Long Range Loads for 26" barreled .30-06

[kcebcj]

Thanks for all the information guys. I mentioned seeing a lot of '06 shooters loading RL-22 with the 208s, and they are getting upwards of 2700+ fps with 26" barrels! Well I looked over the burn chart again today and realized that RL-22 is just under IMR 7828, that is fairly slow powder! I thought 7828 was way to slow for the '06 but maybe it will work with those big 208s. My local shops always have a couple cans of 7828 sitting on the shelves and we have about five pounds of both IMR 7828 and the 7828 SSC. If this seems to be to slow then I will try the little bit faster H-4831. I looked everywhere for .30-06 loads using RL-22 and IMR 7828 and have found that their charges for the heavy slugs are within .5gr of each other so they are pretty much equals according to the burn chart and powder charges. Hopefully this proves to be true and the 2600fps mark I'm looking for can easily be achieved with safe loads of 7828.

I have 7828 here on the shelf used in a 300 WM. Have never tried it in the 30-06 as RL 17 works so well. Just ran IMR 7828 and 7828 SSC in QuickLoad using my rifles profile with a 25.75" barrel with a COAL of 3.345 and the 208gr A-Max.

58gr of 7828 SSC has a fill of 103.2% a velocity of 2645fps and a pressure of 53,692 (60,000 max). The amount of propellant burnt is 96.9%. With the same amount of 7828 everything stays the same except the fill is 109%.

I think the 2600fps you are looking for is totally doable with either of the 7828's. It's a little slow and does not get totally burn out in the barrel but that is not necessarily a bad deal depending on the rifle.

 

[kcebcj]

I use regular '06 brass for my .30-06 AI. So you won't have to change anything, other than your dies. I just don't like the long bottleneck look. The Ackley Improved versions of calibers really adds that cool look, but more importantly it adds function and velocity.

I think alot of folks underestimate the '06 based calibers, since the huge magnum craze has taken over.

If my '06 AI 185 load is close to 3K fps, it will be a sub-1200 yard beast.

MudRunner

I almost built a 30-06 AI with this last 06. The smith and I knocked it around one afternoon and I finally decided not to do it.

You are absolutely right the 06 is just not wiz bang any more so many people don't fool with it. Just ran the AI with RL17 and a 210gr Berger and it is setting right at 2700fps with a 26" barrel. The AI version is hanging right on the rear of a 300 WM. I am right in the middle of building a 300 WM.Could switch

 

[Jud96]

Thanks for all of this great info! Really liking these numbers! If I can get 2650fps with the 208 than I would be more than happy. Ran the numbers on a ballistics program and even at my low altitude of 1000ft, where I shoot out to 800yds, this load will be around 1800fps with 1500lbs of energy at 800yds! That is plenty more than needed to take the whitetail around here that weigh between 120-200lbs. I would also like to use this as a back up rifle or even primary next to my custom .308 Norma when I eventually head West after elk and muleys. Man would people look at you funny out here when you tell them you took an elk or mule deer at long range with an '06. Heck some guys believe the .30-06 is not enough cartridge for average whitetail hunting Guess they don't understand rump and gut shots don't drop game to well haha. Thanks again guys!

 

[MudRunner2005]

MudRunner

I almost built a 30-06 AI with this last 06. The smith and I knocked it around one afternoon and I finally decided not to do it.

You are absolutely right the 06 is just not wiz bang any more so many people don't fool with it. Just ran the AI with RL17 and a 210gr Berger and it is setting right at 2900fps with a 26" barrel. The AI version is hanging right on the rear of a 300 WM. I am right in the middle of building a 300 WM.Could switch

Can you run mine for me?

26" 1:12 twist, .30-06 AI, 61.5gr of 7828 SSC, Rem brass, Federal 210M primer, and Berger 185 VLD's seated to 2.685" (base to ogive), with an average about 3.370-3.371" OAL.

Thanks!

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thanks for all of this great info! Really liking these numbers! If I can get 2650fps with the 208 than I would be more than happy. Ran the numbers on a ballistics program and even at my low altitude of 1000ft, where I shoot out to 800yds, this load will be around 1800fps with 1500lbs of energy at 800yds! That is plenty more than needed to take the whitetail around here that weigh between 120-200lbs. I would also like to use this as a back up rifle or even primary next to my custom .308 Norma when I eventually head West after elk and muleys. Man would people look at you funny out here when you tell them you took an elk or mule deer at long range with an '06. Heck some guys believe the .30-06 is not enough cartridge for average whitetail hunting Guess they don't understand rump and gut shots don't drop game to well haha. Thanks again guys!

Yep...You'd be amazed how many local morons around here buy .300 RUMs and .338 Lapuas to shoot whitetail deer with. The only reason I use a 7mm RemMag is because of how fast and flat it shoots out to 300, which is about the longest shot you'll get around here hunting greenfields. I've got some big boy rifles for long range deer, like 500-1500. Like my .300 Ackley and 7mm STW. But those are mostly range toys since I don't get to hunt LR much anymore with this new club I joined last year. That's ok though, I'm smoking deer left and right with my 7RM so, as long as I'm putting meat in my freezer, I'm happy.

I think I might smack a few with the '06 AI once I get her dialed in with these 185 VLD loads. I bet it's gonna hit HARD inside of 300.

 

[kcebcj]

Can you run mine for me?

26" 1:12 twist, .30-06 AI, 61.5gr of 7828 SSC, Rem brass, Federal 210M primer, and Berger 185 VLD's seated to 2.685" (base to ogive), with an average about 3.370-3.371" OAL.

Thanks!

MudRunner....There is a typo above in a previous post. The velocity I show for the 210gr Berger should be 2700 not 2900.

QuickLoad Data...use as a guide and for comparisons.

30-06 Ack Imp 62gr IMR 7828 SSC
COAL 3.370
185gr Berger Hunting VLD
26 inch barrel.
fill 106.7%
Burn 93%
Velocity 2861fps
Pressure 56,018psi
Max Pressure 58,750psi

30-06 Ack Imp 57gr RL17
COAL 3.370
185gr Berger Hunting VLD
26 inch barrel.
fill 96%
Burn 100%
Velocity 2877fps
Pressure 56,345psi
Max Pressure 58,750psi

 

[MudRunner2005]

MudRunner....There is a typo above in a previous post. The velocity I show for the 210gr Berger should be 2700 not 2900.

QuickLoad Data...use as a guide and for comparisons.

30-06 Ack Imp 62gr IMR 7828 SSC
COAL 3.370
185gr Berger Hunting VLD
26 inch barrel.
fill 106.7%
Burn 93%
Velocity 2861fps
Pressure 56,018psi
Max Pressure 58,750psi

30-06 Ack Imp 57gr RL17
COAL 3.370
185gr Berger Hunting VLD
26 inch barrel.
fill 96%
Burn 100%
Velocity 2877fps
Pressure 56,345psi
Max Pressure 58,750psi

Looks like 7828 SSC and RL17 are both winners by a very close margin. It's only 16 fps slower than RL17, but it produces 327 psi LESS pressure...Which is always a good thing when pushing it up to it's limits.

2,861 fps is pretty **** stout for an old '06 AI with a 185 Berger VLD......You thinking about swapping up that .300 WM build yet?

The recoil is so pleasant to shoot compared to my magnums. After building all these Ackleys on the '06 parent case, I have got to tell you, I am truly becoming a fan. Less muzzle blast, less powder consumption, significantly lower recoil... They're just all-around pleasent guns to shoot. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a recoil-sensative person, but shooting my 2 small Ackleys is almost like a vacation from all my big mags. LOL

 

[MudRunner2005]

Can you run one more for me? I haven't gotten my velocity nodes perfected yet, so I haven't chrono'd. It's just fun to guess what it will be until I can actually get a chrono on it.

.25-06 AI 40* shoulder
Winchester .270 brass OAL of 2.494" after forming
Berger 115 VLD
Federal 210M primer
60.5gr of 7828 SSC
26" barrel
1:10 twist
OAL is unknown (till I can get home tonight), but they measure 2.695" from base to ogive, if that can be calculated?

 

[roninflag]

If you go to rifleman's journal; GERMAN did extensive shoting or the 30-06 at long range. before you do anything you should read his stuff. it seems to me he used a a lot of h-4350.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Can you run one more for me? I haven't gotten my velocity nodes perfected yet, so I haven't chrono'd. It's just fun to guess what it will be until I can actually get a chrono on it.

.25-06 AI 40* shoulder
Winchester .270 brass OAL of 2.494" after forming
Berger 115 VLD
Federal 210M primer
60.5gr of 7828 SSC
26" barrel
1:10 twist
OAL is unknown (till I can get home tonight), but they measure 2.695" from base to ogive, if that can be calculated?

I forgot to get an OAL at home last night...I'll try to remember to get one tonight.

 

[kcebcj]

Can you run one more for me? I haven't gotten my velocity nodes perfected yet, so I haven't chrono'd. It's just fun to guess what it will be until I can actually get a chrono on it.

.25-06 AI 40* shoulder
Winchester .270 brass OAL of 2.494" after forming
Berger 115 VLD
Federal 210M primer
60.5gr of 7828 SSC
26" barrel
1:10 twist
OAL is unknown (till I can get home tonight), but they measure 2.695" from base to ogive, if that can be calculated?

Here you go:
25-06 Ack Imp 115gr Berger Hunt VLD
26" Barrel 1: 10
60.5gr 7828 SSC
COAL 3.400
MV 3291fps
Chamber Pressure 57,681psi
Max Pressure 59,988
Fill 92.1%
Burn 99.11%

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thanks! I'll have to check to see if I can go higher on it while ladder testing. How many grains would get a maximum safe pressure in your program? Those velocities are almost exactly the same as my .257 Wby with the 115 VLD's and H1000, but it took over 70gr to get that out of the .257 Wby.

BTW, what program do you use? I would be interested in something like that.

 

[kcebcj]

Looks like 61.5 would be close to max....rifle dependant. Below is a snapshot of one screen in Quickload. Best ballistic software I have ever used and customer support is decent.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Can you run one more for me? I haven't gotten my velocity nodes perfected yet, so I haven't chrono'd. It's just fun to guess what it will be until I can actually get a chrono on it.

.25-06 AI 40* shoulder
Winchester .270 brass OAL of 2.494" after forming
Berger 115 VLD
Federal 210M primer
60.5gr of 7828 SSC
26" barrel
1:10 twist
OAL is unknown (till I can get home tonight), but they measure 2.695" from base to ogive, if that can be calculated?

That's awesome! I need to get ahold of Quickload. Thats some cool software.

Thanks again for all the help! I can't wait to chrono them to see how close Quickload is.