168 gr. Hornday HPBT

[Spinnerbaitslinger]

I want to create a long range load for my .30-06 and i have a whole box of the 168 gr. HPBT by Hornady. Has anybody tried these? How were they? What did/didn't you like about them?

Your input would be appreciated
Thank you

- Spinnerbaitslinger

 

[backwoods83]

I run them in my 06, I have them touching the lands using 59.5grns H4350, CCI BR2 primers in Winchester brass, they usually shoot in the .2-.4" range at 100yrds, just use them for hunting after that, but it is pretty easy to smack a 12" piece of steel at 600yrds. That load runs 2940fps with an ES of 8 from a 24" barrel.

 

[Spinnerbaitslinger]

That sounds like a **** good load! I just started load development at 54.0 grains of IMR 4350 working up in .5 grain increments with O.A.L. 3.230" the old Mauser doesn't like hot loads.

 

[backwoods83]

I have used Imr4350 it works great as well, found a good load at 58.5grns, but the extreme spread was over 20. But both of those are hot for a small ring mauser, but should be fine in a LR 98.

 

[Spinnerbaitslinger]

Have you ever used IMR4895?

 

[backwoods83]

I use Imr4895 under a 175smk in my 308 to duplicate the bravo 51 load, but I have heard its very accurate in a 30-06 but tunes it down to 308 levels, H380, H414, Varget, and Imr4064 are good choices as well, 4064 with a mid level load will likely give you the best results for what your trying to accomplish.

 

[Toppack]

I am not sure if you intend to develope a long range load for hunting or targets. But beware...Hornady does not recommend this bullet for hunting. Do some expansion/penetration tests before you use this bullet for hunting.

 

[Spinnerbaitslinger]

Not to worry Toppak, this load will be for targets. I have 180 partitions loaded up to hunt with. Thank you for the concern though.

 

[Spinnerbaitslinger]

Backwoods. I'll have to pick up some 4064 and give it a try. Also, i wouldn't be upset if my o6 had the inherent accuracy of the 308 but lacked its usual power.

 

[Toppack]

Nice...I love those partitions.

 

[Spinnerbaitslinger]

"Nice.... I love those partitions"

Arguably the greatest hunting round ever.
I also like Nosler ballistic tips too.

 

[backwoods83]

Hornady doesn't recommend them for hunting, but there jacket is ridculously similar to the Berger hybrids, they work fine as long as impact velocity is >1700fps. I shot the shell of o water heater at 200 yards with the 178grn version from a 300wsm, backside looked like an exit from 00 buckshot.

 

[Mirage33]

These are my match bullets in .308 (sorry, not 30-06). I couldn't see any precision difference with Sierra SMKs and they are quite cheaper considering the volume I shoot. I put them on top of IMR4895, 42gn in winter, 41.5gn in spring/Fall and 41gn for Summer days like today. That gives me a consistant MV of 2,500fps which gives me the best results. For hunting, I've heard from some people that the 168gn A-Max gives them good results for long-range deer hunting. Never tried it myself but I know from range testing that the A-Max ballistics is pretty similar to the HPBT.
FWIW

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I run them in my 06, I have them touching the lands using 59.5grns H4350, CCI BR2 primers in Winchester brass, they usually shoot in the .2-.4" range at 100yrds, just use them for hunting after that, but it is pretty easy to smack a 12" piece of steel at 600yrds. That load runs 2940fps with an ES of 8 from a 24" barrel.

I'd run that or 57 of I 4350 for about the same speed. The speed and ex sprd will vary a bit between rifles(I've had 3-don't own one at present) but the accuracy should be there.