Author Topic: Accurate .30-06 Loads for Deer Hunting (Read 4500 times)

Blowtorch53 · « **on:** January 10, 2009, 08:31:33 AM »

Hello Guys,

I just bought a new Marlin XL7 in .30-06 for a special mule deer hunt I am planning in Mexico. I bought it because it's cheap and got some pretty good press. I am very pleased with it, and I'm not afraid to mess it up on the hunt or "lose" it to the "polica" because I don't have a tremendous investment in it or the 3 x 9 Leupold scope.

I have loaded a lot in the past for a .30-06 and it is a great cartridge. I drifted away from it (pun intended) for a few hundred other exotic calibers because it was so old and predictable. It always shot well and was accurate. It always performed on game and was very (the most) versatile. It was the first thing I loaded with a Lee Loader on my kitchen table for a Remington 742. I remember the first reloads I made. One of them (maybe more, I don't remember) was charged with only a primer. I was wearing hearing protection when the primer only load was fired and I didn't even hear it pop. I racked the bolt and an empty case fell out with no bullet. I started to touch off another but I'm glad I didn't. The bullet was powered out of the chamber and stuck in the barrel far enough that another round was able to chamber. If I would have fired another, I probably would not have hands to type this or maybe not be able to see it, or worse. I stopped shooting, went home and pulled the bullets and dumped all the loads. I learned a valuable lesson. Always check the loads visually with a strong light to make sure each is charged with powder and that they all look about the same level before seating a bullet. Every reloading manual says this. I was young and dumb and full of dung at the time. This was probably the worst reloading mistake I made in my life.

Anyway, what are the most accurate loads you guys use in the old ' 06 for deer these days? I prefer the 150 - 165 gr. bullets and I have a lot of inventory of the various .308" bullets. Our deer here in Texas are not very big. I prefer accuracy over velocity. I usually use loads that are 1 or 2 grains below max. in most calibers because I've found them more accurate. I have plenty (a booty load) of powders in stock from the various manufacturers and I can buy any brand close by. I use an RCBS electronic powder dispenser so the "log" powders are easy to use and I've found them mostly very accurate and easy to use. I shot the rifle in with Federal Fusion 180 Gr. loads because I didn't have any handloads when I bought it, and it almost did an inch for five shots at 100 yds. on a gusty day. This one ought to shoot! What do you recommend?

Thank you in advance!

Blowtorch

cwlongshot · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2009, 12:34:45 PM »

I also like other calibers better, but not because of any short comings from the '06. It can, will and does do it all.

For me the '06 is a 180gr proposition, but I have had some good results with 4350 and the 165gr Sierra HPBT bullet.

I use IMR 4350 and 180 Gr bullets in my '06 Mauser and 220Gr Rn's as kind of an American stopper in a sporterized Springfield. My use of 165's are primarily delegated to my 308's and 4320 powder.

Lastly, the 150's are 30-30 fodder... 748 moves them along nicely.

Sorry for the caliber digressions...

Back on topic...

There are many good powders and that's part of what makes the 30-06 so versatile. IMR4350 has been a "go-to" powder for many shooters for many many years. Its a good choice or at the very least a place to start.

CW

Val · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2009, 02:10:20 PM »

A lot of 30-06s like 57 grains of IMR 4350 with 165 grain bullets. I use 165 grain Nosler or Hornady spitzer bullets. I use CCI primers.

hillbill · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2009, 02:32:34 PM »

for a good whitetail load and good for bout everything else that weighs less than 400 lbs,i like bout 150 grain and some 4350 imr or hogdons.my guns seem to shoot good with bout any make bullet.i chose the 4350 because it works well in some other calibers i have as well.

STexhunter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2009, 01:59:28 AM »

While 4350 is a good powder. I have found that IMR 4064 is a powder that is hard to beat with 150 gr. bullets.

witnessing · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2009, 02:16:05 AM »

58gr VV N160 + 165gr Hornady btsp/ 168gr Remington corelokt ultra. This load gives moa accuracy from my xl7 30-06 at 104 yd. It chronographs at 2725 fps average. I have tested this load at 30 to 85 degrees so far , same results. My oal using the Hornady btsp is 3.22" .

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2009, 03:57:32 AM »

I tend to shoot 180 grains in the old '06. I also tend to stick to factory ammo. RP is cheap and dang it shoots good and the bullets perform well. The same can be said for Hornady and Federal factory ammo with variations in how cheap it is but it all seems to shoot well and perform well.

From what I've read on mule deer hunting in Mexico it's a take what shot you can get proposition and that you might have a darn few seconds from the time you see him until he is gone so making up your mind to shoot or not and then making it happen must take place really fast. Your shot might be a Texas heart shot or nothing. I'd go with the 180s for sure and perhaps even a premium that has even more penetration for that reason.

I'd spend a LOT of time becoming familiar with the rifle and practicing shooting fast and accurately free hand and from hurried rests. Good luck.

RaySendero · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2009, 04:31:47 AM »

I like the 180 SGKs in 30/06 over IMR-4350 w/ CCI200LR primers!

This should get u the accuracy with reliable kills.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2009, 05:10:56 AM »

My rifle, a Remington 700 BDL, shoots 51.5 grains of W760 and a sierra 150 sub-moa.

The load Chrono's low at 2500 fps and the recoil is very light. My friends 12 year old loves shooting the rifle with this load and it's a great confidence builder for him.

That said, I'm still looking for an accurate load for the 150 that gets the velocity up to 2800 +.

Tom W. · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2009, 08:14:32 AM »

I use the 180 gr. GameKings in my Ruger #1 with 47 grains of Varget and a Federal Match large rifle primer....

41 mag · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2009, 09:15:42 AM »

Years ago I worked up a load for my best friend, that used the Nosler Solid Base seated over 58.5grs of IMR - 4350, Winchester cases, Win-WLR primers and an OAL of 3.250".

This load dropped everything he ever put it to task on, and generally kept groups at or under 1" at 100yds. I have also shot this same load in several other rifles of different makes and models and the results have been the same. When Nosler dropped the SB and went to the Ballistic Tip I followed suit with his load and the groups actually tightened.

For nearly 15 years now I have been using this particular load, working it up in various rifles and coming right back to about the original specs. The seating depth might be off by .010 one way or the other, but close enough still it would shoot VERY acceptable. I have tried other bullets along the way as well, and have seen it shoot well with them also, only the powder charge might be down a grain or so. This load has constantly ranged in the 2850fps range in just about every rifle I have shot it in, and pressure has never been an issue.

As for the 165gr bullets, I have found RL-22 to function the best with them. Gives top end velocities, and great accuracy. The only issue I ever had with it was a load I worked up in temps around 65 - 70 degrees, when the temp dropped down to around the low 30's the primers didn't want to light it all off. By the same token, when temps hit the upper 90's it would flatten primers. However looking at the Hodgdon load data, it shows virtually the same load using the H-4350, which I know is very stable, and it should work out fine. I simply haven't worked much lately with the 165's, since the 150's suit my needs for most hunting I do.

Another powder which has shown promise with several other calibers has been the Ramshot Hunter. I have found it produced excellent velocities, and accuracy in several other calibers we have worked with. I plan on working up something using it this spring, and looking at the data, and based upon the other calibers it should work great as well.

Good luck with your trip and your loads as well. I have had a hankering to go to the Senoran Desert for on of those big mulies for quite a while. Just seems other things keep pulling away at the funds.

Take Care,

Mule · « **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2009, 10:57:00 AM »

Accurate 4350
55.0 grains
Sierra 165gr SPBT

It's Magic !

John R. · « **Reply #12 on:** January 12, 2009, 03:45:14 AM »

I agree with STexhunter, I went to IMR 4064 this year after trying 150 gr. Accubonds. A max load out of the Nosler no.6 edition shoots consistant 3/4" groups sometimes less, if I'm having a good day.

LHitchcox · « **Reply #13 on:** January 12, 2009, 05:37:00 AM »

I agree with the use of 4064 for 150 grainers. It works well for 165s too, but for 165s I prefer H4350-57-58 grains. My favorite wieght is the 165s. I use Hornady or Remingtons for deer and Nosler Partitions for larger game.

Leon

Hank08 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2009, 05:52:16 AM »

165 gr. & 57 gr. 4350.
H08

critter44 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 15, 2009, 03:57:15 AM »

Nosler 150 gr BT's
Moderately heavy load of IMR 4350
Works great in several of my guns

squirrellluck · « **Reply #16 on:** January 15, 2009, 07:29:40 PM »

IMR 4350 and 150 grn sierra spitzer Deadly

TOWCOBRA1 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 15, 2009, 08:56:35 PM »

51 grains of IMR 4895 with 150 gr Remington corelock in my rem 700 30-06 produced a 3 shot group at 100 yds I could cover with my thumb to the 1st joint. Standard Lr rifle primers and rem. brass. ( Per Nosler #6 manual with vel at 2922 fps from a 24" bbl.)

High Brass · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2009, 08:42:12 AM »

I've had great accuracy with 165gr Hornady SPs using IMR 4350, H-4350, and IMR 4831.

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2009, 07:35:07 AM »

Thanks to all you guys.

Blowtorch

cbourbeau32 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2009, 04:13:36 PM »

Quote from: Blowtorch53 on January 10, 2009, 08:31:33 AM

Hello Guys,

I just bought a new Marlin XL7 in .30-06

Please let me know how it shoots with whatever load you choose. I should have mine in a week or so and will be handloading as well. Charlie

Autorim · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2009, 05:05:44 PM »

165 grain bullet and IMR4350, but many powders will probably perform as well. The old 06 if a very flexible cartridge to load. I prefer heavy for caliber bullets and only shoot 165 and 180's in the 06.

goodconcretecolor · « **Reply #22 on:** January 22, 2009, 03:07:27 PM »

I notice a trend here:150-165 grain bullets with charges of IMR 4350 in the mid to upper 50"s. One of my favorite loads is a Hornady 150 grain either spire point flat base or SST with 56 grains with a Lee Factory Crimp. Gives 2800 fps and great accuracy. C. E. Harris once cited(in American Rifleman) 56 grains of IMR 4350 with a Sierra 165 boattail as replicating a Federal Premium load. I plan on trying 165 grainers this year. Of course always work up to these loads.