Favorite hunting powder (30 cal)

[LAKEMASTER]

Basically, I'm posting this here cause seasons change for a lot of people as the weather changes.

I'm curious what powders people rely on for their hunting guns.

I'm specifically refering to 3030 and 3006

[trails4u]

4350 for me in 30-06......keep trying different things, but keep coming back to it.

[runfiverun]

aa-2230 in the 30-30 with cast for most anything.
2400 in the 0-6 for small stuff with lead.
4895 and a filler if deer hunting.

for jacketed in the 0-6 I have run 414, 4064, Rl-19, AA-2700.
jacketed in 30-30. AA-2230, 4895, 3031.

[ChristopherO]

IMR 4350 under jacketed bullets in the 30/06. Always performed well. Not enough experience with cast in that caliber to comment.

[NC_JEFF]

In '06 I really like H4350 with jacketed bullets. I use Unique for cast, light for caliber usually

[Skeet06]

H 4350 has worked well for me in 30-06 and 300 WSM using jacketed bullets.

[jmort]

3031 for .30-30 full on loads
It would work in .30-06
I use it in .308 as well
Also RL15

[WebMonkey]

2400 under cast for me

[nagantguy]

In 06 H4350 in 30-30 4895 for both jacket and cast.

[Larry Gibson]

With 170 - 180 gr cast I use 4895 in the 30-30 and the 30-06. A Dacron filler is used in the 30-06. However, LeveRevolution has become my 30-30 powder with the 311041 in the 30-30.

With 190 - 210 gr cast in the 30-06 I prefer either AA4350 or H4831SC. A Dacron filler is also used.

With jacketed bullets of 150 + weight LeveRevolution is now my powder of choice for the 30-30. Either IMR or AA4350 are favorite standbys in the 30-06 with 165 - 180 gr bullets. With 190 or 200 gr bullets H4831SC is used.

Larry Gibson

[modified5]

4895 for both.
It is the most accurate I have found for my 06.
Sub moa off a bipod 100 yds. 3 shot.
I am still experimenting with the 30-30.
Accuracy has been decent in a couple of them, but I may get better with beer sights. 1 1\2 ish 3 shot groups.

[skeettx]

Jacketed 4350
Cast 4227

[rintinglen]

For Cast,
30-30 + WW 748 =good things
30-06 + IMR 4895 = Good things
For jacketed,
30-30 + WW 748 or Leverevolution =good things
30-06 + IMR 4350= good things.

These are what I use for hunting. For just general plinking, I use 2400 in both. A load and boolit that works very well is the 311-465 over 17.5 grains of 2400 in the 30-30 or 20 grains in the 30-06.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

2400 has put a pile of deer meat on the table for me in the 30-06.

[dougader]

IMR, AA and H4350 for 30-06 jacketed bullets. I've been using Blue Dot for cast boolit loads.

For 30-30 jacketed I used AA2460. With cast boolits I've been using a duplex load with AA4350 and a kicker of 3 grains Blue Dot.

[Morgan61]

In my 30-30's I use:
H335 for cast bullets.
LVR or varget for jacketed

[rking22]

A vote for RL7 in the 3030 with 31141 and like. Just starting to work with a new to me 06, so watching with interest!

[Wolfer]

2400 has put a pile of deer meat on the table for me in the 30-06.

Same here. 311041 in both with 17 gr in the 30-30 and 20 gr in the 06

[44man]

No bad choices. I use 3031 for the 30-30 and 4350 for the 06. But look at Varget too, not found a gun that doesn't like it. I even use it in the 7BR and 7R pistols. Supreme in the 6.5 Swede.

[Hickory]

30-30-----IMR3031
30-06-----Dose not apply. I do not have a 30-06.

[Budzilla 19]

AA 2460 in 30/30 Win., then H-414 for jacketed bullets in 30/06. For cast boolits in '06, I use H4831. Works for me.

[taco650]

For the 30-06 & J-words, I've had good success with IMR 4831 & IMR 4320 (4831 for heavies, 4320 with 150 gr).

Jury is still out on 30-30 as I don't shoot it much because it was made in 1928 (M94 Winchester).

[Digital Dan]

Tilt in the general direction of Rx15(jacketed)/H335(cast) for the .30-30. Just a preference on my part which may change tomorrow, or the next day.

Dunno about the -06, never owned one.

[oldblinddog]

RL17 is my new favorite in the .30-06.
IMR4064 in .308.
I don't have a .30-30.

[DougGuy]

H4895 in .308 for a sub 3/4" group @200yds is that close enuff?

It put a bunch of deer in the freezer as well..

[Texas by God]

IMR 4064 in the 30-06, R15 in the .300 Savage, IMR 3031 in the 30-30. And if I may, Win 296 in the .300 Blackout. These are all for jacketed except the 30-30 includes cast bullets. Best, Thomas.

[LAKEMASTER]

H4895 in .308 for a sub 3/4" group @200yds is that close enuff?

It put a bunch of deer in the freezer as well..

What is your load? /fps?

[upr45]

Do not have a 30-30, do load for 3 30-06's, all 3 are (semi)autoloaders, all 3 really like H414 with jacketed 180 gr's.

[MT Gianni]

820 for plinking in the 30-30 [1550] fps, RL7 for hunting, 4350 for jacketed in the 06 based cases. 4064 for 308 J words, 2400 for cast 308 & 30-06.

[toallmy]

IMR 4831 and IMR 4350 take care of most of my rifle loading 243 through 300 win .

[45-70marlin]

2400 for my 30-30

[Huntsman]

30-30. IMR3031
.308 Win IMR3031
30/06? Don't know yet haven't decided if I'll use the 200gr Lee RN or NOE 165gr FNGC
I've plenty of IMR4831, Varget and 3031. Just haven't expanded my '06 to cast boolits yet.
But I will keep an eye on this thread to get an idea of others are successful with.

[quilbilly]

For CB's - in the 30/30 it's RE-7 only because 5744 is expensive and for my other 30's 2400 or RE-7 when 2400 is unavailable (such as now).

[Huntsman]

For CB's - in the 30/30 it's RE-7 only because 5744 is expensive and for my other 30's 2400 or RE-7 when 2400 is unavailable (such as now).


I'm sure Mike Ventrino has shares in 5744 lol.

[badbob454]

i like H 4895 h4831 long cut , cause i have it , would rather have short , imr 7383 surplus , and IMR 3031 for my 7mm to 30 cal

[tdoyka]

for jacketed bullets the '06 likes to use imr4320( up to 165gr) and the 30-30 likes h322 (up to 170gr)

[robg]

2400 for lead, tac for jacketed

[Ithaca Gunner]

I'm sure Mike Ventrino has shares in 5744 lol.

I've been saying that for years, mostly the reason I no longer subscribe to Handloader magazine any longer.

.30-06-150gr jacketed, H-4350. 180gr jacketed, Reloader 19.

.30WCF jacketed, Varget.

Cast in either, IMR-4227, but 4198 seems to work well also.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Another 4350 under a GC cast of WW water dropped for about 2200 fps in 06. The RCBS 180 GC FN is my first choice in caliber 30.
I no longer shoot any 30-30. Moved to the caliber 38 rifles and 35 Remington.
Mike in Peru

[Teddy (punchie)]

All in price and what is there. But have used and like 4064 IMR , 4831 IMR, and 4895 IMR , 4831 be the one I load the most for j-word for hunting.

[Rufus Krile]

Used to feed an HK91 a steady diet of 30.0gr H335 behind a Lee 200gr RNGC. Ran like a sewing machine and would stay inside 4" @ 200yds. Never chrono'd it but figured it was in the 1800-1900fps range.

[RugerFan]

For 30-06 (and 7.5 Swiss, .308 Win, 7.62x54R) IMR 3031 is my go-to powder for hunting loads with cast up to 2,000 FPS. Good accuracy with bullet weights 150 to 180 gns.

[Dinny]

Varget

Thanks, Dinny

[deep creek]

my old savage liked imr 4320 and a165 gr hornady or speer .it shot super tight groups,was my only rifle . i killed a ton of deer,elk and antelope with that load and gun

[hutch18414]

For jacketed in 06 I like 4350 or w760. For cast in 06 I am hooked on IMR 4895. 34 grs under a C-312-185 1r with a tuft of dacron is now getting me 1" or less at 100 yds. Maybe not quite as good as the 180gr SMK 1/2" groups, but not bad, and quite good enough for deer. Also when I had the chance to shoot this load at 200yds all groups were less than 2" so there is no non-linear dispersion.
For jacketed in the 30-30 the best accuracy I have found is Leverevolution. It has been awhile since I loaded any, so I won't quote the load, would need to go out to the shop and get my logbook. With a cast Lee 170 gr I have used everything from Unique to 700X and even some 748. Haven't tried the Leverevolution under that boolit yet, with yet being the operative word. But 10 grains of Unique is deadly accurate with that Lee bullet in my 1950 Model 94. And some cat sneeze loads in that rifle are like laser beam accurate.

[Shingle]

308 cast 4895 same with the copper contaminated ones,lol. 9mm my do everything carbines ba-7.5 for all lead 115-165gr.

[dragon813gt]

W748 / W760 / 4895 depending on the gun.

[JimP.]

30-06, h4895

[Harter66]

Another for 4350 in the 06' . I've run some in 30-30 also , but I'm working in H322 now .

[54bore]

4350 for me in 30-06

Same here! I use Hodgdon's 4350, i use it in 6.5 Creed, 7MM-08, .257 Weatherby, 7MM Rem Mag, .270 Weatherby. If i cant get a rifle to shoot good with H-4350 i get nervous! It's my 'Go to powder' For up to 7Mag

[GhostHawk]

The vast majority of what I shoot is only shot at paper. For that light loads of Red Dot work fine, are accurate, clean, and extremely thrifty.

I have 3 calibers that I would consider adequate for hunting at need. Rounds loaded include

A .444 marlin in H&R single shot 13 grains of Red Dot under the Lee .430 310 gr rn wide meplat gas checked.

B .357 Mag in H&R single shot with full load of IMR 4227 under 200 grain Lee RCBS clone. Again gas checked, good meplat.

C 7.62x39 in Yugo SKS with 20 grains of IMR 4895 under Lee .312 185 gr gas checked. "The Hammer".

All 3 would do the job on anything I would see with decent bullet placement.

YMMV

[OlDeuce]

In my levers I've been a IMR 3031 guy but after working with Winchester 748 I'm almost at a mind change I've been doing 47.3gr at 1745fps and WoW
Was concerned about the speed but not leading the barrel yet .............:-)

Ol Deuce

[Sigmanz]

I like 5744 or 3031 in 30-30 under cast.

[Smoke4320]

W748 / W760 / 4895 depending on the gun.

got to second those choices for copper clad pills of death

for subsonic wet work its unique, 2400 or trail boss

[barrabruce]

30-30 loads
bullseye 4 gns for 150 gn subs or low velocity to 300 yds
AR2205 15.8 gns for 150 @ 1500 fps loads to 500yrds
Ar2206H (4895) 29 gns for 150 Paper patched full noise loads with @10 bhn alloy @ 2000 ish fps
Ar2208 and Ar2206 and Ar2207 Benchmark and others aren't too bad but group a bit bigger in my gun with 150's
I found 170's full snot loads shot well indeed but playing at the range sort of rattled my teeth and shoulder around to much for enjoyment.
Surprising the 1500 fps loads shoot better then flat out loads at the longer range for me past say 300 yrds or so.

Depending what you are shooting ...But I think I'm covered to 150yrds easy for anything I can think of that I want to poke a hole into.

[44man]

Well 4350 did not work for us with cast. In fact I have no idea how fast they were but primers were dead flat. My 187 gr with (if I remember) 54 gr was sad. Joe has the paper work.
We changed to 24 gr of 4198 for the next test.

[joel45acp]

I use varget in my Remington 700 308. It shoots .3MOA

[old woody]

I use IMR 4895 in 30-06.

[pworley1]

3031 4198

[groundpounder]

u inquest for plinking in both 30-30 and 30-06. 2400 for more serious shooting in same.