Reloading 178gr 30/06

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Don_Parsons

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I'm wondering what powder works best for 178/ or 180gr bullets for a 30/06.

I've had so so luck with IMR 4064,,, and not too good with Hodgen Varget for launching the 180gr bullets.

I'm thinking about doing the semi compacted loads for these bullets.

Re-Loader RL-22, but it is a super slow burn rate.

H-4350, H-4831 or IMR 4350.

Ive had better consistency with semi compressed loads over the years, just wonder what other folks have discovered over the years on recipes for the 30/06 with these 178gr / 180 bullets.

I have the 2 above powders that work good for 150 too 165gr bullets, but I think it's time I choose a more consistent compressed load for the 180's.

All ideas welcome please.

Thanks from Don
 
Thx Hawk-I, yes too IMR-4350 as I finally found a break down on the Web of all gun powder burn rates.

I was going too do the H-4831 as it looked promising, but it was pretty low on the CUP rating, above that was the H-4350 for a fraction more burn rate with IMR-4350 by 2 points higher than the H.

Both the IMR & H give awesome enough CUP, and get the 30/06 case capacity well above the 90% mark with the 178/180gr bullets,,, very close to compressed for the H.

I went with the H since it allows me the chance to jump into the 200, 212 and 220gr bullets at a later date for F Class,,, but for now I'll stick to the 178gr Hornady bullets till I get loads built for that.

I checked out the Re-Loader site too see what powder they had that might work.
The RL-22 is not really the go too 30/06 powder, but the RL-19 looked more in line with what I would be after..

I found out that Varget is a good powder for the 308 and smaller cases, but it doesn't show good results in the 30/06 cases,,, yet they list it as an option in some reloading books.

It wasnt friendly with my 30/06 shooting 178gr'ers, so I'll try the 150's with the Varget.

If it doesn't work, I'll boot the left over 7 lbs of it.

Nothing wrong with trying.

I'd still like too hear about other compressed powder charges for the 30/06 shooting the 180 too 200gr'ers.

There must be 7 too 10 powders that would be compressed charge loads for these cases.

Always good too have a backup plan depending on what powder is out there at the sporting goods shops.

Don
 
Yuppers, kinda like splitting hairs when it comes too choosing powders.

The IMR-4350 and H-4350 are so closely matched it would be hard too notice the difference.

H-4831 was another thought as it was in the game planning too.

My reloading buddy mentioned that is good too choose a powder that at least fills the case too 90% and above as it seems to prevent the powder slashing around.

It's more uninformed in the case when any exta space is topped off with the powder.

I kinda knew this but never realy took it too account as I would be classed as a have azz reloading dude with nill for tech in that area.

I can see that the reloader course #2 will get me up too speed as my skills need too improve "ALOT". LOL


I'll start here, and I see a few other rifle powders showing up too try along the way,,, then like buddy said.

Once I think I have the magic load figured out,,, keep it all exactly the same,,, but try 10 loads with a different primer.

He said it could improve or take away a tighter down range group.

I won't know unless I try.

Don at finding more powders compatible for the 180 too 200gr bullets for the 30/06.

PS: I call it the 308 improved as I like too keep the ft-per second close too what the 308 is doing.

Yes it has a fraction larger case, but all in all its pretty closely matched for the 2 cartrages.

A person can squeeze a few more feet per second out of the larger case, but I'm ok with it running with in its limits.
 
The God's must be crazy as I found a cartrage re-loading nut in our local area.

Pretty lucky too of come across this fellow as he's a wild-cat'er from way back when, and he has tested loads for every caliber rifle with in the system.

He takes this so much too hart that he normally finds different grain bullets for each rifle,,, about 7 too 10 of the most accurate bullets for each rifle,, and lots of rifles on top of that.

He learned from old school, and he has continued to expand on this over the many years.

Deffinatly worth the time and effort too see first hand how this reloading master gets it done.

I might end up burning lots of powder, primers and bullets,,, but at least it will be in a effort to grasp this consistency thing in a orderly fashion so I'm not waisting my time.

Don
 
My go-to load in a number of 30-06 Rifles, using 180 grain bullets has been 61 or 62 grains of Norma MRP.
Always yields top speeds, and fills the case with slight compression. [work up from 59 grains if you plan to try this powder]
IMR 4350, H4350, IMR 4831 and Reloder 17 all have potential with this cartridge using 178/180/185 grain pills. D.
 
Thanks Eagleye.

That's what I'm looking for in the quest of finding powders that work for those bullets.

Always worth trying too find a mix that improves the old rifle.

Thx again as I get things underway.

Don from Western Canada.
 
The low CUP test rounds are ready to go.

I'm starting at the half way point of the listing for 178gr ELD-X Hunter bullets with H-4350.
51gr's going up in .5gr increments where I stopped at 54gr.

The Hornady book lists the max at 55.3gr as there still a fraction of room above that.

I'll be watching primers threw out the build up but more so the grouping.

Once I find where the group is the tightest, then I'll take that same load keeping every thing the same and "try" a few different primers only too see if it changes the grouping.

All the same less a primer change.

If the grouping falls apart, I'll go back to same primer then do .2gr of +/- from that best grouping.

Once I fine tune the powder charge, the next thing after that is working the COL.


I have a bullet seating depth gudage coming for that next week.

Load build project is under way as I try a few different powders in the following weeks.

I'll be working 2 rifles in the same caliber in a few weeks as both will find their magic loads.

More too follow as I work up loads for the 30/06 heavy weights.

I'll need these high BC cartrages for long distance F Class shooting next year.

178gr too 200gr ++ bullets take on the Windy days.

Don from Western Canada.
 
Lee lists up to 57.5gr of H4350 for the 180gr jacketed bullet
I'm happy with 56gr but the brass only lasts about 5 firings before the primer pocket gets loose.
 
Yes, I agree that I'm not after the woop-law power.

Today's grouping for the 178gr Hornady ELD-X-HUNTERS was much better with the Hogdon H-4350.
I only got too 54.5gr as my grouping is tightening up.

Tomorrow I'll move up .5gr watching primers.
This powder is way better than the Varget.

A fellow at the range uses Superperform in his 30/06 as its shown real good results.

We will trade each other some powders next week as the both of us are on load development test at the same range.

Looks like he's interested in the Varget for his other rifles, now I can pick up a few different test powders that a few have suggested in the above post.

Program 30/06 heavy weight bullets is now underway.

Photos soon too follow.

Don
 
My 30/06 Long Range Remington should be in my hands this week as all the add-on are in, looking forward too track diving this mid weight rifle with the Sightron 6x24 optics.

The time has come too tie in my other rifle,,, a varmint/ match bull barrle.

Plan is too get it too stay planted, thinking about at least adding a few extra pounds of iron in barrle thick-ness,,, and adding a few extra inches.

8 too 9lbs @ 28" long.
My after-market cheek peace will be make from thicker steel too balance the back stock ,,, I'll use the extra holes on the other side of the adjustable plate too add this weight.
The shooter side will have a soft Deer hide cover stretched over "hard base gel foam.

This will allow for smaller holes too be drilled behind the butt-plate for weight,,, the smaller holes will prevent the laminated wood stock from cracking.

This heavy weight rifle idea will work for me since the furthest packing distance will be in the 400 too 800 yards, all my shooting stuff is close too where I can take my truck now days.

I was thinking about the MZ brake, but that isn't going to happen since these bull barrles stay planted pretty good, taking on the 900 meter targets will be alot easier with this set-up.

I got the chance too shoot a 6.5/300 WSM at 18.5 lbs, then a 22.4 lb Open F Class all in,,, they had nill for recoil.
A breeze too shot with one hand.

My Henry Remple bypod will get lots of use this year supporting these heavy weight units. Ha

Good times ahead as I'll be tagging those iron silhouettes easy.

Don
 
I found my magic powder that works awesome behind the Hornady 178gr ELD-X bullet.

Hodgen H-4350 with 54 grains.

Now the fine tuning part.

I tried the Varget powder with the 150gr bullets, but it seems that my rifles dose not like that mix.
I'll try the next batch of 150gr bullets with the H 4350 as well.

I found IMR 4350 is a good back up powder if needed, main plan is too stick to the H.

Thanks everyone as I'm onto the iron silhouette targets at 600M as I add distance of 900M in the next few weeks.

Sure good too be back too the old school Odd-6 as it will cover all my critter harvests from here on in.

Don
 
Until recently, I was using Win 760 with decent accuracy. Last week, I tried RL22 as per Nosler's latest data and have been very impressed with accuracy. 62 grains gives me <1" groupings and 2900 fps with 180 gr protected point partition bullets.
 
Don_Parsons said:
I found my magic powder that works awesome behind the Hornady 178gr ELD-X bullet.

Hodgen H-4350 with 54 grains.

Now the fine tuning part.

I tried the Varget powder with the 150gr bullets, but it seems that my rifles dose not like that mix.
I'll try the next batch of 150gr bullets with the H 4350 as well.

I found IMR 4350 is a good back up powder if needed, main plan is too stick to the H.

Thanks everyone as I'm onto the iron silhouette targets at 600M as I add distance of 900M in the next few weeks.

Sure good too be back too the old school Odd-6 as it will cover all my critter harvests from here on in.

Don
Click to expand...

I too just got my 700 LR in 30-06 and am working up a load with 178 ELD-X and H4350. What load did you settle on and what size groups are you getting?
 
I jumped onto the H-4831 for the hunting season.

55.3 gr seems to produce good groups down range with the Hornady 178 ELD-X.

Not the fastest load by any means, but not the slowest either.

They are packing a pretty good punch out to 400m's.

Don
 
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