Need some help with loading 30-06

[LloydXmas250]

So I'm starting to reload 30-06 for/with my step-dad (he doesn't know what he's doing as much as me) but I've run into a slight problem. We're loading once fired Remington brass, with R19. He wants to use 150 gr. Barnes TSX and 168 gr Corelokt. According to my Lee manuel, Barnes starting load is 60.3 grs of R19. After measuring it out and then pouring into the brass the powder filled the brass to nearly the top. It was filled a little past where the neck starts. So high that loading the Barnes TSX would compact the powder even more. It looks like way too much but I've measured it numerous times. We are not willing to seat the bullet and try that round. Is R19 just like this or are we missing something?

Another quick question, the guide said to have a maximum overall length of 3.34 (I believe, can't quite remember). However measuring factory loaded Barnes and Corelokt we find them much shorter. Can 30-06 have a large variety of bullet seating depth? I load .223 and it doesn't have much variance in length so I'm not sure about minimum and maximums for 30-06.

[dw1784]

I don't have the latest data with Barnes, but my Speer manual says 3.295 OAL for 168 match, RL19 starting 57, max 61.0 compressed.

suggest trying Barnes website and alliantpowder.com for load data.

good luck.

[bumpo628]

The alliant website just shows 61 grains, but doesn't say if it's min or max. Is there anywhere online that has better data?

[Triple R Munitions]

if your worried about using that much powder, switch to another. 4064,4895, Win760, h4895....those are great powders.

i dont know what type of DUP load you are trying to get (ie hunting,targeting,etc). but 45gr of 4064 will give you about 2700 FPS out of a Garand. i would bet out of a bolt it would give 2800-2850fps...thats for a 150gr projo.

[msand951]

I use H4350 for 165 gr. bullets , so far its worked pretty good.

[BallisticTech]

I custom loaded some 30-06 about a year ago for a customer. I do not have the records in front of me at the moment. If memory serves correctly, I used H4831 with 165gr MatchKings. Accuracy was outstanding from a factory rifle. Groups averaged 0.65" at 100 yards.

[LloydXmas250]

Thanks for the recommendations on different powders. Just sucks that we bought this kind and it doesn't look like we'll ever use it. I'll check a few more sites about it. Does Barnes list data loads online? If so I can never find them. Any links?

[msand951]

Heres this site i checked out but not much help with R19 It has similar loads in the 60s.

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=30-06%20Springfield&Weight=All&type=Rifle&Order=Powder&Source=

Have you tried seating the bullet ? Maybe you have enough room to seat it. What type of scale are you using ? I would double check my load and try it out.

[msand951]

I understand on using other powders I feel the same way also . But just try it out you should be fine if you measure right. Some powders you have to compress with a wooden dowel. But i havent had problem yet. I guess some are a bit more fluffy.

[LloydXmas250]

I'm positive that seating the bullet would compress the powder. Looking on other sites they mention compression with R19 and 30-06 so maybe it's fine if it's compressed, it just doesn't look right. I'm using a Lee Safety Scale. I trust it to an extent as it's done fine for me loading .223 and it gave 60.3 grs every time I weighed the charge and I doublechecked that it zeroed out. My step-dad was so worried I think he's just going to buy one of those powder trickler/digital scale combos, either a Pact, Lyman, or RCBS.

I think he would be down to try the load if he had a crappy rifle and we tied a string around the trigger, haha.

[msand951]

You should be fine I use the same scale. Where in Redlands area do you go shooting at.

[brianinca]

The powder is pretty slow for 30-06 and you're compounding the issue by using long-for-weight Barnes bullets. RL19 is a good choice for true magnums, e.g. 300 WinMag, but even with lighter commercial cases with more internal capacity you're in an edge condition.

Having to use that much powder to get decent velocity means the powder is too slow for the caliber - you'll waste a lot of powder that won't burn until the bullet has exited the barrel.

I've loaded Barnes TSX's in a NUMBER of different calibers, and I had case capacity issues in 762x39, 30-30 Win and 308 Win. You can only compress so much, I had bullets come back out of the case mouth after seating even with good neck tension.

If you REALLY don't want to use a more appropriate powder, you can try settling the powder by charging the case with a drop tube, which is basically a 8-16" long McDonald's soda straw made of aluminum. What I did for my hunting loads was to use my vibratory tumbler to settle the powder in each case (hold against the center post). A friend of mine charged his cases and then set them on a running clothes dryer - I prefer my method.

For a bolt gun, IMR 4350 or H4350 are really good choices for best velocity in 30-06. Someone also mentioned 4831, it's a bit slower than 4350 and so is better for true magnums, especially with long bullets. I prefer the Hornady "Extreme" temp insensitive powders from ADI, anything H#### will fall into that category. I've had great results with H4350.

As an alternative, I use a LOT of Varget in a bunch of different calibers, that's another good choice if you reload for many different calibers - 223/308/3006 all work great with Varget.

Regards,
Brian in CA

Edit to add: The new American Rifleman had an ad from Natchez, spend $300 on RCBS products and get a $50 rebate, $279 for the CM1500 which is what I paid 4 years ago for a GREAT powder scale/thrower.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=RC&prodID=RC98923&prodTitle=RCBS%20Chargemaster%20Dispenser%20and%20Scale

[LloydXmas250]

Thanks for the advice brianinca. I think we'll definitely end up changing powders, but we don't want to waste this powder. We had found many reviews on R19 being good for 30-06 and my manual had recipes for his 150 gr Barnes TSX and his 165 gr Corelokt using R19 so we chose that one not knowing about needing to compress it.

I don't shoot in Redlands. We used to have a range but they shut it down citing lead pollution and the range is having trouble raising money to build a cover over the range. What we end up doing is just driving out to BLM land where we can shoot rifles. Kinda far but it's quiet and peaceful and free.

[msand951]

Good info Brian, I have to try varget on both .223 and 3006 I would like to have a good powder i can buy in bulk. I only used and stuck with 4350 for the 06, and tried Win748 for .223 and I just loaded some .223 with ramshot TAC to try out.

I shoot in Bee canyon in Hemet, But not for long distance shooting maybe 70 yrds.
Can you PMME the location where you go. I wont trash the place. Is it ideal for long distance for the 3006.

[jwest]

I have used Varget too for 30-06. I will post my recipe when I get home

Be very careful not to make a compressed load accidentally.