Help with 30-06 load...

Trapperbk · July 29, 2010, 02:01 PM

I am fairly new to reloading and I am trying to work a load for my 30-06 Howa. I started with 49 grains of IMR 4064 behind a 150 grain Hornady interlock bullet. Accuracy was excellent, and no problems. When I stepped up to 50 grains behind the same bullet this is what I found. Two shots cut each other, and one hit 3 inches low. I shot another 3 shot group and the same thing happened. The data sheet I have from Hodgdon shows 51 grains as a max load. Do I move on to 50.5, or 51 grains, or go back down. Seems strange that two shots touch each other, and a thirs strays. Any help is appreciated.

DiscoRacing · July 29, 2010, 02:04 PM

Is your barrel floated??

rwilson452 · July 29, 2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

I am fairly new to reloading and I am trying to work a load for my 30-06 Howa. I started with 49 grains of IMR 4064 behind a 150 grain Hornady interlock bullet. Accuracy was excellent, and no problems. When I stepped up to 50 grains behind the same bullet this is what I found. Two shots cut each other, and one hit 3 inches low. I shot another 3 shot group and the same thing happened. The data sheet I have from Hodgdon shows 51 grains as a max load. Do I move on to 50.5, or 51 grains, or go back down. Seems strange that two shots touch each other, and a thirs strays. Any help is appreciated.
Trapperbk is online now Report Post

I would try 48.5 gr. and 49.5 gr. first.

jimbob86 · July 29, 2010, 02:05 PM

Powder measurement exact/consistent? seating depth? Crimp?

Trapperbk · July 29, 2010, 02:09 PM

Barrel is floated. Seating depth is the same, and usind rcbs dies. No crimping except from seating die.

Brian Pfleuger · July 29, 2010, 02:11 PM

If you want to find the most accurate load, do this.

sserdlihc · July 29, 2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

I am fairly new to reloading and I am trying to work a load for my 30-06 Howa. I started with 49 grains of IMR 4064 behind a 150 grain Hornady interlock bullet. Accuracy was excellent, and no problems. When I stepped up to 50 grains behind the same bullet this is what I found. Two shots cut each other, and one hit 3 inches low. I shot another 3 shot group and the same thing happened. The data sheet I have from Hodgdon shows 51 grains as a max load. Do I move on to 50.5, or 51 grains, or go back down. Seems strange that two shots touch each other, and a thirs strays. Any help is appreciated.

First off, if you are happy with the accuracy of 49 grains of IMR4064, then stay with it. When I start working up a load, I only increase by a half a grain. Just me though.

Trapperbk · July 29, 2010, 02:52 PM

Thanks for the help guys...

**Unclenick** · July 29, 2010, 03:11 PM

Follow Peezakilla's link. Newberry's method is the best systematic approach to finding sweet spot loads. If there is an issue with the rifle it will show up firing his round robin. He uses .3 grain steps, not because .5 is dangerous at that charge weight, but because it is big enough to jump over a sweet spot in some instances.

It is, from experience, more likely to be the scope or its mounts than a gun problem if the fliers have consistent jump location, but you need ten shots or so in your group to tell. If you get two distinct groups there is a hard mechanical position shift. It can be caused by heat in some instances, but still most likely in the sights. But if the 4th shot and others keeps going lower then there is a heating problem and something is making contact when it gets warm that was not doing so before. Check the float clearance of the hot barrel with a dollar bill to be sure.

sserdlihc · July 29, 2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

He uses .3 grain steps, not because .5 is dangerous at that charge weight, but because it is big enough to jump over a sweet spot in some instances.

Interesting, May fiddle with that in the future. Good to know!

Sport45 · July 29, 2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

I started with 49 grains of IMR 4064 behind a 150 grain Hornady interlock bullet. Accuracy was excellent, and no problems.

Sounds like you're there. Why mess with success?

mrawesome22 · July 29, 2010, 10:06 PM

Quote:

No crimping except from seating die.

Where else would you get a crimp from? Unless you have a dedicated crimp die.
I am confused. Do you crimp or not?

I have also found great variations in 30-06Springfield brass to the point of some of it is useless. Mainly Federal brass.

stormy · July 29, 2010, 11:53 PM

Is your action bedded? I've seen similar problems from rifles that were not bedded, especially if the stock is of the cheap, flimsy, plastic, injection molede type.

James R. Burke · July 30, 2010, 08:30 PM

Just myself I like the IMR-4035 with a 165. Before you hit the panic button try some seven shot groups, a let that barrel cool down between shots.

**Unclenick** · July 30, 2010, 08:37 PM

Hmm. That's a new one on me. Why 7, in particular? Trying to get past minimum meaningful SD estimation on radial position?

wncchester · July 31, 2010, 02:19 PM

"Seems strange that two shots touch each other, and a thirs strays. Any help is appreciated. "

Not so strange for a light barreled hunting rifle; you are getting the barrel too hot. Keep your load as it is, it's clearly excellant. Let the barrel cool down a good bit between rounds, especially before the third shot, and all should be well.

July 29, 2010, 02:01 PM	#1
Trapperbk Member Join Date: December 27, 2009 Posts: 23	Help with 30-06 load... I am fairly new to reloading and I am trying to work a load for my 30-06 Howa. I started with 49 grains of IMR 4064 behind a 150 grain Hornady interlock bullet. Accuracy was excellent, and no problems. When I stepped up to 50 grains behind the same bullet this is what I found. Two shots cut each other, and one hit 3 inches low. I shot another 3 shot group and the same thing happened. The data sheet I have from Hodgdon shows 51 grains as a max load. Do I move on to 50.5, or 51 grains, or go back down. Seems strange that two shots touch each other, and a thirs strays. Any help is appreciated.

July 29, 2010, 02:04 PM	#2
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	Is your barrel floated?? __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

July 29, 2010, 02:11 PM	#6
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	If you want to find the most accurate load, do this. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

July 29, 2010, 03:11 PM	#9
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Follow Peezakilla's link. Newberry's method is the best systematic approach to finding sweet spot loads. If there is an issue with the rifle it will show up firing his round robin. He uses .3 grain steps, not because .5 is dangerous at that charge weight, but because it is big enough to jump over a sweet spot in some instances. It is, from experience, more likely to be the scope or its mounts than a gun problem if the fliers have consistent jump location, but you need ten shots or so in your group to tell. If you get two distinct groups there is a hard mechanical position shift. It can be caused by heat in some instances, but still most likely in the sights. But if the 4th shot and others keeps going lower then there is a heating problem and something is making contact when it gets warm that was not doing so before. Check the float clearance of the hot barrel with a dollar bill to be sure. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 29, 2010, 11:53 PM	#13
stormy Junior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Posts: 4	Just a thought.... Is your action bedded? I've seen similar problems from rifles that were not bedded, especially if the stock is of the cheap, flimsy, plastic, injection molede type.

July 29, 2010, 02:05 PM	#4
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	Powder measurement exact/consistent? seating depth? Crimp?

July 29, 2010, 02:09 PM	#5
Trapperbk Member Join Date: December 27, 2009 Posts: 23	Barrel is floated. Seating depth is the same, and usind rcbs dies. No crimping except from seating die.

July 29, 2010, 02:52 PM	#8
Trapperbk Member Join Date: December 27, 2009 Posts: 23	Thanks for the help guys...

July 30, 2010, 08:30 PM	#14
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	Just myself I like the IMR-4035 with a 165. Before you hit the panic button try some seven shot groups, a let that barrel cool down between shots.

July 30, 2010, 08:37 PM	#15
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Hmm. That's a new one on me. Why 7, in particular? Trying to get past minimum meaningful SD estimation on radial position? __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 31, 2010, 02:19 PM	#16
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"Seems strange that two shots touch each other, and a thirs strays. Any help is appreciated. " Not so strange for a light barreled hunting rifle; you are getting the barrel too hot. Keep your load as it is, it's clearly excellant. Let the barrel cool down a good bit between rounds, especially before the third shot, and all should be well.