Magnum Primers for 30-06

[HawHee]

Has anyone experimented with magnum primers in the 30-06? My favorite load so far uses CCI standard large rifle primers and 61.0 gr 4350 behind a 168 gr. Barnes TTSX or a Hornady AMAX. Both loads are very accurate. If I switch to a magnum primer, will I get more velocity? My velocity with standard primers is 2870 fps.

[Eric in NC]

You will need to drop your load down if you switch to magnum primers. Never found a need for magnum primers in the 06 - always reduced accuracy when I did try it.

[thirty06]

Not to question your load, but are you sure about 61gr. 4350.
What 4350? IMR or H? I use IMR 4350 with 165-168 and 57gr is
about max in my rifles. Just asking not criticising.

[HawHee]

Not to question your load, but are you sure about 61gr. 4350.
What 4350? IMR or H? I use IMR 4350 with 165-168 and 57gr is
about max in my rifles. Just asking not criticising.


Yes, I'm using 61.0 grains of Hodgdon 4350, and no, this does not give signs of excessive pressure. The powder fills up the case to the bottom of the neck, so it is a dense load, for sure! But it is accurate: with the Hornady 169 AMAX, I recently printed a 1.9 inch 3-shot group at about 300 yards, resting over the hood of my Ranger.

With the Barnes, I can hear a crunching sound when I seat the bullet, so it is compressed. I may try Ramshot Hunter, as an alternative, just to see if I can get similar velocity, and retain the accuracy, yet with less compression of the powder.

[thirty06]

Heehaw thank's I've not tried H only Imr so the numbers
sounded high for what i'm used to. Thanks again.

Kenny

[tammons]

I cant think of a good reason to use magnum primers unless its 20 below.

If you want more speed try one of the Alliant powders.
Alliant has new ball powders out called power pro powders that should boost most average loads by
150-200 fps.

Another good one is RL17.

I am getting 2600 fps out of a 308, 208 gr amax over RL17 with a 22 " barrel at 95dF.
That said RL17 would probably boost the 168 gr TTSX in 30-06 since its along bullet.
I would guess about 80-100 fps.

180 br bullet in a 308, 24" barrel, you can get 2760 from MR-2000.
That was one of alliant's test loads.

[HawHee]

thirty06,
I will try the RL powders, as well as Ramshot Hunter, after this elk season is settled. One of the reasons I thought to try magnum powders is I have heard they are thicker, and therefore they might not deform as much with a heavy charge of powder. Do you know if this is true?

[tammons]

If you are loading fairly heavy bullets, load some RL17.
It will give you 100 fps +

Also alliant has some new powders out called power pro.
Supposedly good for 150 fps + or so.

[trappst]

I use CCI 250's in my 25-06 pushing 75g HP's with H4350. Very accurate and fast. Temps here in the winter can get very cold plus I've got almost 1k of 'em to use up.

As said, if you try the mag primer drop your powder charge and work back up.

[shot1]

CCI 250's are what gave me the best accuracy in my 25-06. I use 49 grs IMR 4350, CCI 250, Rem case, 117 Sierra Pro hunter, 3000 fps from 26" barrel and under 1" 5 shots at 300 yards. Killed over 100 deer with this load over the years.