Best bullets for 30-06

deisel10 · October 17, 2011, 04:17 PM

What bullets and powder would you guys suggest for reloading 30-06 I'm am starting out with a Lee classic loader. The gun I'm loading for is a Weatherby Vanguard bolt action 30-06. I mostly want me loads to be for practicing and getting good with my rifle. Thanks.

wncchester · October 17, 2011, 04:35 PM

Any 165 grain hunting bullet over one of the 4350s.

TATER · October 17, 2011, 04:39 PM

For powder, 4350 or 4831 from IMR or Hodgdon both are great powders.
For Plink'en bullets, Whatever you can find on sale in the 150 to 165-175 grain.
I think I saw A-max on sale at midway.

Jerry45 · October 17, 2011, 04:47 PM

For plinking http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/733...-bulk-packaged over IMR 4064

emcon5 · October 17, 2011, 06:27 PM

If you are going to hunt with it, work up a hunting load and get good with that.

I had excellent luck with Hornady 180 gr InterLock BTSP and IMR4350 in my 1903a3. I picked the Hornady at random because it was the cheapest on the shelf at the store, and I had the 4350 on hand.

With that combo you are good for target shooting, and just about any game in North America.

William T. Watts · October 17, 2011, 07:57 PM

150 or 165 gr Nosler, Hornady, or Speer bullets, I would use IMR4064 (my favorite powder for a 30/06) or H4895/IMR4895 powders. FWIW none of the 4350 powders would produce the accuracy I wanted in my 30/06 rifles. William

grandpajoe · October 17, 2011, 08:47 PM

57.0 grains of any 4350 (IMR, Hodgdon,or Accurate) and a Sierra 165 SPBT. It's my go to load in my Ruger 77. If I remember correctly though, it's max so load carefully and watch for pressure.

farmerboy · October 17, 2011, 11:36 PM

If you ever plan on hunting one day i second the thought of a Hornady 165 gr SST and Varget powder. Extremely accurate and devastating when then hit. Who knows Varget may not be a good powder for Your gun but mine loves it

deisel10 · October 18, 2011, 09:33 AM

Thanks for all the help guys. I will be using them for hunting. I saw a nice 6x6 bull last night but couldn't get a shot on him. Any suggestions in the way of primers?

kraigwy · October 18, 2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Any suggestions in the way of primers

General rule of thumb, standard LR primers for stick powder, Magnum LR primers for Ball Powder.

Then switch primers, (by brand) until you find one that your gun likes.

black mamba · October 18, 2011, 10:49 AM

My perfect load for my old Mauser '06 is super accurate with thrown charges (ball powder), mild on pressures, economical, and kills whitetails like lightning!

R-P brass, R-P 165 gr Core-Lokt (bulk purchase), WLR standard primer, 47.5 gr Accurate 2520 powder, 3.28" COAL.

I have not chronographed this load yet, but should be 2650-2700 fps, about .300 Savage velocity, yet kills 'em DRT. My last group was 5 shots in .312" @ 75 yds (short range!), which also happens to be about the normal range for my whitetail kills.

deisel10 · October 18, 2011, 03:06 PM

Black Mamba "WLR" is that Winchester large rifle?

emcon5 · October 18, 2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

General rule of thumb, standard LR primers for stick powder, Magnum LR primers for Ball Powder.

A much better general rule of thumb, is use the primers specified in the load manual.

None of my loading manuals specify any magnum primer in any .30-06 load.

WLR is Winchester Large Rifle

mouser868 · October 18, 2011, 07:47 PM

The answer to your question is going to very between each individual. Since you mentioned elk, I wouldn't go with anything lighter than 165gr bullets, and maybe try some 180's. As far as a load goes you need to find something your gun likes real well and stick with it. My O3A3 liked W785 real well with 165 gr Sierras, problem is they discontinued the powder. Now I'm shooting 4350 with 180gr Sierras and they don't do bad, I mean I'm not complaining about 5\16 to 1\2 inch groups at 100 yards.

.45 Vet · October 19, 2011, 11:11 PM

Have to give a nod to the Sierra 165 SBT Gamekings also. Been using them for years on top of IMR 4350, I switched to H4350 a couple of years ago as it meters better through my uniflow. Start low and work up with your loads, a lot of my buddies that do western hunts say it's very good on Elk...

jimbob86 · October 20, 2011, 12:03 AM

I don't load -06, but I do .270 WIN .....

Quote:

I mostly want me loads to be for practicing and getting good with my rifle. Thanks.

To get good with my rifle, I loaded light bullets to the same velocity my heavier weight hunting bullets were going ........

I hunt with 150gr Sierra Gamekings ....... and shoot 100 and 110g bullets over IMR4064 at prairie dogs, milk jugs full of water, coyotes...... and save the spendy premium hunting bullets and near max charges of IMR 7828 for November. I burn far mor 4064 than anything else.

With the lighter bullets, downloaded to lower velocities (3000 f/sec is downloaded for 100gr .270 WIN!), your shoulder does not complain the next day because you shot up 100 rounds at grass rats or busted 3 dozen milk jugs the day before........ Were I you, I'd find a 110gr "practice load" that has "start load" velocity near what you want your hunting load doing.... you want to hunt with 165-168gr soft points? The 4350's would be great for that, but the 4895's would be a better choice for your "practice load.

darkgael · October 20, 2011, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Any 165 grain hunting bullet over one of the 4350s

Yep. +1.
The best accuracy out of each of my four .30-06 rifles came with 165s and 4350.
180s work well also.
Pete

Logan9885 · October 20, 2011, 09:24 AM

165 grain serria over H-380.....neither cost a lot and are common and lay deer flat out!

spclPatrolGroup · October 20, 2011, 10:11 AM

I recently shot a bunch of interlocks into a pile of sand, not one of which had the core seperate from the jacket. Those would be my recomendation, plus they are on the cheaper side so you can use them for target shooting as well.

Tim R · October 22, 2011, 02:50 AM

Quote:

57.0 grains of any 4350 (IMR, Hodgdon,or Accurate) and a Sierra 165 SPBT. It's my go to load in my Ruger 77. If I remember correctly though, it's max so load carefully and watch for pressure.

58.0 is max. Your load is within 1 grs of my pet load using IMR 4350 using Speer data.

old roper · October 22, 2011, 08:02 AM

57.0 grains of any 4350 (IMR, Hodgdon,or Accurate) and a Sierra 165 SPBT. It's my go to load in my Ruger 77. If I remember correctly though, it's max so load carefully and watch for pressure.
__________________________________________________________________

Hodgdon 2011 maunal has a max load of 60gr/IMR-4350 and 59gr/H-4350 with 165 gr Sierra SPBT bullet. Some other manuals have max with IMR-4350 @ 57gr.

mapsjanhere · October 22, 2011, 08:26 AM

I was really impressed with the performance of the Barnes TTSX 168 gr on my last elk hunt. I'm going to whip up some 30-06 loads on that next (used it from a 308, the 30-06 should give me another 100 ft/s).

hooligan1 · October 22, 2011, 08:34 AM

We've been loading up the 150 grn Ballistic Tip for years, and launching those sucker's with some IMR 4350. One rifle we have likes 58 grn while another 57.5 grains. But start lower and work up slowly until you find the right combo for your rifle.
I use CCI primers only, not really sure why but they always go boom, and that counts for something I guess.

mrbro · October 22, 2011, 10:40 AM

For general range work I use 2 loads. For my bolt gun 45.3g 4064 under 168g bthp match bullets. I buy bulk bullets from whoever has them on sale, usually Hornady or Sierra. Deadly on clay pigeons out to 300 yds. Light enough to shoot all day if I want to. For the Garand I've settled on 48g 4064 under Hornady 150g fmj boat tails. Again, a pleasant all day load. I've got some 175g MKs pulled by RMR that I'll be experimenting with next. I've settled on 4064 for all my rifle loads and it has worked for everything from 22-250 to 8mm.

syl · October 22, 2011, 01:01 PM

I just used the Lee Deluxe Die Set after seven Cases resized, the inner part of the Resizer Die got stuck in the case! Could not pull it out, so had to hammer it out. Now the inner bit is bent. Any idea why this happened? I used the Lee Lubricant, did I use enough? .303 Rifle

October 17, 2011, 04:17 PM	#1
deisel10 Junior Member Join Date: May 14, 2011 Location: McCall,ID Posts: 10	Best bullets for 30-06 What bullets and powder would you guys suggest for reloading 30-06 I'm am starting out with a Lee classic loader. The gun I'm loading for is a Weatherby Vanguard bolt action 30-06. I mostly want me loads to be for practicing and getting good with my rifle. Thanks.

October 17, 2011, 04:47 PM	#4
Jerry45 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2000 Location: Metairie, Louisiana Posts: 890	For plinking http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/733...-bulk-packaged over IMR 4064 __________________ Guns are not dangerous! People are! RKBA!

October 19, 2011, 11:11 PM	#15
.45 Vet Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Western Penn. Posts: 387	Have to give a nod to the Sierra 165 SBT Gamekings also. Been using them for years on top of IMR 4350, I switched to H4350 a couple of years ago as it meters better through my uniflow. Start low and work up with your loads, a lot of my buddies that do western hunts say it's very good on Elk... __________________ For those who've never fought for it, the price of freedom shall never be known...

October 22, 2011, 08:26 AM	#22
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	I was really impressed with the performance of the Barnes TTSX 168 gr on my last elk hunt. I'm going to whip up some 30-06 loads on that next (used it from a 308, the 30-06 should give me another 100 ft/s). __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

October 22, 2011, 08:34 AM	#23
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,586	We've been loading up the 150 grn Ballistic Tip for years, and launching those sucker's with some IMR 4350. One rifle we have likes 58 grn while another 57.5 grains. But start lower and work up slowly until you find the right combo for your rifle. I use CCI primers only, not really sure why but they always go boom, and that counts for something I guess. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry. Last edited by hooligan1; October 22, 2011 at 02:26 PM.

October 17, 2011, 04:35 PM	#2
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	Any 165 grain hunting bullet over one of the 4350s.

October 17, 2011, 04:39 PM	#3
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	For powder, 4350 or 4831 from IMR or Hodgdon both are great powders. For Plink'en bullets, Whatever you can find on sale in the 150 to 165-175 grain. I think I saw A-max on sale at midway.

October 17, 2011, 06:27 PM	#5
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	If you are going to hunt with it, work up a hunting load and get good with that. I had excellent luck with Hornady 180 gr InterLock BTSP and IMR4350 in my 1903a3. I picked the Hornady at random because it was the cheapest on the shelf at the store, and I had the 4350 on hand. With that combo you are good for target shooting, and just about any game in North America.

October 17, 2011, 07:57 PM	#6
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	150 or 165 gr Nosler, Hornady, or Speer bullets, I would use IMR4064 (my favorite powder for a 30/06) or H4895/IMR4895 powders. FWIW none of the 4350 powders would produce the accuracy I wanted in my 30/06 rifles. William

October 17, 2011, 08:47 PM	#7
grandpajoe Member Join Date: June 10, 2011 Posts: 53	57.0 grains of any 4350 (IMR, Hodgdon,or Accurate) and a Sierra 165 SPBT. It's my go to load in my Ruger 77. If I remember correctly though, it's max so load carefully and watch for pressure.

October 17, 2011, 11:36 PM	#8
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	If you ever plan on hunting one day i second the thought of a Hornady 165 gr SST and Varget powder. Extremely accurate and devastating when then hit. Who knows Varget may not be a good powder for Your gun but mine loves it

October 18, 2011, 09:33 AM	#9
deisel10 Junior Member Join Date: May 14, 2011 Location: McCall,ID Posts: 10	Thanks for all the help guys. I will be using them for hunting. I saw a nice 6x6 bull last night but couldn't get a shot on him. Any suggestions in the way of primers?

October 18, 2011, 10:49 AM	#11
black mamba Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 890	My perfect load for my old Mauser '06 is super accurate with thrown charges (ball powder), mild on pressures, economical, and kills whitetails like lightning! R-P brass, R-P 165 gr Core-Lokt (bulk purchase), WLR standard primer, 47.5 gr Accurate 2520 powder, 3.28" COAL. I have not chronographed this load yet, but should be 2650-2700 fps, about .300 Savage velocity, yet kills 'em DRT. My last group was 5 shots in .312" @ 75 yds (short range!), which also happens to be about the normal range for my whitetail kills.

October 18, 2011, 03:06 PM	#12
deisel10 Junior Member Join Date: May 14, 2011 Location: McCall,ID Posts: 10	Black Mamba "WLR" is that Winchester large rifle?

October 18, 2011, 07:47 PM	#14
mouser868 Member Join Date: September 29, 2011 Posts: 56	The answer to your question is going to very between each individual. Since you mentioned elk, I wouldn't go with anything lighter than 165gr bullets, and maybe try some 180's. As far as a load goes you need to find something your gun likes real well and stick with it. My O3A3 liked W785 real well with 165 gr Sierras, problem is they discontinued the powder. Now I'm shooting 4350 with 180gr Sierras and they don't do bad, I mean I'm not complaining about 5\16 to 1\2 inch groups at 100 yards.

October 20, 2011, 09:24 AM	#18
Logan9885 Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Posts: 81	165 grain serria over H-380.....neither cost a lot and are common and lay deer flat out!

October 20, 2011, 10:11 AM	#19
spclPatrolGroup Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 349	I recently shot a bunch of interlocks into a pile of sand, not one of which had the core seperate from the jacket. Those would be my recomendation, plus they are on the cheaper side so you can use them for target shooting as well.

October 22, 2011, 08:02 AM	#21
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	57.0 grains of any 4350 (IMR, Hodgdon,or Accurate) and a Sierra 165 SPBT. It's my go to load in my Ruger 77. If I remember correctly though, it's max so load carefully and watch for pressure. __________________________________________________________________ Hodgdon 2011 maunal has a max load of 60gr/IMR-4350 and 59gr/H-4350 with 165 gr Sierra SPBT bullet. Some other manuals have max with IMR-4350 @ 57gr.

October 22, 2011, 10:40 AM	#24
mrbro member Join Date: September 14, 2008 Posts: 195	For general range work I use 2 loads. For my bolt gun 45.3g 4064 under 168g bthp match bullets. I buy bulk bullets from whoever has them on sale, usually Hornady or Sierra. Deadly on clay pigeons out to 300 yds. Light enough to shoot all day if I want to. For the Garand I've settled on 48g 4064 under Hornady 150g fmj boat tails. Again, a pleasant all day load. I've got some 175g MKs pulled by RMR that I'll be experimenting with next. I've settled on 4064 for all my rifle loads and it has worked for everything from 22-250 to 8mm.

October 22, 2011, 01:01 PM	#25
syl Junior Member Join Date: October 22, 2011 Posts: 5	Reloading Problem I just used the Lee Deluxe Die Set after seven Cases resized, the inner part of the Resizer Die got stuck in the case! Could not pull it out, so had to hammer it out. Now the inner bit is bent. Any idea why this happened? I used the Lee Lubricant, did I use enough? .303 Rifle