Newbie reloading question do not read

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despyzedguy

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Hello all. Just reloaded my first bullets yesterday in 30-06 caliber. We loaded 20 shells with imr 4350 powder, sierra 180 grain spitzer bt, and cci primers. Now my question is we did five bullets with four different powder amounts. Four with 51.3 grains, four with 52.3, four with 53.3 and four with 54.3. I am a newbie to this was wondering should we have made smaller powder adjustments with 55.3 being the max load. I will be shooting these tomorrow and will update. By the way I am shooting a Stevens 200 with a Redfield 3x9x40 Thx Jay. Also when seating the bullets the c.o.a.l was listed as 3.300, when seating the bullets some were 3.306 in that range would this make any drastic difference? Also the first the first bullet we seated was 3.127 until we adjusted what would happen if you fired one with that much of a difference. R:d:
 
You may be alright with the charges you have. I like to jump in 0.5gr increments, but shoot what you have loaded, and if you see a notably smaller group, then do some more fine tuning around that charge weight next time. If nothing stands out as being more accurate save your targets, load more rounds with charges of 51.8, 52.8, 53.8gr, and compare them with the first targets - that will give you 0.5gr increments, just try to shoot these off in the same conditions as the first. I am not familiar with the 30-06 load, but as long as you are in the right powder weight range you can apply the same system to any load.

3.300 vs 3.306" should not be a problem. As for your shorter round, I am not sure how much your POI would be off with one bullet seated 179 thousands shorter than the rest, but it is on the bottom end of your load so it should be safe to fire. You could try pulling the bullet part way (or all the way) and then reseating it.
 
I reload my ammo for my gun as far as bullet seating is concerned. Books are just guides for the most part
 
I think the only real advantage to having a max. OAL listed may well be that it is the length that will fit in most mags.I'd start by seating my reloads just off the lands, and go from there, but check for length with your mag.
 
Hi not sure what you have for a reload manual .but I would suggest buying the Lymans 49th edition and reading it cover to cover it will answer alot of questions for a newbi.another suggestion check out ammosmith .com its a very informative sight.all the best with your new hobby.
 
I've had very good luck with the combination you are trying. It has been my most accurate .30-06 load to date, using 54.0 gr. IMR 4350 and those 180 Sierras + WLR primer.. I use the Sierras ro plink and play, and switch to the 180 Partition to hunt. Same point of impact with my rifle.

I've also used 180's from Hornady, Speer, PMC, with this combo. Works well. Just re-work up the load to check safety when switching any component for another type or brand.

I've tried it in several rifles, all with good result, the main difference being O.A.L. from rifle to rifle. This load does honest M.O.A. in my 550. Can't ask for much more in a hunting load. The down side is that it can be dicey trying to find 4350, it's so popular with everyone, sells out first and fast.
 
Dont worry too much about the over all length if using a lead tipped bullet and measuring with calipers, its not a very accurate way
 
One rule of thumb I had read for increasing charges safely was you could skip up a half grain a a time until load density was 80%, then increase by .2 grains. Just remember, by the time you see excessive pressure signs, it means you're waaay overboard.
 
You are a new loader and it sounds like you are starting OK. Pay attention to what you have been told about over all cartridge length. Your manual just gives a figure that should fit any 30-06 out there. This will be OK and you could just leave it at that. Or, you could adjust the length to fit your rifle.
I m not encouraging you to load any heavier than your manual states, but I use considerable more IMR4350 in my 30-06, with 180 grain bullets. Even the Hodgdon powder guide on the net shows 56.5 grains.
I once saw in a loading manual a maximum load of 54 grains of IMR4350 with 180 grain bullets. So, for fun, I loaded up some at that charge and shot them over an Oehler chronograph. They averaged 2436 fps! About 300 fps less than what a 30-06 is rated at.
Now here is my point. Several people, who must be experienced reloaders, or else they would not have attempted to give you instructions, advised you to try and get an accurate load, in the region of about 53 or so, grains of IMR4350.
Why any experienced reloader would want to load his 30-06 to perform only a tad better than a 30-30, and well below a 300 Savage or a 303 British, is completely beyond me.
 
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Thanks for all the replies. Here is how I did today at 100 yards. Please keep in mind I will load more next time but this was my experimental batch lol. I was very happy with the outcome. I forgot to take a picture of the 54.3 grain target, so I only have the three targets up to look at. I did use a rifle rest not sure of the brand ,it was my fathers, it helped a bit but im sure with a softer trigger and more stable platform I could have them all touching. I feel this is the start of a new addiction!!! Hopefully my photobucket link works let me know if there are any problems. I feel there will be some dead deer/moose where these bullets land this season! R:d:


http://s944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/despyzedguy/
 
You are off to a good start.. Start low and work up. Each rifle is different.

If those shoot ok, you can try laoding more, in 0.5 gr increments, up to 56.5 gr. Say, five of each. let the rifle cool between groups.

Watch for pressure and be prepared to bring home unfired rounds that are too hot for your rifle.

Look for accuracy and also note recoil and muzzle blast. The "best" load for you is the one you can shoot well. My favourite loads are often not the fastest.

FWIW, my initial test loads are in 1 gr increments, starting at the "START load and up to more than the max. I usually test at 300 yards and often bring ammo home to pull apart. But I have an idea of what area to explore.

Just loaded ammo tonight for my Lee Enfiled #4 in 308 Brit, with 155gr Amax bullets and 4895. 1 gr increments from 43 to 46 grains.
 
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