Reloading Question 30-06

[scsims]

I loaded some test rounds for a new 30-06 Rem 700 yesterday and gave them a try. I was using Win brass, win LR primers, Hornady SST 165gr bullets over Varget. The results were not very good, 2" groups for the different weights of powder, and the velocity was not too good either. I averaged 2675 for the max load.

I have the bullets seated about 7 thousanths off the lands. I think Varget may not be the best powder for that heavy of a bullet on a 30-06. Although Varget works great on my .308 with 168gr SMKs. Do any of you load the 30-06 and have any bullet/powder combos that work well?

 

[roninflag]

49.5 , 50 or 50. 5 of varget and a 168 berger. ( or 168 cbt or balistic tip or 165 sst) . 210 gm primer . lapua brass. 030 off. .5" groups rem 700.

 

[scsims]

Hmm, that's hotter loads than my data has for max. Off of the Hogdon's website they have 48.3gr for max.

 

[roninflag]

for a 243 , 308 and 30-06 it is hard to beat either varget or I4064 for accuracy. with the 30-06 and 243 you can get more velocity with 4350. i have shot the 50.5 load out of 2 rem 700's and a sako mannlicher from 1969. i believe it is like 2825 fps. i have shot the 165 partition, 165 balistic tip, 168 MK and the 168 cbt with the 50.5 load. my standard load i carry is with a berger 168 . no reason the sst should not work though.

 

[Bart B]

When the .30-06 was last used a lot in competition, the favorite powder for 168 through 180 grain bullets was IMR4064 as it produced the best accuracy across all sorts of barrels. For 190 and 200 grain bullets, IMR4350 was the ticket for success.

Full length size your fired cases, too. Neck sizing's never been consistantly successful in the accuracy department.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Hornady uses Varget in their 30-06 match load for a Garand, now granted that has somewhat to do with the fact that it works well with the M1's gas system, but is is a very good powder. I also use IMR 4895 in my '06 and have been happy with my results with the 168 grain bullets.

 

[Reelamin]

H414 of the "new" stuff or good old IMR4350 over a mag primer! Somethings are better left unchanged and I always start with the 4350 in a 06.

 

[scsims]

Is it feasable to get sub MOA groups out of this combo just by changing the seating depth and charge weight?

 

[Bart B]

H414 of the "new" stuff or good old IMR4350 over a mag primer! Somethings are better left unchanged and I always start with the 4350 in a 06.

Note that when the .30-06 was "the" round for high power rifle matches, IMR4064 gave best accuracy and was the favorite with 180 grain and lighter bullets. IMR4350 worked well with 190's and heavier. While IMR4350 usually shoots most bullets the fastest, one has to decide whether its important to win the race to the target or put all the bullets closest together on the target.

 

[TOM H]

Here article on 30-06

Rem 40XL: .30-06 Long Action

Here is another

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek091.html

 

[TOM H]

Is it feasable to get sub MOA groups out of this combo just by changing the seating depth and charge weight?

Have you tried a different bullet? I had pretty good luck with IMR-4350 using Hodgdon data with 165gr AB bullet worked up from 56gr to 60gr/IMR-4350 it was in Factory Rem 700 24" barrel. I have rebarrel rifle still a 30-06. Well good luck

 

[backwoods83]

My go to for hunting or paper is in win brass, slight shoulder bump, 59.5grns H4350 compressed, CCI BR2 primer, 168 amax, .010" in the lands. Shoots 4/10s any day out of my vanguard sub moa, runs at 2938fps avg with an 8fps ES and is easy on cases.

 

[Bart B]

Here article on 30-06
Rem 40XL: .30-06 Long Action
Here is another
Eliseo RT10 30-06 Long Range Rifle

Well written and excellent information in both. There are a few caveats readers need be aware of.

First, few folks will notice the leade angle in the Rem. 40XL rifle's chamber is not the original SAAMI spec one of about 2.5 degrees. It's 1.5 degrees; about the same as the .308 Winchester and nowadays the .30-06 SAAMI spec's the same angle. Back in the 1960's when the .308 was first used in competition, its' 1.5 degree lead angle was a major reason it shot much more accurate than the .30-06 match rifles with a 2.5 degree leade angle.

Second, the RT10 article mentions a 4000 to 5000 barrel life with the .30-06 cartridge. That's a lot longer than what top high power competitors got up through the mid 1960's. Barrel life was typically about 2500 rounds and the best shots would notice a slight loss of accuracy at about 1500 rounds. The .308 Winchester barrels made with the same way went for about 2000 rounds before a very slight loss of accuracy was observed but went for a total of about 3000 rounds before needing replaced. Of course, those who didn't shoot either cartridge as accurate as the top master class folks did would get more apparent barrel life before noticing any loss of accuracy.

 

[Fred Ea]

Is it feasable to get sub MOA groups out of this combo just by changing the seating depth and charge weight?

Scott,
It is possible to get it better by seating the bullet just off the lands and load up five shot loads in .5gr. increments to find the sweet spot for this particular load. I this doesn't work, may want to try a different powder. I always has good luck with IMR 4064 and IMR 4350 with 165 gr., but my rifle doesn't like boat tails, it shoots flat base bullets better.lightbulb
FE