Hello.
I while back I posted a thread asking if I should re-barrel a custom 30-06 and use a barrel set up for a longer range hunting caliber like the 6.5x284. Most people who responded recommended that I leave the barrel and scope as is and focus on reloading better cartridges.
I have been reloading again, a lot more after a long , long break and have come up with some pretty good loads so far. Because there are so many variables to choose from, I have limited my initial testing to two powders, two primers, one brand of brass and five different bullets. So far I have been using IMR4350 and H414 powders, Hornady brass, CCI BR2 and CCI 200 primers and various bullets including Berger 168 and 185gr. Hunting VLD's, Hornady 168gr. Match BTHP, Hornady 178gr. ELD-X, and the Barnes 168gr. TSX.
After many different loads using both the ladder and OCW styles of testing I found that the bullets that have shot best so far are the Berger 168's and the Hornady 178gr. Match BTHP. Because there are so many variables and because I'm shooting on average about 30-40+ rounds per session, I'm having trouble determining if my loads are not performing as expected, I'm flinching, the barrel is getting too hot(even after waiting 2+ minutes between shots with the bolt open on cool, breezy days) or if something else is causing the lack luster loads. I just had a muzzle brake installed, so that should take care of any flinching!
Before I started reloading again, I used HSM Trophy Gold ammunition loaded with Berger 168gr. hunting VLD bullets with a COAL of 3.220 and they shot phenomenally. The reloads I tried using the same Berger bullets also shot well. The 168gr. Hornady Match BTHP loads shot the best of all but the Barnes 168gr. loads were terrible. The Hornady 178gr. ELD-X bullets didn't shoot at all, nor did the 185gr. Bergers.
I understand how to work up a load properly, internal, external and terminal ballistics, seating depth and the effects of Coal, length of bearing surface, length of ogive, effects of jam and jump and all of the technical aspects of reloading. I know there are a ton more technical terms I could have thrown out there to let you know that I know how to reload and I'm not a newbie. I'm not trying to boast either... I know there are many of you out there that are much, much more knowledgeable that I am when it comes to reloading. That's why I'm here asking for advice! It's been a long while since I've loaded but at one time I was a pretty darn good reloader...on top of that, I'm OCD and meticulous so my loads usually turned out good to great.
So, with all of that being said, sorry it was so long winded and I seemed to babble on forever, here's my question... In most cases, monolithic bullets yield higher chamber pressures as compared to a jacketed bullet of the same weight. I'm looking to work up some loads using the Hammer Hunter 166gr. bullets that have a parabolic drag reduction system built into the bullet's bearing surface which decreases drag and pressure while at the same time increases velocity. So do the negative and positive design characteristics just kind of nullify each other when working up with a load? I obviously have 165gr. loading data, there's a ton of it out there. However, Hammer Bullets states that there bullets have ballistic coefficient equivalent to their competitors next heavier bullet while at the same time having velocities similar to their competitors next lighter bullets. So what are everyone's thought on working up a load for my 30-06? Better yet...does anybody have any load data for the 30-06 shooting the Hammer Hunter 166gr. bullet preferably using IMR4350 or even H414 powders? That would be super helpful!!!
Again, I am very sorry for being so long winded and babbling for so long. I also know that this post is kind of all over the place. I've had a lot of interruptions this morning and I'm having a tough time keeping my train of thoughts. To sum it all up,
I'M LOOKING FOR LOAD DATA FOR A 30-06 USING THE HAMMER HUNTER 166GR. BULLET. IF YOU HAVE THAT LOAD DATA USING IMR4350 POWDER THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER BUT NOT NECESSARY. I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT THE PRESSURE INCREASE/DECREASE BECAUSE OF THE BULLETS MONOLITHIC DESIGN AND THE BEARING SURFACE MADE USING PARABOLIC DRAG REDUCTION.
Thank you all very much in advance for your responses. All of the questions that I've asked on this forum in the past have all been answered thoughtfully and accurately. I've gotten so much great information from this website by either just reading other people's posts and responses or asking my own questions and reading the responses for those questions. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!!
Sincerely, Kevin Stoughton (Stoti)
I while back I posted a thread asking if I should re-barrel a custom 30-06 and use a barrel set up for a longer range hunting caliber like the 6.5x284. Most people who responded recommended that I leave the barrel and scope as is and focus on reloading better cartridges.
I have been reloading again, a lot more after a long , long break and have come up with some pretty good loads so far. Because there are so many variables to choose from, I have limited my initial testing to two powders, two primers, one brand of brass and five different bullets. So far I have been using IMR4350 and H414 powders, Hornady brass, CCI BR2 and CCI 200 primers and various bullets including Berger 168 and 185gr. Hunting VLD's, Hornady 168gr. Match BTHP, Hornady 178gr. ELD-X, and the Barnes 168gr. TSX.
After many different loads using both the ladder and OCW styles of testing I found that the bullets that have shot best so far are the Berger 168's and the Hornady 178gr. Match BTHP. Because there are so many variables and because I'm shooting on average about 30-40+ rounds per session, I'm having trouble determining if my loads are not performing as expected, I'm flinching, the barrel is getting too hot(even after waiting 2+ minutes between shots with the bolt open on cool, breezy days) or if something else is causing the lack luster loads. I just had a muzzle brake installed, so that should take care of any flinching!
Before I started reloading again, I used HSM Trophy Gold ammunition loaded with Berger 168gr. hunting VLD bullets with a COAL of 3.220 and they shot phenomenally. The reloads I tried using the same Berger bullets also shot well. The 168gr. Hornady Match BTHP loads shot the best of all but the Barnes 168gr. loads were terrible. The Hornady 178gr. ELD-X bullets didn't shoot at all, nor did the 185gr. Bergers.
I understand how to work up a load properly, internal, external and terminal ballistics, seating depth and the effects of Coal, length of bearing surface, length of ogive, effects of jam and jump and all of the technical aspects of reloading. I know there are a ton more technical terms I could have thrown out there to let you know that I know how to reload and I'm not a newbie. I'm not trying to boast either... I know there are many of you out there that are much, much more knowledgeable that I am when it comes to reloading. That's why I'm here asking for advice! It's been a long while since I've loaded but at one time I was a pretty darn good reloader...on top of that, I'm OCD and meticulous so my loads usually turned out good to great.
So, with all of that being said, sorry it was so long winded and I seemed to babble on forever, here's my question... In most cases, monolithic bullets yield higher chamber pressures as compared to a jacketed bullet of the same weight. I'm looking to work up some loads using the Hammer Hunter 166gr. bullets that have a parabolic drag reduction system built into the bullet's bearing surface which decreases drag and pressure while at the same time increases velocity. So do the negative and positive design characteristics just kind of nullify each other when working up with a load? I obviously have 165gr. loading data, there's a ton of it out there. However, Hammer Bullets states that there bullets have ballistic coefficient equivalent to their competitors next heavier bullet while at the same time having velocities similar to their competitors next lighter bullets. So what are everyone's thought on working up a load for my 30-06? Better yet...does anybody have any load data for the 30-06 shooting the Hammer Hunter 166gr. bullet preferably using IMR4350 or even H414 powders? That would be super helpful!!!
Again, I am very sorry for being so long winded and babbling for so long. I also know that this post is kind of all over the place. I've had a lot of interruptions this morning and I'm having a tough time keeping my train of thoughts. To sum it all up,
I'M LOOKING FOR LOAD DATA FOR A 30-06 USING THE HAMMER HUNTER 166GR. BULLET. IF YOU HAVE THAT LOAD DATA USING IMR4350 POWDER THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER BUT NOT NECESSARY. I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT THE PRESSURE INCREASE/DECREASE BECAUSE OF THE BULLETS MONOLITHIC DESIGN AND THE BEARING SURFACE MADE USING PARABOLIC DRAG REDUCTION.
Thank you all very much in advance for your responses. All of the questions that I've asked on this forum in the past have all been answered thoughtfully and accurately. I've gotten so much great information from this website by either just reading other people's posts and responses or asking my own questions and reading the responses for those questions. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!!
Sincerely, Kevin Stoughton (Stoti)
