Favorite 30-06 handloads (Recipes)

KODB · March 14, 2001, 10:43 AM

After reviewing the small game load thread, searching the past posts, and just generally reading this and the handloading/reloading forum, it is easy to see there are folks around that REALLY know how to load the 30-06.

I'd like everyone to post their favorite loads and applications so we have a thread to call up/refer others to with a good bunch o' info.

My current favorite (Thanks Mad Dog!) is 165gr Sierra GK, IMI case, Fed GM Large rifle match primers, 49-50gr IMR 4064, OAL ~ 3.30 inch. Use for target/deer size quarry. Using Mad Dog's loads I can get btwn .5-.8" at 100yds.

I'm about to start playing with 150gr GK next.

Regards,

Bob

labgrade · March 14, 2001, 02:11 PM

I'll bite on this one as well & would like to see it over in reloading.

Would be nice to see some "standard SAAMI" loadings not neccesarily tuned to specific rifles but more so to "what'll shoot good in anything"-type loads. Factory duplicates, ya know?

I've 3X .30-06 that I'd like to reload for in the 165 gr class & don't feel like having 3X loads that work in just one of them, etc. The throat on the Rem 700 is quite a bit longer than the other two which won't even chamber the goodies from teh 700.

Art Eatman · March 14, 2001, 05:26 PM

Hokay, boys and girls, off we go to the handloading Forearm.

, Art

Work up to my max loads, so you don't blow up your inferior rifles.

These loads work in my gun; they may not work in yours. Is that enough warning for the tort-liability crowd?

80-grain .32-30 bullet, swaged to .308: 54 grains of 3031. MV: Awesome.

110-grain Hornady Spire Point: 53.5 grains of 3031.

Any 150-grain: 52.5 grains of 4064.

165-Sierra HPBT: 51.0 grains of 4064.

180-grain Sierra SPBT: 49.0 grains of 4064.

Plinker load: 20 grains of 2400; any bullet you want.

Squirrel load: 5 grains of Bullseye or similar and a 00 ball (or is it 000?). You know, somewhere around .31 or .32 in diameter...

[Edited by Art Eatman on 03-14-2001 at 06:44 PM]

Hutch · March 15, 2001, 09:53 AM

Hornady 150gr SP in front of 48gr H4895, CCI LR primer, in any commercial case. All holes touching out of a Sears (post-64 M70, actually) turnbolt. Chrono'd right at 2800fps, with an extreme spread of about 15fps for 5 shots. What more could you want?

kerth · March 16, 2001, 01:59 PM

165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, LC '69 case, Fed GM LRM, 49.0 gr IMR 4064.
Functions Rem Auto reliably, works well in my pump and bolt guns. Great results on whitetail deer.
Gotta try that 2400 plinking load.

Art Eatman · March 17, 2001, 12:20 AM

Hutch, my father has used that load since Hornady first started making that bullet. He's done in well over 100 deer with it. You're right: "What more could you want?" Nada!

Kerth, the 2400 plinker load is neat because there is zilch for recoil, and it's reasonably accurate. It drives a 169-grain gas-check bullet around 1,800 ft/sec. Great for off-hand practice, and cleaning "stray" bullets off the loading bench.

, Art

KODB · March 20, 2001, 12:03 AM

Seems 4064 and 4895 predominates.

Anyone using any of the other "newer" powders (though truth be told, it seems that the above fill most niches very, very well).

Thanks for all the data guys,

Bob

Art Eatman · March 20, 2001, 02:27 AM

KODB, if 4895 isn't "the" military powder, it does duplicate the loading, and the pressure curve is correct for the M-1.

I started using 4064 and 150-grain bullets in 1950, and I've just been too lazy to change. It's just a character defect.

Art

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

HankB · March 21, 2001, 04:47 PM

IMR 4064 and 4895 are good choices for light or medium bullets, and their pressure curves make them a great choice for gasguns like the M1 Garand. But IMHO they're not optimum for big game loads with heavier bullets.

My favorite load for big game hunting in the .30/06 is a 180 grain Nosler Partition spirepoint on top of 61.0 grains of ReLoder-22 powder. I use once-fired Winchester brass and a Winchester primer. This load is good for about 2750 ft/sec out of my 22" barreled M70, a good 150 ft/sec above what most factory 180's actually produce from my rifle. It will consistently hold 1 1/4" at 100 yards. For "soft" game I use the Nosler 180 Ballistic Tip, which will put five rounds into 3/4" - on demand.

Sierra 180 flat-base spitzers will also go under 1" with this load, and are a bit cheaper than Partitions for practice. (Barnes X-Bullets? Terrible! Don't ask!)

This load is max. in some manuals, but even in the hottest weather, there are NO signs of excess pressure in my rifle.

My all-time favorite loads for .30/06 used Norma 205 powder, which, alas, hasn't been made for years.

labgrade · March 28, 2001, 06:08 PM

Did something I've never done - just slap together one load & off to shoot it - in 3X different rifles. I've always done the 1/2 grain increment bit & tailored loads specifically to one rifle. Some don't even chamber in the other/s.

New Win brass, CCI 200, Hornaday's 165 spire point & 49.5 grs IMR 4064 (never used this powder previously for '06 either - bad cess to me). Brass all trimmed & tidied up w/COAL at 3.230"

Was looking for that all 'round SAAMI-thing that would shoot fairly well in all three '06 I have (a pump & two bolts guns).

All three rifles shot this load well under an inch at 100 yds for 5-shot strings. No chrono & different length barrels but spec'd at ~2700+fps.

I can live with that.

WIL TERRY · March 29, 2001, 02:46 PM

HORNADY 150GR SPIRE POINT; 60GR 4350; 3000FPS FROM MY OLD DICKSON-HOWA GOLDEN BEAR; SHOOTS LIKE A DREAM.

SIERRA 180 SPITZER; 58GR 4831; 2700FPS FROM THE SAME RIFLE.

WHOOPS, FORGOT THE CAPS AGAIN...LIFE AIN'T EASY FOR THE BRAINDEAD...TM

March 29, 2001, 02:46 PM	#11
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	30/06 FAVORITE LOADS HORNADY 150GR SPIRE POINT; 60GR 4350; 3000FPS FROM MY OLD DICKSON-HOWA GOLDEN BEAR; SHOOTS LIKE A DREAM. SIERRA 180 SPITZER; 58GR 4831; 2700FPS FROM THE SAME RIFLE. WHOOPS, FORGOT THE CAPS AGAIN...LIFE AIN'T EASY FOR THE BRAINDEAD...TM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

March 14, 2001, 10:43 AM	#1
KODB Member Join Date: June 2, 2000 Posts: 81	After reviewing the small game load thread, searching the past posts, and just generally reading this and the handloading/reloading forum, it is easy to see there are folks around that REALLY know how to load the 30-06. I'd like everyone to post their favorite loads and applications so we have a thread to call up/refer others to with a good bunch o' info. My current favorite (Thanks Mad Dog!) is 165gr Sierra GK, IMI case, Fed GM Large rifle match primers, 49-50gr IMR 4064, OAL ~ 3.30 inch. Use for target/deer size quarry. Using Mad Dog's loads I can get btwn .5-.8" at 100yds. I'm about to start playing with 150gr GK next. Regards, Bob

March 14, 2001, 02:11 PM	#2
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	I'll bite on this one as well & would like to see it over in reloading. Would be nice to see some "standard SAAMI" loadings not neccesarily tuned to specific rifles but more so to "what'll shoot good in anything"-type loads. Factory duplicates, ya know? I've 3X .30-06 that I'd like to reload for in the 165 gr class & don't feel like having 3X loads that work in just one of them, etc. The throat on the Rem 700 is quite a bit longer than the other two which won't even chamber the goodies from teh 700.

March 14, 2001, 05:26 PM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Hokay, boys and girls, off we go to the handloading Forearm. , Art Work up to my max loads, so you don't blow up your inferior rifles. These loads work in my gun; they may not work in yours. Is that enough warning for the tort-liability crowd? 80-grain .32-30 bullet, swaged to .308: 54 grains of 3031. MV: Awesome. 110-grain Hornady Spire Point: 53.5 grains of 3031. Any 150-grain: 52.5 grains of 4064. 165-Sierra HPBT: 51.0 grains of 4064. 180-grain Sierra SPBT: 49.0 grains of 4064. Plinker load: 20 grains of 2400; any bullet you want. Squirrel load: 5 grains of Bullseye or similar and a 00 ball (or is it 000?). You know, somewhere around .31 or .32 in diameter... [Edited by Art Eatman on 03-14-2001 at 06:44 PM]

March 15, 2001, 09:53 AM	#4
Hutch Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2000 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,124	Hornady 150gr SP in front of 48gr H4895, CCI LR primer, in any commercial case. All holes touching out of a Sears (post-64 M70, actually) turnbolt. Chrono'd right at 2800fps, with an extreme spread of about 15fps for 5 shots. What more could you want?

March 16, 2001, 01:59 PM	#5
kerth Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2000 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 130	165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, LC '69 case, Fed GM LRM, 49.0 gr IMR 4064. Functions Rem Auto reliably, works well in my pump and bolt guns. Great results on whitetail deer. Gotta try that 2400 plinking load.

March 17, 2001, 12:20 AM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Hutch, my father has used that load since Hornady first started making that bullet. He's done in well over 100 deer with it. You're right: "What more could you want?" Nada! Kerth, the 2400 plinker load is neat because there is zilch for recoil, and it's reasonably accurate. It drives a 169-grain gas-check bullet around 1,800 ft/sec. Great for off-hand practice, and cleaning "stray" bullets off the loading bench. , Art

March 20, 2001, 12:03 AM	#7
KODB Member Join Date: June 2, 2000 Posts: 81	Seems 4064 and 4895 predominates. Anyone using any of the other "newer" powders (though truth be told, it seems that the above fill most niches very, very well). Thanks for all the data guys, Bob

March 20, 2001, 02:27 AM	#8
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	KODB, if 4895 isn't "the" military powder, it does duplicate the loading, and the pressure curve is correct for the M-1. I started using 4064 and 150-grain bullets in 1950, and I've just been too lazy to change. It's just a character defect. Art "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

March 21, 2001, 04:47 PM	#9
HankB Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Central Texas, outside of Austin Posts: 1,698	IMR 4064 and 4895 are good choices for light or medium bullets, and their pressure curves make them a great choice for gasguns like the M1 Garand. But IMHO they're not optimum for big game loads with heavier bullets. My favorite load for big game hunting in the .30/06 is a 180 grain Nosler Partition spirepoint on top of 61.0 grains of ReLoder-22 powder. I use once-fired Winchester brass and a Winchester primer. This load is good for about 2750 ft/sec out of my 22" barreled M70, a good 150 ft/sec above what most factory 180's actually produce from my rifle. It will consistently hold 1 1/4" at 100 yards. For "soft" game I use the Nosler 180 Ballistic Tip, which will put five rounds into 3/4" - on demand. Sierra 180 flat-base spitzers will also go under 1" with this load, and are a bit cheaper than Partitions for practice. (Barnes X-Bullets? Terrible! Don't ask!) This load is max. in some manuals, but even in the hottest weather, there are NO signs of excess pressure in my rifle. My all-time favorite loads for .30/06 used Norma 205 powder, which, alas, hasn't been made for years.

March 28, 2001, 06:08 PM	#10
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	Did something I've never done - just slap together one load & off to shoot it - in 3X different rifles. I've always done the 1/2 grain increment bit & tailored loads specifically to one rifle. Some don't even chamber in the other/s. New Win brass, CCI 200, Hornaday's 165 spire point & 49.5 grs IMR 4064 (never used this powder previously for '06 either - bad cess to me). Brass all trimmed & tidied up w/COAL at 3.230" Was looking for that all 'round SAAMI-thing that would shoot fairly well in all three '06 I have (a pump & two bolts guns). All three rifles shot this load well under an inch at 100 yds for 5-shot strings. No chrono & different length barrels but spec'd at ~2700+fps. I can live with that.