Reloading for a Browning A-Bolt II 30.06

[Drjones65]

I am going to try and rebirth my Browning A-Bolt II 30.06. (Bolt action, 22" barrel, 1:10 twist - Leupold VX 3 HD scope).
I have been told that Browning's shoot best with a tangent ojive bullet. It's just how they chamber the barrel.

Here are the powders I have to work with:

• IMR 4895
• IMR 4064
• IMR 7828SSC
• Winchester 760 Ball Powder
• VihtaVuori N560
• VihtaVuori N565
• H1000
• H4831SC
• RL25
• RL26

Here are the bullets I have to work with:

• APEX 153 GR Afterburner
• Hammer Hunter 166 GR
• Hornady 150 GR CX
• Hornady 180 GR CX
• Hornady 190 GR CX
• Hornady 178 GR ELD-X
• Berger 168 GR VLD Hunting
• Barnes 165 GR TTSX BT
• Barnes 175 GR LRX BT
• Sierra 165 GR TGK

Do you great brains have any experience loading for a 30-06 with any of these powders and / or bullets?
I read recently that 30-06 rifles typically have a twist rate that performs better with 165 and 180 GR bullets?
What is going to be a great combination and shoot accurately for hunting?
What have you tried and found success with?
Do I stay with the old tried and true powders (IMR 4895, IMR 4064) or are some of the newer powders going to give me better results.

I have Winchester brass, Federal brass, Remington brass, Hornady brass, and Nosler brass.
Any recommendations on what brass to use in my work ups?

Any experience loading for Browning A-Bolts? Do they like to jump or do they like to be up tight?

For 75+ years my family has loaded IMR 4895 powder, CCI primers, and Speer 150 GR BT bullets.
I'm breaking out and looking for something new.
I'm excited about the new APEX bullets and they will be the first that I try.

One other question, how much difference is there between 4831 and 4831SC (besides the cut / grain size) and 7828 and 7828SSC?
I'm seeing in the reloading manuals, loads for 4831 but not listing 4831SC and loads for 7828 but not loads for 7828SSC.

After I figure out the 30-06, I'm going to start on my 300 WM using the same powders and bullets.

Thanks for sharing your time and your knowledge and experience!

 

[Chadp82]

2 parts here, hope they help.

First, for 30-06, I have had good luck with H4831 and 165 gr bullets in multiple rifles, slight variations in powder. The bullet I use is the Hornady interlock. I have also used 180 gr Nosler accubonds but the 165 Hornady shoots better for me. The 4831 may not give the greatest velocity, but has yielded very good accuracy and grouping for me.

Second the A bolt. I have a 280 Rem in and ABolt. I did find that I had to trim cases a touch short for proper chambering. Full length trimmed cases made the bolt tough to close, but it may just be my rifle. Aside from that I load them at SAAMI OAL to fit the magazine correctly and cycle correctly. Spend some time on the A Bolt and hopefully get good results.

Oh, and H4831 and H4831SC, same powder except the cut. If you run max capacity, you may get a little less compression in the SC since the grains are a little smaller. Only difference I have noticed. I have used them interchangeably in loads.

 

[Rosebud]

Best friend has a CZ 550 in 30-06. One in ten twist. His load is pretty hot so start a little under this and work up if you chose to try it. IMR 4064. Which you have.168 ELDM. You can try other 165 to 168 bullets. 52.4 grains of 4064. Muzzle velocity is 2935. Its a stone cold killer. He tries to avoid close shots with this because of meat damage. At distance its lights out. 30-06 may not be sexy today being over100 years old, but its always worked as advertised.

 

[GLTaylor]

Look at Hammer Hunter load data on this Forum for ideas. Don't hesitate to go lighter bullet weight and faster speeds in your 06.

 

[BEEMAN]

I bought myself a browning A bolt 30-06 when I was in high school. I never loaded for that gun. At the time I shot factory Hornady custom/superformance I think it was called in the 150 gr. Going off memory the bullet was a 150 gr interlock. They shot under one MOA and killed very good. Not as fancy as the new Apex or Hammers. But if you are shooting in the 100-300 yard range they just work. I should of never sold that gun to my buddy. If I had that gun today I would also be trying an all copper bullet. Probably something in the 150-160 gr range. Preferably closer to 150 grain.

 

[choprzrul]

Browning X Bolt here in 30-06 shooting Speer 168gr Gold Dots over RL16 to 2842 fps average. 0.020" off the rifling. CCI BR2 primers. 0.68" 5 shot groups average

The scope has changed to a Leupold VX3HD 2.5-8 since this picture:

 

[The Oregonian]

Not an Abolt but I have a 30-06 and I am going to start messing with 180 Elite Hunters. I have N560, which I currently use with 185 HVLD's, and H4350, which I used with 180 BT's.