"Best" 30-06 powder for hunting

[osteodoc08]

Gonna start working up a hunting load for my 30-06 this summer. I bought a used Remington CDL and the wifey bought my a nice Leupold scope. I want to choose a powder that will yield highest velocity combined with accuracy and temperature insensitivity. I'll be launching a 165gr Nosler BT or Hornady equivalent. My first thought was Varget, but wanted everyone else's opinion especially with some of the newer powders out there.

[Blanket]

IMR 4064 or 4350 oldies but a good starting pointg

[Motor]

Temperature insensitivity in a 30-06 hunting round would not be a very high priority for me unless I was hunting very small varmints which I don't think you are with 165gr bullets.

I've always got good results with the old stand by's like Winchester 760 or IMR- 4350

Motor

[Mauser48]

4350 is a great powder for stuff like that. I use 4064 because I use it for all my other rifle rounds.

[trails4u]

I've done well with 48.5 of Varget under 150g. jwerds. It's pretty mild, but has been effective out to 150-170 yds. YMMV.

[seaboltm]

IMR 4350. A wonderful powder that works in a whole lot of cartridges from 243 Winchester to 375 H&H. So versatile I buy it in 8 pound kegs.

[cwheel]

With Sierra 165 gr. Game Kings, 56gr. of 4350. Do not use this load in a M1. Through the chrony 2725 fps in a Remington BDL with a 20".
Chris

[MT Gianni]

4350 or 4831 has worked for me with fall hunts ranging from 70F to -15F. I never chrono'd either at sub zero temps but killed game with both powders.

[TXGunNut]

H4350 slightly edges out IMR4350 in my Winchester M70's. Varget was my standard load for years but a few years ago a new SG arrived and a new load was necessary. Hornady's 165 SP (3040) is what I load for my j-word rifles, my brother won't buy hunting ammo as long as I'll load for him. The 180 SP (3070) is actually a bit better on paper in my SG M70.

[atr]

IMR4350 or 4831

[tdoyka]

an old timer told me 20+ years ago, " imr 4320 with 150gr bullets, don't matter which one. that'll drop him."
i used it on three of my '06, my brothers, three of my friends, and my dad's.

[Bulletpusher]

Varget, the best most useful cartridge powder ever. It is usable in most of the rifle cartridges in the world.

[Uncle Jimbo]

Gonna start working up a hunting load for my 30-06 this summer. I bought a used Remington CDL and the wifey bought my a nice Leupold scope. I want to choose a powder that will yield highest velocity combined with accuracy and temperature insensitivity. I'll be launching a 165gr Nosler BT or Hornady equivalent. My first thought was Varget, but wanted everyone else's opinion especially with some of the newer powders out there.

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.

[Vann]

IMR 4064 gets my vote, but I like to use my LEE powder measure over my RCBS when throwing charges due to it's grain size. A big plus is I can use it in everything from my .223 Rem all the way up to my .338 Win and 45/70. and data is easy to find.

[Yodogsandman]

IMR4831 for 165gr

[Lead Fred]

Funny thing about odd six. The 168gr falls right between 4895 & 4350.
I dont shoot that light of a round though my bolt gun, so its 4350.
I shoot 147-155gr pills with 4895, it does the trick.

[NC_JEFF]

4831 or 4350
I shoot 165s & 180gr j-words in '06 and I load them all with H4350.
Two really good friends of mine swear by 4831 with 150gr bullets. I've shot with them and have seen them get great results.
4895- besides the two powders above, 4895 seems to be a great '06 powder among handloaders around here.

[RickinTN]

The '06 is such a versatile round that a very broad range of powders will give good results. There have been many excellent recommendations given. If I had a new '06 and wanted to shoot a 165 grain jacketed bullet I would be hard pressed not to start with 57.0 grains of IMR-4350. I've always had good results with this load in several rifles and sometimes stellar results.
Enjoy your new rifle,
Rick

[nagantguy]

For the last 20 years my my 06 has been the primary deer rifle, 168 grain win ballistic slivertip over H4350, a near max load and in my rifle tuned up by the folks at hill country rifle its death ray accurate.

[w5pv]

168 grain sp over 47 grain of 4895 never had anything to run away with this load
For cast I used 42 grains of 4831 under a 200 grain gas checked boolit,tack driver at 75 yards.Never hunted or killed with this load but would think it would kill anything that I hunt under 200 yards.

[farmerjim]

+1 IMR 4350. I have gotten sub moa groups in my 30 06 for 50 years with IMR 4350, no need to try anything else.

[Gus Youmans]

Every rifle is going to have its own preferences and there are always going to be compromises between accuracy and velocity. Having said that, for the 165 grain bullet range I would start with IMR4064, IMR4350 or H4350 would be my second choice, and Varget being the third. IMR4895 is a great old standby with the 30-06 but may not produce the velocities you want. H4895 is very similar in burn rate to IMR4895 but meters better out of a powder measure.

Accurate Arms makes powders with the same numbers as the above and I have used them in .308 Winchester but have no experience with them in the 30-06, but they might be worth a try if you cannot get the IMR or Hodgdon versions. Accurate 2495 is very similar to IMR4895 and I have used many 8 pounders loading .308 match ammo. There are other powders that are suitable for the 30-06 that meet your criteria but I have not used them in many years and cannot comment on them.

Gus Youmans

[osteodoc08]

I've got several pounds of same lot Varget, IMR 4350 and 4895 to play with. I guess I'll give those a go. With it being a bit rainy and having some nice nickle brass in need of loading, I'll probably load up a few ladder tests for next time i'm out.

[littlejack]

Another + for the IMR 4350. I load the Hornaday 165 grain spire point. 58 grains clocks at just over 2800 fps in my Ruger 77. My brother uses the same load and bullet in his pre-64 model 70. Both rifles shoot less than moa.
Jack

[oldblinddog]

RL17 works too. Similar to 4350.

[Budzilla 19]

Max load of H414 (from the Sierra manual)and a 150 grain Sierra BTSP, magnum primer, tack driver accuracy in a new Remington model 700!! works for me! Did not chronograph this load, just worked it up and it shot so good, I just left it alone.i think any medium-burning-speed powder will be sufficient if loads are worked up correctly. Just my .02 cents.

[Desertbuck]

Imr 4350 gets my vote. You can use it to shoot bullets as light as 150gr all the way on up to the 220gr. And you can get very close to maximum velocities with the lowest pressure. It does work very well with Castboolits as well. My M1917 loves the 220gr Lyman boolit backed by 44.2 grains of IMR 4350, that is the most accurate load that I have ever been able to develop. If I can see it and Betsy-Eddy happens to be in my hands I can hit it with that load.

[PULSARNC]

Another vote for 4350 imr 57 to 58 grains and any quality 150 to 165 grain bullet been working well for me for 20 years

[Motor]

I've got several pounds of same lot Varget, IMR 4350 and 4895 to play with. I guess I'll give those a go. With it being a bit rainy and having some nice nickle brass in need of loading, I'll probably load up a few ladder tests for next time i'm out.

It sounds like you got what it takes to get to where you want to go.

For others interested in 30-06' and 165s don't look past W-760 or H-414. These "ball" type powders meter nearly perfectly from dispencers like the Uniflow and their performance in the 06' class cartridges is 2nd to none. Yes their tolerance for drastic temperature change may not be as good as some others but they perform very well.

Motor

[EdS]

Varget should work fine with the 165 grain j-words. I loaded 165s for years in the '06 with IMR 4320, and sometimes with IMR 4350. They shot great and were very effective on deer. These days, I reserve my '06 rifles for game larger than whitetail deer and use .308 or 7-08 lightweight bolt guns for the "little" deer. In the '06, I've settled on the Hornady Interlock Spire Point 180 grain, fueled by H-4350. I get accuracy and sufficient penetration for anything in the contiguous 48 states. -Ed

[dougader]

I've never loaded 165s, but loaded 150 Nosler BTs with 52 grains IMR 4064 and it was super accurate in both a Ruger 77 and a Remington 700 BDL.

For 180s, I had great performance with IMR 4350 55-56 grains max in my rifles.

[Moonie]

I like H4895 in mine, 35gr with 245gr and up to 49gr or so with the j-words my sons want to hunt with. Accurate for us and cycles the sons 742 even as low as 35gr with a 170gr lee.

[osteodoc08]

Picked up some superformance powder too. Figured I'd give it a go in the 22-250 as well. I sure am gonna be busy

[jrmartin1964]

an old timer told me 20+ years ago, " imr 4320 with 150gr bullets, don't matter which one. that'll drop him."

What he said. IMR-4320 is my "go to" for .30-06, for bullets from 150 to 220 grains.


I've got several pounds of same lot Varget, IMR 4350 and 4895 to play with.
However, I would not feel handicapped with any of those either.

[TXGunNut]

Picked up some superformance powder too. Figured I'd give it a go in the 22-250 as well. I sure am gonna be busy


That Superformance is some very interesting powder but I've passed on it so far, just doesn't fit into any of my current projects. I think it will be awesome in 22-250.

[tdoyka]

i bought two cans of superformance(1 lb each) for my 6.5 creedmoor and 22-250ai. stuff shoots great!!!

i just got done lookin at the hornady 8th ed. and it gave superformance on the '06 from 165gr - 220gr bullets. might be worth a try.

[Newtire]

Stealing a load from a friend of mine. Everyone's chrono must be different a little but in .30-06, we got 2850 fps using 56 gr. IMR 4350, Federal Magnum primer and 165 gr.bullets of various flavors. I also have had great luck with 760 H414 @ 56 grains using 150 grainers.

[shaman]

Count me in as a +1 for H4895. I load about a dozen different rifles for deer season between my sons' arsenals and mine. Everything works with 1 powder, H4895:

30-30 WIN
308 WIN
30-06
762X54 R
35 Whelen
25-06
223 REM

[fcvan]

03-A3, sporterized, NOE 309-150 SP, ESPCd, 28 grains of IMR4227, approx. 1950 fps, hits what I aim for. Devastating on tin cans and rocks, and likely any deer I should face at a reasonable range. Good fun!

[USMC87]

I load for several different 06's, I have 4 different powders that perform equally well in all 3 rifles. I have to stick with IMR 4350, 4831,4895 and Ramshot hunter. These 4 are my favorites but I'm sure there are many more suitable powders out there.

[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.