30-06 match grade reload info needed.

[John Richard]

I have a 1951 Winchester pre 64 Target 30-06. It has a medium weight barrel. I have alot of 150 gr Match, MK HP, M HPBT, 168gr International HP, Match HPBT, 180gr Matchking, 190 MK HP. Any reloading info would be great. I'm looking for the best load for the gun. Thanks

[James Jones]

My go "go-to" long range load for any 30-06 I have ever loaded for was between 55 and 58 grs of IMR-4350 and a 190gr Sierra MatchKing. I always start at 55grs with the bullet seated into the lands .005" then work my way up in 1/2gr loads to see what the gun likes , generaly around 56-57 grs is where most will want it but the rare odball would like the hot loads.
If you don't have you material yet remember that Lapua makes brass for the 30-06 and I have found that the CCI BR2 primers generaly give me the lowest ES #'s hate to say it but they do. The Fedral 210M is another great primer

[youarenotcrazy]

The only load testing I've done, matchgrade-wise, with the '06 was with the 175 gr SMK...lol, which is the only one you don't have on your shelves...however like JDJones, I started with IMR 4350 and found that 56 grs gave me great accuracy. It was not overly fast in the 22" barrel I was loading for...around 2700 fps...but it shot very repectable at distance and was rather mild in my rifle. Winchester brass, CCI LR primers.

[Bart B]

Neat rifle; shot a few rounds through one in the early '60s. Pretty accurate with Lake City Arsenal M72 30 caliber match ammo, too.

In that rifle's heyday, most matches were won using IMR4064 powder:

51 - 52 grains with a 150-gr. bullet.
46 - 47 grains with a 168-, 180- or 190-gr. bullet.

IMR4350 was best with the 190-gr. bullet with 54 - 55 grains.

Best accuracy was with bullets larger in diameter than .3086-inch; the military M2 173-gr. match bullet was great as were/are Lapua .3092-inch 170 and 185 grain match bullets. Those cut and/or broach rifled barrels had a tad large groove diameter of about .3083 and needed larger bullets to shoot the best. Winchester's own heavy match bullets back hen were about .3088-inch for that reason. Sierra's I've miced are only about .3082-inch except for the Palma ones at about .3084.

PMC primers are the best these days; last forever and don't go erratic after a year like the others do.

Winchester cases are great; much better than any military case. Full-length size 'em but don't the the fired case shoulder back more than .002-inch.