30-06 to 30-30 loading down

[jpuke]

I posted a question similar to this about a year ago and I'm still in the development mode of my loads.  The goal is to get my 30-06 loaded down to 30-30 velocities because the landowner that lets me hunt his acreage thinks the 30-06 is far too powerful.  I've used a 45-70 the last two years to take three deer but I had to sell that rifle this year, leaving me with the 30-06 only.  I tried using reduced powder charges with H4895 but there was no consistent accuracy with the loads that were in the 2200-2300 fps range.  I think it's because the powder was sloshing around so much in the case.

What I tried the other day was loading a near case full of H1000 and this seemed to do better.  I haven't tested it for accuracy but the velocity was 2050 fps average.  I want to add a few more grains of powder with the next round and see if I can't get the velocity up to 2150 or 2200 fps with good accuracy.  My question is whether magnum primers will help me get a few more fps and consistency in ignition? 

I've never had a "magnum" rifle and I wonder what the concept behind the magnum primer is.  Is it to ignite bigger quantities of powder?  Are they used because slower powders are harder to get ignited consistently? 

I'm confident that I'm no where near the pressure limit with this combination (180 gr Sierra Pro-Hunter, 54.2 gr H1000, CCI200 primer) and I'm wondering what tips you gentlemen out there might have.  Unfortunately I'm a bit limited on trying different powder combinations. 

[shot1]

  Why is the land owner concerned about what caliber rifle you use? A 30-06 with a 150 to 165 gr bullet at 2700 to 3000 fps is perfect for whitetail deer size game. Most people use too heavy a bullet on deer. Those 180 gr bullets are made for elk size game. If you slow the Sierra 180 gr bullet down to around 2100 fps like the muzzle velocity of a 30-30 with a 170 gr bullet it will not expand very much even at close range and when the range gets over 100 yards it may not expand at all. Does the land owner make you shoot your loads across a chronograph to see what velocity you are using? If he does not then use what you want and let him think what he wants.

The best load I ever used for deer in a 30-06 came from the #4 Sierra manual as the accuracy load for 150 gr bullets.
51.2 grs IMR 4064 . It will average 2900 fps from a 22" barrel is extremely accurate and will smoke a deer. I used 150 Sierra SP and Nosler ballistic tips.

Mag primers are used to light large powder charges and are used with most ball powders because they are harder to light. If you are going to be hunting in very cold weather mag primers are suggested because at low temps powders are harder to light. You can use mag primers with any load but you must back way off the powder charge and work back up because they will most of the time cause more pressure. My most accurate load for my 25-06 consist of CCI Mag primers and 49 grs IMR 4350 with a 117 Sierra for 3000 fps average.

[Grumulkin]

I guess if you're hunting on his land, the landowner makes the rules.

Hogdon's web site has a section on Trail Boss loads for any cartridge including for bottle necked cartridges that should get velocities down where you want them.  Unfortunately, I've found that low velocities usually don't give the best accuracy.  Another way to lower velocities is to use heavier bullets; if you want to go this way, I would suggest a 220 gr. round nosed bullet.

Magnum primers have a hotter flame.  They may help load consistency.  In the interest of getting more accurate loads, I've tried large rifle magnum primers in a variety of loads.  In cartridges the size of the 30/06, no adjustment in powder charge is needed when switching from large rifle to large rifle magnum primers.

[jpuke]

The gentleman that lets me hunt is familiar with the 30-30 and I guess he's been told that the 30-06 will shoot across the county.  To be fair, there are houses 500 yards away from my stand so I can see his point.  As far as using what I'd LIKE to use, I'm going to stick with honesty and keep my hunting spot.  (He won't chrono my loads, he trusts me)  This family is far too nice to me and allows me to hunt anything that walks their property whenever I want, I don't want to spoil that. 

I also have a box of 170 grain FP Hornadys that I've been trying but I went to the 180 grain bullet to get the pressure up.  H1000 makes some low pressure loads in 30-06 and I couldn't find a single load for anything below a 200 grain bullet with this powder.

[BRL]

I know your not loading your own with this one but it may help you through the season until you find your load. I've had good results with 2 factory reduced loads.

Remington "Managed Recoil" and Federal's light load. Both have similar ballistics to the .30-30 in the .30-06 case. One uses a 125g bullet @ around 2,400fps the other a 170g @ a little over 2,000, I think. 

[anweis]

30-06 Springfield - 150 grain Speer SP bullet, 28.0 grains of XMP 5744 powder, CCI 200 primer, Win. case. COL 3.250". MV 2052 fps in 22" barrel. (Based on the Speer Reloading Manual No. 13.)

.30-06 Springfield - 165 grain Speer SP bullet, 25.0 grains of SR 4759 powder, CCI 200 primer, Win. case. COL 3.250". MV 1941 fps in 22" barrel. (Based on the Speer Reloading Manual No. 13.)

or, you could try reduced loads with Trailboss powder, but i don't know how fast they'd shoot.

You are right, to get good accuracy out of reduced loads, it is better to use a bulky powder.

[shot1]

It is a crazy world. You will not be any safer with a 30-30 over a 30-06 from 500 yards, both will still be deadly. The slower bullets stand a much greater chance of glancing off things and going on than a fast moving bullet that will expand quickly and expend  it's energy quickly. I understand you got to do what you got to do. 

My old Speer #10 manual list IMR 4198 start 26.0 1723 fps and max 30.0 2000 fps with 180 gr bullets for a red. load in the 30-06. I would use the 170 gr bullet so it will expand as those low velocities.

For 150 gr bullets it list SR 4759 as the powder and start 20.0 1620 fps and 24.0 max 1957 fps. Use the bullets made for the 30-30 at these low velocity.

[trotterlg]

You should be able to fit about 61 grains of H1000 in the 30-06 case.  I doubt you can get too much of that powder in the case to hurt anyting, so I would try just loading it to the bottom of the neck and seat a bullet on top of it.  I have a 20-06 (Yes, that is right) and I shoot 62 gr of H1000 with a 28gr bullet.  A very full case will probably give you the best accuracy.  The Magunum primers will not give you any more velocity but will probably make the rounds a little more consistant.  The muzzel flash will be large.  Good luck.  Larry

[jpuke]

Thanks for the help gentlemen.  I'm switching back to the 170 grain bullet and will load up with that. 

[Lloyd Smale]

If it were me and i doubt it ever will as if i want 3030 performance id just use a 3030. After all what kind of a shooter doesnt own a 3030, Id probably go with starting loads for an 06 using 130-150 grain bullets using 4895 or 4198

[jpuke]

I don't really want 30-30 performance but it's what I'll have to use this year on that property.  I'd love to get a 30-30 but it's not in the future for this year's season.  I will be using  full-power 30-06 loads when I hunt closer to the NE/KS border later in the year, but my opening day hunt will be on the acreage closer to town. 

[ButlerFord45]

Fill the case to 1/2 way up case neck with FFF and seat a 170 to 220 grain cast bullet.