Author Topic: Thompson Center 30-06 reload data (Read 1213 times)

lshedra · « **on:** October 26, 2004, 07:18:32 PM »

I have been successful in achieving extreme accuracy on my .223, 22 hornet, 7mm-08 and 7mm Mag. But for my 30-06, I have been trying different load recipe and nothing seem to be working. So far, the best I was able to achieve was using this recipe

For 100 Yards
Bullet
Type: SPEER BTSP
Weight: 165gr

Powder
Type: H4350
Weight: 56.5gr

SEATING: 3.28"
Grouping: 3"

In 7mm-08 using 48 gr compressed of H4350, and 150 gr BTSP Speer, I had 1/4" grouping at 100 yards and 1" grouping at 200 yards.

So far, I have not been successful in reaching an accurate load in the 30-06 for my T/C 24" factory barrel (i.e. trying to achieve 1/4" to 1" grouping at 100 yards).

Do you have any suggestion for the 30-06?

Thanks,

LEE :?

lilabner · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2004, 07:36:08 PM »

My favorite '06 handload is 59 grains of H4350 with a 165 gr. Hornady bullet seated to the cannelure. This is a maximum load to be approached with caution a half grain at a time and safe only in strong bolt actions. I'm getting 3 shot groups ranging from an inch to 3/4 inch with this load.

crow_feather · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2004, 09:24:01 AM »

I shoot 180 grain bullets with 46 grains of IMR 4064 and get sub moa groups.

C F

lshedra · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2004, 11:16:41 AM »

Who make the 180 Gr bullet? Is it Sierra, Speer, Remington, Hornady etc? Can you please be more specific about the data on the Bullet (is it also BT, Flat Base, etc.)?

Thanks,

LEE :-)

Possum · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2004, 01:30:36 PM »

I am shooting 53gr of H380 with a 165gr Nosler in my 15" Encore with Rem brass. After I got the base nailed down with 7 screws instead of 4, the groups tightened up considerably. In my Howa bolt action these are 1" loads. In the pistol they are doing about 1.5", but I believe that is my technique more than the load.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2004, 02:24:39 PM »

I have found the federal preumium High Energy load with 180gr Nosler Partition at 2880fps to be very accurate in my 24" encore barrel. I noticed that the heavier bullets shot better in my encore than 150-165 gr loads. Give the Nolsers 180s a try, they are a great bullet.

Coal River Rat · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2004, 08:23:33 PM »

1)A close to max. charge of IMR 4064 and 150 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips, 2) Reloader 19 and Sierra 150gr. Prohunters, 3) Reloader 15 and Nosler 150gr. Ballistic Tips. I've seen impressive results with all 3 combos. Although the 4064 combo with BTs is the most impressive in accuracy and velocity. Of course different barrels like different loads, start light and work up and you'll touch on the magic combo. Finding the right load can be alot of work and mostly alot of fun. Good Luck!

lshedra · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2004, 02:22:44 AM »

Thanks folks for all your input.

There is plenty of choices to try. I will try 10 rounds of each recipe and post back my results.

Thanks again,

LEE
"The difference between extraordinary and ordinary is extra"

Possum · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2004, 02:19:38 PM »

In my quest to find a lower recoiling round, I tried IMR4064 with 150gr BT and 165gr Rem Corelok bullets (tried these to get a cheaper bullet to shoot-they work fine with SC whitetails).

Two 5 shot groups went 1.5" out of my 15" 30.06 Encore (four went into an inch w/one on both groups being a flyer). After shooting these loads I switched over to the H380 loads I have been using and OUCH. The recoil was noticebly higher. I don't have a chrony yet, so I can't comment on the velocity. By the way, these loads were below max. I am looking for accuracy and performance, not something that turns a hide inside out. Figured if I can control the pistol, I could be more accurate. Hmmmm..

Just thought this might help you with your decision.

sgtt · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2004, 07:02:59 PM »

Lets see.......you can try different powder/different charges, different primers, different bullet mfg, and or different bullet weights, different seating depths, crimp/no crimp, different brass, different sizing dies, i.e. neck sizing, partial sizing, small base sizing, collet dies, then there is the rifle itself. Bedding, forend pressure, scope..........................

lshedra · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2004, 02:58:07 AM »

All of the mechanical parts were checked. Checked if fasterners were tight, grip, forend, scope mount, and scope rings. I have been in the benchrest shooting range at least 22 years and reloading for close to 3 years.
I do not claim to know it all when it comes to reloading, but I do shoot both stationary and moving target with extreme accuracy (not to brag) given I have an accurate load. This 30-06 barrel were purchased new and after several reloads (close to 6 months of reloading for it), nothing seems to bring it to the accuracy I am performing with other barrels (different calibers). I have tried different primers, different powders, and different weight bullets. So Far - none has worked. I have not tried the IMR 4064 and so far from the replies, I am finding that there is a common trend among them and most are pointing to IMR 4064. So I have loaded 10 Qty each of IMR 4064 46 gr, 47 gr, and 48 gr with 180gr Speer Boat Tail Spitzer and Winchester primers.

I have measured the twist rate in this barrel and it is 1 in 12". Does anyone know the relation between the twist rate and the ballistic coefficient - is it inverse proportional or direclty proportional? and/or is it linear relationship? Do you have a web site that explains this relationship. I tried almost all the weight bullets under 165gr - now I am moving in the other direction and starting to use higher weight bullets.

This afternoon, I will be at the range trying each load. If the results are good, I will be posting the results back here so I may help someone else having the same caliber.

sgtt · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2004, 06:31:45 AM »

That is a good move, I think. My somewhat sardonic point was that there are so many variables that it is difficult to guess what will work for you. The last rifle to give me fits was my Tikka 695, in 338 Win mag. I wanted to download some 33 Winchester bullets to use on whitetails. This rifle is a tack driver with my normal loads. As the bullet was a constant it was not an option. After trying different primers, seating depths, crimp/no crimp, powder, various amounts of forend pressure, and a different scope. The solution was a change of brass mfg. WA-LA! The groups shrunk from 3+" to sub 1". Sometimes it is a half grain of powder that will change the barrel harmonics just the right amount. I had a 270 Win like that. I don't usually load more than 3 rounds of any experimental loads. If I get a good group with 3 rounds, I will then try a five shot group at my next outing. My theory is this: If I shoot an unacceptable group with 3 rounds firing 2 more or 7 more at the target won't make it any better. I love putting bullets together, hate pulling them apart! Good luck!

crow_feather · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2004, 10:46:47 AM »

One other thing you can do is call the techs at Sierra Bullets and ask them their accuracy load for what ever weight bullet you want to use. If the rifle doesn't shoot well with that load, it is the rifle. If it shoots that load well, but not your load, then it is your load

Best of luck

C F

hillbill · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2004, 02:06:48 PM »

try a box of noslers, they high dollar but they straightend out my ruger no. 1

lshedra · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2004, 01:32:02 AM »

Finally, the rain stopped here in Texas and I was able to try the new loads. I had five loads made up with IMR 4064 and Speer 180gr. Of all 5 loads the 49gr IMR 4064 seems to give the best grouping. The top shot were scope adjustments. The 3 shots group showed me the grouping. Then I adjusted downward and the 7 group shots were so far the best grouping I had.

The load were .5gr delta between one and another. I will be loading few more of .2gr in between loads.

Thank you all for your input. It seems that I am now on the right track with IMR 4064.

LEE

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Coal River Rat · « **Reply #15 on:** November 06, 2004, 03:32:18 PM »

Ishedra, Are those 1/2" or 1/4" blocks on the target? Just curious. Looks like your on to something w/ 4064. A friend was having trouble getting his 06 to group and 4064 was the ticket also. Not only is he shooting 1/2" 3 shot groups at 100yds, he is doing it at close to 3000 fps(2970+or-) w/ Ballistic tips. I must admit I was surprized that a 1/12 twist is doting on 180s, oh well I have a 1/10 twist that will ONLY shoot little groups with 150 Sierra P.H.s. I guess that just shows us one more time nothing is engraved in stone. Good Luck and Good Shooting!

lshedra · « **Reply #16 on:** November 07, 2004, 04:11:52 AM »

The blocks are 1/4".

With the twist rate I had in this rifle, I expected the lighter bullets to perform better than the heavier bullets. I am an engineer and I go by equations and things are not adding up. But you are right, the 4064 seems to be the choice. I have made up 10 different loads of 5 each of 47.2 gr with an increment .2 grain up to 49.2 gr. The max rating for the 180 gr bullets is 50 gr of IMR 4064 powder so I am still within the limit. Also, I have augmented my overall AOL to 3.283 that's .003 higher than what I had it last, and it is about .001 from its peak seating in the chamber.

This coming Thursday, when I will have my first chance to try these loads - if I do not get rained out. If I have better results, I will post them as well.

LEE

Coal River Rat · « **Reply #17 on:** November 08, 2004, 08:16:16 PM »

Yea, let us know how everthing is progressing, I'm definitely curious. Good Shooting!

lshedra · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2004, 03:18:15 PM »

I tried 2 of the loads and then next to me at the bench, a friend suggested to free-float the barrel. Doing that, we found out that we start seeing better grouping. The 48.6 Gr gave the best results so far with a tightgroup under 1/2" with free floating the barrel - took the T/C forend off the barrel.

The bullets were touching hit after hit (cold shots - 6 minutes in between shots) on top of each other. It rained while I was at the range so I did not retrieve the targets. Moreover, we replaced the synthatic forend with an old wooden forend that I had. We grooved the forend so the barrel would be free-floating that same day. The rifle looks pretty strange as the stock is synthatic and the forend is wood. Then on Friday, I restested with the same load, and the rifle and ammo repeated the accuracy.

Field tested: Last weekend , I went out to my hunting place in Eldorado - 210 miles west of San Antonio. I took a neck shot at an 8 points buck - 165 Yds away - accounted for 1" bullet drop at this range and 1/2" windage; needless to say the buck was shot to an exact accuracy and is now being processed. The buck dropped in its track - simply the bullets pierced and broke his neck with 2.5" hole coming out from the exit point. The Antlers were 15.5" wide. The deer weighed at 168lbs.

For those who are interested, the load recipe is 48.6 gr of IMR 4064, 180 gr BT Spritzer Speer bullets (registered 2670fps on the chronograph), and Winchester Primers (large Rifle) did the trick.

My research for this rifle stops here - now I can use it for my big game hunting (i.e. Colorado trip).

:-)

lshedra · « **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2004, 03:00:42 PM »

This load is for a lighter bullet - 125 gr Nosler Boattail Ballistic Tip.

The first shot to the right is with a cold barrel. 4 shots afterward are shown to the left.

For Texas White Tail - the 125 Gr bullet is plenty enough and with this powder load (48gr of IMR 4064), it hardly has any recoil.

LEE :-)