Question about loading for 3006

[MagnumManiac]

I loaded for a 18" 30-06 running Speer 165g HotCor SP. I was running RL19, RL22, H4350 & H4831. When Alliant powders were scarce.
The barrel length means diddly squat to both powder choice and bullet weight, use what shoots well and use the same powder you would in a 24"/26" barrel.

Cheers.

 

[Stadoc]

OP, sounds like you are already heading in the right direction if you shrank your groups in half.
Stick with the H4350. I'd do a little more experimenting and would also try bullets down to the 150 grain range for out to 500 yards. In my '06s, I get good hunting accuracy with 150 & 165 Ballistic tips, 168 Bergers, 168 TTSX, all using H4350.

I have been considering the ttsx. I think I will look for some this week to load.
Thanks

 

[Stadoc]

Out of my 30–06 with a 26" hart barrel I use 58 grains of imr4350 , Berger 168 classic hunter bullets , 20 thousands off the lands. .5 MOA.

I have some of those bullets, will load a few and check it out
Thanks

 

[Stadoc]

I have reloaded for the 30-06 for a few years (since 1972 as I recall). 1:10 should stabilize anything from 100 gr to 220 gr. IMR and H 4350 work well for 150-220 gr bullets in my experience. Your results seem unique. Be certain to check all your fasteners, ie, action screws, scope mounts, etc.
I currently have a Kimber Montana 30-06 I am having trouble with that I bought from a LRH member. For some reason the 24" barrel had been cut from 24" to 23". After wasting a bunch of factory ammo and reloads trying to find a load I started looking things over only to find the muzzle crowning was awful! I have an order in to PT&D for a 45* crowning tool to see if that helps. You may have the same issue.
FYI the heavier bullets shoot better with the bad crown than the lighter ones in mine.

Also John Barsness has a good article called something like "getting the most out of your 30-06". It may help you work up a load.

I load from 100 gr Speer Plinkers to 200 gr Nosler Partitions all depending on what the task is. The 30-06 is still a great universal cartridge IMO&E! Don't give up on it!

I'm loving the rifle itself, I'm sure it's just about figuring out what it likes. Thing is I've been hand loading for just a couple of years and sometimes just need advice from someone or ones that have have way more than me.
Thank you

 

[loboman7x57]

I have 2 that I load for. Both shoot 58 grains H4350 with a 172 grain Speer Impact very well. Only issue is seating depth. Both like .035 jump, problem is different throat length so I have to load different seating depth for each rifle. One is a Alpine Supreme Mauser clone with a 23" barrel and one is a Remington 700 with a 22". A little over 2900 in the 23 and 2880 in the 22.

 

[AussieWriter]

I have been considering the ttsx. I think I will look for some this week to load.
Thanks

Try the 168gn TTSX and the 175gn LRX and stick with the one your rifle likes best. These bullets will take anything in the US, or anywhere else, 'cept the usual African exemptions.

 

[Stadoc]

Try the 168gn TTSX and the 175gn LRX and stick with the one your rifle likes best. These bullets will take anything in the US, or anywhere else, 'cept the usual African exemptions.

Hopefully I can find some and will give it a go.
Thank you

 

[hydehunter]

my .06 has an 18 inch barrel suppressed and I am shooting the 150 gr Power Hammer mono bullet at 2942fps using 57.5 gr of H4350 with a Fed 215 primer and shooting 3/4" groups at 200 yards, I have shoot plenty of deer with this load and so far 13 animals in Africa with it all have been one shot kills and only 2 bullets recovered and will be going again in April for 8-10 more animals. if I was you I would also get a suppressor for that as it has a good muzzle blast

 

[bonie]

I've been loading 180 Nosler BTs for one of 30_06s with a 22" 1/10 twist with IMR 4350 since 1989. I found a load dead center of the Nozler manual, data. that is not real fast but accurate that has nocked down many big body bucks and a few does. never lost one with that load. Have also seen many taken with various 180s from hunting camp, big Adirondack deer. no need for heavier, my son has nocked down 5 northern with 165 silver tips.

 

[Mark B]

H4350

I have a Springfield WWII military 06. I shoot Speer 180gr spitz with a 59gr of IMR4831 and consistently have three shot groups under an inch at 100yds. It's not the fastest at about 2600fps but is is accurate. I've taken many antelope, deer, elk and bear. My 06 seems to like a heavier bullet.
I do agree that H4350 seems to be the go to powder for many rifles with awesome accuracy

 

[Mark B]

my .06 has an 18 inch barrel and I am shooting the 150 gr Power Hammer mono bullet at 2942fps using 57.5 gr of H4350 with a Fed 215 primer and shooting 3/4" groups at 200 yards, I have shoot plenty of deer with this load and so far 13 animals in Africa with it all have been one shot kills and only 2 bullets recovered and will be going again in April for 8-10 more animals. if I was you I would also get a suppressor for that as it has a good muzzle blast

That is awesome shooting. I am going to Hammer bullets in all our rifles and have great results with them. I bought 180gr and wil try them but maybe should go lighter160 or 160's.

 

[Mark B]

my .06 has an 18 inch barrel and I am shooting the 150 gr Power Hammer mono bullet at 2942fps using 57.5 gr of H4350 with a Fed 215 primer and shooting 3/4" groups at 200 yards, I have shoot plenty of deer with this load and so far 13 animals in Africa with it all have been one shot kills and only 2 bullets recovered and will be going again in April for 8-10 more animals. if I was you I would also get a suppressor for that as it has a good muzzle blast

That is awesome shooting. I am going to Hammer bullets in all our rifles and have great results with them. I bought 180gr and wil try them but maybe should go lighter160 or 160's.

 

[jfield]

I just recently picked up a cz557 3006, it has a 20 in barrel and a 1:10 twist. I bought some factory ammo in 150,165,168,170,175gr. and had terrible results. I loaded some of the brass from the factory ammo with some speer 190g and 185 Berger hunters and my groups shrunk from like 2 inches to 0.80. Seems to like heavier loads. Question is should I try a heavier bullet and if so what do you suggest. Thanks in advance, I just don't have any experience with 3006.

My Sako 85 Finnlight in 30.06 likes heavier bullets also.
My hunting load is Peterson brass, either Hodgdon 414 or Winchester 760 (55 gr.), federal 210 primers, 180 Nosler Accubond. Shoots small groups and I use it on Pronghorn up to elk. Really works well. You will have to find a good seating depth for you rifle
Good luck in you quest

 

[Shumba1]

I like the Hammer 150 to 154 grain bullets out of the 30-06. Have dropped 2 cow elk with the 150 Hammers. 285 yards and 405 yards

Got great accuracy and velocity using Ramshot Big Game for the 150 grain bullets and Ramshot Hunter for 165 to 180 grain bullets