30-06 150 gr.

[timberman]

Have read some posts on reloading 30-06 but was wondering what your favorite bullet,powder,primer was for the 150 grain bullet in a 30-06. I want to use this for an all around load just shooting, coyotes, maybe deer? thanks

[billc]

I use 49 gr IMR-4064 with M2 ball -- 150gr flat base -- in my M1 Garand, 03-A3, and 1917 30-06s. You can go up or down a couple of grains as you need or wish. IMR-4064 would be the first powder I would try for a 30-06.

[sourdough44]

For hunting I'd go with a simple Sierra gameking or Hornady interlock, whatever you could get & shot well. For powder I'd look to the 4895-Varget or so burn rate, again what you have or what's available. I was at a Cabela's 9 months ago in AR, one powder they had a bunch of was IMR-4064.

[timberman]

Thanks for the replies, that will give me some starting points. I have done some looking at different bullets to load and see some people complaining about the gamekings coming apart on game. Is that from too much powder?

[sourdough44]

Just thinking about my averages over the years, Sierra bullets are often among the best shooting. I've heard a bit about a gameking being more frangible, I don't think it is anything to fret about. Like a lot of things, one has to see for yourself.

My preferred broadside shot is the back edge of the fore leg, that is a 'soft tissue' shot. Ideally I'd take some forward angle rather than straight across, or back angle. That mentioned, shots while hunting are not always ideal.

My buddy has been using a 30-06 for deer going on decades. He has pretty much settled on 180 grn bullets, another option. I like 165 grn with the 30 cal, but the last few years I've moved to the 6 & 7mm.

I've seen all kinds of talk about bullets, good & bad. The truth is so much comes down to shot placement. A bad hit is a bad hit, top of the line bullet or not. A 150 grn 'game bullet' out of a 30-06 is plenty, as long as the hit is right.

[billc]

I've never recovered a Gameking. From 30 yards to 300 yards they go completely through a whitetail. I've used GK in a 6.5 Grendel, 308 Win, 300 Win Mag, 358 Win, 257 Roberts Improved to kill deer. Sierra bullets shoot well and kill well -- always the first choice for me when hunting.

[timberman]

billc, do you reload your own or factory? if you reload do you know what velocity they are moving at? Under 3,000? thanks for the replies

[timberman]

I have seen a lot of good info on the 165 and I will try some of them. Some of the problems with bullet performance from what I understand is that they are trying to push them too fast or using them for other than intended purpose. Shot placement is critical no matter what size or type of bullet you use for sure. Thanks for the replies.

[billc]

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. Yes, I roll my own and the only things I load over 3000 fps are 223s and the 257 Roberts AI. 30-06 loads are 2600 to 2800 fps.

[timberman]

Thanks, I have ordered some bullets and die,& such, have the press. After looking at some of the loading data on the Hodgyn powder site and seeing the same as you mentioned for speed on the 165 grain. Don't want an explosion just good performance. I picked up a couple of nuisance deer from someone and I will ask him what he shot them with but the one had a football size hole on the entrance side of the front shoulder and bullet spatter thru to the other shoulder. He shot it twice, one thru the backstraps so the hind quarters were what was left. That does make good meat tho, not complaining on extra venison, but can see what I don't want to accomplish for freezer fare on my own.

[tarheelpwr]

I would jump up to the 165 class personally. It seems the best balance for all around. You get the BC benefit of 180's and the muzzle velocity of the 150's. I'd recommend trying Reloader 17. I have been talking with some guys over on LRH that love the RL17 powder. I'll be working up RL17 with 165 BTSP interlocks. I'm expecting around 3000 fps.

[rjhans53]

right now it seems to me that my 06's want to shoot the 165's around 2700-2800. I managed to score some 760 right after things started getting hard to find. The new horn book says 56.2 max but the old data in the complete reloading manual says 60.8, I don't ever think I'll go above the 56 as it shoots well, is easy on the shoulder, and will help stretch out my powder some.

[tarheelpwr]

Jan 30, 2014 13:43:09 GMT -5 rjhans53 said:

right now it seems to me that my 06's want to shoot the 165's around 2700-2800. I managed to score some 760 right after things started getting hard to find. The new horn book says 56.2 max but the old data in the complete reloading manual says 60.8, I don't ever think I'll go above the 56 as it shoots well, is easy on the shoulder, and will help stretch out my powder some.

That sounds about right.  Most reports on the RL17 say it adds 200 fps to the top end.  I'm hoping it lives up to the claim.

[wayles]

Remington brass, reloader 19 powder, 150 grn nosler accubond bullet, and federal 210 match primers. Deadly on deer and antelope
Wayles

[dannoboone]

Jan 30, 2014 14:15:40 GMT -5 tarheelpwr said:

Most reports on the RL17 say it adds 200 fps to the top end.  I'm hoping it lives up to the claim.

One thing I found with RL17 is that for that added
200fps, it needs to be used with heavier for caliber
bullets to perform well. There seems to be a definite
weight point in which that happens, too. For instance,
it loses speed (and accuracy) with 75gr bullets in my
.25-06 but is accurate and over 200fps faster with 85gr
bullets (same charge, to boot). It does poorly with
70gr bullets in my .243, but is great with 105gr A-max.