Loading The 30-06

[H4831]

With all the comparisons between the 06 and the 308, lets look at the 30-06.
100 years old, made in every country that made sporting rifles in every action devised and originally designed for about 45,000 pounds pressure. Of course, there must be some weak rifles out there, someplace, so the manufacturers of ammo and the publishers of reloading books are certainly going to keep the pressure down on the 06.
On the market by the top rifle manufaturers is their bolt action line, available in 30-06, 308 and 270 WCF, among others. Ammo and reloading info for the 30-06 gives loads with about 40,000 pounds pressure, while the 308 and 270 are loaded to over 50,000 pounds. Does it not make sense that the 30-06 of the same make will also safely handle over 50,000?
If the 30-06, in a modern bolt action from a reputable maker, is properly loaded it will perform away ahead of the 308 and actually not much behind most of the so called 30 calibre magnums. By a modern bolt action I mean one made after about 1920 by a reputable maker and in good condition.

 

[Gatehouse]

You can load a 30-06 to the same pressures as a .270 in the same rifle. Of course, how will you know what the real pressure is, without a strain guage of some sort?

It will still never (safely) equal the velocities of the 300 magnums, though.

 

[prosper]

SAAMI specs the '06 at 60,000psi (http://www.leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm) which is basically the same as the 308 and most other modern cartridges. Load manuals from SAAMI members (Nosler, Hornady... pretty much all of them) will be bounded by this limit

 

[todbartell]

a 30-06 will outrun a 308 by 100 fps or so with 150 grain bullets

above 165 gr, the gap widens to about 200 fps


that is assuming both are loaded to their potential in modern rifles...

 

[Eagleye]

Most 24" barrelled 30-06 modern bolt rifles will, at safe pressures with the proper powders record the following velocities: 150 gr, 3050fps; 165 gr, 2950fps; 180gr, 2850fps; 200 gr, 2675fps; 220 gr, 2550fps. Some rifles will do a wee bit better, some won't quite reach these speeds, but regardless, these are fairly lively figures for the old warrior, and it makes for a pretty effective chambering overall. If you have a longer barrel, you may see about 20fps per inch increase. Nonetheless, trying to make a Magnum out of an '06 is unwise. I remember one fellow who cornered me and was raving about his custom 28" barrelled M70 Winchester 30-06 that was chronographing 3072fps with the 180 grain bullet with a load of IMR 4350 that I wouldn't have loaded under a 165 grain bullet. I gave him a bit of a head's up on pressures, and asked to see some of his brass. Every case was heavily marked from brass that was obviously flowing into every recess of that boltface. Gave me shudders to think he was shooting many of these loads, gloating over his velocities. Told him he should be really happy with 2900, and to quit trying to blow his face off. With due credit, he backed off several grains, and amazingly, he told me his brass life was considerably better, can you imagine!! Regards, Eagleye.