.30-06 chrono results

[Coyote Hunter]

Last weekend I finally had an opportunity to hit the range with some handloads for the .30-06 I picked up last November.  Here are the results, along with chrono velocities for several factory loads.  The rifle is a 1984 Ruger and its topped it with a Burris Fullfield II Ballistic Plex scope.  I floated the barrel and honed the trigger.

Factory velocities:

Federal 165g Fusion   F3006FS2   2775
Hornady 150g SST      8109      2829
Hornady 165g BTSP      8115      2644
Remington 150g FMJ   L3006-2   2843
Winchester 165g PSP   x30065   2753

168g A-MAX, BL(C)-2, 0.5g increments, 8 shots, 1.00”
47.5g – 2511fps
51.0g – 2695fps (Max charge per Hodgdon)

168g A-MAX, H4350, 0.5g increments, 9 shots, 1.15”
55.0g, 2622fps
59.0g, 2847fps (Max charge per Hodgdon)

Overall I am quite pleased.  The throat is so long the bullets are way off the lands – all I can do is build cartridges just short enough to fit in the magazine and cycle reliably.  As long as it shoots like this I won’t complain!

[Cement Man]

Thanks for sharing your results CH.  If I am reading correctly - 8 shots into 1.00"?, 9 into 1.15"?   Those Rugers just won't shoot will they!!!

[Coyote Hunter]

Thanks for sharing your results CH.  If I am reading correctly - 8 shots into 1.00"?, 9 into 1.15"?   Those Rugers just won't shoot will they!!!

You got it right.  Some folks say Rugers can't shoot but I have yet to find one that won't.

0.232", 3 shots, 100yds = M77 .257 Roberts
0.266", 3 shots, 100yds = M77 7mm Rem mag
0.85", 4 shots, 100yds = M77 MKII .300 Win Mag
0.50", 4 shots, 200 yds = M77 MKII VT .22-250

And now the .30-06.  Can't help but wonder what the group sizes will be when all the loads are the same instead of different...

[Slufoot]

Hey Coyote Hunter you sure got some good shooting rifles!
What is the barrel length on the 30-06?
Are the factory velocities that you posted actual speeds from your gun or are they what the factory advertises?
Thanks!
Slufoot

[Coyote Hunter]

Hey Coyote Hunter you sure got some good shooting rifles!
What is the barrel length on the 30-06?
Are the factory velocities that you posted actual speeds from your gun or are they what the factory advertises?
Thanks!
Slufoot

Slufoot -


Those are actual velocities for the factory ammo as measured with 1 shot each.  22" barrel.

Obviously those are my best groups for each of the rifles listed.  I don't spend much time shooting groups and it is generally done during load development or when checking zero.  Most of the time I seem to be shooting clay pigeons and steel.  But they do show that Rugers can shoot, don't they? 

My hunting buddy and occasional shooter regularly shoots groups in the .4's during our fall sight-in shooting.  His rifle is a Ruger, a MKII 7mm Mag, completely stock except for a floated barrel and a homespun trigger job that I did.. 

[Mr. Joe]

I currently have two rugers in the inventory.  They both shoot satisfactory after floating and load development.  They are not in the same league as my remingtons, but they were also $200 less!  Besides, when hunting, the diff in accuracy is academic.

I do think its funny that even in the 06' factory data is like 70 fps off.  Why not, they have only had 100 years to perfect their load!  Thanks for posting the data though, that is an eye opener for alot of folks.  I have had several similar discrepancies with hand load data.  I had some 8 Mauser 200 grainers that were supposed to clock out at around 2700 fps.  They barley hit 2400!

[Country Boy]

My Browning BAR with 20" bbl shoots 2820 with factory winchester 150 grn power points and boy is it accurate !

[beemanbeme]

I don't think I'd want to be shooting any load that would do 2700fps with a 200gr bullet from a 8x57.