What loads work well in your 30-06?
- Thread starter JRodko
- Start date
I have used 55.0 grains with 190 Hornady btsp bullets in a pre-64 model 70 and Husky (FN '98) rifles with no issues. Full power load but not excessive. My powder is from an older lot though. Ken Waters posted this load in one of his articles years ago. If you are getting flat primers then back off a grain.
What brass and primers are you using? I usually use Winchester with good results but would likely buy Lapua if I needed a new batch. It is excellent and seems to be very strong.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
i use 59gr of h4350 with 165gr sierra hpbt's no signs of pressure but be carefull that load is right at or even over max depending on the manual. right around 2900fps. This is with win or RP brass and cci br2 primers. For some reason that load with accubonds doesn't shoot well at all.
IIRC it also likes right around 56gr of H4831sc and 180gr nosler bt's. Don't quote me on the weight of powder though thats just from memory.
IIRC it also likes right around 56gr of H4831sc and 180gr nosler bt's. Don't quote me on the weight of powder though thats just from memory.
Winchester 1886
CGN Regular
I am using RP brass and CCI 200 primers for testing.I am using Winchester Nickel for hunting.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I use 180 gr bullets exclusively in the 30-06, so sorry, no "varmint" loads. 180s work just fine for deer and of course are versatile on the heavier game species. I do not believe in switching weights for different jobs, but switch bullet styles/construction for the game hunted.
In my Sako and Ruger, best loads are
H4350 @ 57 gr, Win cases, Nosler 180 protected pt., for about 50 fps over most factory loads and better accuracy with an excellent and versatile bullet.
and a close second is Win 760 @ 54.5, Win cases, Speer 180 hotcor bullet, duplicates velocity and performance of most factory loads with better accuracy.
In my Sako and Ruger, best loads are
H4350 @ 57 gr, Win cases, Nosler 180 protected pt., for about 50 fps over most factory loads and better accuracy with an excellent and versatile bullet.
and a close second is Win 760 @ 54.5, Win cases, Speer 180 hotcor bullet, duplicates velocity and performance of most factory loads with better accuracy.
I have 3 - 30-06 rifles at present, and only one shoots RL 17 with acceptable accuracy.
However, I have a 7x57 [Remington 700 "Classic"] that loves that powder behind the 140 Accubond.
Top velocities and stellar accuracy.
It also works great in my 300WSM with the 165 GMX.
It can work well, depending on the rifle.
Regards, Eagleye.
However, I have a 7x57 [Remington 700 "Classic"] that loves that powder behind the 140 Accubond.
Top velocities and stellar accuracy.
It also works great in my 300WSM with the 165 GMX.
It can work well, depending on the rifle.
Regards, Eagleye.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
You asked...For an animal the size of a moose i think you are out of your mind for choosing a bullet that is designed to fragment into itty bitty bits after penetrating a couple of inches. Consistent results on Moose require bullets that penetrate deeply and maintain most of their mass. Moose are BIG and don't require the ultimate in accuracy, which is the trait that Bergers are famous for. Choose a Moose bullet instead! Partition, bonded, monolithic copper, even a core-lockt would be far superior. Remember, you asked!
I agree with Longwalker 100%, if the angle isn't just perfect or you jerk a touch the 6" of penetration from the Berger is going to make for a long couple days. A Partion on the other hand and your tracking drops from days to minutes, IMHE.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
While I can't argue with anyone using a Partition for moose (I've used them for years), let's be fair to the Berger and do away with this 6" of penetration silliness.
I have shot a moose with Bergers and got 16" - 18" of penetration at close range, and a massive wound channel that would have taken a 3-shot group from Partitions to even come close to replicating. This was with a 30-06, shooting 210 grain VLD @ 2645 fps.
Doing some research on-line will show that my results were pretty typical, 16" - 18" of penetration at close range and more at longer ranges as the bullets slow down and fragment less.
I'm not trying to sway anyone to using any one bullet or another but lets also be honest about bullet performance (even the ones we personally chose not to use) when posting here, as there are plenty of newer hunters who don't know any better.
I can agree with most of the loads shown for 165 and 180 grain bullets.
Here is another to try - 220 gr. Hornady over 51 gr. I4350 with any standard primer. I've shot almost one hole groups with this combination. Actually any where up to 54 grains of powder works well. May be slightly over book values but I have never found it to have pressure or case problems. This one was recommended by O'Connor back in the 50s and the load is still a good one.
Jim
Here is another to try - 220 gr. Hornady over 51 gr. I4350 with any standard primer. I've shot almost one hole groups with this combination. Actually any where up to 54 grains of powder works well. May be slightly over book values but I have never found it to have pressure or case problems. This one was recommended by O'Connor back in the 50s and the load is still a good one.
Jim
165gr BTSP Hornady IL, 58.5grs IMR-4350 for ~2850fps MV.
200gr Nosler Partition, 54grs IMR-4350 for ~2350fps MV.
200gr Nosler Accubond, 54grs IMR-4350 for ~2425fps MV.
From my notes...
The 165gr Hornady BTSP IL is a great deer bullet, in .308, .30-06. I wouldn't use it in a faster .30cal though. In my .300H&H, I use 200gr Accubonds.
The 200gr Acc were just loaded to test penetration, in paper box, out of the .30-06. Love them in the .300H&H!
I shot a 50" bull moose, at 150 yards, with the 'slow-poke' 200gr Nos Part. Very effective! That was with the lever action M1895 Winchester.
200gr Nosler Partition, 54grs IMR-4350 for ~2350fps MV.
200gr Nosler Accubond, 54grs IMR-4350 for ~2425fps MV.
From my notes...
The 165gr Hornady BTSP IL is a great deer bullet, in .308, .30-06. I wouldn't use it in a faster .30cal though. In my .300H&H, I use 200gr Accubonds.
The 200gr Acc were just loaded to test penetration, in paper box, out of the .30-06. Love them in the .300H&H!
I shot a 50" bull moose, at 150 yards, with the 'slow-poke' 200gr Nos Part. Very effective! That was with the lever action M1895 Winchester.
I had a 190 grain Berger blow up on a whitetail's ribs and not make it through. This was with a .300 Win at a lasered 440 yards. That cured any notions I had about continuing to use them.
IMO one of the best, if not the best, .308" hunting bullets out there! And for you folks looking at longer ranges, the 200gr Partition is actually not that far off from the 200 Accubond. I used Bryan Litz's tested BC on the 200gr Partition out of a .300 WM (chronographed with Oehler 35P to confirm velocity) and his figues were accurate out to the 500 yards we tested. Litz's BC numbers for the Partition and Accubond are .487 and .524, respectively.
How close is that? Zero'd at 250 yards with a 2900fps MV at 2000' elevation the Partition drops only 0.9" more at 500 yards. In a 10mph crosswind it drifts only 1.4" more at the same 500 yards.
That is virtually identical for all practical purposes. Like I said, I sure do like the 200gr Partition!
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
That would have cured me too, to be honest.
My experience was that the Berger product worked exactly as advertised, so I was okay with that; again, not trying to convince anyone, just passing on my experience.
