Powder suggestions?

[henriksson]

I am thinking of starting to reload for my 30-06 rifle at some point. I am looking at using 180 grain bullets. I have bought a couple of reloading manuals that I am slowly reading through. My question is: If you could suggest 3 powders to try to work up loads, which 3 would you choose?

[jmabbott888]

I'll put my bid in for IMR 4895, I use it exclusivally in my rifle loads, unfortunatly I can't afford a bunch of different powders but the 4895 works great in my 250 Sav, 243, 7.62x54R, 30/06 & 308. You did ther right thing in getting a few manuals, It helps to get a few diffrent ideas on whatr loads to try. Good luck

[Gun Docc]

Howdy henriksson,

one of the most versatile powders for the 30-06 round would be IMR 4350 as it is used with several bullet weights in this caliber with good results with higher velocity's and great accuracy

another powder would be IMR 4831 as it performs well in the 30-06 also with heavier bullets

another good one is IMR 4064 as this is used for milder loadings and great accuracy with 150 to 180 grain bullets

for years i had heard that the IMR 4064 was the powder used by several of the major manufacturer's brands of ammo because of it's milder pressures and it being suited to the many variances of older guns that are chambered in the 30-06 round such as older mausers,carcano's and arisakans in the bolt actions which lend themselves well to being re-barreled to this caliber

the above mentioned powders are not the only choices for the versatile 30-06 caliber but they are great powders to have on hand

Good Luck !

[Tacker]

Gundocc's comments are good. A couple of other comments: 1) consider 165-168 gr bullet. That weight is considered the best for 30-06 and 308. 2) There is a magazine called HANDLOADER that is an excellent source of information. There are even back issues that containvery good articles on the 30-06. HANDLOADER is published by: Wolfe Publishing Company
2625 Stearman Rd.,Ste. A
Prescott, AZ 86301

[Frank]

Henriksson, ditto all the others.

I owned 4, 30/06's many years ago and handloaded for all of them. The bad news is, I didn't save a single note.

May I ask why the 180 grain?

Reason I ask is, for "deer" the 150 (& even the 165) is a better choice in the 30/06. It is Faster, flatter shooting, substantially less recoil and gives quicker kills (on deer) with its more violent expansion (being lighter & faster).

Well, if memory serves me right, Imr 4895 worked very well indeed. As did IMR 4064. I also like RL 19, however I never tried it in the 30/06. Reason I mention it though is, it is a great powder, with great results in other 308 diameter calibers.

Also, may want to pick up Noslers "fifth" edition reloading manual. It is one, if not thee best there is.

I do like your idea of picking just one bullet, with a couple of different powders. That is the very best way to go about this crazy (fabulous) hobby.

Good Luck
Frank




I also

[Tacker]

someone once said: "Some day, they are going to make an alround rifle and they are going to name it a 30-06."

[huntducks]

My three choices would be IMR-4350- IMR-4064 & H-380

I have found all three to work well with different bullets.

[Bou]

So far I've only used IMR 4350 with 180 grain bullets. But I was so pleased I decided to stick with it. Experiment your rifle might like a varity of powders. However I don't think you could go wrong with 4350. And once again the guys in this website are giving sound advise. Taylor your loads to the animal your hunting. 180 gr bullets might not be your first choice depending on what your hunting. Just my two cents worth.

[henriksson]

Thank you for your replies, they are very helpful and will give me a good start.

Frank, the reason for the 180 grain bullet weight is several-fold. First, I want to hunt both boar and deer, and I understand that boar don't want to give up easily. Also, I was hunting with Woodpetter when he got a deer recently (separate thread under blactails). He used a 180 grain bullets and it was very effective without destroying a lot of meat. Finally, for the distances where I should pull the trigger it is not that important for the bullets to be flat shooting.

[Rick]

I have had great results with both versions (IMR and Hodgdon) of 4350 and with Hodgdon's H-4831SC and 180 gr bullets. I do like the lack of temperature sensitivity with the Hodgdon "Extreme" rifle pwders.

[bowhuntrrl]

IMR 4350 is one of if not "the Best" powder for this size case. I just threw together a load for my friend and his '.06 that consisted of 57gr of IMR 4350, Fed 210 primer and Sierra 150 Pro Hunters. We went up to the range today, and they shot a .620 and .730 group!!! Man, first attempt and the load shoots sub-MOA !!!! He was shooting 180gr Rem. factory loads that were grouping 1 1/2"-2". This was in a Ruger 77 Mark II synthetic/stainless.

bowhuntr http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-cool-shades-down.gif

[tmoniz]

I&#39;ve been using 165 grain bullets with H4831 for several years now on elk and deer. One load with 165 ballistic tips does 3/4 groups and smaller at 100 yards out of a 24" stainless rem 700ss.

[doghouse95]

In that size case, I always start with IMR 4350. A good bit of the time I stop there too.
After I have a load that is pretty good, I have had better luck experimenting with different
bullets than different powders.
Having said that, I have about ten different powders on the shelf.
Most of the fun of reloading is trying different combinations until you find the one that is
just right for that one firearm.
Have fun.

[ricciardelli]

IMR-4350 From 44.8 grains to 56.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer

[BigBob3006]

HENRICSSON,
If I must name three powders, they would be H-4350, H-4831SC and H-4350. H4350 is a great powder in the &#39;06. The H-4831SC is ok, but only with bullets 180 grain or heavier. Good luck. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-banghead-yellow.gif

[Washington Hunter]

I use 56.5 grains of H4350 with 180 grain bullets. I prefer the 180&#39;s for everything....there is no practical difference in trajectory between them and the 150&#39;s out to 300 or 350 yards, which is as far as I am likely to shoot anyway. And even at 400 yards, the 150&#39;s only drop a couple of inches less. Not a big deal as I see it. I&#39;d rather have the extra weight, extra penetration, less meat damage, and less wind drift that the heavier bullet offers. If you use 150&#39;s, you may as well be shooting a 270.

[BubbaP]

IMR4350 with 165gr. bullets is all I shoot in my 30-06. Shoots so well I have not tried other loads. I always lean towards slower powders that mostly fill the case- I think this helps accuracy, and helps eliminate the possibility of dangerously overcharging a case.

[bowhuntrrl]

IMR 4350 and RL 19. Use 4350 with 150 and 165 gr with 57 gr powder. seems to be a "magic" load for 30-.06. Just threw together some 150 Sierras with 57 gr 4350 for one of my friends. His Ruger 77 never shot better than 1 1/2-1 3/4". First group of my load went .620" and the nect group went .575" !!!! He was ecstatic, to say the least. RL 19 is a close second for my favorite powder in this caliber. Good luck.

bowhuntr

[Eagleye]

IMR 4350 has long been the first choice for loading the &#39;06 with bullets weighing from 150 to 180 grains. However, the Reloder 19 suggestion is a good one, since some rifles show a preference for that powder, especially with 180 grainers. A couple of others worth trying with 150/165 grainers are W760 and H414. Some 30-06 rifles absolutely dote on these. The 06 case is quite versatile, working acceptably with powders as fast as 3031 and as slow as IMR 7828, depending on bullet weight. Regards, Eagleye.

[44mag]

IMR 4350. Hands down.