Reduced Load for 30-06

[kube6]

At 84 I find the recoil of a full load 30-06 a bit more than I can enjoy.

Does any one have a reduced load for deer approaching the performance and recoil of a 243 ?

I would like to use a 130 gr Barnes TSX with one of the following powders:

IMR 3031, IMR 4895, Accurate 4350,or Trail boss.

Thanks in advance.

[Divernhunter]

Not a good idea to slow down a Barnes bullet for hunting. ESPECIALLY with a TSX bullet. It is a bad idea with the TTSX bullets also. That is if you want good terminal performance.

Honesty IF you want less recoil get a smaller cartridge chambered rifle. A 260Rem with 100gr TTSX or a 257R with 80gr TTSX or even a 7mm-08 with 110gr TTSX bullets will give you less recoil and yet allow enough speed to let the bullet do its job. I do not know where you live but you are welcome to shoot some of my rifles.

A load with trail boss or a light load of the others and you will not get good expansion.

You owe the animal enough respect to use a combo that will insure a quick clean kill as apposed to wounding and loosing it.

One more thing. If you do not have one get a limbsaver recoil pad for your rifle. They make a huge difference. Depending on the rifle you may be able to get a direct replacement one and 2 screws is all you need to do to change it.

Another option is also Mag-n-Porting the rifle. This will not hurt your ears like a brake. OR put a good brake on it and use ear protection at all times while hunting. Both will reduce recoil and muzzle flip.

My 2 Cents---From another old guy(64) who cannot take the recoil like I use to.

[Full Clip]

At 84 I find the recoil of a full load 30-06 a bit more than I can enjoy.

Lemmie just say congrats on staying in the game at 84.
Gives me hope that I have many more years to enjoy hunting and the shooting sports.

[Cowboy T]

Perhaps another gun purchase isn't a feasible option in this case. Or the OP simply would prefer to stick with the rifle he's known for years and is good with. If so, I can dig that.

Some people did some tests on Barnes TSX's, Hornady GMX's, and a few other non-lead-core bullets vs. the Remington Core-Lokt to determine energy transfer. I was skeptical until I noted the initial velocities; they apparently didn't stick with full-house loads. The cartridges used were .30-06 and .270 Win.

http://www.huntingwithnonlead.org/PDFs_Main/velocitydata_chart.pdf

And the article explaining their test.

http://www.huntingwithnonlead.org/bullet_performance.html

[BigBronco]

Contact Bumslie. He did this about a year back. I think he was using Unique with data from a Speer #9.

[Bastard]

are you looking for a load specific to hunting applications & if so are you hunting in CA or traveling out of state - basically are you constrained by the lead free laws?

I load a lot of reduced loads using unique but then again I am also using cast bullets

[kube6]

Re Reduced Load for 30-06

Residing in the Peoples Republic of California, I am constrained by the non-lead restriction.

I have been shooting the same Model 70 for the
past 60 years so I am not anxious to change.

[sghart]

I use a lot of 3031 in my 30-06. I shoot cast bullets and FMJ pulldowns. I hesitate to give out my load data as my loads, while safe, are for heavy (180gr-220gr) bullets. Also, I am not concerened with bullet performance and expansion. I don't hunt any more, just punch paper.

Here is a link from IMR that lists reduced 30-06 loads for Trail Boss. I bookmarked this article because I am going to load this powder for my grandkids if I ever find any. (Trail Boss, not grandkids.)

Best of luck.

http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

[frt96]

Try Barnes tsx 110 grain with 47 grains of imr 4895. Great reduced load and plenty fast for Barnes to open.
My son has been shooting for his since he was 12. About the same recoil as a 243

[milotrain]

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=31720

[highpower790]

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=31720

Milo I had thoughts of the 130tnt.I used them in my M1s.In 308 with as little 38GR of imr4895 and 06 with 41-42gr.

[milotrain]

I was thinking of an M1 "JCG" match load that is just a 125 Sierra flat base with a light load for rapids. "pop pop pop"

[rm1911]

At 84...hmmm, you've probably served your country honorably, worked all your life and paid taxes, never committed a crime, and at worst maybe got a speeding ticket. Yep, you're a threat to our security. Be thankful we have such enlightened despots.

As for reduced loads try trail boss. It works with jacketed bullets as well as lead. Maybe look at 30-30 bullets, since they're designed for lower velocities.

If you're anywhere near northern Los Angeles, I got a pound you can have. I've got several.

[Bumslie]

Contact Bumslie. He did this about a year back. I think he was using Unique with data from a Speer #9.

While I was working on reduced loads for my 30.06 using red dot, unique, and 700x, this was using cast bullets.

Not very helpful if he is in a lead free Zone.

Furthermore, as divernhunter pointed out, these reduced loads will not preform well with his Barnes bullets. They are moving too slow.

[Religious Shooter]

Does any one have a reduced load for deer approaching the performance and recoil of a 243 ?

I would like to use a 130 gr Barnes TSX with one of the following powders:

IMR 3031, IMR 4895, Accurate 4350,or Trail boss.

Thanks in advance.

For deer I would not bother with Trailboss.

From my Ruger American 30-06 I got:

110 TSX, 14gr Trailboss, 1614 FPS, 636.3 ft/lbs
110 TSX, 17gr Trailboss, 1829 FPS, 817.3 ft/lbs

With my 20" 243 I typically get about 1700 ft/lbs from the muzzle. I think 2000 ft/lbs is not much more of a kick.

I don't have specific data for the other powders you listed. But I have this data for my Ruger American in 30-06:

130 TTSX, 54.5gr Reloder 17, 2583 FPS, 1923.5 ft/lbs, 1.29" @ 100 yards

130 TTSX, 54.1gr H414, 2645 FPS, 2019 ft/lbs, 2.08" @ 100 yards

110 TTSX, 46.5gr H4895, 2542.6 fps, 1578.8 ft/lbs, 1.4" @ 100 yards

110 TTSX, 57.5gr H414, 2859 fps, 1997 ft/lbs, 1.22" @ 100 yards

110 TTSX, 58.0gr Reloder 17, 2772 fps, 1877 ft/lbs, 1.46" @ 100 yards

For reduced loads I would recommend H4895. Trailboss and H4895 are specifically recommended by Hodgdon for reduced loads.