Using what is on hand in the .30-06

[Bill*B]

In times like these, it is tempting to “use what you’ve got” when your normal powder selection runs dry. Here is some old (1995 Alliant, and 2001 IMR) data found on Castpics, for faster powders than the .30-06 usually sees.

Fast burning powder in the .30-06

180 grain jacketed bullets – these are MAX loads


#2400 28.2 grains 2210 fps 55,400 psi

SR 4759 29.5 2135 50,000

IMR 4227 28.5 2045 49,800

IMR 4198 36.0 2350 49,800

IMR 3031 44.5 2540 49,800

IMR 4895 43.5 2520 50,000


QuickLOAD is a fine program and I would hate to be without it, but exercise caution when working up loads. The program underestimated the pressure of these by an average of 27%. In the case of IMR 4227, by 60%!

[uscra112]

Is your QL model set up wrong, or is that data you pulled off the Internet wrong?

I've never once seen QL be that far off.

[Bill*B]

It was a big surprise to me, too. I double checked the Castpics scan of the 2001 IMR powder freebie manual, and it shows 28.5 grains of IMR 4227 under a 180 grain Remington pointed soft point bullet set for 3.20" COL producing 49,800 cup. QuickLOAD as I have it set up for my Speer 180 BT estimated 31,032 psi - and when I ran it again with the COL set to 3.20" it was still only 32,762 psi. Lots of variables, I know - different bullets, cup vs psi - but still - a bit disturbing. If you have the time, run a simulation on your copy and see if mine is way off.