30-06 Load Diary

[SAR1846]

...
Another forum I am a member of a guy is posting some of his experiments with reduced loads for .308 Win - and getting some pretty impressive results - Specifically with one of his loads using 8.5 grains of TiteGroup and 190 grain bullets at about 1100 FPS.

I do a lot of casting... we do what is called 'low node' ... typically 800 to 1200fps. I have a fav load with 200gr plain base cast and it makes bugholes at 50 with a 308.

 

[Flat45]

If anybody has a link to a free pdf version of this manual, please share. I can usually find the free versions of these manuals but the 30-06 one has eluded me, so far.



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I have read of Unique powder 30-06 load data, for jacketed bullets, being put out in early edition load books but haven't found any yet.

The most common load range I have read of people using is around 16gr of unique with 150gr jacketed bullets.

This Ideal Handload Book data would suggest that is in the middle of recommendations. Anybody had success with Unique and jacketed bullets in 30-06? Looking for a softer shooting load for 100yds or less.


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I would love to get this pdf too.

 

[arakboss]

I do a lot of casting... we do what is called 'low node' ... typically 800 to 1200fps. I have a fav load with 200gr plain base cast and it makes bugholes at 50 with a 308.

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Nice shooting.

 

[arakboss]

I will be putting together a few more reduced 30-06 loads today. I am going to search my stashes for some lighter bullets. The powders I will be using are red dot, Herters #164, IMR4227, IMR3031 and if I can find it, some 5744.

I might load up a few cast bullet loads as well.

Tomorrow I may load up some rounds with Supreme 780 if the powder shows up in time.

Here is data for Supreme 780, these might be shoulder bruisers.

 

[arakboss]

I forgot that I had picked up these 120gr plated bullets in a lot trade I made. I am going to try loading up a few of these in some of the lower velocity loads.

 

[arakboss]

I received a 500ct box of 123gr .311 pulled bullets yesterday from American Reloading. I decided to run 10 of them through my Lee .309 sizing die. They came out at .3095, that's small enough that I think I can stuff them in the 30-06 cases, without flaring the case mouth. They are a flat based bullet so we'll see how easy they are to start.

For powder with this bullet, I am going to try a close to minimum charge of IMR3031. Maybe a 45gr charge for these 10 rounds.

 

[SAR1846]

Might want to consider flaring a handful to compare...also, that's a heavy charge of 3031... review a few manuals to find some other charges weights for that weight bullet. Since it's plated, might want to consider using cast data for it.

 

[arakboss]

Might want to consider flaring a handful to compare...also, that's a heavy charge of 3031... review a few manuals to find some other charges weights for that weight bullet. Since it's plated, might want to consider using cast data for it.

I will check some other data. The .311 bullets, I sized down are FMJs. I will use IMR3031 for those.

The 120gr Accura bullets are plated. I will use cast bullet data for those.

 

[arakboss]

Might want to consider flaring a handful to compare...also, that's a heavy charge of 3031... review a few manuals to find some other charges weights for that weight bullet. Since it's plated, might want to consider using cast data for it.

Just checked Hodgdon's data and they are even hotter at 49gr to start.



Lee book also has 49gr to start.

Hornady has 41gr for a 130gr bullet and 47gr for a 110gr bullet. I think the 45gr charge should be satisfactory for my 123gr bullets.

 

[arakboss]

My IMR3031 was buried, so I decided to use some of my precious H-4895 and the 60% rule.

I loaded 5 rnds with 123gr FMJ and 34gr of H-4895.

I loaded 5rnds with 150gr FMJ and 32gr of H-4895.

I also loaded 5each of the following.

120gr plated with 13gr of Red Dot

150gr with 15gr of #164

150gr with 13gr of Red Dot

All of these were with Hornady cases.

I prepped 20 Remington cases which I will use for Supreme 780 loads. I think I am going to do 5 each, beginning at starting charge and then bumping it up a half grain for each group of 5rnds.

That may have to wait for tomorrow. I need to get 30 more mins of walking in and some meat and veggies in my belly.

 

[arakboss]

My IMR3031 was buried, so I decided to use some of my precious H-4895 and the 60% rule.

I loaded 5 rnds with 123gr FMJ and 34gr of H-4895.

I loaded 5rnds with 150gr FMJ and 32gr of H-4895.

I also loaded 5each of the following.

120gr plated with 13gr of Red Dot

150gr with 15gr of #164

150gr with 13gr of Red Dot

All of these were with Hornady cases.

I prepped 20 Remington cases which I will use for Supreme 780 loads. I think I am going to do 5 each, beginning at starting charge and then bumping it up a half grain for each group of 5rnds.

That may have to wait for tomorrow. I need to get 30 more mins of walking in and some meat and veggies in my belly.

I finished off the Supreme 780 rounds with 180gr bullets. I charged 5 each at:
57.5gr
58gr
58.5gr
59gr

Hodgdon's max was listed at 61gr. These may have a little bite.

 

[arakboss]

My son called and wanted to borrow fishing tackle for upcoming camping trip. Of course I had to dig for it. The plus side is I found a bunch of light for caliber 308 fmj bullets, cast lubed & gc medium to heavy bullets, some heavy powder coated cast bullets and some 5744, IMR3031, 2400 and IMR4227 powders.

I also found a bunch more 30-06 brass. Some of the brass is on the crusty side so I might not get away with a lubed wipe down. This could be a good opportunity to try out my Thumler's wet tumbler I bought recently (part of a reloading estate purchase). It came with some SS pins and looks like it's in very nice shape. This will be the first time wet tumbling for me.

 

[SAR1846]

My son called and wanted to borrow fishing tackle for upcoming camping trip. Of course I had to dig for it. The plus side is I found a bunch of light for caliber 308 fmj bullets, cast lubed & gc medium to heavy bullets, some heavy powder coated cast bullets and some 5744, IMR3031, 2400 and IMR4227 powders.

...

2400 is a favorite powder.... 16gr in most military calibers using std weight cast, tends to be a great starting point. Ive also done a ton of 'guard' loads.... very small charges of light pistol powde & cast, and have had some pretty spectacular results.

 

[arakboss]

2400 is a favorite powder.... 16gr in most military calibers using std weight cast, tends to be a great starting point. Ive also done a ton of 'guard' loads.... very small charges of light pistol powde & cast, and have had some pretty spectacular results.

I am trying to use the 2400 sparingly since I have so little left of it.

 

[arakboss]

2400 is a favorite powder.... 16gr in most military calibers using std weight cast, tends to be a great starting point. Ive also done a ton of 'guard' loads.... very small charges of light pistol powde & cast, and have had some pretty spectacular results.

What powder do you like for guard loads and have you had success with 160gr or heavier cast bullets in the guard loads?

 

[SAR1846]

What powder do you like for guard loads and have you had success with 160gr or heavier cast bullets in the guard loads?

Everything from bullseye, Unique, american select, titegroup, red dot, green dot, etc works... my current favorite is american select, it falls in between red dot and green dot for cast bullet loads.

I've used everything from lee 312-155gr to 311291, silhouette type 180-190gr, 314299 (200+gr) and everything in-between with great results. With cast bullets, there's several variables you'll need to control... bullet hardness, lube, gas check, etc. For most guard loads, i use non gas check, softer, and a LLA mix for a lube (like rooster jacket). Less expensive, and still great fun whacking steel at 100yds. I'll pm you a webpage I've looked at for some inspiration.

 

[2ndtimer]

My son called and wanted to borrow fishing tackle for upcoming camping trip. Of course I had to dig for it. The plus side is I found a bunch of light for caliber 308 fmj bullets, cast lubed & gc medium to heavy bullets, some heavy powder coated cast bullets and some 5744, IMR3031, 2400 and IMR4227 powders.

I also found a bunch more 30-06 brass. Some of the brass is on the crusty side so I might not get away with a lubed wipe down. This could be a good opportunity to try out my Thumler's wet tumbler I bought recently (part of a reloading estate purchase). It came with some SS pins and looks like it's in very nice shape. This will be the first time wet tumbling for me.

Once you go wet, you won't go back to the old dusty vibrators. (Insert Steve Carrel's line: "That's what she said"!
Seriously, I haven't used my Cabela's vibratory tumbler since I got my Frankfort Arsenal. I rarely use the stainless steel pins it came with. Does a fine job with brass alone with bit of Dawn dish soap, a 1/4 teaspoon of Lemi Shine and lately have started added a bit of Blue Coral car wash and wax to the solution. Tumble for an hour or two, rinse a few times, then spread the brass out on a towel outside in the summer (our temps are usually 90 + degrees) or throw it in a food dehydrator in the winter. Brass sparkles!

 

[arakboss]

I loaded up 25 more 30-06 rounds today.

5 with 47gr of IMR3031 and 110gr jhp

5 with 45gr of IMR3031 and 123 fmj

5 with 42gr of IMR3031 and 150gr fmj

5 with 16gr of 2400 and 178gr cast bullet gas checked + lubed.

5 with 14gr of Unique and 217gr coated cast bullet.

I also ran a batch of 30-06 brass through the wet tumbler. The brass came out pretty clean. I will pick up some lemishine this coming week and try another batch. I am avoiding using the SS pins if I can help it.

 

[arakboss]

Loaded up 25 more 30-06 rounds today.

5 with 15gr of Unique and 150gr FMJ

5 with 16gr of Unique and 120gr FMJ

5 with 16gr of Unique and 110gr FMJ

5 with 27gr of IMR4227 and 150gr FMJ

5 with 29gr of IMR4227 and 110gr FMJ

That is all.

 

[arakboss]

I decided to do one last task for the day. I sized and primed 10 of the 30-06 cases, I wet tumbled yesterday. They are military cases with headstamp of DEN 42

I am going to use lighter loads for all these old cases. I already chucked one DEN 42 case that had a split neck. I have no idea how many times these have been reloaded. None of them so far, had primers in them.