30-06 Reloads - Tell me what YOU do.

[DODGEM250]

I was given a small 200 rounds collection of cleaned and primed, 30-06 brass and I will soon be reloading some. I would like to do both cast lead boolits and some copper SPBT both in the 165 to 180 range.

I would like to know who uses what powder and how do you load your rounds ?

I still need to acquire some dies and bullets for this program, but, I'd like to get a jump start on load data for the upcoming event.

[Atakawow]

I have great luck with the Lee 170gr FN loaded with 2400. 20gr of 2400 under a GC'd Lee 170gr gives me the best groups.

[RevGeo]

I reload for a wildcat 31-40 Ackley Improved which is the ballistic equivalent of the 30-06 - pretty much same caliber and powder capacity. For jacketed bullet loads I've been using H380 for years. It's a good powder for the medium/large capacity cases, falling somewhere in between IMR 4320 and IMR 4350. It's great with 165 gr jacketed bullets.

For cast bullets of around the same weights I use SR-4759 and IMR 3031 a lot. IMR 4198 is also a useful cast bullet powder for the '06. I like these powders better than the 'pistol' powders because they fill the case more which I find gives more consistent ignition.
Just my .02

George

[Blammer]

30gr of IMR3031 and the NOE 311284.

standard primer, flair case mouth, add powder, seat boolit, crimp JUST enough to take out the flair, then shoot. :)

jwords, hmm, haven't loaded any in such a long time I forgot what my load was. :)

[leadman]

For cast 170 to 200gr, Sr4659 or 2400, 16 to 20grs.

For jacketed 4831 or 4350, IMR or Hodgdon. Follow the load manual for charge weight and primer.

[geargnasher]

Sounds like you need to get a couple of good reloading manuals along with your dies. I recommend at least getting the Lyman 49th edition since it has a good selection of both cast boolit and jacketed bullet loads. If you're brand-new to casting boolits, you might also get Richard Lee's Modern Reloading, second edition, and follow his methods of shooting cast boolits. That book also has some really good data for reduced loads in several rifle calibers, and the .30-'06 is one of them. Don't take Lee's method of loading to the strength of the alloy as holy writ, but it is a good guideline for beginners to get good accuracy with standard tools and mystery scrap alloys.

Gear

[curator]

Neck size fire-formed brass with Lee Collet die. Lyman #311299 cast of air-cooled wheel weight alloy +2% tin added, sized to .311 lubed with LBT "Blue." 17-20 grains of Alliant 2400 or 24 grains of SR4759. No crimp, just seat bullet so it touches the rifling upon closing the bolt. If this won't shoot look for other problems.

[462]

"Tell me what YOU do."

Well, what I did was to buy a few loading manuals and read them. I'm very fond of anything from Lyman, because of their cast loads. Sierra and Hornady do excellent jobs of covering jacketed loads. I've not been impressed with Speer manuals, however I haven't seen any since their 10th edition.

Select the powders that you think will best meet your particular goals, and whatever brand of dies that you are most comfortable with and fit your budget.

[Larry Gibson]

Loading '06......bolt action, single shot, pump action or semi auto?

While I load mostly the same in all with cast bullets I load considerably different with jacketed bullets for semi auto's (gas guns) than I do for the others.

Larry Gibson

[zomby woof]

30gr of IMR3031 and the NOE 311284.

standard primer, flair case mouth, add powder, seat boolit, crimp JUST enough to take out the flair, then shoot. :)


Are you using Dacron with this load. I was getting delayed ignition with this load without using a filler.

[RKJ]

I also would 2nd getting a couple of reloading books. I like Lyman and Hornady the best, (of course my Hornady is over 30 years old (3rd edition) so I need to take my own advice). My others are current so I'm not completely in the stone age. :) Anyway, I use 57 grains 4350 (in my Ruger they all work the same) standard primers (usually Winchester Large rifle) and RP or Federal brass under a Sierra 165 SPBT. I'm no expert rifleman but this load shoots good for me from 25-100 yards and where I hunt in central Missouri 100 yards is a long shot.

[runfiverun]

with jaxketed i use rl-19 [i use it for about everything]
and for cast it's hard to g wrong with 16-18 grs of 2400 with a 150-170gr boolit.
a large pistol primer sometimes will shrink groups.

[mroliver77]

For jacketed, 4895, 2520, Tac or possibly H414

For cast, Bulls Eye, Unique, 2400, 3031, 4895 Everybody that shoots a .30 cal should have a Lyman 311384 mold.

I agree, you should have at least two loading manuals. The Lee second addition and a Lyman.

[Forrest r]

I've been using nothing but H414 in the 30-06 for 25+ years. It's an excellent powder the meters well (small round ball powder) & burns clean. I use a 54g powder charge for jacketed bullets in the 147g/150g range & 52g powder charge for bullets in the 165g/168g range.

For cast bullets I use a light bullet, the lyman 311465 (122g). I've used a couple of different powders with good results, greendot, unique & hs-6 to name a few. It seems that the speed I drive the 311465 bullet (1500fps range) is more important than the powder that I use. That's probably due to the material (straight ww) that I use to cast them with, along with the lube that I use.

The 30-06 has been around forever & there's a ton of reloading data out there.

[Reload3006]

I use 180gr Jwords with 53 - 57gr of IMR4350 WW LR primer. seat .02 off lands. Bolt rifle.

[Echo]

My go-to load for J-Word bullets is 46 gr 4895 under a 165 gr Hdy JSP (no longer made, dang it!) or any other 165-168 gr J-Word.

[Char-Gar]

In the 30-06 here is my experience ..

Cast bullets in the 170 to 220 grain range (gas check do course) 16 to 18 grains of 2400, 4759, or 4227.
The round has been around over 100 years and has no secrets. There are many cast bullet designs that give excellent results.

Jacketed bullets get 4350. In a Garand use 4895"

[Bullwolf]

Loading 30'06 for my M1 Garand

150 grain jacketed bullet using 48 grains of IMR 3031. I Haven't gotten around to using cast boolits in the M1 Garand yet...

The same load works fine in my 1917 Remington 30'06 as well.


- Bullwolf

[rintinglen]

IMR 4350 for jacketed under Sierra 165 grain Game kings. For cast, I have used Unique, 2400, IMR 4759, 4227, WW 748 IMR 4895. Boolits used ranged from 311=245 90 grainers up through 311-224 200 grainers. For Info, I strongly Recommend the Lyman Manuals--they list cast Bullet loads as well as Jacketted.

[Shiloh]

I have different sizing mandrels for my neck sizer dies. One for jacketed, another for cast.
Trim all the brass, clean the primer pockets, bell the mouth sufficiently to not shave boolits.

Then load 314299 sized at .312 over 21 grains of 4759 clone or 23 gr of canister 4227.
Been a long time since I loaded jacketed bullets.

SHiloh

[Moonie]

I load for a bolt AND for a gas semi, I use H4895, 35gr with Lee 170gr fp is a nice light load in both guns and cycles the Remington 742 (without undue wear). In the bolt I've used 10gr of Unique and it is a very light shooting load. For full power jacketed loads I've worked up to 49gr of H4895 with 150gr Nosler BT's for my sons for hunting.

[trixter]

I see boolit sizes from .310 to .312 going through your 30.06's. I bought a Lee C309-155-R. It puts out boolits that are 99% .3105. Is this too small? or what?

I just need a little clarification, thanks

[grouch]

17.5 gr H110 and 311365 of ww + 2% tin. 10 shots @ 100yds, only 1 out of the 10ring. Model1917 Enfield, aperature sights, Shooting Federation of Canada target with 1" 10 ring.
Grouch

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I have a 7MM/06 wildcat, for deer I load the 145gr SPBT SPEER, for elk I load the 162gr SST BT HORNADY. I tried j bullets from 110-175 grs. Rem. Norma, Win.,Sierras .
Tried IMR 3031,4198,4320,4064,4350. l like IMR4350 BEST. AVOID LYMAN LOWEST SUGGESTED LOADS FOR 4320 &4350 DUE TO POSSIBLE SEE.

For the 30/06 the 150gr bullet did fine for me on deer when I had one. The 180gr would be excellent for elk.

Suggest you go with the heaviest cast your rifling will stabilize, if you might hunt with it. A flat nose design imparts more energy/wound channel.

I have tried most all the cast boolit loads in the Lyman book, The pistol powders provide good plinking/small game loads.
With some or the IMR powders you can get 2,000'/s with accuracy to hunt deer with.
IMR 4895,3031,4198 off the top of my head.:Fire::Fire:

[Reload3006]

HI,
I have a 7MM/06 wildcat, for deer I load the 145gr SPBT SPEER, for elk I load the 162gr SST BT HORNADY. I tried j bullets from 110-175 grs. Rem. Norma, Win.,Sierras .
Tried IMR 3031,4198,4320,4064,4350. l like IMR4350 BEST. AVOID LYMAN LOWEST SUGGESTED LOADS FOR 4320 &4350 DUE TO POSSIBLE SEE.

For the 30/06 the 150gr bullet did fine for me on deer when I had one. The 180gr would be excellent for elk.

Suggest you go with the heaviest cast your rifling will stabilize, if you might hunt with it. A flat nose design imparts more energy/wound channel.

I have tried most all the cast boolit loads in the Lyman book, The pistol powders provide good plinking/small game loads.
With some or the IMR powders you can get 2,000'/s with accuracy to hunt deer with.
IMR 4895,3031,4198 off the top of my head.:Fire::Fire:
What is the difference in your 7mm/06 and a 280/7mm express rem? I am intrigued.

[Alchemist]

Sounds like you need to get a couple of good reloading manuals along with your dies. I recommend at least getting the Lyman 49th edition since it has a good selection of both cast boolit and jacketed bullet loads. If you're brand-new to casting boolits, you might also get Richard Lee's Modern Reloading, second edition, and follow his methods of shooting cast boolits. That book also has some really good data for reduced loads in several rifle calibers, and the .30-'06 is one of them. Don't take Lee's method of loading to the strength of the alloy as holy writ, but it is a good guideline for beginners to get good accuracy with standard tools and mystery scrap alloys.

Gear

I concur with gear 100%. At least one manual is the first loading equipment one should buy. The Lyman 49th edition will get you both j-word and cast boolit load data. Using suggested load info from the 'net is foolhardy at best if it isn't verified against laboratory developed data. Even veteran loaders can make mistakes when posting info. I say again: evun veturin loders can mak misteaks win they poost infermashun on the inturnit.

[Certaindeaf]

I use a GC 190gr Lyman #311334 loaded in front of 13gr of Red Dot or a stout load of IMR4895.

[lead-1]

For cast, Bulls Eye, Unique, 2400, 3031, 4895 Everybody that shoots a .30 cal should have a Lyman 311384 mold.

I can't find this boolit, what does it look like or is there a different version out there?

[tonyjones]

The .280/7mm Express Remington is the 7mm-06 with the shoulder moved slightly forward so the round will not chamber in a .270 Winchester chamber.

Regards,

Tony