Best Powder for the 30-06 with 165gr. ? ? Range Report inside

[Hylander]

What are you guys useing for the 30-06 ?
Any Pet loads ?
Just trying to get a starting point without buying
a dozon different powders

Range report below, Reply #10

[RWO]

IMR 4350 always worked very well for me, but I don't remember the load.

RWO

[Eric in NC]

4064 for max accuracy (target loads), 4350 for good accuracy with velocity (hunting loads)

[Uncle Jack]

Eric pretty well nailed it. I would add H414 if you want the ease of reloading spherical powder. I would use mag primers with all including the 4064. Yeah, I know, I know, but I hunt here in Montana with extreme temperature fluctuations.

uj

[Hylander]

4064 for max accuracy (target loads), 4350 for good accuracy with velocity (hunting loads)


So when you say Taget Load, what Velocity ?

[big honkin jeep]

IMR 4350 is my powder of choice. Most accurate powder tested per the Nosler guide. 165gr SGK over 57gr IMR 4350 with a CCI BR2 primer gives me 1/2 MOA most days. This is near max load so work up from about 54 grs.I dont shoot it cause its hot I shoot it cause its super accurate in my rifle. the velocity is just a bonus ;)
BHJ

[DGD6MM]

Varget with WLR Primers and 165 Hornaday SPBT. 200 yard 5 shot group .75 inch with a 22" sporter barrel.

[pbcaster45]

I know everybody recommends one of the 4350s but my Tikka T3 shoots best with IMR-4064 (49 - 50 grs with a 165 gr Ballistic Tip). I chronographed my load and it only goes about 2680 fps but thats about the same as a .308 Winchester and I've never had to take a second shot on deer or hogs with either. Here is my hunting load with notes (I've since switched to AccuBonds for hunting).

Bullet: Nosler 165 gr. Ballistic Tip
Powder: IMR-4064 49.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210M
Case: Winchester
LOAL: 3.285
Rounds: 20
Comments: Very accurate!! Three shots inside ½ inch! Normal extraction and cases look okay. Shot 200 pound boar at 70 yards through spine – instant kill. Shot a sow at 150 yards too – very violent expansion (maybe too much). Sow was shot at an angle, the bullet entered behind the right ribcage and travel to the front left shoulder without exiting.

Bullet: Nosler 168 gr. Ballistic Silvertip
Powder: IMR-4064 48.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 210
Case: Federal
LOAL: 3.350 (2.720 base to ogive with Stoney Point gage)
Velocity: 2682 fps
Comments: Bullets seated so that ogive about .018 short of rifling. Magazine is long enough to allow LOAL of 3.370.

[Uncle Jack]

I think pbcaster45 pretty well nailed it.

uj

[borg]

I have been getting great accuracy with Reloader 19. My gun does not especially like H414 under any bullet weight I've tried, but that's relatively speaking. I would not hesitate to load hunting rounds with H414, but I do prefer to use magnum primers with that.

[Hylander]

OK;
I got some H-4350 and here is my first range report with it.
Bullets: Sierra 165SBT
Primer: WLR
OCL: 3.280

We tried 56.0, 56.5 and 57.0
These were the best loads of the day, 56.5 of H-4350
However 56.0 was not far behind and 57.0 we both had a flyer but we beleive they were shooter error.
Also we both notice a more pronounced Recoil at 57.0 gr.
Primers are flattening, but not bad, extraction is easy.
We are goign to go back to the range with the same loads again to see how they fair again.
will also take the Chrony to see what we are at.

This is from my 03A3 Sporter
56.5 gr. .56 MOA

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b193/hylander7/Firearms/Modern/03A3%20Sporter/IMG_0015.jpg

This is from my brothers Savage 116FHSS BGH
56.5 gr. .43 MOA

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b193/hylander7/Firearms/Modern/03A3%20Sporter/IMG_0020.jpg