I have been fortunate enough to be able to hunt elk in Colorado this coming season. I have a 30-06 and was looking for some help and info on building up a load that will be effective and precise out to 650yards. I used to have a 7mm mag and it was my long range gun but made a mistake in a weak moment and sold it. So I am back to square one with the 30-06. any help would be appreciated!!
30-06 load make up help
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Shane1
Well-Known Member
H4350 is my preferred powder for 30.06 loads but due to its lack of availability I tried some ramshot hunter with berger 185 juggernaughts. I run it in a Remington 40x that has a 26" barrel. 58 to 59 grains depending on what brass puts me right at 2800. Being a single shot I load a long oal with .030" bullet jump. Do Not start at 58g, work your way up from 52. 30.06 brass varies alot as far as capacity, depending on what brass you run and oal you may see pressure much sooner then what I'm running. It's incredibly accurate in my gun. There is tons of load data for the O6 out there just be sure not to fall victim of trying to achive 300 win mag velocities.There are many many accurate loads for it out there, German Salazar has some good articles on loading for it, Google them. Be safe and enjoy, the load process is sometimes frustrating but you'll be rewarded in the end.
What kind of gun did you get?
Have you shot anything threw it yet, if so what and how did it shoot?
Barrel length?
Have you bought any components yet, brass, powder, bullets?
Just some things we need to know to point you in the right direction.
What kind of gun did you get?
Have you shot anything threw it yet, if so what and how did it shoot?
Barrel length?
Have you bought any components yet, brass, powder, bullets?
Just some things we need to know to point you in the right direction.
njshooter
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2010
- Messages
- 29
I had a good starting point with Nosler's load data . Their load data for the 168 gr. bullet with H4350 @ 57.5 grains was right on the money for my 30-06. I haven't made a load for 180 gr. but I will use their most accurate load as a starting point. just remember what works in my rifle may not in yours!
Ok Thank you for the replies.
I have a Remington 700 30-06 21" barrel twist? (I will research it after I write this)
I received this gun from my father about 6 years ago. I used it on a bear hunt that time and just bought some federal vita shock in the 180g and the gun couldn't stand them 6"group at best at 100 yards. I later tried some 165 Nossler ballistic tip and had better performance but nothing I would want to write home about. I stopped my load make up for this at that time as I acquired my 7mm mag Sendero and spent all my time building my 1000 yard gun. (This is the gun that was sold so I am back to square one.)
I was thinking trying the new Nossler Accubond LR in the 190g. It showes and amazing G1 Ballistic Coefficient 0.640. I used Berger with my 7mm and they flew great but the BC of a 7mm is sweet. these or the Match king. (It may come down to what I can find to buy) I haven't thought that much of the brass (I have used anything from Nossler, Lapua,Remington and Winchester for other loads on other guns but like I said I am back to square one. I also need to replace the original stock as it is cracked. What are your thoughts on a reasonably priced stock?
I have a Remington 700 30-06 21" barrel twist? (I will research it after I write this)
I received this gun from my father about 6 years ago. I used it on a bear hunt that time and just bought some federal vita shock in the 180g and the gun couldn't stand them 6"group at best at 100 yards. I later tried some 165 Nossler ballistic tip and had better performance but nothing I would want to write home about. I stopped my load make up for this at that time as I acquired my 7mm mag Sendero and spent all my time building my 1000 yard gun. (This is the gun that was sold so I am back to square one.)
I was thinking trying the new Nossler Accubond LR in the 190g. It showes and amazing G1 Ballistic Coefficient 0.640. I used Berger with my 7mm and they flew great but the BC of a 7mm is sweet. these or the Match king. (It may come down to what I can find to buy) I haven't thought that much of the brass (I have used anything from Nossler, Lapua,Remington and Winchester for other loads on other guns but like I said I am back to square one. I also need to replace the original stock as it is cracked. What are your thoughts on a reasonably priced stock?
Years back before I had added the 7mm RM and a couple other flatter shooting rigs to my collection, I did in fact hunt elk with the 30-06, and it performed quite well on a decent bull at a pretty good distance of just over 550 yds..
I made it happen with a 165 gr. Speer Hot Core, but the Grand Slam and Deep Curl are also very good bullets for something as large as elk. My load consisted of a worked up compressed charge of IMR-4350, CCI-250's, and weight sorted Rem. brass. Across the chrony they are right at 3000 fps.. I'm pretty sure you can get by with a standard CCI-200, but I personally noticed improved consistency both velocity and accuracy with the CCI-250's. I started with my bullets seated right up to the lands, and accuracy was stellar so that is what I hunted with. But every rifle is different, so it's best to start there and work back in .010" increments, you'll usually find more than one sweet spot.
I would strongly recommend putting it on paper at the elevation you intend to hunt at. I had an eye opening experience when I discovered BDC was two totally different stories @ 7000' elevation v.s. 2500' elevation. I didn't notice a difference at 200 yds., but from 500 yds. and out, trajectory was completely different, as was POI.
MB
I made it happen with a 165 gr. Speer Hot Core, but the Grand Slam and Deep Curl are also very good bullets for something as large as elk. My load consisted of a worked up compressed charge of IMR-4350, CCI-250's, and weight sorted Rem. brass. Across the chrony they are right at 3000 fps.. I'm pretty sure you can get by with a standard CCI-200, but I personally noticed improved consistency both velocity and accuracy with the CCI-250's. I started with my bullets seated right up to the lands, and accuracy was stellar so that is what I hunted with. But every rifle is different, so it's best to start there and work back in .010" increments, you'll usually find more than one sweet spot.
I would strongly recommend putting it on paper at the elevation you intend to hunt at. I had an eye opening experience when I discovered BDC was two totally different stories @ 7000' elevation v.s. 2500' elevation. I didn't notice a difference at 200 yds., but from 500 yds. and out, trajectory was completely different, as was POI.
MB
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
The beautiful thing about the '06 is its' ability to burn nearly any medium to medium slow powder. That said, any of the 4350's, 4831's and rl17, rl19, and rl22 are best for it with medium to heavy pills. I'd look at the 165-190 hornady or 180-200 sierra pills and any of the aforementioned powders if I was looking at putting down a big critter with the '06.
In my old rem 700lh bdl I was using I 4350 and 165 hornady or I 4350 and 200 sierra pills. These days many are pushing berger pills so if you feel froggy give them a try. As mbarnesr2 stated I would suggest a mag primer (I used a 215 in mine) with compressed loads in the '06 especially if you intend on using it in very cold weather.
After four '06 rifles I've firmly moved to the 300win and 300 rum but still load for a buddy's '06 once in a while; the load... 50 I 4064, 150 sierra pro hunter, wlr.. I'd stuff anything up to a mule deer buck with that combo no questions asked.
In my old rem 700lh bdl I was using I 4350 and 165 hornady or I 4350 and 200 sierra pills. These days many are pushing berger pills so if you feel froggy give them a try. As mbarnesr2 stated I would suggest a mag primer (I used a 215 in mine) with compressed loads in the '06 especially if you intend on using it in very cold weather.
After four '06 rifles I've firmly moved to the 300win and 300 rum but still load for a buddy's '06 once in a while; the load... 50 I 4064, 150 sierra pro hunter, wlr.. I'd stuff anything up to a mule deer buck with that combo no questions asked.
If you are likely to be presented with a shot ranging beyond 400 yds, I would recommend lots of slow burning powder, under a well constructed 165 gr bullet. Getting a 700 action to accurately push a 165 gr. pill 3000 fps shouldn't be a difficult task. I used a 700 ADL, bedded the action, floated the barrel, and it would shoot sub moa all day long with Z rings, and a Leupold 3x9.
Best of luck, and don't forget to share the pics with us!
MB
Best of luck, and don't forget to share the pics with us!
MB
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
depends on the rifle... my old righty m70 '06 was 2900 fps+ with a 165 with no trouble, but my remmy '06 wanted to go 2600-2700 fps with a 165; however it did 2600 fps with a 200 no trouble. Go figure. I actually like a 180 with a compressed charge of rl22 in an '06; it'll usually break 2800 fps. That's creeping on what a 300win'll do in factory for 180's.
As Lefty7mmstw said, it does depend on the rifle, every barrel has it's own ballistic personality, and more so with a standard production rig. Where as a good builder can just about nail your preference, from an accurate barrel burner, to a 1000 yd. competition rig. Sorry for drifting off topic there.
But as for powders, I started with IMR-4350 when I began loading high powered rifle 30 some years ago, and granted I achieved some excellent results with large worked up compressed charges IMR4350, I also managed to get kind of tunnel visioned for a good 10 yrs.. In fact it a few years after I had been I started loading for the 7mm RM, I finally decided to give RL22 a try, as I just wasn't getting the velocity out of 4350 I had come to expect from the 7 mag.. That was an eye opening experience, and lead to me sampling different powders that fall into my slow burner mentality. RL22 is probably my absolute favorite powder for most of the cartridges I load. With some exceptions regarding .270 win, in which I like RL19, however RL22 meets most of my needs with exceptional predictability regardring pressure, as well as velocity projections.
As for pushing 165's to 3K fps, I insist that, if your barrel hasn't been shot out, or didn't get slightly over bored when manufactured, that if you run a powder like like IMR-4350, you can get awfully near, if not reach 30000 fps, and do it quite accurately if the barrel will shoot well. As a new member I ask that you please excuse my forward approach to this, but I have an exceptional amount of experience working with this cartridge and many different actions, including an M98, Douglas, 3 stage jewel, pillar bedded Carlson stock. You might say I have a special place in my heart for the often under rated 30-06. Now I know the 06 isn't a 7 mag, but it can definitely produce exceptional performance plenty capable of taking a bull elk with confidence with the right approach, regarding reloading.
So with that said, I would specifically go buy some 165 gr. Hot Cores, if you can't find those, grab the Deep Curl, they are a superior bullet for the intended ballistic and hunting purpose here. Of all the powders I've now worked extensively with, iMR-4350 still remains the one I can push hard enough to get exceptional velocity and accuracy from. Superformance is also a good one, but it's difficult to find when I need it, so I don't use it often.
The Following includes load data that is either at maximum published data, or may suggest doing so. Never attempt to load a cartridge at a maximum charge without having followed proper load development procedure working up from minimum.
My top performing load from a bare bone 700 ADL, floated barrel, was something I had very similar results with in multiple other rifles, Savage's, Ruger's, other Remingtons, and a couple custom rigs, as follows:
165 gr. Speer Hot Core
I seat .010" off the lands, which has been an accurate oal in most of them. I have found the Hot Core to have very consistent olgives, so I don't think your going to have a problem with some touching the lands, while others may be significantly more than .010" off the lands. Also make sure the throat at least is very clean so you can get a good olgive to lands measurement.
Brass- It's essential to use matched head stamps, I like RP and Win. but have nto had a negative experience with Fed either. Trim them all to the same lengths, and if possible try to sort them by weight. Sorting by weight isn't absolutely necessary, but those with a big + variance can produce much higher pressures when working at max charge. Also, use fire formed brass from your chamber and if don't have a neck die, only size the body, don't adjust the FL die all the way down to the shell holder, just enough to size the neck, if possible.
Primer- I have used CCI-200's and 250's, but I prefer the 250's for lighting up large compressed charges in this application. I'm sure there are other acceptable primers, but my second choice would definitely be Win. they are good. Federal's are known to be softer, so I don't use them, as I had problems with them failing with high end pressures, and we are talking about working on the extreme upper end of the load tables. Make sure you seat the primers with good positive contact with the bottom of the pocket, this is to further prevent any gas leaks.
Powder- IMR-4350- Charge I have worked up to can't be published here. What I can say is since we are seating only .010" off the lands, start just below mid table and continue working up in reasonable increments until you have reached the visible sign of maximum. When you begin to feel unusual resistance when lifting the bolt, you have reached maximum. But don't forget to glance at the primers anyway, cause blowing primers can also be an indication of excessive pressures, if you blow more than just one or two from the same loads.
I sincerely hope this helps you harvest a good bull. I am currently getting ready to engage in a spring turkey hunting fest with one of my adult sons. I promised him a turkey hunt of a life time when he returned from Afghanistan in 2008, but he has been busy, but we finally reached our goal. But I do know the 06 well, and I know if developed properly, it can function as a very effective long range cartridge, and with the potential of slightly better than average results.
Now get to developing, but that;s the fun part anyway.
MB
But as for powders, I started with IMR-4350 when I began loading high powered rifle 30 some years ago, and granted I achieved some excellent results with large worked up compressed charges IMR4350, I also managed to get kind of tunnel visioned for a good 10 yrs.. In fact it a few years after I had been I started loading for the 7mm RM, I finally decided to give RL22 a try, as I just wasn't getting the velocity out of 4350 I had come to expect from the 7 mag.. That was an eye opening experience, and lead to me sampling different powders that fall into my slow burner mentality. RL22 is probably my absolute favorite powder for most of the cartridges I load. With some exceptions regarding .270 win, in which I like RL19, however RL22 meets most of my needs with exceptional predictability regardring pressure, as well as velocity projections.
As for pushing 165's to 3K fps, I insist that, if your barrel hasn't been shot out, or didn't get slightly over bored when manufactured, that if you run a powder like like IMR-4350, you can get awfully near, if not reach 30000 fps, and do it quite accurately if the barrel will shoot well. As a new member I ask that you please excuse my forward approach to this, but I have an exceptional amount of experience working with this cartridge and many different actions, including an M98, Douglas, 3 stage jewel, pillar bedded Carlson stock. You might say I have a special place in my heart for the often under rated 30-06. Now I know the 06 isn't a 7 mag, but it can definitely produce exceptional performance plenty capable of taking a bull elk with confidence with the right approach, regarding reloading.
So with that said, I would specifically go buy some 165 gr. Hot Cores, if you can't find those, grab the Deep Curl, they are a superior bullet for the intended ballistic and hunting purpose here. Of all the powders I've now worked extensively with, iMR-4350 still remains the one I can push hard enough to get exceptional velocity and accuracy from. Superformance is also a good one, but it's difficult to find when I need it, so I don't use it often.
The Following includes load data that is either at maximum published data, or may suggest doing so. Never attempt to load a cartridge at a maximum charge without having followed proper load development procedure working up from minimum.
My top performing load from a bare bone 700 ADL, floated barrel, was something I had very similar results with in multiple other rifles, Savage's, Ruger's, other Remingtons, and a couple custom rigs, as follows:
165 gr. Speer Hot Core
I seat .010" off the lands, which has been an accurate oal in most of them. I have found the Hot Core to have very consistent olgives, so I don't think your going to have a problem with some touching the lands, while others may be significantly more than .010" off the lands. Also make sure the throat at least is very clean so you can get a good olgive to lands measurement.
Brass- It's essential to use matched head stamps, I like RP and Win. but have nto had a negative experience with Fed either. Trim them all to the same lengths, and if possible try to sort them by weight. Sorting by weight isn't absolutely necessary, but those with a big + variance can produce much higher pressures when working at max charge. Also, use fire formed brass from your chamber and if don't have a neck die, only size the body, don't adjust the FL die all the way down to the shell holder, just enough to size the neck, if possible.
Primer- I have used CCI-200's and 250's, but I prefer the 250's for lighting up large compressed charges in this application. I'm sure there are other acceptable primers, but my second choice would definitely be Win. they are good. Federal's are known to be softer, so I don't use them, as I had problems with them failing with high end pressures, and we are talking about working on the extreme upper end of the load tables. Make sure you seat the primers with good positive contact with the bottom of the pocket, this is to further prevent any gas leaks.
Powder- IMR-4350- Charge I have worked up to can't be published here. What I can say is since we are seating only .010" off the lands, start just below mid table and continue working up in reasonable increments until you have reached the visible sign of maximum. When you begin to feel unusual resistance when lifting the bolt, you have reached maximum. But don't forget to glance at the primers anyway, cause blowing primers can also be an indication of excessive pressures, if you blow more than just one or two from the same loads.
I sincerely hope this helps you harvest a good bull. I am currently getting ready to engage in a spring turkey hunting fest with one of my adult sons. I promised him a turkey hunt of a life time when he returned from Afghanistan in 2008, but he has been busy, but we finally reached our goal. But I do know the 06 well, and I know if developed properly, it can function as a very effective long range cartridge, and with the potential of slightly better than average results.
Now get to developing, but that;s the fun part anyway.
MB
gohring3006
Well-Known Member
I have found that imr4350 and the 3006 seem to be made for each other
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I just got done building a .30-06 Ackley Improved on a 700 action, using a 26" Rem Varmint 1:12 twist barrel. I was hoping I would luck-up and it be a 10 twist, but that would be too lucky for me. Anywho, I'm shooting the Berger 185 VLD's with IMR 7828 SSC and Federal 210 primers. I haven't gotten my load perfected yet, but I did shoot a quick ladder test looking for pressure signs, and so far up to 62gr I haven't seen any pressure signs other than very slightly flattened primers. So, I'm hoping it will settle around 61-61.5gr on the accuracy node, and then I'll chrono it and let you know my speeds.
Warning, for a regular 30-06, don't even think about approaching anywhere near 62gr of 7828 SSC...Even for the AI version that's about a 103% load. If you are planning on working up a max load for your rifle, buy a reloading manual for your specific bullets, and go by it. Don't always believe or heed what you read on the interweb. Every gun is different. Work up your own load in .5 gr incriments, then fine-tune it in .1 gr incriments once you find a velocity node your rifle likes. Which won't always be the fastest load in the book, but if you get inconsistencies at high speed, all that means is that you have the potential to miss faster.
I might take it whitetail hunting with me this year to see if I can knock a few down. I know I'm gonna knock a few does back with my .25-06 Ackley Improved just for the heck of it at the beginning of the season, then start hunting for horns.
Warning, for a regular 30-06, don't even think about approaching anywhere near 62gr of 7828 SSC...Even for the AI version that's about a 103% load. If you are planning on working up a max load for your rifle, buy a reloading manual for your specific bullets, and go by it. Don't always believe or heed what you read on the interweb. Every gun is different. Work up your own load in .5 gr incriments, then fine-tune it in .1 gr incriments once you find a velocity node your rifle likes. Which won't always be the fastest load in the book, but if you get inconsistencies at high speed, all that means is that you have the potential to miss faster.
I might take it whitetail hunting with me this year to see if I can knock a few down. I know I'm gonna knock a few does back with my .25-06 Ackley Improved just for the heck of it at the beginning of the season, then start hunting for horns.
This may be a little bit too far but I've recently been playing with the 230 Berger OTM tactical in my .30/06. I use that bullet with great effect from my 30/338 Win mag and always wondered how it would run in the smaller case of the .30/06. I started at 54.0g H4831sc and settled in on a nice accuracy node at 56.5g that yielded 2,454fps with a ten shot string ES of 21fps. I found a slight stick in the bolt lift at 57.0g (YMMV!!!)
The .719G1 BC of that bullet makes it very attractive, even at the velocities the smaller case of the .30/06 can muster safely. It retains velocity and energy very well and I've personally seen that bullet function well down to 1850fps on whitetail deer (DRT) with a high shoulder shot placement.
The .30/06 is no slouch (never has been) and with a 10 twist can handle the bigger 30 cal bullets with great results. Granted it's not a 300 win mag, so you won't likely break 2,500fps safely, but accuracy trumps velocity every time. Have fun, be safe. YMMV and we all like pictures...
The .719G1 BC of that bullet makes it very attractive, even at the velocities the smaller case of the .30/06 can muster safely. It retains velocity and energy very well and I've personally seen that bullet function well down to 1850fps on whitetail deer (DRT) with a high shoulder shot placement.
The .30/06 is no slouch (never has been) and with a 10 twist can handle the bigger 30 cal bullets with great results. Granted it's not a 300 win mag, so you won't likely break 2,500fps safely, but accuracy trumps velocity every time. Have fun, be safe. YMMV and we all like pictures...
i would Love to try a factory load from federal P30-06TT4. Even though i am a handloader ( one year while competing a Lot I loaded and fired over 2000 30-06 rounds. ) It would be ideal for hunting bull elk. Unfortunately i have not been able to find a box to try.
