Another 30-06 reduced ?

[mikes farm]

I know this comes up often, but....
I have recently been reloading and casting 38/357.
I have also been reloading (not casting) 30-06 with copper condoms on them :)

I have been looking a lot at trying to find a reduced cast 30-06 load that may have a close point of impact up to 50 yards. I sight +2.5 @100 yrds with 150 gr copper jackets at near 2,800 fps.

Here is a interesting quote from a link below

"Standard Loadings
.30-’06 (150-gr) 2800 fpe
.223 Rem (55-gr) 1280 fpe
.22 Hornet (45-gr) 624 fpe
.22 Magnum (40-gr) 325 fpe
.22 Long Rifle (40-gr) 140 fpe

Reduced Loads
.30-’06 (150-gr/1548 fps) 765 fpe
.30-’06 (151-gr cast/1479 fps) 733 fpe
.30-’06 (100-gr/1548 fps) 532 fpe
.30-’06 (108-gr cast/865 fps) 179 fpe "


Here are a couple of familiar links
http://www.woodsdrummer.com/ml07.html
http://www.reloadingroom.com/index_files/Universal%2030.htm

It seems obvious to use pistol powder to lower FPS, I have Unique, Bullseye and W231, but I am not sure what weight cast bullet to use. I would like to have some of these rounds in my vest while deer hunting to use for small game. The round will still be a large caliber, but if it does not expand then there should be less meat damage.
should I go with something lite like 100 gr or would 150 grain cast with less fps get me closer to POI up to 50 yards ? From what I read 865 FPS (above) is risking getting stuck in barrel ? 1500 FPS seems low end ?

Thanks
Mike

[Maven]

Mike, I rarely use jacketed bullet loads in my '06, but I do use lots of CB's (180grs. - 200grs.) at ~1,800fps. Lately I've also been experimenting with 140gr.- and 175gr. plain based CB's* at lower velocity because of their "naked" bases. 7grs. of Hodgdon's Clays (original formulation, flat pale gray discs) or 9.5grs. Alliant Blue Dot give accurate results with the same point of impact with both CB's @ 50 yds. as do their faster, heavier, gas checked brethren. At 100 yds. they are 4" - 6" lower. As you have both Bullseye and Unique, I'd suggest starting with 6.0 - 6.5grs. B'eye or 8.0 - 8.5grs. Unique. Hope this helps!


*Lee Precision's 30-150-PB-TL (group buy mold) and C309-180-1R, respectively

[35remington]

Ditch the search for commensurate points of impact when loads are vastly different in velocity. It doesn't happen often enough to be worth the effort, especially with full velocity jacketed and low velocity cast. Your most accurate cast bullet load will likely be nowhere close, especially if it's at a velocity that doesn't blow up small game.

Rather, use the lower aiming point of your crosshairs where they go from thick to thin.

For example, 9.0 of W231 and the Lee Soup Can (C113F) zeroes on the thick/thin junction at 4.5X at fifty yards when my Savage 30-06 is zeroed for 150 jacketed at 200. This load obtains 1550 fps and is accurate.

Your rifle's giving you two aiming points with duplex crosshairs, and the ability to land the lower velocity bullet on the thick/thin junction with a change in power setting. Take advantage of it.

[Grampie not Grumpie]

Back when I was reloading in the 1970's I came across a receipe for low power .30-06 loads. It was in a reloading digest I believe. It called for 10 gr. of IMR 4227 behind a 110 gr. half jacket bullet. It was a mild recoil shooter that I used for plinking and for squirrels. I would put a "dab" of "polyfill" in the case to keep the powder next to the primer. I used it with a Weaver 3X9 scope and never re-adjusted the sight in from deer hunting. At squirrel hunting ranges (25 - 50 yds.) it was dead on.

Grampie not Grumpie

[Cactus Farmer]

I was looking for a low power load for my M-70 30-06 to pot shot the bunnies I would see in N.M. while deer hunting.....looked up in the old Lyman book and found a load of 12-13 grns of 2400(don't rightly remember,so look up a carbine load with 2400) and a 311359. Just happened to have both as I was loading 30 Carbine at the time. Didn't even have to change the powder measure just the dies.....My hunting load was a 165 BTSP 1.5" high at 100 so I went to the range to test. These rabbits are seldom over 50 yards so that's where I set up the tasget. Shot point of aim! No windage change at all. Never tried anything else.....didn't see a need to.......I've used the same load in several guns and they all shot it very well. Boolit diameter was more of a factor than the powder in terms of accuracy. Some liked .308 and some .309. One old two groove Springfield liked .311.
Goes to show that even a blind hog will find an acorn once in a while.