Working a 30-06 110gr target load. -Starting Loads-

[Nandy]

Im going to work a hunting load in the near future for a 150 grain bullet. I decided to fireform the brass which seems will be a little overdo for hunting load but a good excuse to shoot more. I decided to use a 110 grain bullet as is less expensive and less recoil than the premium 150 ballistic silver tip. Plus I can start practicing how to work a load and make this my paper shooting load for now. So here is what I have done, advice, opinions, ideas welcome.
The way I worked this load was using a system I read about (i believe in this forum but the old version) somewhere in the net. Instead of shooting 5 to 10 bullets per each .5 grain in a range of powder grains you will use only one bullet per every .5 grains. Then look for the tighter consecutive group and then you can do a more in detail (3, 5 or 10 bullets per grain change) test. This should save you some bullets, in theory....

Bullet: Hornady Varmint .30 cal 110 gr SP
Brass: Winchester
Powder: IMR4895 (Safe loads per manual from 49.0 to 54.5)
Primer: CCI 200 Large Rifle
Savage 110 22" barrel Twist 1-10" A&B Sporter
100 yards range.

This is the order in which I loaded the cartridges, the grain and the speed on the chronograph (about 20 feet from rifle). The charged was verified by a beam and an electronic scale. I stopped 1 grain before the maximum load.
1. 49.0 - 2801
2. 49.5 - 2783
3. 50.0 - 2867
4. 50.5 - 2911
5. 51.0 - 2917
6. 51.5 - 2949
7. 52.0 - 2943
8. 52.5 - 2989
9. 53.0 - 3051
10 53.5 - 3044

1 hi 3051
1 lo 2783
These other values dont hold much water as these are not cartridges with the same load but still I present them here.
1 au 2925
1 es 268
1 sd 90

I do believe I did pull a bit on one shot but failed to note that. I will do better on that. Here how the target looks:

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn215/nandy_temp/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwOTIzLTAwMTIwLmpwZw.jpg

My better group is 5-6-8, not sure if 7 is the shot I pulled. I think I need to start working the loads withing the range or 51 to 5.5 grains.

Now, interesting to me is that comparing shots #1-#2 and #6 -#7 the loads with higher grain has slower speed than the lower grain... Any insights on that?

I am not crimping these bullets in the cartridge. They do not have a crimping cannelure, neither does the 150 bullets I want to use for hunting. I do have some 165 that have the crimping cannelure. So, do you crimp only when the crimping cannelure is present? When is it good/bad to crimp? I dont have a crimping die but since Im placing an order on midway might as well order it if it is necessary...

Any input is welcome...

[bill2260]

I havn't shot a 30.06 in years but I use to shoot one very often. I too loaded 110 hornadys for groundhogs. Looking at your holes in the target they seem to be slightly keyholed. My rifle, old springfield 1903-a3 wouldn't shoot much past 150 yards with accuracy. Thoose bullets are almost as wide as they are long and don't fly good. At least in my old rifle. I stood by with the same load for deer as ground hogs using 150 grain bullets. Bill

[Nandy]

They look round to me but my eyes are not trained. I might go to the 200 yd range this week. That should make a difference in the pattern and be more noticeable.

[JCalhoun]

Nandy;

At this point I would not worry about crimping. Crimping is to keep the bullet at the seating depth. Your dies should make a tight enough neck that the bullets won't shift.

[Nandy]

I went Sunday to the lease to try these loads. So far for the 110 the powder range they seem to like is between 51.0 to 52.5 gr. I loaded 5 cartridges at 51.0 and worked my way up at .3 gr difference. I end up with:

GR Shot number
51.0 1-5
51.3 6-10
51.6 11-15
51.9 16-20
52.2 21-25
52.5 26-30

You can see my groups in the following pictures. I think 51.6gr is my best load. Will load 10 and shoot them and see if the accuracy hold then start moving he lands. I might start working the 150 gr now too. In the last group the chrono missed one shot and I dont know which one is it so the numbers are real but I just assigned the speed to the shots. It was not my best group anyway... What do you all think?

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn215/nandy_temp/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwOTI2LTAwMTIxLmpwZw.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn215/nandy_temp/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwOTI2LTAwMTIyLmpwZw.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn215/nandy_temp/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwOTI2LTAwMTIzLmpwZw.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn215/nandy_temp/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwOTI2LTAwMTI0LmpwZw.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn215/nandy_temp/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwOTI2LTAwMTI1LmpwZw.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn215/nandy_temp/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwOTI2LTAwMTI2LmpwZw.jpg

Here are the other statistics for the groups

Group 1
Hi 2930
Lo 2879
Av 2903
Es 51
Sd 19

Group 2
Hi 2962
Lo 2904
Av 2941
Es 58
Sd 23

Group 3
Hi 3030
Lo 2976
Av 3004
Es 54
Sd 19

Group 4
Hi 3023
Lo 2617
Av 2997
Es 106
Sd 45

Group 5
Hi 3065
Lo 3016
Av 3041
Es 49
Sd 20

Group 6
Hi 3144
Lo 3065
Av 3095
Es 79
Sd 35

Im double checking my loads with my digital and beam scale, I thought the ES and SD where going to be way closer. Am I expecting to much?

Thanks.

[keeki]

im thinking your gun just dont like that small bullet.

[keeki]

your heaviest load is about 2.5gr too light for the 110gr bullet. safe loads for IMR4895 is 56-59.8gr

[keeki]

the powder amounts that you are using is for a 150gr bullet

[wbm]

For what it's worth I have a fairly accurate 30-06 and I never could get the 110g bullets to shoot well. I moved up to the 125g Nosler Ballistic Tip and those shot very well.

[Nandy]

your heaviest load is about 2.5gr too light for the 110gr bullet. safe loads for IMR4895 is 56-59.8gr


In the "Modern Reloading" book by Richard Lee, page 326, list IMR4895 as 49gr for starting load and never to exceed 54.5 gr.

WBM, I will try that bullet too if I ever get into coyote shooting again.... Ahh, fun days...

[keeki]

Bullet Weight (Gr.) Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

110 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon H414 .308" 3.170" 57.0 3044 39,200 CUP 62.5 3268 46,900 CUP
110 GR. HDY SP Winchester 760 .308" 3.170" 57.0 3044 39,200 CUP 62.5 3268 46,900 CUP
110 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon Varget .308" 3.170" 55.0 3308 44,400 CUP 59.0 3452 48,500 CUP
110 GR. HDY SP IMR IMR 4320 .308" 3.170" 57.0 3285 49,400 PSI 60.5 3470 58,100 PSI
110 GR. HDY SP IMR IMR 4064 .308" 3.170" 55.0 3263 47,900 PSI 58.5 3453 56,400 PSI
110 GR. HDY SP Winchester 748 .308" 3.170" 52.7 3320 47,000 CUP
110 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon BL-C(2) .308" 3.170" 54.0 3108 36,200 CUP 60.0 3396 45,000 CUP
110 GR. HDY SP IMR IMR 4895 .308" 3.170" 56.0 3303 48,200 PSI 59.8 3505 57,300 PSI
110 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon H335 .308" 3.170" 50.0 3168 43,500 CUP 55.5 3367 48,100 CUP
110 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon H4895 .308" 3.170" 51.0 3155 39,000 CUP 57.0 3431 49,300 CUP
110 GR. HDY SP IMR IMR 8208 XBR .308" 3.170" 52.6 3223 46,200 PSI 56.0 3415 57,500 PSI
110 GR. HDY SP IMR IMR 3031 .308" 3.170" 51.0 3252 47,200 PSI 54.9 3471 57,800 PSI
110 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon Benchmark .308" 3.170" 51.5 3242 45,600 CUP 55.0 3396 49,800 CUP

per hodgdon website

[keeki]

published load data is just a starting point. If you have no signs of pressure dont worry bout it. all bullets and guns have their nodes and maybe you just havnt hit it yet. Not all bullets like to be loaded at max pressures or near them but in most cases its really hard to find accuracy in a weak load. youll find that in most cases your accuracy will improve when you use a powder that will fill the case at least 90% full and when your within 10% of max load.

[Eric in NC]

For what it's worth I have a fairly accurate 30-06 and I never could get the 110g bullets to shoot well. I moved up to the 125g Nosler Ballistic Tip and those shot very well.


+1 - have owned many accurate 30-06s and never had luck with the 100-110 grain bullets. Especially Savages (which like the 165-168 grain bullets).

[Nandy]

That is interesting how different books can have different numbers. I was going by what that book stated... I thought these numbers where universal, learn something every day...

[keeki]

are you having any signs of high pressure?

[Nandy]

I don't see any signs, primer looks ok and the brass looks fine. No cracks, no trouble ejecting the brass, etc.

[tyler.woodard04]

what you have going is a ladder test. did you start at max pressure for your gun then work down? go over to 6br and search ladder testing. good info

[Eric in NC]

Lee's data is about as conservative as you will find. Nothing wrong with reduced charges of 4895 in a 30-06 sized case. Bet you will have better luck with heavier bullets but keep at it if you want.

[keeki]

Eric, I agree. Its hard to get those little ones to shoot good