Handloads for M77 30-06

0802 · May 4, 2006, 10:50 PM

Anyone have any preferred bullets/powders for a Ruger M77 in 30-06? Going for whitetails both across fields and in the woods (more across the fields with this though).

Father'sSon · May 4, 2006, 11:47 PM

I am about to load a crop of 110 grain Sierra spitzer varmint cartridges for my first handloading experiment. Will start with IMR 4064 powder in Federal cases. do you handload?

For factory ammunitions I like the Federal Grand Slam 150 grain cartridges. quite accurate in my lefty 30-06 Ruger. And good for deer, bear up here too.

Smokey Joe · May 5, 2006, 11:42 AM

For the '06 for hunting deer-size critters I favor 165 gr. Sierra Gamekings, or Nosler Ballistic Tips. Nice and accurate. The plastic-tipped NBT's don't deform at the tip with ordinary handling, like the lead-tipped SGK's.

Powder behind 'em: Have had best results with IMR 4350. But there are a LOT of powders that work for mid-size '06 bullets.

Art Eatman · May 5, 2006, 12:07 PM

My father and I both, over the last 50 years, have used 150-grain bullets for deer. He used the Hornady Spire Point; I've gone to and stayed with Sierra. The flat-based is better close up; the boat-tail has a thinner jacket and really ought to be below some 2,800 ft/sec at impact.

With the 110-grain bullet, 3031 has always been my preference. I'd use 50.0 for starters. You can safely go up maybe another two grains or so.

With the 150-grain and 165-grain bullets, I've always used 4064. I max out at 52.5 with the 150-grain bullets, but I have a max chamber in my rifle. I'd start a couple of grains below that.

I'm playing with H414 and some 180s, but I haven't test-fired for accuracy, yet.

Art

stinger · May 6, 2006, 12:44 PM

I'm with Art.

My '06 really performs well with Sierra 150 SP (Pro-Hunter), with 51g IMR 4064. Start low and work up. I believe 52 is max in many manuals, but 51g suited me fine.

Regards,

Stinger

0802 · May 6, 2006, 09:50 PM

Thanks for the info. Has anyone used Varget in a 30-06? I loaded up some 165 gr CoreLokts with it-- my Hornady reloading manual said Varget was supposed to be one of best loads in their test data, but was with Hornady bullets of course.

Picked up my M77 today, will sight it in and get some groups later this week.

HankL · May 7, 2006, 08:31 AM

I worked up a load for my M-77 before Varget and some of the other powders
were around. I'm in the IMR-4064 boat as well. In my particular rifle 48.5 gr.
of IMR-4064 behind a Nosler 165 gr. Partition in a Federal Case fills the bill for a cartridge to take into the hunting field.

May 4, 2006, 10:50 PM	#1
0802 Junior Member Join Date: February 12, 2006 Posts: 3	Handloads for M77 30-06 Anyone have any preferred bullets/powders for a Ruger M77 in 30-06? Going for whitetails both across fields and in the woods (more across the fields with this though).

May 4, 2006, 11:47 PM	#2
Father'sSon Junior Member Join Date: May 1, 2006 Location: Alberta. Posts: 7	I am about to load a crop of 110 grain Sierra spitzer varmint cartridges for my first handloading experiment. Will start with IMR 4064 powder in Federal cases. do you handload? For factory ammunitions I like the Federal Grand Slam 150 grain cartridges. quite accurate in my lefty 30-06 Ruger. And good for deer, bear up here too. __________________ Alberta. Land of MonsterBucks. Talk to the next liberal you meet. Some of them just have not thought things through.

May 5, 2006, 11:42 AM	#3
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	'06 loads For the '06 for hunting deer-size critters I favor 165 gr. Sierra Gamekings, or Nosler Ballistic Tips. Nice and accurate. The plastic-tipped NBT's don't deform at the tip with ordinary handling, like the lead-tipped SGK's. Powder behind 'em: Have had best results with IMR 4350. But there are a LOT of powders that work for mid-size '06 bullets. __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe

May 7, 2006, 08:31 AM	#7
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	I worked up a load for my M-77 before Varget and some of the other powders were around. I'm in the IMR-4064 boat as well. In my particular rifle 48.5 gr. of IMR-4064 behind a Nosler 165 gr. Partition in a Federal Case fills the bill for a cartridge to take into the hunting field. __________________ Check 6

May 5, 2006, 12:07 PM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	My father and I both, over the last 50 years, have used 150-grain bullets for deer. He used the Hornady Spire Point; I've gone to and stayed with Sierra. The flat-based is better close up; the boat-tail has a thinner jacket and really ought to be below some 2,800 ft/sec at impact. With the 110-grain bullet, 3031 has always been my preference. I'd use 50.0 for starters. You can safely go up maybe another two grains or so. With the 150-grain and 165-grain bullets, I've always used 4064. I max out at 52.5 with the 150-grain bullets, but I have a max chamber in my rifle. I'd start a couple of grains below that. I'm playing with H414 and some 180s, but I haven't test-fired for accuracy, yet. Art

May 6, 2006, 12:44 PM	#5
stinger Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: west texas Posts: 772	I'm with Art. My '06 really performs well with Sierra 150 SP (Pro-Hunter), with 51g IMR 4064. Start low and work up. I believe 52 is max in many manuals, but 51g suited me fine. Regards, Stinger

May 6, 2006, 09:50 PM	#6
0802 Junior Member Join Date: February 12, 2006 Posts: 3	Thanks for the info. Has anyone used Varget in a 30-06? I loaded up some 165 gr CoreLokts with it-- my Hornady reloading manual said Varget was supposed to be one of best loads in their test data, but was with Hornady bullets of course. Picked up my M77 today, will sight it in and get some groups later this week.