The old 165gr vs 180gr .30-06 thread...

Demonical

Demonical

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I've got a really nice shooting, accurate load for a Rem M700 .30-06: 165gr Hornady BTSP with 58 grains IMR-4350, produces average 2850fps mv, and I've put 5 shots into 1" at 100 yards, but my average group of 5 shots has been just over 1".

But I want to shoot a heavier bullet, so I'm going to start work on a load with the 180gr Hornady BTSP.

According to my loading manuals, I should be able to get something like 2750fps mv.

Anyway, I'm going to work on this, see if I can develope an accurate load with the 180gr Hornady, and see if it competes with the accuracy that I get with the 165gr...

If I do get consistent velocity and 100 accuracy, then I'll go from there.

Will post results as this plays out.
 
sierra 180 or hornady with imr 4350,rel 22 or superformance all work great. in a few 30 06 i have owned most shot the 180's better than lighter bullets.
 
Right now: IMR-4064, IMR-4350, IMR-4831, RL-15, H-335, H-414, H-4350.

H-4350 is the powder I am hoping works best, simply because it is the top velo' powder in pretty much every reloading book I have (of the powders on my bench).
 
I shot a few groups in load testing measuring under 0.5moa. Fed GMM primers, 190gr SMK and from 52.0-max (where I noticed pressure signs developing) of W760 powder. Last time I was shooting it before getting too busy I was testing 208gr BTHP and H4831sc: the best of those test groups was only between 0.5-1.0moa. A bit more time I hope to find that last bit to bring it under 0.5moa. But that'll be about it for bullet weight the 1:10" twist will likely be capable of stabilizing. I didn't chrono these loads but previous testing with beginning powder charges with 178gr was about 2750fps. (28.25" barrel)
 
So I think everybody should have a Powder Burn Rate Chart.

I was down at my reloading bench, taking inventory on the powders I have left, and I'm looking at loading 180gr .30-06, 200gr .300H&H versus a killer load I have in 165gr .30-06.

I need to come up with something that is as accurate as the 165gr load, or maybe that becomes the fall back option.

Anyway I'm looking at my powders and I've got just enough IMR4350 and H4350 to probably come up with decent loads from one or the other (or both).

But then I reference the old Powder Burn Rate Chart, and I see that H414 is right below both IMR4350 and H4350, so damn! I can get some loads developed with it too, and maybe I find something there, which extends my meager powder rations!



Oh ya... this was supposed to be 165gr vs 180gr .30-06, but I see my .300H&H has to get involved here, and it will be a 200gr Accubond that I'll be playing with there.

The good news is I already have a 165gr .30-06 load figured out. Now I just gotta hammer on the 180gr and 200gr .30-06 and .300H&H to see if either of those can better the 165gr .30-06.

And finding out that H414 is a viable powder is awesome.
 
StaBALL 6.5 is pretty great, 165's at 2930+ out of my 22" Model 70. Easily MOA. With the FWT contour and plain Beech stock it does rattle fillings, but the gun loves this load with SSTs. For a one-load hunter I'd probably look at something in the 180 grain offerings as well but see what I could get with StaBALL as the propellant, I'd imagine 2800+ would be easy-peasy and will have a pretty dramatic effect on target.
 
What's everybody's opinions on the Nosler E-Tip bullets?

I'm organizing my stuff to reload and I find I have 1 box of 180gr Nosler E-Tip bullets... I'm dead certain I've never reloaded those bullets.

Whatever the case, they just got added to the mix.

And happy day! I was sorting out powders for this, and damn if I don't have a brand new 5 lb can of H4350 on the shelf!


So that's 180 Hornady BTSP, 180gr Nosler E-Tip and 200gr Nosler Accubond to load in the .30-06 and the .300H&H. And I'm gonna do my best to find loads that work with that H4350!
 
Demonical said:
What's everybody's opinions on the Nosler E-Tip bullets?
Click to expand...

I load the 168 E-Tip in my 300 WSM. I have shot a few deer with the bullet and find it a little "harder" than the Barnes TTSX as it produces less blood-shot meat and a smaller exit wound.

I do know that it penetrates like hell! I shot a ~130 pound Timber Wolf in the centre of the chest with one a few years back and the bullet went lengthwise through the animal and exited out its anus.
 
Loaded 2 dozen rounds today to test fire, .30-06 and .300H&H. I plan to hit the range tomorrow. Chrony every round and see what I got.

Btw, I cannot get over the numbers in the Hornady manual! For the .300H&H, they list a max load for their 190gr BTSP that is almost 11 grains less weight than what I load 200gr Nosler Accubond at!
And in every cartridge their numbers are way below any other reloading data source. You almost can't use their data!

Gotta be 'lawyer numbers', eh?






The old Powder Burn Rate Chart


Some of my reloading manuals...


Cross referencing makes me nuts... Hornady numbers!?


Nothing like finding a brand new 5lb jug of powder!!


Those are .300H&H 190gr Hornady BTSP on the left and 200gr Nosler Accubonds on the right... I have 3 each with IMR-4831 and H-4350.


This box is .30-06, 180gr Nosler E-Tips and 180gr Hornady BTSP, again 3 of each with IMR-4831 and H-4350.


Bullets for this test


Powder to burn!
 
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56gr 4350 and a magnum primer was my go to 180 3006.
But I’ve used 165 Hornady from .308 to 300 mag nothing ever walked again.
 
Ok so today's loads:

.30-06: 180gr Nosler E-Tip and 180gr Hornady BTSP I did 55 grains IMR-4831 and 55 grains H-4350 with both bullets.

.300H&H: 190gr Hornady BTSP I used 69 grains IMR-4831 and H-4350.
200gr Nosler Accubond I used 66 grains IMR-4831 and 67 grains H-4350.

It wasn't scientific! I just took avg max load from all my manuals and reduced 1-2 grains.
As far as the 200gr Accubonds, I already load those at 66.5 grains.
 
Demonical said:
Btw, I cannot get over the numbers in the Hornady manual! For the .300H&H, they list a max load for their 190gr BTSP that is almost 11 grains less weight than what I load 200gr Nosler Accubond at!
And in every cartridge their numbers are way below any other reloading data source. You almost can't use their data!

Gotta be 'lawyer numbers', eh?
Click to expand...

I just picked up a new Hornady manual, to reference new powders and calibers, and the data is very conservative compared to my old 4th edition Hornady.
 
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