"Best" 30-06 powder for hunting

[Went2kck]

I use BLC2 out of an M1 Garand. Works good but a bit dirty. Maybe I need to try the 4350 in the old work gun.

[osteodoc08]

I use BLC2 out of an M1 Garand. Works good but a bit dirty. Maybe I need to try the 4350 in the old work gun.

Too slow a powder. The M1 has very specific needs for burn rate and velocity. Please don't damage her.

[Beau Cassidy]

About 4 years ago I put somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 rounds downrange trying out a new rifle. Day in and day out with predicable repeatability and the highest velocity was Ramshot Hunter by a long shot. That was the first time I had ever used it and I now have more than a lifetime supply. It's that good.

[quickdraw66]

I like IMR 4320 and a Nosler 180gr Ballistic Tip for hunting with jacketed bullets. If I'm using cast bullets, I like using Unique if you can find it nowadays. I use the LEE C312-185-1R mold sized down to .309". Lubed and gas checked, it's usually ends up weighing about 190gr. It's deadly accurate out of my 30-06.

[smkummer]

Just won a CMP vintage bolt rifle match with a P17 57 grains IMR 4350 and M2 ball bullet of 150 grains. 274-4x. I just loaded the last of it and will switch to some surplus 4895 when I shoot the last 70 rounds of this. I prefer 4064 though as it goes a little longer and I can shoot it in my M1 garand.

[Echo]

Back when I hunted with a 30-06, and that was a lot of years. I used 46 grains of IMR 4895. Never cronied it but would guess some where around 2700 FPS. But I didn't care because it was dead accurate and always got the job done.

A Big PLUS 1 - best accuracy I had in my JC Higgins Model 50 (FN action, probably assembled by High Standard) was with 46 grs of 4895 under a Hornady 165 gr spire point (that they no longer make, dang it!).

[FullTang]

IMR 3031 is another oldie-but-goodie that works very well for me in many different cartridges; it's economical and widely available right now. 45.0-48.0 grains is the .30-06 range for 165 gr bullets in the Lee manual, giving 2707-2825 fps. Lots of folks say that the long sticks make it harder to measure or less accurate, but I've never found that to be an issue.
Unless you're trying to make a 500 yard shot, this and any of the above should work nicely.

[TXGunNut]

A Big PLUS 1 - best accuracy I had in my JC Higgins Model 50 (FN action, probably assembled by High Standard) was with 46 grs of 4895 under a Hornady 165 gr spire point (that they no longer make, dang it!).

What item number? #3040 is my old standard, brother and I have killed lots of deer and hogs with that one. Still load it for him now and then, finally put his big trophy down with one this past season.

[wrench man]

IMR4064 here, tried the Varget JUNK, couldn't get it to even come close to 4064!, use it in the 03A3, Winchester 1895 and Ruger M77, 130grn to 220grn, picked up some IMR 4350 for the heavy bullets but they shoot so well with 4064 I haven't tried it out yet?

[tinhorn97062]

H-414 is my go-to for the ought-6.

53gr of H-414, R-P brass, CCI 200, Hornady 180gr SP...3.34 OAL shoots 1 1/4- 1 1/2 groups all day long out of a 1975 Winchester M70 with the original 4x scope. Velocity is 2580.

[monge]

I like imr 3031 horn165gr spbt 47gr gives me 2800fps in my axis one inch at 200yards on bags have not.
Hunted with it yet but I let you know in Nov!

[Eddie2002]

IMR 4350, my go to load for a 150 grain Jword bullet is 57 grains. Even found some load data using a 110 grain carbine bullet over some IMR4350. Tried 4895 but didn't get the accuracy 4350 gave. Also have tried H414 which works well. Pretty much use IMR4350 in all my .30 and .303 caliber rifles.