30/06 165gr Which powder

[Bwana Bob]

I'm helping a friend load his 06 with 165 gr bullets. He has IMR 4350 and 4064. Any suggestions on another powder to try that will give top velocities?

[headshot5]

I-4350, for 165's works great in the 55-57.5 grain area.   

I-4064 is great for 150's.

[bobcat]

For the highest velocities, try Reloder 16 if you can find any. It's hard to find but the store in Cle Elum probably has some. Reloder 17 would be good too but I've heard it's temperature sensitive, so I've never used it. Another good powder would be Ramshot Hunter, and it's probably much easier to find.

[Stein]

I have used H4350 on the 168 TSX with good results.  I don't know if it is a Barnes bullet he is using, but they list IMR 4064 as the preferred powder with Big Game having the absolute highest velocity.  The velocity spread from top to bottom of what they list is only 161 fps, so I wouldn't pick powder on velocity.

[Karl Blanchard]

IMR4350

[zwickeyman]

Another vote for RL16 orRL19

[Bwana Bob]

Thanks guys for the info. I think I'll have him pick up a pound of RL 19 but we had great results accuracy wise using IMR 4064 and 4350 with 150 gr bullets in his rifle.

[Stein]

IMR4350

Why this over H4350?  Slight hijack, but I've been looking at changing powder if for no other reason than to do more loading and shooting this summer.

[Karl Blanchard]

IMR4350

Why this over H4350?  Slight hijack, but I've been looking at changing powder if for no other reason than to do more loading and shooting this summer.

both are fantastic powders but the IMR is just easier to come by.

[wheels]

4350  IMR or hogdens  54.5

[Matth]

I have had good results with RL19, and 165's, and it is fairly easy for me to come by.

[Bwana Bob]

My friends is a novice reloader and I don't want him to build loads with powder he can't find around here. Hard to find components around the Bothell area and Cabelals  sucks for such a big store. We had a combined order in for primers and powder at Powder valley but like a fool I waited for another friend to join in the buy and they ran out of IMR 4350,4064 and RL19 in 1lb cans.

[bobcat]

I would just use the IMR 4350. The RL19 probably won't get any better velocity.

[Stein]

If you get over to Wenatchee, Hooked on Toys seems to have the best selection of powder anywhere I have been.  I told the guy behind the counter I needed to buy some powder and he handed me H4350.  I laughed and he said he just does that and is right most of the time.

[Bwana Bob]

Thanks guys for all the input. It looks like IMR 4350 will get a good workout with those 165gr bullets. 4350 gave the best accuracy with the 150 bullets I loaded for him. I'm not trying to reach the absolute highest vel for his loads, I just want to use powders that have the potetial to do so with good accuracy

My friend doesn't have the skills to shoot much past 150 yd. I need him to develop an accurate load with those 165 gr bullets and then get his butt down to the range and shoot off his shooting sticks and some field positions so he will be confident to make shots out to 250 yd.

I helped him get his first elk, a cow in the Clockum. We stalked to 225 yd of some cows and he didn't have the confidence to shoot one of them even though he was sitting and shooting off his sticks. I told him I was going to shoot one of them and fill my tag. I killed one and he helped me pack it out. I told him he go his chance and in WA, THIS IS ALL YOU CAN HOPE FOR. Well BY THE GRACE OF THE HUNTING God's he got a chance at them again in the same draw I killed mine the day before, this time in his comfort zone of  < 100 yd. He killed his first elk with the hand loads I helped him build,150gr SGK. Ya I know a sierra game king. I told him a 165 gr bullet may be a better choice for both a deer and elk bullet, KISS.
Latter he told me he felt bad not shooting the day before  after all the work I did to get him on elk and then he realized all the stuff I was telling him about to practice / practice / practice. I think it sunk in