Author Topic: 30-06 load development? (Read 536 times)

CIG · « **on:** August 05, 2004, 04:20:52 AM »

I'm shooting ruger M77 Mark2 30-06. Loading IMR 4350, Fed cases, Win primers, Horn 150 gr BTSP's. Last night shot 4 rounds of 8 loads. Start 55 grains and go up .5 grains. End at 58.5 grains. Now they seemed all over the place off the bench at 100. At 58 grains they were tighter and more or less stringing vertically. All other's were up, down, left, right - random.

The question is should I work up some loads around that 58 grain load or is this variation from the other groups meaningless.

I have gotten great groups out of a 270 howa 1500, half inch with IMR 4064, but this gun is giving me fits. I tried 4064 and 4350 - maybe a different powder. I also tried Rem cases also. Best so far is what I listed above at 58 grains.

Is there a better way to load test? I have only been doing this for 6 months. I have great loads for my 357 mag worked up with no problems either, and 38 wad cutters.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks,

Rmouleart · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2004, 05:42:00 AM »

Maybe you found the sweet spot for your rifle using that bullet and powder load, this is not uncommon, some powders group well through out the load and some get erratic along the way, try using a chrono, see if you are within spec's...cuts out all the wonder;) Look for high pressure signs. If you feel your rifle can do better or has with factory loads try some other powders as well, I found that Varget worked really well with 30/06 and the 150gr Hornady interlock SP...Thats what working a load is all about, finding that sweet spot, I load for accuracy, not for utmost power fps, the load is alway plenty for the game you are hunting, look for tight lines, tight grouping(cloverleaf) groups, then tune your rifle to them. Good luck and safe loading. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2004, 11:49:19 AM »

I think the first thing I'd do is to work some on the rifle and then get back to load development. I suspect a bedding problem in that rifle and it may need a good thorought barrel cleaning too.

GB

CIG · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2004, 04:36:16 AM »

I'm thinking it might be a bedding problem also. This is the synthetic hershey bar stock. I have been thinking of replacing it with a wood boyd stock that I could pillar bed. I assume you can't do much with this stock? I clean the barrel after every shooting session over a few shots and that includes pulling all copper out of it, I use Barns copper cleaner.

Does anyone thing that 165 grain or 180 grain pills would work any better in that rifle? I hate to put money in a non-shooter, but maybe that's the way it goes. Thanks for the tips. I might try the varget powder next.

I was getting 2.5 inch groups with this gun at 200 yards with federal premium 165 grains bullets - factory loads. I have the front bolt at about 60 pounds and the back bolt just tight. I marked them to make sure they are in the same position.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2004, 10:08:54 AM »

Not being all that much of a Ruger fan I have little real experience with their centerfire rifles so can't say what it might or might not do. But I sure don't care much for that stock on yours. A laminated wood stock would be far better or if you like plastic an aftermarket one by a quality producer would also work well. If the stock on it is very flexible as I suspect it is then nope you'll not be able to do much with it.

GB

josebd · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2004, 02:20:31 PM »

i was shooting around 2 inch group or better. trigger was 6lbs, dropped it to 3lbs 1st 3 shots 1 1/2 group, next 3 3/4 group,with factory remington 150 coreloc.got a winchester model 70 synthetic stock.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2004, 05:27:36 PM »

If the synthetic stock is the original style that is indented in the butt stock area with Ruger molded in it, you have a good, rigid stock. Butt ugly they are but still a good stock overall. Check the torque on the action screws. The front one is torqued all the way down and then alternate between the ones in front of and behind the trigger guard. A couple of times I've mentioned this to Ruger owners and their accuracy improved after they retorqued the action screws.

CIG · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2004, 03:34:51 AM »

I have decided to restock this with some walnut from Boyd's. I will then pillar and glass bed it. Then I will work up loads again. I have the trigger at 3.5 lbs and had been playing with the screw torque and had it marked and set where it worked well on factory ammo. That ugly stock was brutal on the shoulder anyway.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

dave375hh · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2004, 04:02:06 AM »

The first load I try in every 30-06 I've owned or worked on is as follows. A 165gr Nosler Bal.tip, 57.0grs IMR 4350, WLR primer, seat the bullet .020 from the lands if the magazine will allow it. I've tried this in 14 different 06's and they all shot it well. This does depend on the bedding being reasonablly good. One old Ruger flat bolt shot .3's with this load, all the rest did at least 1.5". "The Load" works well with HDY, Speer, & Sierra bullets also. The Swift Sirracco(SP) should make a super load.
The Boyd's stock and glassbedding is a good idea, so to would be a Hoage overmoulded with the full allum.bedding insert. That because of that damn angled frt screw on a mod 77. They are a PITA to glass right.