Best LR .30 caliber on .473 bolt face

[ndking1126]

Without a doubt I’d go for the 280 Ackley Improved. Gives 7mm Rem Mag performance with a substantial savings on powder used. Ammo availability through Nosler or you could fire form 280 Remington brass.

My thought exactly, but OP did ask for 30 cal, so I refrained..

 

[FEENIX]

Without a doubt I’d go for the 280 Ackley Improved. Gives 7mm Rem Mag performance with a substantial savings on powder used. Ammo availability through Nosler or you could fire form 280 Remington brass.

The OP is seeking information on .30 cal, not .28 cal.

 

[longrangebob]

30-06 AI (30% Shoulder) - & U can use original 30-06 if you are in a pinch out in the middle of NoWhere.... I love mine and gave to my Son

 

[esorensen]

I went with the aforementioned ‘06. Got a deal on a 10 twist Lilja that finished at 26”. A stout charge of RL17 inside roomy old WIN brass has me scratching at 2900 fps with a 200 ELDX. I’ve only had it to 1430, but it’s silly accurate. Had an ancient box of Remington Core-Lok 165’s or something that I used to break in/ zero the rifle. Crazy accurate to 800 even! This is a 3 shot group suppressed On the far left.

 

[Rich Coyle]

If a guy wants the hottest .473 .30 caliber, and doesn't mind a wildcat, he could go with the Weatherby RPM brass. It matches the .30-.338 in case capacity.

 

[Jud96]

This would be my top choices and are based on ease of use/reloading and the options with the best brass available.

1- 30-06 Lapua/Peterson/Norma brass

2- 30-284 Lapua/Peterson/Norma brass simply neck up 284 brass with a mandrel and load. Same or slightly more performance than a standard 30-06

3-30-06 Ackley same as the standard ‘06 but fireforming required.

All other options have few brass options or require a lot more work with expensive dies and reamers for a small gain. The .300 Sherman and 30 Gibbs will have the most performance, but dies will be very expensive and fireforming and making the brass is a lot more work than buying factory brass and shooting it or mandrel expanding it. The .30 Weatherby RPM would be the best choice, but I’m nervous with brass only coming from one source and it’s expensive and hard to find at times. Just my thoughts.

 

[esorensen]

Or just get a .30- .280 AI. One pass thru a die...

 

[Huntz]

In my opinion anything larger than 30-06 is in the land of diminishing returns.Folks think that AI a cartridge magically makes it way better.I would say that most AI cartridges are way overloaded to get those fantastic velocities.Personally I like my face just the way it is.If you want more velocity use a mag cartridge. There are no free lunches.

 

[FEENIX]

The .300 Sherman will have the most performance,

How exactly did you quantify/validate it over the .30 Gibbs?

 

[FEENIX]

Brother John,

Here you go ...

 

[Rflshootr]

A straight .30-06 with a 26"+ 1:9" (just my preference) is no slouch. Depending on what your cousin is willing and able to do i.e., wildcatting/fireforming. AI version is another consideration and probably the best improvement with the least amount of work. I have a .30 Gibbs (https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/30-gibbs-is-finally-ready.242088/) that I am still developing loads.

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Good luck!

Ed

What is the neck length of the 30 Gibbs? Happen to have a reamer drawing by chance?

 

[xsn10s]

Brother John,

Here you go ...

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[FEENIX]

What is the neck length of the 30 Gibbs? Happen to have a reamer drawing by chance?

Sorry, no reamer drawing.

 

[Jud96]

True the Gibbs will have more performance. I’ll fix that