30-06, Varget,Lee 309-170

[mattd]

Theres lots of varying info out there for cast 30-06 loads using Varget, but not this specific combo. I worked up a bunch using the Lee 170g ACWW bullet between 33-40g. My intention was to get around 2000fps for deer season, but after rereading some data after shooting im guessing i was over that a good amount. 38g was the best group. 39 and 40g where drastically worse. No leading b/t 33-36g. Slight, easy to clean, leading somewhere between 38-40g.

Not enough time to experiment and test prior to deer season so if i hone in on that 38g range, and maybe put up with a little leading, what fps would i be at? Is ACWW going to be too soft at this speed?

Ive killed lots of deer, but the furthest was 35y so accuracy isnt a huge issue. The lighter loads were ok 1-1.5" at 50y. I could always just go back to the range one last time with something that would put me in the 2000fps or less range and just take what i get.

[Ben]

It will take a VERY smart deer to know if he has been hit with a 170 gr. at 1,750 fps or 2,000 fps.

Placement is KING ! !

[mattd]

So are you saying I should forgo the known accuracy load and look for a slower one that won't lead and do less meat damage? Id certainly buy that in this situation. My concern is pushing a non-hardened bullet too fast and having it damage too much meat

[Outpost75]

When hunting you won't need to fire many rounds. If the first five shots starting from a clean, cold barrel shoot well, and you can retain suitable hunting accuracy for 10 shots, go hunt with that load, unless you plan on taking out the whole deer herd by yourself. I have used GC bullets from straight wheelweights to hunt in full charge.30-30 loads about 2000 fps and never had any issues. Killed adozen.or so deer with them over the years.

Performance was not different from Winchester Silvertips.

[TXGunNut]

If your 30-06 has a 1/10 twist spend a little time with Larry Gibson's article on boolit RPM's around here somewhere. Ben is right, your boolit at 1750 will get the job done and will be more accurate than 2000-2100 fps. I plan on hunting with a similar boolit @ 1600-1700 fps from a 30-30 in the near future. Looks great on paper, folks around here have killed lots of deer with a similar load.

[sthwestvictoria]

Now bear in mind this is in the 30-30 and not the OP asked for 30-06 however it is the velocity, mold and powder combination:
85727
The lower group is the Lee 309-170-FP with 28.0grains AR2208 (varget to you Americans). Shot from a Savage 340 bolt gun. ONly at 50metres but is demonstrating promising accuracy.
This charge weight is one grain below the Lee Modern Reloading 2nd Ed starting load for jacketed 170grains in the 30-30. I feel comfortable reducing AR2208 by this much but would not want to reduce any more.

[mattd]

Here you go. One last time at the range before deer season. Loaded 10 each of 34-37g of varget. Only shot 5 of all but the 37g. Felt like the first 37g spread on the left was me and I could do better. 50 yards. No chrono. there used to be old manuals at castpics for 4064 and a similar bullet with velocity, but they aren't linked anymore. Prolly stick w the 34g but they all would suffice for my purposes. I'm not a good shot and these are proly pretty close to as good as I have ever shot.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/mattd1978/b51427c87e8e0a57cba4f29197ca44b6_zpsf9138f74.jpg

[Larry Gibson]

Those groups at 50 yards give sufficient evidence that your loads above 34 or 35 gr are exceeding the RPM threshold. I'd bet 100 yard groups would show some pretty poor accuracy with the other loads with groups being non linear in expansion. Since deer season is upon you and the ranges will be short the 34 gr load will suffice nicely and I'd guestimate the velocity at 1900 - 2000 fps+/-. Go hunting and good luck.

When you have the time try that bullet cast of COWWs + 2% tin and then add 50% lead. Let them AC and load over 30 - 34 gr Varget and use a 3/4 gr Dacron filler. Test at 100 yards with 7 shot groups and clean between groups. I'll bet you find a superb cast bullet deer hunting load in there for future use.

Larry Gibson

[Wolfer]

In my 30-06 and Lyman 311041 I shoot 20 gr of 2400 for 1700+ fps. My boolits are 1ww to 2 lead with a little tin, lubed with LLA. Accuracy is superb in all three of my rifles as is the performance on deer. I have a small HP but I'm not sure it's necessary with this soft alloy.

What I like best about this load is its simplicity. I cast with the same alloy I run in my pistols, 45 colt, 44 special etc. two coats of LLA with a hornady check and their ready to go. Don't need earplugs and recoil is nonexistent. Always accurate and always deadly. Woody

[mattd]

Here ya go. First deer w cast, first deer at new farm I bought 11 months ago. Went w 34g of varget over ACWW. Hate to admit it, but it wasn't the best shot opportunity, but the bullet went exactly to POA, and it doubled my previous shot distance.

Deer stepped out at 80 yards, got my scope on it and it turned, with its butt to me, like it was going back into the woods. Figured I was driving the bullet hard enuf and made the shot. Deer just walked off like nothing happened. No blood, but it was only 20 yards away. Went in the left cheek, found some void between the guts and meat, cause the guts were in tack and the meat wasn't touched, then passed thru one lung and out the front left shoulder. That small little blood spot above the bullets is the exit. Looks to be .30 exit, not much sign of expansion. Thought there would be more from this speed and alloy. Will go softer next time. Not much blood shot meat. But certainly effective.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/mattd1978/be348db341736d1cdae2b7c5a6c8ebd0_zps6196655b.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/mattd1978/a63d14fa4b65659a6877ce725434527b_zps42df7538.jpg

[mattd]

O yeah, forgot to mention for a frame of reference. I shot a second deer with a 444 I just refinished. No cast yet for it and was using the leverolution 265hp. Deer at 30 yards, I was 20 ft in a tree. Hit high on the shoulder and it should have come out real low on the other said. Per their reputation it blew a soft ball size hole on the entrance, no exit. Didn't look for the bullet, it was getting dark.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/mattd1978/f124bf58e861b7b946b7d655a9867b7d_zpsac372275.jpg

[helice]

Thank you so much for the pictures and the education. After 50 years behind the sights I finally have a 30-o6 that is a dedicated cast rifle. I also have a Winchester in 444 Mar though neither it nor the '06 has ever harvested game. Your pictures are most educational for me and I am grateful for them. Congratulations on your success and your cast boolit research.