.30-06 and 165gr Bullets, what powder?

[Rob404]

Hot setups?

Loads that work well for other members

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I'm more interested in hot set-ups for powder,I use mostly Sierra Game and Match kings

Hot setups?

Clearly a question for @Jaco Strauss I'd say.

 

[JimP]

Loads that work well for other members

The problem with this is that what works quite well in my 06 with a burnt out barrel quite possibly will not work in your newer tighter barrel.

But then that is half the fun of reloading, finding out what works in your own rifle.

 

[IdaRam]

Hi @Rob44 my Ruger '06 really likes the following load:
Sierra 180 gr Gameking
C.O.A.L. 3.305 (.010 off lands)
CCI 250 primer
H4350 56.0 gr
Ave. Velocity 2723 fps
This load consistently produces 100 yard, 5 shot groups of about 3/4" which is about as good as the gun will do with anything I've put through it.
This is not a max load in my gun, but the usual disclaimer applies Start low and work up.

 

[ZG47]

Neither AR2208 (packaged as Varget for Hodgdon) nor AR2209 (packaged as H4350 for Hodgdon) are temperature sensitive. Having said that, I assert that the faster powder, whilst an excellent choice for the 8x57 IS, is slightly fast for 165gr bullets in the .30-06. It might be OK with jacketed boat-tail bullets but is probably a tad fast for the Barnes TSX.

 

[Rob404]

Hi @Rob44 my Ruger '06 really likes the following load:
Sierra 180 gr Gameking
C.O.A.L. 3.305 (.010 off lands)
CCI 250 primer
H4350 56.0 gr
Ave. Velocity 2723 fps
This load consistently produces 100 yard, 5 shot groups of about 3/4" which is about as good as the gun will do with anything I've put through it.
This is not a max load in my gun, but the usual disclaimer applies Start low and work up.

Iv'e been using IMR4831/55gr and also IMR4064/43gr
I can't measure velocity as of yet my Chrno's on back order til August

 

[lcq]

Iv'e been using IMR4831/55gr and also IMR4064/43gr
I can't measure velocity as of yet my Chrno's on back order til August

back of the envelope calculation

IMR4831 2650
IMR4064 2380

Hodgdon recommends starting load 4064 45.5gr

 

[Areaonereal]

Let me state that if you rifle is not shooting 57 gr Imr 4350 and 165 gr gr then your rifle is not typical of any 30 06 I have ever experienced, shoud chrony around 2750 fps.

 

[Waterguy631]

I like varget but then again I have 40 lbs of it so it's my first powder I go to

 

[lcq]

I like varget but then again I have 40 lbs of it so it's my first powder I go to

Varget is very versatile and I use it in 308, 3006, 300wsm, 7mm mag, 243 and 223.

Hang on to your 40lbs powder is getting very hard to get

 

[Waterguy631]

I know used to load for our state highpower Jr team and my son was on the USA palma team I'm glad I bought what I did when they were offering I wish I had bought more.

 

[MT Griz]

It feels a little bit like "piling on" but I have used IMR4350 in my 30'-06 for a long time with great results. I don't think you could go wrong with it. Varget will certainly work as well. My recomendation is IMR4350.
Good luck and good shooting!

 

[Nicholas Barcomb]

Came a bit late to this party, but I started out on Varget for my .30-06 SPR and 165 gr SST.
The load for my Tikka T3 Lite SS:

Ended up bumping the load a bit for some off hand shots (should be 10, the black circled hits were from my .357 Mag):

Then I moved into the realm of Vihtavuori powders and found that the N550 was what I was looking for to bump up the velocity. I am going to be revisiting the next 2 loads because I wasn't to thrilled with the results.

165 gr Hornady IB and VV N550 (actual velocity from 22" bbl is 2923 fps):

165 gr Woodleigh PPRN and VV N550 (actual velocity from 22" bbl is 3001 fps):

I will make the holes touch dang it!

The toy that makes this possible:

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Slugs Away]

Cci 250 primer
55.2 grains h4350
180 grain hornady interlock btsp
federal casing

.5 moa out of my personalized 30-06 zastava.

no kidding !

 

[Rob404]

Iv'e just picked up another 30-06, large ring short action 22"barrel built by Heym in W. Germany full stock built in the 60s? I'll try some of my 180s thru it,but I'm really thinking 125s- 150s

 

[Slugs Away]

Iv'e just picked up another 30-06, large ring short action 22"barrel built by Heym in W. Germany full stock built in the 60s? I'll try some of my 180s thru it,but I'm really thinking 125s- 150s

Whatever works for you and your gun. 180s kill everything in North America so if a 180 works in your gun you only have one load to do.

30-06 180s also kill all African PG, someone correct me if l'm wrong.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Another vote for IMR 4350; I've also had good luck with H414.

 

[TallGrassHunter]

Another vote for 4350, (H, IMR, AA). Seems the 06 digests about anything, but besides 4350, I have gotten my better results with IMR & H 4831, RL 19, RL 15, H414,Norma 204, VV N 160 & 165.
I seem to get very similar results to IMR 4350 from RL 19.

 

[Marcos Rodriguez]

As mentioned in the .30-06 thread, I've got one coming. First .30-06 I'll have ever owned. Picked up a great deal on a M70 FW that hasn't been shot since bought in 2008. Will load it lightly initially with the intent of building up my wife's recoil tolerance until she can handle 165gr loads.

So what powder do you guys like for this caliber/bullet weight combination? I'm thinking IMR4350 or Varget.

HI; PHIL!....
I´m glad to let you a hand this time!
Friend, I reload the 30-06 with IMR 4350 and I think it´s very good powder (some guys prefers the 4064, but the less recoil and lower burn vellocity of the 4350 are factors to consider!)
I load the Sierra code 2275 (175 gr match) with 57 grs and this is a great shot! About 2800 fps!
But very heavy for you´re wife shoulder!
My friend Robert cut the boars in te middle with this shots...
I reccomend you the remigton Corelokt 165 grs bullet with a load of 55 grs and gradually increase the load if you´re wife hold out the kick!... I won´t be the target of youre..... insults! hahahaha!
Any way, at least with 55 grs of this powder, the 165 bulet can fly at 2700 fps... But I have to say something! ... the best groups with this powder are in the highest loads!

 

[Clayton]

My best results has been IMR-4350 for 150 gr & H-4831 for 180 gr. I'd start with the 4350 & go from there.

Good Luck.