.30-06

[waco]

So, I have a Ruger Hawkeye in .30-06, stainless synthetic.
It's my hunting rig. So far it's only ever seen J words through it.
I have a Lyman 311041 mold that drops boolits @ .311
BAC is the lube I have.
I would like to load some rounds for target work, and hunting practice.
Powders on hand are 3031, 4895, Varget, 4064, Unique, 2400
I have 50 rounds of 1945 LC brass, once fired set aside for cast pills.
Any help with some starting load data that has worked for you would be great!
Does the 06 do well with cast? Ive had decent luck with the .308 in the past.
Thanks again fellas.
Waco

[shredder]

My 06 does awesome with cast! I use 16 grains of 2400 as the recommended "standard" with a few different boolits. I do not have the same mould as yours, however the load is recommended as universal for 30-06 sized cartridges. Give that a try first.
I have had good luck with IMR 4895. I use 35 (I think, not near my load notes right now!) grains of it behind a 170 grain flat nose boolit to get 1850fps and it is a sure killer on whitetails.

[waco]

I've heard that 16 grains of 2400 is a classic. I'll be sure to give it a try!

[Le Loup Solitaire]

All of the powders that you list are excellent performers in the 06. The Lyman 311041 IIRC is around 170 grains and is basically the Lyman 311291 with a small meplat(nose chopped). It is very successful in 30 cal rifles. Due to the large number of powders that will work I would suggest consulting some of the readings available on this forum and/or a manual or too (or more) to see what the possible menus are for loading data. Generally it is advisable to begin load development in the medium range and with a close eye kept on the grouping/accuracy, move either up or down with the powder load. Bullet diameter for the 30 cal usually falls in the .309-.311 range, but you have to see what your gun prefers. Its all about experimenting so keep records and stuff written down. That would include alloy, lube, casting info, etc. Your Ruger Hawkeye is a nice gun and should do well for you.LLS

[Pb2au]

16 grains of 2400 is a good place to start. Work up to 20. My '06 at 100 yards is putting them into an inch,plus a hair. Very consistent and accurate.
Good luck, let us know if you need anything!

[waco]

Thanks. I'll start low and work up. Should be a fun project!

[runfiverun]

17 grs of 2400.
if it don't shoot that well then you need a different boolit.
make a dummy round and see if it even chambers before you go too far.
the 311041 won't even chamber in my wifes 0-6, and is a distant third in my 1917 in the accuracy dept.

[smokeywolf]

What runfiverun said.

[Larry Gibson]

Start at 28 gr 4895 and use a 3/4 gr Dacron filler. Work up to 34 gr testing at 100 yards for accuracy. Ten shot groups will tell the story for sure. Best accuracy will be in the 1800 - 1950 fps range but useable hunting accuracy can be had in the 2000 - 2100 fps range which is very good to 200 yards on deer. I killed a lot of black tails in the cascades up out of Quartzville with that bullet in the 30-30, .308W and the '06.

Larry Gibson

[tomme boy]

Larry beat me to it. 4895! I keep going back to it with lead and jacketed.

[waco]

Thanks Larry. When did you live around these parts?

[w5pv]

I have used and killed a lot of deer with 4895 and j words.I haven't hunted with cast yet but my load at the present is 40 grains of 4831 under a 200 grain lead pointed nose gas checked in the 3006.I don't have chronograph but I estimate this load to be around 1850 to 2000 fps.I gives me groups around 3/4" at 75 yards.I am well satisfied with the results if it helps any.

[Larry Gibson]

Thanks Larry. When did you live around these parts?

Born in Eugene, raised in the Salem/Dallas area and lived in Salem and out in Aumsville when I returned from active duty in the Army before being transferred to NE Oregon by OSP. That was all from '47 to '72.

Larry Gibson

[waco]

Born in Eugene, raised in the Salem/Dallas area and lived in Salem and out in Aumsville when I returned from active duty in the Army before being transferred to NE Oregon by OSP. That was all from '47 to '72.

Larry Gibson
right on. I'm a young wiper snapper. I was born in 1974! LOL

[10x]

My dad's Santa Barbra mauser (30/06) loves the lee 150 grain GC bullet with 28 grains of IMR 3031. The 8" gong at 275 yards used to take a beating when I shot this round off the bench. Misses were so rare as to be remarkable. Velocity using WW was about 1750 fps. I would imagine the 170 grain lyman at 311 would perform accordingly.

[Larry Gibson]

right on. I'm a young wiper snapper. I was born in 1974! LOL

I'd already killed lots of deer with the 311041 in the '06 before you started crapp*ng in your drawer's.....LOLs. you'll do well with that combination. Used to be lots of big old bucks up on the west side of the Cascades....

Larry Gibson

[Char-Gar]

You have all the makins needed. The bullets is a good one, the size .311, is a good size, the cartridge 30-06 is a good one and 2400 is a good powder.

Like others try 16/2400 and then worked it up and down a grain or two to find the sweet spot. Decopper your rifle bore before starting.

If you strive for velocities above 1.7 K fps, then our medium burning powders like 4895 will treat you well. I seldom push cast bullets in the 30-06 that fast, but you might want to give it a go.

[glockky]

This is great post gonna have to try some 2400 looks like

[dozerdog]

Hey guys I am also new to this sight. I have a question. I'm having a custom 30-06 put together on a mauser action and plan on using a lee c309-170f single cavity that I already have. What would be your guys suggested twist rate and barrel length for this rifle.

[YunGun]

Hey guys I am also new to this sight. I have a question. I'm having a custom 30-06 put together on a mauser action and plan on using a lee c309-170f single cavity that I already have. What would be your guys suggested twist rate and barrel length for this rifle.

You'd likely receive more(/useful) responses if you started your own thread for this topic in the 'Gunsmithing Tips & Tricks (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?20-Gunsmithing-Tips-amp-Tricks)' or even better yet, "The Barrel Works (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?48-The-Barrel-Works)" subforum. Just a thought....

[pdawg_shooter]

My 06 likes that bullet sized .3015/.302 and patched back up over H414 for just a little over 2600fps.