Reloading 30-06......what works for you?

[jrebel]

Starting the next project, wondering what has worked for everyone else.  I've never loaded for 30-06 but thought it would be cool to break out the old mans rifle.  My son said he would love to hunt with it in honor of his grandfather that he never really got to know.  Gonna use what I have on hand and if I get MOA I would be plenty pleased..... .  It is a 40 year old rifle and I'm going with the old mans RP brass.  Nothing special, but good enough to kill within 300 yards and likely under 100.  Hoping the boy can whack a bear with it being his granddad never got that chance. 

I have 150 or 180 grain accubonds for bullets

What powders have worked well for you?  Do you prefer the lighter or heavier bullets in the 30-06? 

Thanks in advance and I'll update how it goes....especially if the boy whacks something with it. 

[packmule]

56 gr IMR 4350. 180 grain Accubond or Partition.

[Igor]

Both of my sons shoot .30-'06, and I have loaded their hunting ammo for many years.  I prefer the 180 gr. bullets.  We tried shooting the same ammo in both rifles, and the first load shot very well in one rifle, and not well in the other.  So, I kept experimenting until I came up with the 2nd load.  Here are the two loads:

Federal brass
CCI 200 large rifle primer
180 gr. Nosler Partition bullet
54 gr. IMR 4350 powder

RP brass
CCI 200 large rifle primer
180 gr. Nosler Fail Safe bullet
55 gr. IMR 4350 powder

We did lots of experimenting before we settled on these two loads.  We tried a couple of different powders, and quite a few different bullets, including 165 gr.

Have fun, and be safe !!

[NRA4LIFE]

Ironic.  I have my dad's old 30-06 that I used to load for him when he shot it.  It's an older Remington 742 I think.  I haven't shot it in a very long time.  My loads were 150 gr Hornady spire points (I know, old school), 57 gr IMR 4350.  H4350 would be good I imagine.

[Rat44]

Ive had good luck with 4064 and 180 gr Partitions myself.

[wheels1]

H4350 powder  use 165 interlock  but I would  use either bullets

[HooknoseHunter]

I have a 1968 FN Browning Safari my dad gave me when I was 13. The best load I’ve found for it uses RL22 and a 180gr Speer Hot Cor.

[Caseknife]

Stiff load of RL-19 behind a 165 TSX produces good results.

[deerhunter_98520]

I'm shooting 168gr berger classic hunters behind some reloder 22 and it shoots one hole groups out of my weatherby mark v ultralight

[C-Money]

Sounds like a fun project...We use IMR 4350 with a 150gr Hornanday interlock. I use the Nosler manual. I believe 58gr is the max load recommended using a 150gr Nosler. We use CCI 200 Large rifle primers, with zero signs of pressure issues. My family and I have filled countless freezers over the years using this recipe in the Nosler manual. IMR 4350 is at the very top of the list for loading 30-06 ammo. I just made a batch this winter for my boy who is transitioning from the Custom light ammo to full power ammo in his .06

[jrebel]

Thanks for the responses.  Sounds like IMR 4350 is the ticket for a few of you.   I don't have that powder, but I do have plenty of H4350 so will be working with that powder first.  Hopefully make it to the range tomorrow to get this project going.  Truth be told......I'm not sure I have ever shot this rifle.  I'm looking forward to pulling the trigger of my dad one and only rifle.  He was the guy that owned one rifle and one shotgun that would cover all his hunting needs. 

Not sure where I picked up my addiction,  definitely not from him.   


 

[C-Money]

I truly think you will have great results with H4350...Let us know how it goes

[Stein]

H4350 for me as well.  I shoot 168s as they seem to do better than 180s.  Either kill anything I want to.

[Rem14]

My  1946 Win. 70 loves , 180gr.  bullets, 49gr. IMR-4320

[Wanttohuntmore]

Ha, 55 gr of imr 4350 behind a 180 partition worked well.   I'm trying a new load with H4350 behind 178 ELDX to fly a little flatter.