Reduced load 30/06

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Hello all,
I was wondering if any one can recommend a proven hand load for 30/06. Normally, we have hunted with 30/06 hand loads of IMR 4831 at 59gr. With 165gr. Nosler Partition. We love thus particular load for deer moose black bear and have taken elk with it also. Various guns. All happy with that load.

My daughters are hunting now and are young adults but small framed. Can any one state a proven REDUCED load say in 130 gr. that will produce a far less recoil then the comparable 165 or 180 gr. favourite of so many. Realistically I don't want them shooting beyond 200 yards or so, but eventually want them on the 165 load we use all the time.

Thanks in advance.

CT
 
46.5 gr of H-4895 behind a 150gr soft point (I prefer hornady BTSP)

It's a fairly modest load I use in a M1 Garand. Gives good accuracy, light recoil. A bit anemic in velocity, but should be sufficient on game out to 200y. It seems to leave proud primers in my 30-06 bolt guns. So it is a light load.

I also use a "gallery load" (50-100y) with cast non gas-checked boolits or 150gr flat base spitzer bullets, 11.5gr of unique. No good for game out past 50y as it is a sub sonic load. But great for practicing at shorter ranges.
 
First off, are you all using different rifles or sharing a couple between you and will you be using both loads in the same rifles??? If you are looking for a load that will work in your rifles with lighter bullets for less recoil one of the best ways to shoot both loads in the same rifle with very few or no adjustments to your scopes is to load the lighter bullets to the same velocities as you load the heavier bullets. That will at least put you in the same ball park out to the 200 yard ranges.
 
Use a flat nose gas checked cast bullet that will feed, 20:1 lead and tin, 150 - 175gr with 18 - 20 gr of 2400 or H110 powder. Those bullets should do as well as jacketed at these low velocities. Recoil is light, and loads are quieter. Noise adds to perceived recoil.
Grouch
 
Lots of people, including myself, have used the 60% load rule with IMR4895 as well. No problems whatsoever.

You could also try .30-30 load data in a .30-06 case. I've used .308 data in a .300WM all the time to great effect. Best to start with the max load and work up slowly from there to find an accurate reduced load.
 
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The problem will be if you're using this to take a deer or two. There's lots of load data for light plinking small game loads. But I've yet to see anyone ask about a reduced load that will still ensure that it can take down a deer out to around 100 to 150 yards.
 
I shot a 130 grain load from my 30-06 rifles for years. The powder charge was 48/49 grains of either 4895 [H or IMR]

This was a mild recoiling load with plenty of effectiveness for game up to deer/black bear. Never tried it on heavier animals,
but suspect it would have done the job within 200 meters or so.

Regards, Dave.
 
In the last year I have shot thousands of cast lead rifle rds in .38-55, ,32-40 & 6.5x55. I haven't had time this year to try cast in my .30-06 but so far the best 100 yd accuracy that I have had in reduced loads has been with Red Dot, Unique & IMR 4227. The best results I have had out to 200 yds is with IMR 4227. I have also tried IMR 4895 & IMR 4198 with no joy.
 
My dad is recoil sensitive, so I load a reduced load for him (actually merely a starting load). 56 grains of H4350 under a 150 grain TTSX, chronys right at 2600 fps. Basically like he's shooting a 308 in a 30-06 case. My brother also shoots an '06, and he started getting cartridges from my dad a few years ago, so now he's using the same load. He took a bison with it this year - pass through broadside shot (heart/lung) at about 75 yards. One and done, dead right there. Terminal performance was typical TTSX - caliber sized entry wound, loonie-sized exit, and a tube of red jello connecting the two. And no, this wasn't in BC, so he wasn't under the caliber/energy minimum.

Starting loads aren't always the best for accuracy, but as it happens this load shoots at about 1-1.25 MOA in both rifles (both are Rem 760 Gamemasters).
 
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