You most accurate powder loads for .30 cal rifles

minnfinn · March 18, 2008, 08:22 PM

I'd like to expand my reloading cartridge to more than just pistol/handgun and would like to hear what powders and loads you've found to be most accurate for .30-06 and .300 WM and other .30 cal. rifles.

Ideally, I'd like to find one powder that consistently produces excellent results for accuracy.

Thank you.

Art Eatman · March 18, 2008, 08:50 PM

Since around 1950, I've had plenty-good accuracy and results with 53.5 grains of 3031 behind a 110-grain Hornady for varmints. 52.5 grains of 4064 behind most any 150-grain bullet, although I've used Sierras these last thirty years or so.

I've used Sierra's 165-grain HPBT and the 180-grain SPBT. All their bullets will give groups inside one MOA at 100 yards and 500 yards.

Not too long back I tried 54.0 grains of H414 behind a Sierra 180-grain SPBT, and put the first two shots about 1/8" apart (100 yards). The third bullet went into one of those holes, but I couldn't tell which. So I quit. I loaned the rifle to a buddy, and "interest on the note" is a bunch of elk steaks in my freezer...

You can load some 5 grains of shotgun smokeless or fast pistol powder behind an 00 buck for a squirrel load. You can use an 80-grain pistol bullet ahead of a bodacious quantity of 3031 and do horrible things to jackrabbits.

, Art

TexasSeaRay · March 18, 2008, 09:54 PM

I switched from Hogdon 4350 to IMR 4350 and did some sample loads and testing.

55.0 grains of IMR 4350 behind a Speer 150 gr SP in Federal brass and a CCI primer gave me touching groups at one hundred yards.

57.0 grains also gave me touching groups as well, but the 55.0 grain load was tighter.

Jeff

elkman06 · March 18, 2008, 10:09 PM

I'm using 59gr of Imr 4350 behind 150gr hornaday btsp interlocks. 1in groups all day, various 30/06's I own. My books suggest this is in the vicinity of 3k velocity. I know I don't think twice at putting the crosshairs on whatever body part I want to hit out to 300yds. I think a little more past that yardage. I use Hodgon or IMR 4831 in my 3oo win mag. Shooting the same kind of speed.
elkman
elkman

stinger · March 19, 2008, 11:49 AM

You'd be hard pressed to find something better for .30's than IMR 4064. I like Art's load with the 150 Sierra, however, mine shoots best at 51g.

Hawg · March 19, 2008, 04:41 PM

It's hot but in my bolt action 30-06's I use 57 grs. of IMR 4350 with either a Hornady 165 gr. BTBT or 168 gr. Sierra HPBT Match.

VaFisher · March 19, 2008, 05:30 PM

Like art I have found 52.5 gr 4064 and Hornady 150 SST bullets shoot very accurate.

minnfinn · March 19, 2008, 06:07 PM

Thanks for the good information.
I'm thinking of starting with Nosler Accubond Spitzer boatail 180 gr for the .300 WM, as this bullet has performed well for me in holding together when hitting Elk with factory ammunition.
I'll give these powders you list a try and adjust to find what is most accurate with this.

Thank you

HankB · March 19, 2008, 07:28 PM

My .30/06 is a post-64 (push feed) Winchester Model 70. It's still wearing the original 22" barrel, but I've glass bedded it into a Bell & Carlson stock. It's wearing a Leupold 3x9 Vari-X II. I normally use Winchester brass and a Winchester large rifle primer.

My "standard" hunting load is a 180 grain Nosler Partition on top of 61.0 grains of ReLoder 22; typical group size is about 1 3/8" . . . never have gotten Partitions to do better.

Substitute the 180 Sierra Spitzer flat base, and groups shrink to about 7/8" or so.

Substitute the 180 Nosler Ballistic Tip and groups are around 3/4", maybe a bit less on a good day.

Barnes X-bullets will normally put 3 or 4 in one lopsided hole, but 1 or 2 flyers invariably open the group up to as much as 3" or even 4" . . . I don't use them any more. :barf:

I found Hornady 165s on top of 51.0 grains of IMR4320 was a good load, but every once in a while I'd get an uncalled flyer . . . though not nearly as bad or as often as with the Barnes. Under a 180 Sierra spitzer flat base, it would group under an inch. (Caution: this is over max in some of today's manuals with a 180.)

March 18, 2008, 08:22 PM	#1
minnfinn Member Join Date: January 17, 2008 Posts: 54	You most accurate powder loads for .30 cal rifles I'd like to expand my reloading cartridge to more than just pistol/handgun and would like to hear what powders and loads you've found to be most accurate for .30-06 and .300 WM and other .30 cal. rifles. Ideally, I'd like to find one powder that consistently produces excellent results for accuracy. Thank you.

March 18, 2008, 09:54 PM	#3
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	Funny you should ask . . . I switched from Hogdon 4350 to IMR 4350 and did some sample loads and testing. 55.0 grains of IMR 4350 behind a Speer 150 gr SP in Federal brass and a CCI primer gave me touching groups at one hundred yards. 57.0 grains also gave me touching groups as well, but the 55.0 grain load was tighter. Jeff

March 18, 2008, 08:50 PM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Since around 1950, I've had plenty-good accuracy and results with 53.5 grains of 3031 behind a 110-grain Hornady for varmints. 52.5 grains of 4064 behind most any 150-grain bullet, although I've used Sierras these last thirty years or so. I've used Sierra's 165-grain HPBT and the 180-grain SPBT. All their bullets will give groups inside one MOA at 100 yards and 500 yards. Not too long back I tried 54.0 grains of H414 behind a Sierra 180-grain SPBT, and put the first two shots about 1/8" apart (100 yards). The third bullet went into one of those holes, but I couldn't tell which. So I quit. I loaned the rifle to a buddy, and "interest on the note" is a bunch of elk steaks in my freezer... You can load some 5 grains of shotgun smokeless or fast pistol powder behind an 00 buck for a squirrel load. You can use an 80-grain pistol bullet ahead of a bodacious quantity of 3031 and do horrible things to jackrabbits. , Art

March 18, 2008, 10:09 PM	#4
elkman06 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2006 Location: Wyoming Posts: 885	I'm using 59gr of Imr 4350 behind 150gr hornaday btsp interlocks. 1in groups all day, various 30/06's I own. My books suggest this is in the vicinity of 3k velocity. I know I don't think twice at putting the crosshairs on whatever body part I want to hit out to 300yds. I think a little more past that yardage. I use Hodgon or IMR 4831 in my 3oo win mag. Shooting the same kind of speed. elkman elkman

March 19, 2008, 11:49 AM	#5
stinger Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: west texas Posts: 772	You'd be hard pressed to find something better for .30's than IMR 4064. I like Art's load with the 150 Sierra, however, mine shoots best at 51g.

March 19, 2008, 04:41 PM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,378	It's hot but in my bolt action 30-06's I use 57 grs. of IMR 4350 with either a Hornady 165 gr. BTBT or 168 gr. Sierra HPBT Match.

March 19, 2008, 05:30 PM	#7
VaFisher Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2006 Posts: 596	Like art I have found 52.5 gr 4064 and Hornady 150 SST bullets shoot very accurate.

March 19, 2008, 06:07 PM	#8
minnfinn Member Join Date: January 17, 2008 Posts: 54	Thanks for the good information. I'm thinking of starting with Nosler Accubond Spitzer boatail 180 gr for the .300 WM, as this bullet has performed well for me in holding together when hitting Elk with factory ammunition. I'll give these powders you list a try and adjust to find what is most accurate with this. Thank you

March 19, 2008, 07:28 PM	#9
HankB Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Central Texas, outside of Austin Posts: 1,698	My .30/06 is a post-64 (push feed) Winchester Model 70. It's still wearing the original 22" barrel, but I've glass bedded it into a Bell & Carlson stock. It's wearing a Leupold 3x9 Vari-X II. I normally use Winchester brass and a Winchester large rifle primer. My "standard" hunting load is a 180 grain Nosler Partition on top of 61.0 grains of ReLoder 22; typical group size is about 1 3/8" . . . never have gotten Partitions to do better. Substitute the 180 Sierra Spitzer flat base, and groups shrink to about 7/8" or so. Substitute the 180 Nosler Ballistic Tip and groups are around 3/4", maybe a bit less on a good day. Barnes X-bullets will normally put 3 or 4 in one lopsided hole, but 1 or 2 flyers invariably open the group up to as much as 3" or even 4" . . . I don't use them any more. :barf: I found Hornady 165s on top of 51.0 grains of IMR4320 was a good load, but every once in a while I'd get an uncalled flyer . . . though not nearly as bad or as often as with the Barnes. Under a 180 Sierra spitzer flat base, it would group under an inch. (Caution: this is over max in some of today's manuals with a 180.)