Show me your pet 30/06 loads?

C

Cavitation

New member
I plan on using IMR4350 and a heavy bullet like the 175 ELD-M and 175 SMK for practice and possibly the 175 ELD hunter bullet from Hornady for whitetail.

I am curious what loads and powders you guys are using.

AL
 
You should practice with the ammo you intend use for hunting. Match bullets are pricey for anything buy Match practice too.
I use IMR4350 for .243. IMR4064 for .30-06. However, the load my rifles prefer will likely be different from what your rifle likes.
 
I have 2-30-06 and I use H-4350 in both, one I hunt with 165gr AB other 180gr Partition and loading data is from Nosler manual. I have looked at the 178gr ELD-X for hunting and Hornady has loading data for H-4350 and IMR-4350 using either ELD-X/ELD-M. I think Hornady sell bulk 1600 bullets 178gr ELD-X just little over $27 per 100.

I have been shooting 200gr ELD-X in one of my 30 cal mags. I have shot IMR-4350 in the past and it's good powder.
 
For match shooting with 175's, I've found IMR4064 and Varget to work well in .30-06, but the velocities are lower than slower powders get. Looking at Hodgdon's site, H4350 is slower than IMR4350 and gives about 60 fps higher velocity and is temperature compensated, to boot. However IMR's newer IMR4955 is right up there with it and is temperature compensated as well. Hodgdon Superperformance goes even faster by about 40 fps. If your gun's accuracy isn't happy with the barrel times the fastest powders produce, IMR4350 is between them and match powders and has an excellent accuracy reputation, but IMR's newer IMR4166 is right there with it and adds temperature compensation. So, again, more choices.

I don't worry much about temperature compensation for match shooting, because barrel temperature quickly becomes the dominant temperature factor and the ambient outdoor temperature is left in the dust by that. But for hunting, where you will likely shoot from a cold barrel and you may be in temperature extremes no match organizer would plan for, powder with temperature compensation is a very appealing idea.
 
For my deer load (could very well be used for elk, too) I use Hornady's 165 grn. S.P.s (standard flat based, interlock). I use IMR 4350 (not H 4350) and Varget for propellant; both work very well in my vintage, wood-stocked M700 ADL '06. I also use CCI 200 LR primers, and most all brands of brass seem to work fine when fired-formed to the rifle and properly trimmed. My C.O.A.L. measures from just off the rifling. I use Hornady's straight O.A.L. guage with the modified case to determine my C.O.A.L.

Both propellants mentioned will consistently group 4-4 1/2" @ 300 yds. That's pretty much my max. hunting range for a shot on a critter. Through the summer, and right before hunting season with more frequency, I shoot at a cardboard elk target @ 300 yds. over my daypack for practice. I'm fortunate to have a place 15 minutes from my home to shoot at my elk target.

For my elk load, I use Hornady's 190 grn. B.T.S.P.s (discontinued now, but I still have a good supply for my hunting needs) and IMR 4350 propellant exclusively (again, not H 4350). This load is used in my newer M700 ADL '06 with the factory synthetic stock. Other than not using Varget in this syn-stocked ADL, everything else as far as load, case info and accuracy is pretty much the same as with the old vintage M700. I use the 300 yd. elk target with this rifle over my daypack, too. Actually, this target I made is about the size of a good sized deer; just looks more like an elk...

Both of these loadings have proven (to me) in the field to be more than adequate for the jobs at hand, and plenty accurate to make a well placed and confident shot on the critter out to 300 yards (and when conditions are right, maybe a bit farther). And the quote below will always ring true (IMO):

"The 30-06 is never a mistake." (Mr. Rifleman; T. Whelen)
 
I got my 1st 06 in 1962. I have been shooting them diligently since. I had as many as 5 rifles chambered in the 30-06, now I have 4.

For my 150 gr loads, I have always gotten exceptional accuracy with H4895.

I don't shoot the 165s any longer.

With the 180 gr bullets, it is RE17, IMR4350, and lately some IMR 4451, and Superformance. Hybrid 100V works well too.

With the 200 gr bullets, I use H4831SC, H100V, and IMR 4955.

I sometimes shoot the Woodleigh 240 gr bullet for fun. VV N560 works well.

All the above suggestions have worked good for me and are accurate.
 
In my .30-'06, it's been H4350[around 57-58gr], 180 Partition's, Win cases and CCI #200 primers. Mule deer and Elk don't like that load much. A good, dependable load in my rifle. Actually two: Ruger No.1B and Ruger MkII.
 
IMR 4350 has been my go-to, with results I'm happy with.

However,I tend to pay attention when Unclenick offers ideas. I'll read his post again,..but then,what I have is working.

This might not work for your bullet weight preferences,but for me it works out well that Nosler offers 165/168 gr Ballistic tip,Accubond,and Custom Comp all with the pretty much the same BC. Helps keep things simple.
 
My pet load for my five Remington '06s is R-P cases, Win large rifle mag primers, 48 gr. H4895 powder and Nosler 165 gr. ballistic tips. This gives me 2800 fps and minute-of-ladybug accuracy. All deer shot with this load have been DRT/STW.
 
A "standard" target load in the 30-06 was a 168 or 175 with 55.0 grains IMR 4350. This is not a maximum load, so it is not sensitive to primers, cases, or even bullet type. I have shot thousands of these, but don't have a CMP 200, 300 or 600 yard target picture to show. I am burning up other ammunition first.

In my testing, my lot of H4350 was one grain slower than either IMR or AA4350. Accurate Arms told me that their powder is a pressure curve equivalent of IMR. So buy whatever is cheapest.



M98 26" 1-10 Wilson Barrel

175 gr Sierra 55.0grs AA4350 wtd. FED 210M W/W cases OAL 3.30"
5 Oct 2000 T=70°F

Ave Vel = 2710
Std Dev = 18
ES = 43
Low =2679
High =2722
N = 5
Excellent group rounded primers

175gr Sierra 56.0 grs H4350 wtd. WLR Mixed Commercial cases OAL 3.290"
5 Oct 2000 T=70°F

Ave Vel = 2733
Std Dev = 24
ES = 80
Low =2686
High =2766
N = 14
Group Size Very Good
 
My favorite is 150gr Hornady SST, IMR 4064 52gr and CCI LR primer @ 2885 fps. I have used H414 and H4350 with good results as well. I settled on 4064 because of it's versatility in all my calibers: .223, .243, and 30.06. All my rifles shoot it well. Good luck.
 
About 1 gr below published max loads with H4350. It shoots 150's right at 3000 fps, 165's @ about 2880 fps and 180's just under 2800 fps. Accuracy has always been very good.

I've used IMR4350 with very similar results, not the same exact powder charge BTW. Both perform very similarly, but I prefer the H4350 simply because it is less sensitive to temperature changes.
 
I also like H4350, may not matter that much but most of those are hunting loads and I like the idea of the Extreme line. I usually shoot 165s loaded a grain or two below max and have yet to encounter a bolt-action '06 that doesn't like the loading. (exxception; M1 loads use IMR4064 due to it being a more appropriate burn rate for that gas system).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top