30-06 and Nosler

[smokey66]

I have been reloading for 15+ years and I have never had any exposure to the '06 untill a friend became interested in reloading his Rem 700. He  is dead set on 165 gr Nosler BT.  Does anyone have any "magic" loads they would like to share? Also, I keep plenty of IMR 4350 on hand, does the '06 like this powder? thanks .....

[Reloader]

Start with 48 grains of IMR 4064 and you may not have to look further.

This load shoots well in both of my 06's

[jhm]

Smokey66:  I use 55gr. imr4350 bewhind 165 gr sierra and it has never let me down, inside 1 in. when and if I do my part, there are some other loads that I also use using different powders but since you stated you had a lot of the 4350 thats thew one to use.   JIM

[Ol` Joe]

IMR4350 is one of the best powders for the `06.
I`d work up to somewhere around 56-57grs with the 165 Nosler. I`ve found this to be a real good load for my 30-06 with 165gr Hornady SPs.

[smokey66]

Thanks  for the input guys. I printed all of your replies. I am going to try the the 4350 loads first, only because I have it on hand. If we don't get the results we're after, then we will get some 4064 and give it a try. Thanks again for the great replies..... :grin:

[ButlerFord45]

Smokey, if your still around,  In 1980 I purchased a Remington 700 BDL 30-06.  I decided that for the amount of shooting that I would do with this rifle, premium bullets would not be overly burdensome financially.  After lots of comparrison with the two reloading manuals I had, and the ones that I could sneek a peek in at the gun shops I frequented, I decided that the powder I would start with would be IMR 4350 and the bullet a Nosler Partition 165gr.  This is the round that I learned "Load Development" with.  After several powders, primers and bullets, my original choice was what I came back to.  5 shots covered by a quarter at 100 yds.  Every time I get a new lot of bullets, primers or powder I check the load.  After 23 years, it's still the same group at the same point of aim.  While this may be a starting place for some, this is as good as I care to work for.  This combination (knock wood) has never failed to kill on contact.  For what it's worth, I think your friend is starting with the best combination possible.  Good luck with your endevor.

[freddogs]

I like using nosler ballistic tips for deer and antelope hunting.I generally use 150 grain bullets but I see I have a box of 165 gr ballistic tips with 57 gr.IMR 4350. I sometimes use WW 760 with fair results.

[Dave in WV]

Another vote for 4350. I like Hodgdon's 4350 too. It works well in my .243 too.  Dave

[Selmer]

Here goes another vote for IMR 4350, 57 gr. IMR 4350 and 165 Nosler BT has accounted for many deer over the past ten years, shoots very accurately and holds together very well, despite the storied you may here, I've shot deer at enough different angles and ranges to tell you that if you put the bullet where you should, no matter the angle, it will penetrate through the vitals, even on two finishing shots I had to make for a friend that were Texas heart-shots, my least favorite, but it did the job.  Also look at H380, won't get quite as much speed, but I purchased a surplus 8 lb. canister, and I found a good load for it with the 165 gr, and it meters so nicely, it's the only powder I use in my .308 and .243, so I figured, why not my .30-06?  It works well also, but if you have 4350, go with that first.
Selmer

[Rummer]

I use 56.5 grains of Reloader 19 behind the 165 gr Ballistic tip.  I find this load to be extremely accurate, but the velocity is below what a factory .30-06 load (around 2500 fps according to my chronogaph).  This load performs well on whitetails at the ranges I shoot them.

[Possum]

I can speak for the H380 & 30-06.  I am shooting 53.5gr of 380 in my Encore with 165gr Nosler BT's and I am shooting at 1.50" @ 100yds.  This is with a pistol, of course, and as I fine tune the load I am  sure it will get better.   I am getting an 1" group with the 380 in .250-3000, the .270, and the .35 Rem.  I have heard that 4350 is a super powder for 30-06, but I only have experience right now with the 380.  By the way, the H380 meters exceptionally well.

[Dand]

Ken Water's Pet Loads suggested 55 gr of IMR 4350 and a 180 gr bullet  20+ years ago.  I tried it and it was fantastic in my rifle.  It works well with 180 gr Speer hot cores, 180 Hornady spires, and 180 Nosler Partitions.  Several caribou have been taken with the combination.  I can get 1 inch groups with it.  I rarely load anything else.
As a caution, with newer lots of powder, I have used 54 grains with complete satisfaction. Some rifles may be able to take a little more than 55 gr depending on powder lot, brass, primer, ane the particular rifle.  My other favorite powder in 30-06 is IMR 4831.  I have had pretty good results with Accurate 3100 too but haven't had a chance to chronograph it.

[Smokey Joe]

4350 and the 165 gr. Sierra Gameking boattail work very nicely in my '06.  I imagine the 165 gr. BT Noslers would go just as well (but cannot imagine them doing better on deer-sized game, and they cost twice as much).

When I do my part and put 'em where they should be in a deer, every deer so treated has gone down like a poleaxed steer.

[Ron T.]

Put me down as another vote for IMR4350.  However, I’d suggest a 150 grain Nosler Bullet, either the Partition or the Ballistic Tip, for deer.  It isn’t that the 165 grain Nosler Bullet is “bad”, it’s just that you don’t need the extra weight of the 165 grain bullet.
 
A maximum charge of IMR4350 behind a 150 grain Nosler Bullet will exceed 3,000 fps and give you spectacular results on deer sized game as well as flat trajectory.  But, frankly, you don’t need that much power to make a one shot kill on deer sized animals.  But… that’s up to you.

A muzzle velocity in the 2800 fps to 2850 fps would be more than enough with the 150 grain bullet and still give you a point-blank range of close to 300 yards.

Just my 2¢ worth…


Strength & Honor…

Ron T.

[High Brass]

I shoot 55.2 gr. of IMR 4350 and 165 gr. Nosler Bal. Tips in a Remington pump.  They shoot great, 1 MOA or better when I do my part.  I don't need to push 'em fast sine 99% of my shooting is 100 yards or less.

[MF]

Hey Smokey,

If that 4350 doesn't work for you try IMR 4895. I use it with 150 grain Sierra SBT's out of my model 70. My .02. Mike

[Smokey Joe]

Well, thanks for the suggestion. The IMR 4350 works real good for me with the 165 gr. Sierras. Have had good luck also with RL-15, but no better than the IMR 4350.

Were I to switch, I'd try RL-19, or the H-380.  I have friends who I set up with the same Sierra Gameking 165's, in .308 Win, with H-380, and they think I'm brilliant.  But IMR 4350 works good there, too.

The one problem with all the extruded powders, is that they give a bit of a problem metering.  So every so often I consider something else, but so far I've come back to IMR 4350 every time, for an '06 load with 165's.

[brassloader]

I use 61gr. Reloder 19,165 Nosler Partition,Winchester brass and primer.This load is 1 grain under max according to Alliant Powder who market Reloader 19.Velocity is 2850 to 2900 and very accurate in my Browning A-Bolt 30-06.

[todbartell]

You guys would never guess...........I'll suggest H4350.  :lol:   I've used IMR too, but H is what I am now using.

57 grs. gets me 2806 fps avg. in my 22" barreled M70 with the 165 gr. Hornady Interbond bullet.  R-P case & Winchester WLR primer.  COL is 3.27".  Good accuracy, 1" on average.

Another option for 165 gr. is Varget.  50 grs. of it gives me 1" or better groups and 2740 fps avg.  RL15 would also work.  These two are close to 4064, which is a classic 30-06 powder.