i need a .30-06 recipe for target shooting and hunting

[Hornet_RN]

i'm new to handloading so please have mercy on my inexperience. i have this .30-06 bolt action Rem 700 i want to start loading but i'm having a hard time on deciding the right powder to which bullet. i should also say that i'm primarily a target shooter that dabbles in a little hunting now and then. anyway, here are my questions.

1) what powder is ideal for .30-06? i heard you could use IMR-4064, but i've heard other powders might work a little better for .30-06.

2) what bullets and bullet weight is ideal for target shooting? i do a little metallic silhouette competition, but i also set up targets and shoot up to 600-1000+ yards in the open Nevada desert. i got a bunch of Sierra 175 grain MatchKings left over, will those do well?

3) what's a good NON-lead hunting bullet? i'm planning a hog hunt next year with an outfitter. and maybe in the future, if i like it, maybe deer hunting if i can. a good varmint hunting load would be great too. i looked at Nosler with the 150-180 grain bullets, i heard their NON-lead bullets are pretty good.

any recipes you all can share with me would be great!

thanks,
hornet_rn

[Shoot-it]

Semi slow burning powders work great.I like H 4832 and H4350.
reloading manual also lists imr 4064 but I never used it.

Nosler E tip is non lead and I had good results loaded in my 270 it was accurate.

[Divernhunter]

I am mainly a hunter but do alot of fun target shooting. I have loaded for the 30-06 since the early 1960's. IMR4895 was the original powder for the 30-06 with 147-150gr mil bullets. I have used Win760 for many years with 130 or 150gr bullets. IMR4064 works very well and gives more speed than IMR4350 or H4350 and IMR(or H)4831 is just too slow of a powder for the 30-06. My chrono does not lie. For a non-lead load I load a max load of IMR4064 with Barnes 150gr Tipped Triple Shock bullets and they are very accurate and fast. Remember with non-lead bullets you need speed to have them open well. I also want to try the 130gr Barnes TTS bullets. The Hornady GMX(non-lead) bullets are what I want to use in the future since I can use the same data as for regular bullets. Be carefull with Nosler non-lead bullets as the listed PAR data can oonly use up to the middle load for the E-Tip(non-lead). Foe that reason I will not use them.

I do not shoot bullets heiver than 150-165grs and not any target bullets so my info is for hunting bullets.

Bottom line I suggest IMR4064 or Win760 powder.

[BigBronco]

After you use up the Matchkings give the Hornady 168 gr Amax bullets a try. I tried them about a month ago and was very pleased.

Hornady 168 gr Amax
46 Gr Varget
Win Primer

Shot very well through both a Rem 700 and a M1 Garand I only shot to 600 Yds. though. Rem Scoped and the Garand with Iron sights. Once I exhaust my other 30 cals I would be likely to use them exclusively.

[pennstater]

For informal target shooting and same out in the Nevada desert, Hornady 150's and 52.0 IMR 4064 is real hard to beat; its also a VERY good hunting load for antelope and deer .
I agree with BigBronco, 168's will do better at loooonger ranges. The fun of this whole exercise, is to try different components. Powders,other than 4064, H4350, Ramshot Hunter, there are many that work well in the 30-06, but these will get you started.