30-06 powder questions

[Wyatt1]

Thanks for indulging another newbie question. I've been casting for pistols and 30-30 with good results, now I'm ready to try it for the '06. I have a decent supply of SR4759 and w867 but none of my manuals list them. I just want to know a safe starting weight behind a ~180 grain ww boolit and whether I need a filler or not. I have a chrony and will work up the loads but just need a starting point.

[Jim]

Wyatt, when you say w867, do you mean WC 867, the surplus powder? If so, you can use a full case of that under just about any boolit weight in .30-06. That's a very sleepy surplus powder that was used in .50 BMG. You'd be hard pressed to overload it.

I would not reccomend you try it in reduced charges. It won't burn worth a stink unless you give it some pressure. Oh, it'll go bang and push the boolit out of the barrel, but there'll be a coupla' teaspoons of soot and unburnt powder in the bore after every shot.

On the SR 4759, not a clue, never used it.

[cbrick]

First, I don't load the 06 but I do the 308. In my 308 I load anywhere from 18.0 to 20.0 gr SR 4759. Most of the time I load it to 1900 fps and that is 19.0 gr. For pressure the 20.0 gr load is not max but this rifle shoots (groups) so well with the RCBS 180 I leave it at that. In the 06 20.0 gr SR 4759 should be a very safe starting load where you could work up from with a 180 gr boolit.

SR 4759 is my go to powder in several cartridges, very cast friendly.

Rick

[Wyatt1]

Thanks, yes it is wc-867. Should I just fill the case, dump it out, and weigh the amount?

If I start with a 20g charge of sr4759 I'd probably need a filler, correct? Would topping the case off with cream of wheat work okay? I read that somewhere and it seems like a nice simple solution.

Also I have about a brick of mag primers that I don't use for anything- I'm assuming this may be a good use for them?

Thanks

[lotech]

SR4759 is a very common reduced-load cast bullet powder for the .30-06 and many other rifle cartridges. Any manual with cast bullet load info (like the Lyman #4) will include 4759 data. Lyman shows a starting load with a 180 grain Lyman #311332 is 21.5 grains, muzzle velocity of 1754, no filler. Generally, finding a suitable and balanced load works better, is more accurate, and less trouble than using a filler.

[lotech]

Won't hurt to try the magnum primers, but try a standard one as well for comparison. You may find an accuracy difference.

[Jim]

I don't know that you're going to be able to compress a complete case full and still be able to seat the boolit with the WC 867. You'll have to play with that a bit. I do know, though, that it burns best under pressure and it's pretty much useless in any charge less than that. If you're lucky, you might break MACH II with a case full. It's a very slow, sleepy powder.

Be prepared for muzzle flashes that look like 105 Howitzer shots. The powder will still be burning when the boolit exits. The upside of this stuff is it's cheap. The downside is ya' gotta fill the case to get a decent burn.

Here's a link to the .30-06 surplus data (http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Surplus/Datapages/30_06.html)section of CastPics. Buckshot, one of our two Super Moderators, did a lot of work researching surplus powders several years ago. You can use the data he gives for WC 860 for the WC 867.

You can light this powder with a magnum primer, but it's not going to increase your results very much.

[curator]

SR 4759 is a bit position sensitive and in reduced loads with cast boolits may need a tuft of Kapok or dacron fluff to keep the powder down in the ignition end of the case for better shot-to-shot uniformity. 20-25 grains with a 180 grain boolit will usually give good results in the .30-06. You could also load about 5 grains of SR4759 under a full case of your WC867 in a "duplex" load for better/cleaner ignition and higher velocity. If you do a search on this site there is data on this procedure.

[cbrick]

If your going to use SR 4759 there is no need what so ever for a mag primer, it is a very easy to ignite powder. Fed #210 is my most used primer with SR 4759 in the 308.

I have never found SR 4759 to be position sensitive in any of the cartridges I've used it in and have never used a filler of any kind or a mag primer. You'll get better info on that from those that do use fillers but I can't see any need for it with this powder. Maybe if I ever load tiny charges of Unique in a 06 or some such but . . . In the 308 19.0 gr SR 4759 in over half a case full, no need to keep it near the primer, it's already there. SR 4759 is a very bulky powder.

Rick

[pdawg_shooter]

I use 56gr AA4350, but then mine are paper patched.

[trapper9260]

I use SR4795 for when I do 150 in 30-06 and I use standard primers not mag you do not need them and no filler .For the one you ask for of 180 and the OAL is 3.215" in the manual is starting is 21.5 of that powder and the max is 32.0 , work you load up and also get you self the lyman cast bullet manual also that way it will make it easy on yourself.And if you need any more info on it it is best to have a manual .

[Wyatt1]

Thanks for the replies. My Lyman manual does have some cast info, I just loaned it to a buddy to read and there's nothing in my Speer manual about cast loads. (and I really had the itch to put some rounds together) I did load a little ladder test with SR4795 starting at 21.5. I'll try them tomorrow in my model 70 and let y'all know how they worked. I'm hoping to find one that works in my 7400 carbine for some real fun but I figure I'll start with the bolt gun.

[curator]

If your going to use SR 4759 there is no need what so ever for a mag primer, it is a very easy to ignite powder. Fed #210 is my most used primer with SR 4759 in the 308.

I have never found SR 4759 to be position sensitive in any of the cartridges I've used it in and have never used a filler of any kind or a mag primer. You'll get better info on that from those that do use fillers but I can't see any need for it with this powder. Maybe if I ever load tiny charges of Unique in a 06 or some such but . . . In the 308 19.0 gr SR 4759 in over half a case full, no need to keep it near the primer, it's already there. SR 4759 is a very bulky powder.

Rick

While I agree that a .308 Win case may not need to have SR 4759 kept back at the primer end to get good results, a .30-06 has somewhat (28%) more internal capacity. Chronograph testing my .30-06 loads using SR 4759 has shown much better consistency and higher average velocity using a 5/8" square tuft of dacron over the powder charge. Perhaps a bit less scientific, the use of the dacron tuft appears to result in significantly less unburned powder left in the bore (or chamber) which is an issue using SR4759 in reduced cast loads. Unburned powder grains in the chamber can result in difficulty in loading the next round. Is it not NECESSARY for hold SR4759 back against the primer for ignition or to get reasonable accuracy. In .30-06 volume cases a small tuft of dacron or Kapok may result in better accuracy particularly with reduced loads in the 1200-1600fps range. Don't take my word for it, get a chronograph and see for yourself.

[leadman]

21.5grs of SR4759 might be over the sweet spot. My match load is 19grs Sr4759, WLR, no filler. If you don't have good results with starting at 21.5grs drop down to 18grs and work up in .5gr increments. I load the boolit to barely touch the rifling for single loading, mag length for magazine loading.

[cbrick]

curator, I'll take your word for it in the 06. As I mentioned in post #3, I don't load for the 06, probably cause I don't have one. :mrgreen:

I also never load down to 1200-1600 fps in the 308, I use this rifle for 200 meter silhouette and at 1900 fps it groups very well and takes the targets down easily.

Rick

[MT Gianni]

For WC867 in the 06 with a 180 gr or the Ly 311284 start around 53-53 gr and work up. You should get a good grouping load before slight compression.

[lesharris]

SR4759 is my go to powder for cast boolit loads.
Lyman cast bullet manuals give load data for its use.
I have not found 4759 to need magnum primers or filler materials.

[Wyatt1]

I was amazed at how well the SR 4759 metered through my Uniflow for being an extruded powder. The WC867 metered like a dream as well.

[Marlin Junky]

22 grains of 4759 is the load I use in my '06 with 175-180 grain gaschecked boolits; however, 26 grains of Re7 puts 'em into one hole at 75 yards if I come through on my end. Velocity is in the 1800-1900 range with both powders. Your mileage may vary with boolit diameter, alloy, lube and technique.

MJ