Extending the range of a 30-06?

[Jingles]

MPBR for Sierra 180gr SBT 5inches above or below line of sight being pushed by 58.5 gr IMR 4350 @3000fps is 370 yards zero set at 310 yards

[bow-n-head]

A little different direction... find an accurate load that you could trust. There are many good ones. Then hit the range and practice out to... well I try everything out to 1000 yards until I can hit with consistency. Just get out and burn some powder.

[sakoshooter]

MPBR for Sierra 180gr SBT 5inches above or below line of sight being pushed by 58.5 gr IMR 4350 @3000fps is 370 yards zero set at 310 yards

Just curious how you're getting 3000 fps?

[Gringo31]

My experience is that most antelope are shot under 300 yards.   

[CP]

A 150g boat-tail bullet @ 2900fps gives a MPB range (6") of about 365 yd.  You need more?

...hmm.. maybe I'm not looking at the right balistics (??)- I've researched and a 6" MPBR (3" high to 3" low) for my load is about 270yds.

I can't see how that can be.  Any 3006 bullet at 2900 ft/sec that does not go more than 3" above the line of sight would be much lower than 3" at 365 yards.

You should just go buy a Weatherby 257.  You can get an ugly Vanguard for around $400.  They have a very good reputation for accuracy.

MPB is usually stated in radius - I gave data for +/- 6" not +/- 3". 

[CP]

Here's a site that you can pull in all your variables:

http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi

[Curly]

Well, as they say there's no free lunch.  If you back into the ballistic coefficient of that 110 grain bullet using Federal's data, it's about .31.  That's pretty low.  Here's an approximate ballistics chart with a 3" high maximum rise, which occurs at about 157 yards.  The zero range is 275 yards, and a 3" MPBR is about 320 yrds.

110 grain bullet,  BC = 0.315         
Yds   Drop   Ft / Sec   Ft / Lbs
0   -1.5   3400   2823
100   2.4   3093   2337
157   3.0   2925   2090
200   2.6   2801   1917
250   1.2   2661   1729
275   -0.1   2592   1641
300   -1.6   2524   1556
325   -3.4   2457   1474
350   -5.6   2391   1396
375   -8.2   2325   1320
400   -11.3   2261   1248
425   -14.7   2197   1179
450   -18.6   2135   1113
475   -22.9   2073   1050
500   -27.8   2012   989
525   -33.1   1952   931
550   -39.1   1893   875
575   -45.7   1835   823
600   -52.9   1778   772

I haven't ran the numbers, but I'd assume that light bullet with low BC would be affected greatly by the wind.  And it is harder to compensate for wind drift than effects of gravity.

The 30-06 should be fine for goats, but I think the OP now has a good reason for a new rifle.  Probably .270 WSM..........   It's always good to talk yourself into a new gun.

[Bob33]

A light bullet is more prone to wind drift, but that is compensated for somewhat by the fact that is faster and thus wind has less time to act on it.  Out to 400 yards it's probably neck and neck with a heavier, slower bullet.  As the distances get longer, it's a hare and tortoise show with the heavier bullet being the tortoise.

[Special T]

I think many people would like to think they can shoot well out to/past 400 yrds but that is not the case. I agree with Bow-N-Head. shoot what ya have until you are proficient. Many people i know who are awsome shots just have one rifle... At the Warden Coyote round up there was a life sixe steel target at an unkown distance... It was 450 od yards there were only 2 or 3 payouts with people shooting EVERY kind of caliber. The use of a range finder and practice will do more for your shooting than anything else. 

[Wanttohuntmore]

Get a rangefinder that will work out to 600 yds on non-reflective surfaces, or greater.  Then, practice.  I have a 7STW and a 30-06, and do not feel any negatives using either one, other than I like the stock on my 7STW more.  A 3006, can push a 165 around 2900-2950.  Very close to a 7mm Mag with a 160, and almost similar BC.  Don't let the MAG word fool ya, an 06 is about the most perfect western rifle.

[gutsnthegrass]

One other thing to think about, take it to a gunsmith and have him turn it into a 30-06 ackley.  You will have to reload for it but you should be able to get close to 300 WM ballistics and its not that expensive to have done.

[bobcat]

Going to an Ackley only gains you 100 feet per second, or slightly more. Not worth it, in my opinion. That's not enough increase in velocity to make any noticeable difference in your trajectory.

[Bob33]

I think the bottom line is this: a 30-06 can probably get you to a MPBR of around 285 yards, using a 3" radius (+/- 3").

Everything being equal, a 257 Weatherby can extend your MPBR out to around 345 yards: a gain of 60 yards.  That's about as flat a factory caliber as you can get.

You can certainly get by fine with a 30-06.  You need to understand its ballistics, and practice at longer distances if you intend to shoot at them.  A 257 is clearly faster and flatter shooting.  You will not need to hold over as much.

I have both.  I love my 30-06, and use it probably more than any other caliber. However, for antelope and long range deer, the 257 gets the call.