Reloading 30-06. Would like some advise please.

[nedro]

Copy the loads I use, you can reload the cases till the case necks crack, and the primer pockets open. Easily about 20 reloads, though there will always be a few body splits and case neck cracks along the way.

Use magnum level loads, and you might be tossing the cases after one reload, due to primer pocket expansion.

Do you use magnum primers? Or regular?

[RNE228]

OP, Slamfire's loads would be a good starting point, based on my 30-06 experience. Since you're shooting 100 yards, with potential for 200, load mild and your brass will last.

As always, start with the low load from the reloading manual and work up from there. But I bet you'll settle on a charge close to what Slamfire found worked for him.

Copy the loads I use, you can reload the cases till the case necks crack, and the primer pockets open. Easily about 20 reloads, though there will always be a few body splits and case neck cracks along the way.

Use magnum level loads, and you might be tossing the cases after one reload, due to primer pocket expansion.

[divingin]

Prior to 2000, the match bullet was a 168 SMK, and somewhere around 2000 the 175 SMK was introduced. The 168 SMK is an outstanding bullet out to 600 yards, I do think the 175 is better at that distance and all the way out to 1000 yards. The 168 will tumble somewhere around 700 yards, not that is all that important.

[M1NM]

Start with the 308 load you are happy with and develop from there

[slamfire1]

Do you use magnum primers? Or regular?

Standard primers, never magnum primers in a 30-06.

The best primers I have ever had were Tula. For a bolt gun, Federal primers shot well, and so did CCI #34's. I stopped using WLR primers when Winchester went to the brass finish and their primer cups became thinner. It is not worth having pierced primers which dish firing pins. The old nickle plate WLR were some of the best American primers, but they ruined them.

I exclusively use CCI #34's in gas guns, as "commercial" primers are too sensitive for the things. Primer sensitivity increases the chance of a slamfire.

Sierra's blurb: "This bullet was designed with one thing in mind, and that was to shoot 1000 yards in a 308 Winchester. To accomplish that, we added length to the boattail and engineered a forgiving tangent ogive with a closed nose. Doing this gave it a .527 BC which keeps it super sonic past 1000 yards in a 308 chamber. This bullet is basically a redesign of the legendary 168MK which we will continue to manufacture. Anyone that enjoys shooting medium to long range with a 308 or even the big magnums will love this bullet."

Disclaimer: It is listed in the "New bullets for 2021" news article on Sierra's site, but the link to the description (included above) is not working. I didn't see any other mention of it on Sierra's website.

That is interesting. When I was going to Camp Perry for service rifle, I bought lots and lots of 168 match bullets, so I am well stocked up. The 168 is a great bullet, even out to 600 yards, but I have had them tumble at 1000 yards. I am going to say, the 175 SMK is a better all around bullet than the 168, and I don't see a reason for a 169 unless there is some velocity they are looking for. I do have ammo cans full of 175's, so I have a good supply.

I was surprised how well my pulled Federal Fusion 150 gr boattail bullets did at 600 yards in my Ruger #1. They held the ten ring, and that is more or less, my standard. If the load holds the ten ring out to 600 yards, I consider it good.

Unlike bench resters or F Class, I hold my weapon. When you don't hold your rifle, shooting is more the quality of your equipment, and less you. I for see a day when snooty bench resters will be insulting the sling, offhand, kneeling, shooters because their robo guns shoot one hole groups. It is coming.

[divingin]

I was surprised how well my pulled Federal Fusion 150 gr boattail bullets did at 600 yards in my Ruger #1. They held the ten ring, and that is more or less, my standard. If the load holds the ten ring out to 600 yards, I consider it good.

Palma guys are shooting 150/155 grain loads to a thousand, aren't they?

The deficiency in the 168's was limited to that bullet, the 168SMK. The 169 gives an extra choice for the long range shooter to employ.

I for see a day when snooty bench resters will be insulting the sling, offhand, kneeling, shooters because their robo guns shoot one hole groups. It is coming.

I don't know. I don't see too many bullseye pistol shooters ragging on combat guys for using two hands. Everyone realizes different disciplines have different requirements.

[slamfire1]

Palma guys are shooting 150/155 grain loads to a thousand, aren't they?

I have shot the 155's out to 600 yards, at velocities slower than the 190 SMK's, and my 190 SMK's tumbled. That was a surprise.

The 155's are a very slippery, well designed bullet. Do understand the F Class guys are shooting the things around 3050 fps. They are also pushing their 185 Bergers faster than I am pushing my 168's!. Service rifle gas systems imposed a velocity/pressure limit. Luckily the 175 was stable all the way out to 1000.

I don't know. I don't see too many bullseye pistol shooters ragging on combat guys for using two hands. Everyone realizes different disciplines have different requirements.

I used to think Bullseye shooters were all *******s as the first two Bullseye shooters I met assured me, that a Bullseye Pistol shooter could pick up any weapon, in any shooting sport, and beat them all. Because, obviously, Bullseye shooters were superior in all respects.

Because of these guys, it was decades before I started shooting 2700 Pistol. And those were wasted decades, and I am glad I am shooting 2700 Bullseye. Those two arrogant ******* Bullseye shooters were the only arrogant ******* Bullseye shooters I have ever met. The rest are just glad I am there and shooting with them. I will say, 2700 Bullseye is the most difficult shooting sport I have tried, it is hard. And, I am glad to say, it is great to be bad again. The pressure is less, and there is a lot of space to improve. I can have a train wreck, and so what, when you are bad, the rails are always loose.




I know a lot of F Class shooters, all of them used to be good to great sling shooters. And they do not ridicule other shooter's groups. No one around my area is a bench rest shooter, I would like to assume that not all are *******s. But on this forum, there is a bench rester who regularly belittles my targets with snooty comments about "you think those targets are good?", so I am not too sure about the benchrest crowd.

[bigbossman]

...... so I am not too sure about the benchrest crowd.

They tend to be a bit..... umm..... "different".

[nedro]

So, I checked my stock and have lots of Nosler 168g RDF and lots of Nosler Custom Comp 168g. So that's what I'll be working with.

The fun part came this morning as I just got back from scouring the LGS in my area. The first place I went to had no powder at all. We had a good laugh and the guys says, "By any chance, do you need primers?"
Me, "What? I wasn't even going to ask about those. Do you have LRPs?"
YEP!
So he comes out and I pick up 200 Federal Bench Rest primers and 300 Winchester LRPs that are the SS caps, not the copper colored ones.
He says to come back next week and he may allow me to buy another 1/2K.
SWEET! But no powder anywhere.

[fx1974]

I love reloading the 30-06

I think 30-06 is one of the most forgiving cartridges to load. Wide accuracy nodes and lots of powder options. I even think it is better than 308 for the wide range of bullets you can load on it. I've loaded 125gr Speer TNTs up to 208 Amax/ELDMs and they all do the job. I think your 168s will be excellent. My pet load for 168gr was 48gr IMR4064. A lot of other powders would be excellent.

The best load I have for less than 300 yards plinking would be reduced loads using H4895. My recipe is 39gr H4895 150gr FMJBTs. Very soft shooting. I had a Ruger American 30-06 22" 1:10 that can shoot it within 3" circle at 200 yards. I dont remember the exact muzzle speed but that was around 2000fps. https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/upl...ifle-loads.pdf

The best factory ammo I've had was from CreedmoorSports.com. I think they are out of stock now like most are. But their in-house factory ammo is second to none. Last time I purchased 50 rounds Lapua Scenar on Lapua brass for $70 before 2019 internet ammo sales was banned. I've reused brass from those for my full power 1k yard loads and they are in their 8th firings still with lots of life left. I just started annealing for some of my rifles but I think it is not really that necessary unless you are chasing consistency.

[nedro]

Thanks FX,
Has anyone had good experience with W748?
So far, it's the only thing I've found. I didn't buy it though.

[slamfire1]

I think 30-06 is one of the most forgiving cartridges to load. Wide accuracy nodes and lots of powder options. I even think it is better than 308 for the wide range of bullets you can load on it. I've loaded 125gr Speer TNTs up to 208 Amax/ELDMs and they all do the job. I think your 168s will be excellent. My pet load for 168gr was 48gr IMR4064. A lot of other powders would be excellent.

A+

The best load I have for less than 300 yards plinking would be reduced loads using H4895. My recipe is 39gr H4895 150gr FMJBTs. Very soft shooting. I had a Ruger American 30-06 22" 1:10 that can shoot it within 3" circle at 200 yards. I dont remember the exact muzzle speed but that was around 2000fps. https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/upl...ifle-loads.pdf
.

[fx1974]

Has anyone had good experience with W748?
So far, it's the only thing I've found. I didn't buy it though.

I haven't used W748 for 30-06 but looking at hodgdonreloading.com, I see recipes for it for 150gr but not 168gr pills.
If you're close enough I could sell you a lb of H4895 - or trade for SPP's

[nedro]

Thanks for the offer but I only have LPMP.
And driving to Sonoma for 1# seems harsh.
Although I very much appreciate the offer.

[fx1974]