new to this need some loads
- Thread starter jcbruno
- Start date
In the .30-06, try any decent 150-grain bullet pushed by 50 to 52 grains of Varget. IMR 4064 should work, too, in the same application. An all time favourite of mine, that works well even in old WWII Garands, is 50 grains of Varget pushing a 165-grain bullet. Out of an 18-inch barrel, I'd expect that load to give you between 2,650 to 2,700 feet-per-second. That's a solid .308 level of performance and will drop any deer at any reasonable range.
In the 7mm Remgington Magnum, the notion of "light load" is a bit of a contradiction. However, I've found that Reloder 22 works well with that cartridge. I'd try a premium 140 or 150 grain bullet and begin with the starting loads in the manual. I've usually found that there are two sweet spots. One right up near maxiumum and one a few grains below. Choose the lightest load that gives good accuracy.
For me, the all-time classic 7mm Remington Magnum load, that always works, is 61.5 to 62 grains of IMR 4831 pushing a Hornady 162 or a Nosler 160. That load should be able to do it all, with excellent accuracy. It's not a "light load", but it's also not a super hot load, either.
In the 7mm Remgington Magnum, the notion of "light load" is a bit of a contradiction. However, I've found that Reloder 22 works well with that cartridge. I'd try a premium 140 or 150 grain bullet and begin with the starting loads in the manual. I've usually found that there are two sweet spots. One right up near maxiumum and one a few grains below. Choose the lightest load that gives good accuracy.
For me, the all-time classic 7mm Remington Magnum load, that always works, is 61.5 to 62 grains of IMR 4831 pushing a Hornady 162 or a Nosler 160. That load should be able to do it all, with excellent accuracy. It's not a "light load", but it's also not a super hot load, either.
"...if 18 inch barrel makes a difference..." Velocity will be lower and the muzzle flash and blast will be much higher.
"...That's a solid .308 level of performance..." That's .30 M1(174.5 grain bullet) and .30 M2(152 grain bullet) ball velcocities out of an M1's 24" barrel. If you get over 2100fps you'll be lucky. Velocity loss is about 100fps per inch of barrel. It'll still drop a deer though. However, you will have to work up a load for your rifle. Use IMR 4064 or IMR4895 with a 150 grain bullet and regular large rifle primers.
"...That's a solid .308 level of performance..." That's .30 M1(174.5 grain bullet) and .30 M2(152 grain bullet) ball velcocities out of an M1's 24" barrel. If you get over 2100fps you'll be lucky. Velocity loss is about 100fps per inch of barrel. It'll still drop a deer though. However, you will have to work up a load for your rifle. Use IMR 4064 or IMR4895 with a 150 grain bullet and regular large rifle primers.
I disagree wtih sunray about the velocity loss per inch of barrel in a .30-06. I've seen numerous tests published of .30-06s with different barrel lengths, and it almost always averaged 25 fps per inch or less.
I've also fired an 18-inch .30-06 over a chronograph using my loads and I was surprised to see how well the loads held up in such a short barrel. (I'm talking less than 100 fps loss over the expected velocity in a 24-inch barel.) I've also fired 18- and 20-inch .308s over my chronograph with various handloads using Varget and was surprised to see how little velocity loss there was compared to my target rifle with a tight 26-inch barrel. Again, it was not much more than 100 fps. You might lose 150 fps over a 24-inch barrel with that .30-06 load combination out of an 18-inch barrel, but probably not more. I do agree that the blast and muzzle flash will be harsher, though.
I stand by my claim that 50 grains of Varget with a 165-grain bullet in a .30-06 with an 18-inch barrel should, depending upon the individual barrel, be able to give you an easy 2,650 to 2,700 fps. I wouldn't have said that if I didn't mean it.
I've also fired an 18-inch .30-06 over a chronograph using my loads and I was surprised to see how well the loads held up in such a short barrel. (I'm talking less than 100 fps loss over the expected velocity in a 24-inch barel.) I've also fired 18- and 20-inch .308s over my chronograph with various handloads using Varget and was surprised to see how little velocity loss there was compared to my target rifle with a tight 26-inch barrel. Again, it was not much more than 100 fps. You might lose 150 fps over a 24-inch barrel with that .30-06 load combination out of an 18-inch barrel, but probably not more. I do agree that the blast and muzzle flash will be harsher, though.
I stand by my claim that 50 grains of Varget with a 165-grain bullet in a .30-06 with an 18-inch barrel should, depending upon the individual barrel, be able to give you an easy 2,650 to 2,700 fps. I wouldn't have said that if I didn't mean it.
I have loaded for many years for 30.06 and always used 165gr Nosler & 168gr match Sierra,s or speer gold match bullets
mostly nosler partitions for hunting, powders I used mostly was IMR 4350,
H414. but tryed some RL19 in the last few weeks and got the best 3 shot group with a Rem 700 BDL 22' barrel only thing done to gun is bed it and trigger is at 2lbs, group was under .327" by far the best I was ever able to achive. I fired 4 shots with 168gr gold match speers, and 4 with 165gr Nosler BT at 300 yards today and winds where up there I don't consider my self a good wind reader but I tryed my best you will see with the 168gr I got caught pretty good, the velocity of these loads are just under 2700fpshttp://
http://
mostly nosler partitions for hunting, powders I used mostly was IMR 4350,
H414. but tryed some RL19 in the last few weeks and got the best 3 shot group with a Rem 700 BDL 22' barrel only thing done to gun is bed it and trigger is at 2lbs, group was under .327" by far the best I was ever able to achive. I fired 4 shots with 168gr gold match speers, and 4 with 165gr Nosler BT at 300 yards today and winds where up there I don't consider my self a good wind reader but I tryed my best you will see with the 168gr I got caught pretty good, the velocity of these loads are just under 2700fpshttp://
http://
For .30-06 and 150gr Nosler Part. I will use Varget between 51-52.0grain, depends on accuracy. It should give you good velocity of around 2650fps.
As for 7RM assuming that barrel length is 24" min, I will use Re22 topping with 65-66.0gr again depends on accuracy. This will be light load with velocity around 2950fps using 150gr Nosler Partition bullet.
Good Luck
PS
All loads I have mentioned are safe using book COL.
As for 7RM assuming that barrel length is 24" min, I will use Re22 topping with 65-66.0gr again depends on accuracy. This will be light load with velocity around 2950fps using 150gr Nosler Partition bullet.
Good Luck
PS
All loads I have mentioned are safe using book COL.
