Reloading 30-06 with H4350

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noisy_section

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I'm just getting into reloading, having successfully reloaded about 40 rds of .303 with IMR3031 using a 150 gr bullet (32 grs of powder).

I'm now trying 30-06, loading a 180 gr bullet with 52 grs of H4350 (recipe off of the Hodgens website). I've double checked the weight of the powder with my scale several times and I'm pretty sure I'm at 52grs for these rounds. The cases look full, and when I seat the bullet, there's almost no room for the powder to move in the cartridge. It says on the Hodgens site that you could go up to 57.5 grs of this powder with this bullet. My question is how could 57.5 grs fit in there with the bullet seated down to mid cannelure?
 
it will compress. make sure you swill the powder in your funnel. it will pack tighter. i load 57 grns of 4350 with no problem. any 180 bullet. its a very good load.
 
i use 55 g of 4350 with a 180 g bullet..
that just fills enough to give a bit of a compressed load on the powder once you seat the bullet..
both my 760/7600 rem. love that load
 
the max is a compressed load. I'd suggest that you load up to it rather than blasting off the max right away. I have several 30.06 rifles that I shoot 180gr and find that the best load is one or two steps under the max.
 
When you say best load, do you mean the one that gives me the tightest groups consistently?

Also, I'm using a Lee Perfect Powder measure. It seems like my powder weights vary up to a few tenths of a grain. Is this normal and is there a more accurate auto powder measure tool out there?
 
With practice (yes your technique matters) you should be able to get a powder measure (even the Lee) to throw within a tenth or two of a grain. Some stick powders like the IMRs don't throw as easy but you can still get them close. If you are not satisfied by the throws use the throw and a scale to make it exactly what you want.
 
I use 4350 for my hunting loads in the '06 as well. IMHO, this is a powder that should be weighed. A coarse grained stick powder like 4350 will not throw very consistant charges from a volumetric measure. It will, however, be a great help to set your measure just a little shy of what you need and trickle up to full weight on the scale. 55 grains with the hornady 180 sp interlock flat base has been a "go to" load for me in all 3 of the 30-06 rifles that have been in my safe over the years. Good luck.
 
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