downloading an '06

T

tdoyka

New member
today a friend came to me and asked if i can reduce his 30-06 loads. (he had a cancer on top of his neck, took it off, replaced the neck muscle with pectoral muscle and then he went thru chemo and radition treatments). i happen to have a few '06 that i reloaded to 170gr sierra fn at around 2500fps. i grabbed my '06 savage and let him shoot. he said it hurt a little bit, but he figures he can live with it.
i told him to wait until i got my handloading books out to see if there was anything else i could do. well, this evening i looked at the books and the only thing i could find was 2450fps and a reduced load from speer that goes from 1800-2000fps. i would like to go from 2000-2200fps(170gr sierra) but i'm having a real tough time finding it.
if anybody has a reduced load, around 170gr-180gr flat or round nose, at about 2000-2200fps(like shooting a 30-30), would be greatly appreciated.

i have
imr4831
imr4895
imr4320
varget
imr4350
h4831sr
superformance
benchmark
h4198
rel7
h322

i would like to find 2400(big can) for shooting cast boolits. and no, he doesn't like them!!! :(
 
I've used and would recommend IMR 4895 for reduced loads. This is the powder suggested by Sierra technicians for this purpose. I used it to load some 25/06 90 grain bullets to about 2500 FPS for my handicapped Son. Velocities were consistent and accuracy was adequate for our needs.

BTW
Richard Lee goes into considerable depth in his comments on reduced loads in his older manual.
 
Last edited:
I've loaded 169-grain gas checks with 20 grains of 2400 for around 1,800 ft/sec as a plinker load. You can load 150-grain jacketed with maybe up to 25 grains of 2400 for maybe 2,300 ft/sec or thereabouts. Some use oatmeal as case filler on that sort of reduced load.
 
Found it. All the tests were done with Hodguns powder.

Varget
168 grain bullet
25 grains powder
Velocity 1930
Pressure 21000

Max load 44 grains @ 2590 fps 45400 pressure.

Reading closer, It looks like some are calculated.

A lighter bullet and faster (less) powder will reduce recoil

David
 
Something to think about. Most 30 caliber spitzer bullets are designed to expand at about 1800 fps or faster. Those designed for 30-30's around 1600 fps. If you go too slow with bullets that heavy results may not be satisfactory on game.

I'd be looking at something like a 125 gr Ballistic tip at around 2600-2700 fps. This is what Remington uses in their reduced recoil ammo. Or just buy Remington reduced recoil ammo.

Recoil will be in the 11-12 ft lb range, about the same as 30-30's shooting 170's, but with much better performance on game than heavier bullets going too slow to expand properly.
 
Use a 150 or less. Physics being physics, the powder doesn't make much difference. They all give roughly the same velocities, but the lighter bullet will produce les felt recoil. Physics being physics.
Or tell the guy to buy a semi-auto and use a lighter bullet.
 
#6

Post #6 has it....C.E. Harris "the load".. 13 grains of Red Dot and any bullet in the "normal" range for the cartridge (for cases larger than the .35 Remington.) No fillers.
 
In down loading any round, one must understand that reduced charges leave excess space that causes pressure to vary depending on how it sets in the case when its fired.

Powder companies understand this and create powder that will give you a reduced load and yet keep pressure constant, which is safer and more accurate.

Two of the best powders I've used in reduced loads that accomplish this 5744.

An example I load a 180 gr. hunting bullet with 4831 that gives me about 2700 FPS at about 50,000 lbs per sq inch.

A reduced load of 5744 gives the same bullet about 2300 fps at about 35000 psi. Yet the cast is nearly full.

Trailboss is another good powder. Though you don't get much pressure it fills the case too much to get any velocity. An example 19 gr. will fill the case, pressure would be about 38,000 psi, but the velocity is only about 1600 pfs.
 
The reason to use fast powders is its also part of the recoil formula. The powder gets kicked out the barrel just like the bullet. So 30 grains of a faster powder will have less "Kick" than 45 grains just because the weight.

Physics is Physics...

Davie
 
I'll also toss my +1 into the ring for the Ed Harris Red Dot loads. A friend of mine had quadruple bypass surgery and a week before had put money down on a very nice '06. Of course it was the only gun he wanted to shoot after he got out of the hospital so I loaded him up a box and a half or Red Dot loads. Needless to say we had a good time at the range.

Tony
 
If you want REALLY light loads, I found some "bakelite" bullets and loaded up a few rounds of the old military indoor "gallery" ammo. Much like a 22 short in noise and zero recoil.
 
A very old load for across the course shooters at the 200 yard standing and sitting stages was a 168 Match with 42.0 grains IMR 4895. I have shot thousands of this load in competition, though my chronograph data is with the military 174 FMJBT. Regardless, this load is relatively low recoil and very accurate. My standard 30-06 load was a 168 match with 47.0 grains, or a 175 grain bullet. I had added the second as a velocity comparison.


M98 26" 1-10 Wilson Barrel


175 FMJBT 42.0 grs IMR 4895 wtd WLR WWII cases OAL 3.30"

17 Sept 00 T=72 ° F

Ave Vel = 2451
Std Dev = 15
ES = 51
Low = 2429
High = 2480
N = 9


175 Sierra Match 47.0 grs AA2495 wtd CCI 34 R-P Cases OAL 3.30"

5 May 2000 T=82 ° F

Ave Vel = 2704
Std Dev = 17
ES = 44
Low = 2677
High = 2721
N = 5
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top