Factory 303 ammo test chrono Ruger 1

can pick them up for $26 in a big bulk import place up north aus, but too far for me an no delivery......

i duno, our reloading schit costs alot too lol.

Reloading isn't that cheap to start, but once you get the basic stuff, it'll last for decades no problem.

And from there, getting into a new cartridge is mostly just a new (or used) set of dies and components.

Probably ine of those things most guys wished they got into sooner.
 
There were three USA military loadings of 30-06 - so, the original M1906 round was 2700 fps with 150 grain flat base Spitzer bullets. That is what they fought WWI with, that is likely what the sights on P17 and 1903 Springfield rifles are calibrated for - what many people used for their "walk-abouts" and various exploits - partially how the 30-06 round gained its popularity. The .30 M1 round was developed - 174 grain boat tail bullet at circa 2647 fps - introduced in 1926 - well after WWI. Then the .30 M2 round was developed in 1932 - 152 grain flat base bullet circa 2805 fps. No doubt a function of the hot burning, "fast" powder of the day. I think modern factory stuff tends to advertise 150 grain at circa 2900 fps, 165 grain at 2800 fps and 180 grain at 2700 fps - no doubt a function of slower burning powders - and no doubt hand loaders can and have gone way past that.

The loadings for the USA military had to maintain the barrel pressure when they switched from bolt action rifles to Garand semi-auto rifles in WWII - I have read of much confusion by Internet posters who do not seem to differentiate between a load worked up for a Garand, versus a load worked up for a bolt action rifle - I do not think they are the same - although I have no experience, at all, with 30-06 Garand rifles.

Certainly with modern stuff, it is easy enough to match factory 30-06 loads with one's 308 Win, especially with the "lighter" weight bullets. I was using an elder Chrony chronograph and multiple times verified 2800 fps (a bit more or a bit less) with RL15 powder and Speer 165 grain HotCor bullets from my 22" barrel 308 Win - a Winchester Model 70 XTR rifle. Such loads are listed in Speer and Nosler Reloading Manuals. I suspect that hand loading the 30-06 would go well past what the factories offer. That was always a "bone of contention" with my Dad - he did not hand load and, towards the end, was using factory 165 grain rounds - I think he had difficulty with the notion that my 308 Win hand loads were close to identical to his 30-06 factory loadings - after all, he DID have and use a 30-06, and I had the puny 308 Win - they could not be the same.

I attempted to replicate the original M1906 loading for a couple WWI P17 that I have, to match the sight settings - here on CGN I was advised to try Hornady 150 grain flat base Spitzer and IMR 3031 powder. The original bullets, primers, powders are not longer available.

Go here to read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-06_Springfield
 
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