light recoil 30-06 load

john2w · September 26, 2009, 05:17 PM

There is a youngster down the street that just received a Browning A-Bolt in 30-06 for his birthday. This is his first hight powered rifle and he is eager to go deer hunting with it.

I am looking for a low recoil load that will hold a 200 yard zero (plus or minus two inches) so he has a good chance of having positive first experience without devrloping a flinch.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give this novice.

firewrench044 · September 26, 2009, 07:11 PM

moderat recoil 30-06
( is a sweet spot for 24 inch barrels 1/10 twist useing 155gr bullet)
( consistant tight patern at 200, 300 and 600 yards )

155gr Sierra Palma (p/n- 2155 or 2156 )
LC case
45.7gr IMR 4895 (add 0.5 to 1.5 for comercial case )
CCI # 34 primer (is a magnum primer, needed for this lower
amount of powder to avoid slow fires )
COAL 3.200

zxcvbob · September 26, 2009, 07:14 PM

Berry's copper plated .30-30 bullets with 12.5 grains of Red Dot is a very accurate light load, but it shoots low. So I aim at the top of the target and hit the bullseye every time. (not sure if you want to adjust the sights that much)

langenc · September 26, 2009, 07:40 PM

If you can handload check Hodgdons website under 'youth loads'.

They use H4895 (ONLY) down to 60 per cent of published load but only H4895 loads...

I dont know about 200 yards?? I dont shoot that far.

Slamfire · September 26, 2009, 08:05 PM

This load, with a 168 Match will clean the 200 yard NRA target.

M98 30-06 26" 1-10 Wilson Barrel

175 FMJBT 42.0 grs IMR 4895 wtd WLR 190 ≤ WWII ≤ 195grs OAL 3.30" 17 Sept 00
T=72°F

Ave Vel = 2451
Std Dev = 15
ES = 51
Low = 2429
High = 2480
N = 9

john2w · September 27, 2009, 07:43 AM

Thanks a lot for helping out a new guy to reloading.

I guess all I have to do now is load up a few of each and take the kid out and let him decide which one he likes best, in other words, get to the fun stuff.

I will tell him and his Dad that the knowlegable people here are responsible for him getting the loads.

Thanks again for your help.

John

K.W. · September 28, 2009, 10:44 AM

-Via google: Reduced Recoil Reloads

**Unclenick** · September 28, 2009, 11:04 AM

John2W,

Did his A-bolt come with the BOSS or without? If so and if it is the muzzle brake version, it will be loud and won't do much to the recoil of a light load, so I would leave it off or use the unported version to tune the barrel. Bullet weight will be a big factor in recoil, and I would stay at or below 155 grain bullets for recoil reduction. To 200 yards, I would be looking at something like the Sierra 125 grain Pro-hunter (#2120) or something similar, then run it with the magnum primer and a relatively quick powder, like 40 grains of H4198.

crimsondave · September 30, 2009, 08:13 PM

I have loaded 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips with 48 grains of IMR 4064. Very light recoil for the 06. My 700 likes 180 grain bullets, though, so I have not used this load much.

GeauxTide · September 30, 2009, 09:39 PM

Some of the earlier post advise target or FMJ bullets. Don't complicate the obvious. Just get some 150gr Remington CoreLokts from Midway. They're cheap and you are using the same bullet that you'll hunt with. The 4895s and 4064 will give you some good, accurate starter loads. When he gets ready to hunt, load 52gr of 4064 over std primers. Pad his shoulder with a bag of shot to sight in with three rounds. He won't even notice the recoil on the hunt. If he can shoot a 20ga with mags, or a 12 shotty, then don't worry about it.

September 26, 2009, 05:17 PM	#1
john2w Junior Member Join Date: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2	light recoil 30-06 load There is a youngster down the street that just received a Browning A-Bolt in 30-06 for his birthday. This is his first hight powered rifle and he is eager to go deer hunting with it. I am looking for a low recoil load that will hold a 200 yard zero (plus or minus two inches) so he has a good chance of having positive first experience without devrloping a flinch. Thank you in advance for any help you can give this novice.

September 26, 2009, 07:14 PM	#3
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Berry's copper plated .30-30 bullets with 12.5 grains of Red Dot is a very accurate light load, but it shoots low. So I aim at the top of the target and hit the bullseye every time. (not sure if you want to adjust the sights that much) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

September 28, 2009, 11:04 AM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	John2W, Did his A-bolt come with the BOSS or without? If so and if it is the muzzle brake version, it will be loud and won't do much to the recoil of a light load, so I would leave it off or use the unported version to tune the barrel. Bullet weight will be a big factor in recoil, and I would stay at or below 155 grain bullets for recoil reduction. To 200 yards, I would be looking at something like the Sierra 125 grain Pro-hunter (#2120) or something similar, then run it with the magnum primer and a relatively quick powder, like 40 grains of H4198. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

September 26, 2009, 07:11 PM	#2
firewrench044 Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 381	moderat recoil 30-06 ( is a sweet spot for 24 inch barrels 1/10 twist useing 155gr bullet) ( consistant tight patern at 200, 300 and 600 yards ) 155gr Sierra Palma (p/n- 2155 or 2156 ) LC case 45.7gr IMR 4895 (add 0.5 to 1.5 for comercial case ) CCI # 34 primer (is a magnum primer, needed for this lower amount of powder to avoid slow fires ) COAL 3.200

September 26, 2009, 07:40 PM	#4
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	If you can handload check Hodgdons website under 'youth loads'. They use H4895 (ONLY) down to 60 per cent of published load but only H4895 loads... I dont know about 200 yards?? I dont shoot that far.

September 26, 2009, 08:05 PM	#5
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	This load, with a 168 Match will clean the 200 yard NRA target. M98 30-06 26" 1-10 Wilson Barrel 175 FMJBT 42.0 grs IMR 4895 wtd WLR 190 ≤ WWII ≤ 195grs OAL 3.30" 17 Sept 00 T=72°F Ave Vel = 2451 Std Dev = 15 ES = 51 Low = 2429 High = 2480 N = 9

September 27, 2009, 07:43 AM	#6
john2w Junior Member Join Date: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2	Thanks a lot for helping out a new guy to reloading. I guess all I have to do now is load up a few of each and take the kid out and let him decide which one he likes best, in other words, get to the fun stuff. I will tell him and his Dad that the knowlegable people here are responsible for him getting the loads. Thanks again for your help. John

September 28, 2009, 10:44 AM	#7
K.W. Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 87	-Via google: Reduced Recoil Reloads

September 30, 2009, 08:13 PM	#9
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	I have loaded 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips with 48 grains of IMR 4064. Very light recoil for the 06. My 700 likes 180 grain bullets, though, so I have not used this load much.

September 30, 2009, 09:39 PM	#10
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Some of the earlier post advise target or FMJ bullets. Don't complicate the obvious. Just get some 150gr Remington CoreLokts from Midway. They're cheap and you are using the same bullet that you'll hunt with. The 4895s and 4064 will give you some good, accurate starter loads. When he gets ready to hunt, load 52gr of 4064 over std primers. Pad his shoulder with a bag of shot to sight in with three rounds. He won't even notice the recoil on the hunt. If he can shoot a 20ga with mags, or a 12 shotty, then don't worry about it.