064 gives very consistent accuracy.

Not completely true, he can spend his credits on "The ABC's of Reloading". They have that one, plus a couple others I never heard of before.

 

[Eagleye]

I have used IMR 4895, IMR 4064 & IMR 4320 with bullets up to 150 grain with great results. For 165, 168 & 175 grainers, IMR/H 4350 work well, as does H414, W760 and Vihtavuori N160. For 180 and up, I have always preferred slower powders, and my all-time pet load is a big load of Norma MRP or Reloder 22, but H4831 has also worked well, as has IMR 4831. Regards, Eagleye.

 

[corney]

I have bought lots of great gun books at McNally Robinson and other local book stores.

BUT I'm from Saskatchewan where women are women and MEN HAVE GUNS

Back to powder for 30-06 my favorite rifle caliber. I use H4350 and I like it.