.30-06 for M1903

Hardcase · July 1, 2009, 10:39 AM

I've started shooting my M1903 Mk I in my club's high power matches and one of my buddies just donated a bucket o' brass to me. Neither of us have reloaded this caliber before, so I have a couple of questions.

First, all of my shooting is at targets - I don't hunt. So, what bullet is appropriate for target shooting from 100 to 650 yards? Not necessarily brand and model, but shape and weight, I guess (although if you want to be specific, I sure won't complain!)

Second, what about powder? Recommendations?

And third, what haven't I considered that I should?

If it helps, the rifle is 1920 vintage, including the barrel. TE is between 3 and 4 and ME is a 3. I can keep up with the AR boys, except for rapid shooting (which is my fault...I still don't have my reloading technique down.)

margiesex · July 1, 2009, 10:51 AM

Hello:

My favorite load for the '.06 is the 168 grain Sierra Match King hollow point boat tail.

Pushed by 4046 IMR - about 44 grains - which is about middle of the road - not too light, and certainly not near max, using a CCI BR2 (large rifle, benchrest) primer, I can go all day punching out dimes and quarters at 100 yards with my Dad's - off the rack - 760 Rem. pump.

The good thing about the bolt (and the pump) is the lack of need for full length resizing of the case. They last forever with this load.

My rifle is a bit touchy in that it definately likes all the same brass for the load. In other words, if I have 10 Rem. cases loaded with the above and 10 Win. cases with the same load - I will not have the same point of aim, and the "one hole" will go out the window.

Last time I took this gun out, I had a 2/3 box of Browning brass with this load that my brother loaded - oh, 30-35 years ago. No primer sealer, just in the box - cut a nice quarter!

Good luck.

God bless.

Margiesex

And remember - Hug your God and your guns - 'cause he's coming for them both, and soon!

firewrench044 · July 1, 2009, 10:56 AM

Load for my M-1s and 1903s

LC case
CCI # 34 primer
45.7gr IMR 4895
155gr Sierra Palma ( p/n- 2155 )( have not tested p/n 2156 )
3.300 COAL

Load is a sweet spot, patern opens up ubove 100 deg., ( that happens
a lot in FLA. ) at that temp. I reduce powder by 0.2gr

Slamfire · July 1, 2009, 01:48 PM

This load shot well

M1 Garand Rack Grade

150 gr Sierra Match HPBT 47.5 IMR 4895 CCI#34 WWII cases OAL 3.29
24 Mar 04 T= 70 ° F

Ave Vel = 2619
Std Dev = 28
ES = 101
Low = 2559
High = 2660
N = 16

darkgael · July 1, 2009, 04:16 PM

This load shoots moa from my 1903.
168 gr. HPBT
45.6 grains of IMR 4064
CCI-200 primer
Neck sized cases.
Pete

**Unclenick** · July 1, 2009, 05:05 PM

You can copy the the load from the last lot of M72 match ammo the DCM ordered made before it was dissolved. It's clone, with modern materials, is Lake City brass, the CCI #34 primer, 46.5 grains of IMR 4895, and the Sierra 175 grain MatchKing bullet. This is a mild load. My gun prefers 0.2 tenths more powder, but only slightly. IMR 4895 has a reputation for producing forgiving loads. The heavier bullet will give you more recoil recovery time, so you may want to save it for the 600 yard line and keep using 150's or 155's for offhand and rapid fire phases of the match? It will throw your come-up off when you move from 300 to 600 yards. How much depends on your position and how tight the sling is in prone, so you will need to work that out for yourself.

I once pulled some 173 grain Lake City match bullets from some old M72 and found the actual weight averaged 174 grains for that lot. I likewise weighed a bunch of 175 grain SMK's I had bought at the time and found they were also 174 grains. So this really is a pretty close match.

You can replicate the barrel time of the 4895 load my Springfield likes by using 47.7 grains of IMR 4064. The pressure runs slightly higher and the muzzle velocity loses about 20 fps, but the thing I like is the load fills the case better at 87% vs. 84% for the 4895 load, and produces less MV variance, which I think helps at 600 yards. The closer I can get to 90% filled and over, the better the gun seems to like it. Again, though, these are pretty gentle loads that just happened to prove accurate for me. I should mention the COL I use for magazine feed with these is about 3.330", or just under SAAMI maximum.

ChancePendergrass · July 10, 2009, 05:28 PM

Try Custom Loaded 168 Grain Boat Tails Any High End PrimersI Would Guess

Happy Shooting,
Chance

A_Gamehog · July 14, 2009, 02:57 PM

I have the same rifle as you do, slot cut for the Pederson device.

My rifle likes 180 MatchKing's and 190's seated long and only able to single fire due to the length.

My favorite powder is H4831SC and IMR 4831 do not confuse these as they measure and fire differently balistically in volume and weight.

Federal Primers, Nosler Brass. Neck sized and trimmed with an RCBS 3-way trimmer. I turned the necks but gained nothing but shorter case life.

Shoots good to 300+ and beyond. 3/4" @ 200 is my best with a Gameking! yes that's right a lead tipped Gameking! Tried the Barnes 150's and 180's Winchester 147's my coyote load, and 150's 168's but as yet nothing beats the 180's with a full case (Compressed) of H4831sc.

For the light bullets 147-168 I like IMR for the heavy 170> ones Hogdon

July 1, 2009, 10:39 AM	#1
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	.30-06 for M1903 I've started shooting my M1903 Mk I in my club's high power matches and one of my buddies just donated a bucket o' brass to me. Neither of us have reloaded this caliber before, so I have a couple of questions. First, all of my shooting is at targets - I don't hunt. So, what bullet is appropriate for target shooting from 100 to 650 yards? Not necessarily brand and model, but shape and weight, I guess (although if you want to be specific, I sure won't complain!) Second, what about powder? Recommendations? And third, what haven't I considered that I should? If it helps, the rifle is 1920 vintage, including the barrel. TE is between 3 and 4 and ME is a 3. I can keep up with the AR boys, except for rapid shooting (which is my fault...I still don't have my reloading technique down.)

July 1, 2009, 10:51 AM	#2
margiesex Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2009 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 210	My favorite Hello: My favorite load for the '.06 is the 168 grain Sierra Match King hollow point boat tail. Pushed by 4046 IMR - about 44 grains - which is about middle of the road - not too light, and certainly not near max, using a CCI BR2 (large rifle, benchrest) primer, I can go all day punching out dimes and quarters at 100 yards with my Dad's - off the rack - 760 Rem. pump. The good thing about the bolt (and the pump) is the lack of need for full length resizing of the case. They last forever with this load. My rifle is a bit touchy in that it definately likes all the same brass for the load. In other words, if I have 10 Rem. cases loaded with the above and 10 Win. cases with the same load - I will not have the same point of aim, and the "one hole" will go out the window. Last time I took this gun out, I had a 2/3 box of Browning brass with this load that my brother loaded - oh, 30-35 years ago. No primer sealer, just in the box - cut a nice quarter! Good luck. God bless. Margiesex And remember - Hug your God and your guns - 'cause he's coming for them both, and soon!

July 1, 2009, 04:16 PM	#5
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	load This load shoots moa from my 1903. 168 gr. HPBT 45.6 grains of IMR 4064 CCI-200 primer Neck sized cases. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

July 1, 2009, 05:05 PM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	You can copy the the load from the last lot of M72 match ammo the DCM ordered made before it was dissolved. It's clone, with modern materials, is Lake City brass, the CCI #34 primer, 46.5 grains of IMR 4895, and the Sierra 175 grain MatchKing bullet. This is a mild load. My gun prefers 0.2 tenths more powder, but only slightly. IMR 4895 has a reputation for producing forgiving loads. The heavier bullet will give you more recoil recovery time, so you may want to save it for the 600 yard line and keep using 150's or 155's for offhand and rapid fire phases of the match? It will throw your come-up off when you move from 300 to 600 yards. How much depends on your position and how tight the sling is in prone, so you will need to work that out for yourself. I once pulled some 173 grain Lake City match bullets from some old M72 and found the actual weight averaged 174 grains for that lot. I likewise weighed a bunch of 175 grain SMK's I had bought at the time and found they were also 174 grains. So this really is a pretty close match. You can replicate the barrel time of the 4895 load my Springfield likes by using 47.7 grains of IMR 4064. The pressure runs slightly higher and the muzzle velocity loses about 20 fps, but the thing I like is the load fills the case better at 87% vs. 84% for the 4895 load, and produces less MV variance, which I think helps at 600 yards. The closer I can get to 90% filled and over, the better the gun seems to like it. Again, though, these are pretty gentle loads that just happened to prove accurate for me. I should mention the COL I use for magazine feed with these is about 3.330", or just under SAAMI maximum. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 10, 2009, 05:28 PM	#7
ChancePendergrass Member Join Date: June 26, 2009 Location: La Fayette Georgia Posts: 50	Try Custom Loaded 168 Grain Boat Tails Any High End PrimersI Would Guess Happy Shooting, Chance __________________ RUT'N'STRUT

July 1, 2009, 10:56 AM	#3
firewrench044 Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 381	Load for my M-1s and 1903s LC case CCI # 34 primer 45.7gr IMR 4895 155gr Sierra Palma ( p/n- 2155 )( have not tested p/n 2156 ) 3.300 COAL Load is a sweet spot, patern opens up ubove 100 deg., ( that happens a lot in FLA. ) at that temp. I reduce powder by 0.2gr

July 1, 2009, 01:48 PM	#4
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	This load shot well M1 Garand Rack Grade 150 gr Sierra Match HPBT 47.5 IMR 4895 CCI#34 WWII cases OAL 3.29 24 Mar 04 T= 70 ° F Ave Vel = 2619 Std Dev = 28 ES = 101 Low = 2559 High = 2660 N = 16

July 14, 2009, 02:57 PM	#8
A_Gamehog Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2009 Location: Central Oregun Posts: 563	Load help I have the same rifle as you do, slot cut for the Pederson device. My rifle likes 180 MatchKing's and 190's seated long and only able to single fire due to the length. My favorite powder is H4831SC and IMR 4831 do not confuse these as they measure and fire differently balistically in volume and weight. Federal Primers, Nosler Brass. Neck sized and trimmed with an RCBS 3-way trimmer. I turned the necks but gained nothing but shorter case life. Shoots good to 300+ and beyond. 3/4" @ 200 is my best with a Gameking! yes that's right a lead tipped Gameking! Tried the Barnes 150's and 180's Winchester 147's my coyote load, and 150's 168's but as yet nothing beats the 180's with a full case (Compressed) of H4831sc. For the light bullets 147-168 I like IMR for the heavy 170> ones Hogdon __________________ "Happiness is knowing the Barred Owl is Eating the Spotted Owl and environmentalists are watching Nature take it's course"