30-06 load help

[pseshooter300]

I have a remington 700 with 24 inch barrel. I loaded up some rounds with 165 nosler ballistic tips. With WLR's and IMR 4350. I loaded up 54 grains it did not like that at all. Tried 55 and it was just under a inch with COAL of 3.385. I tried 56 and it was about 1 1/2 group going from left to right. Loaded up some more for today in 55,55.5,56. With COAL of 3.396 55 again right under a inch 55.5 and 56 around 1 1/2 inches. I got a hornady OAL gauge and with this bullet it is reading 3.480 in my gun I know with the coal I have now that is a big jump. But would you guys try 56.5 and 57. Everyone tells me 57 is the ticket in 4350 and a 30-06. I'm new to reloading just looking for some advice. Everyone says closer to the lands more accurate.

 

[ADR]

Before you increase your powder charge, you need to check for pressure signs. I only increase the load if I am not seeing significant pressure signals. It is not uncommon to see a rifle shoot more accurate with a sub maximum charge. Usually, rifles are more accurate with bullets seated just off the lands.

 

[pseshooter300]

Well I don't have a chronograph to check speed but I don't see any pressure signs on the primers or bolt handle isn't hard to raise and i am well under max

 

[Rubberduck270]

The only problem I've found with jumping bullets a long ways (yours isn't really all that far of a jump though) and factory ammo is bullet runout gets very critical with a longer jump, or it seems that way.

Nosler's data shows 57.0 gr of IMR4350 as max so I'd load a few up at 56.5, 57 and 57.5 and see how they acted. Checking them all for runout and culling anything over a 5 thou-ish wobble.

Is there a reason you're jumping them that far and not just loading to the lands?

 

[DaveB]

Seems to me progressing to the 57 level is okay.

However. That is max load. Exercise care as you progress.

You will see flattened primers first then the primer will crater. Assuming your accuracy is still sub-MOA once you see these conditions back down your charge to the last best load.

As for OAL, stay where you are until you get a charge you like. There are several tools you can acquire to determine just exactly how long your bullet can be. Using the tool is faster and probably much more accurate than the manual methods.

Chrony's are on sale. Check the new Caldwell one. Since I will shoot my Chrony Beta sooner or later I am interested in learning how the Caldwell one works.

 

[pseshooter300]

No there isn't a reason just seemed really long

 

[Rubberduck270]

Seat that puppy 10 thou off the lands, make sure they don't wobble and keep pouring powder to her :grin:

As long as you have .308" worth of bullet still in the neck (not counting the boattail) you'll be fine.

The infamous Boxer/Big Stick would tell you to "kiss, find pressure and rock on", which works 95% of the time.

 

[bigtex]

I could never get any accuracy out of my 700 30-06 with IMR 4350. Switched to IMR 4064 for 165 gr hornadys and IMR 4895 for the 150s. Problem solved......

 

[pseshooter300]

Duck I don't think I would have .308 in the case at that depth. If I seated 10 off that would make 3.470 oal that us from the tip I need a bullet comparator

 

[mr.big]

I had one 700 in 30-06 in my life and it loved the 165 Sierra BTSP and max loads of IMR4064 also,,but there are lots of new powders now,RL17 might shine in an 06,,

 

[EastTNHunter]

57gr of IMR4350 with 165gr bullet is the quintessential recipe for 30-06. But every rifle has its own personality, so your gun may not like it. My old 760 pump will shoot that load with Hornady 165gr SP bullets into less than an inch on a good day, but it did not like RL19 or 17, which many claim to have had excellent luck out of.

As has been mentioned, look for pressure signs, but I doubt that you will be over max with that load in a Rem700. Also remember, load manuals list OALs to min SAAMI spec, and my .270 Rem700 likes my loads MUCH longer than what manuals call for. Just try to keep at least 1 caliber diameter (in this case .308) of bullet seated inside the case neck and you should be fine.

 

[pseshooter300]

If I am measuring right .308 of the bullet would be OAL of like 3.345 that is basically book spec. If I seat the bullet our to 3.470 that 10 thousands off the lands there defiantly would not be .308 seated if I could include the boat tail there prolly would be

 

[Rubberduck270]

Roughly how long is the tail on that bullet?

 

[pseshooter300]

Boat tail .110 roughly

 

[Rubberduck270]

I'd give them a try seated all the way out. You'll be able to tell if it's too much once you have a few loaded. Just take your thumb and see if you can move the bullet. If you can move them with just hand pressure it won't be enough.

 

[Tiny]

I don't think there is a bad powder for the 06
If u can an or want to RL-19 an Nosler 150gr bullets is darnest load I have ever seen shoot lights in any of 3006 we have put it through yet I quit playing around with them after my uncle turned me to it. Only exception in my Abolt I still run H-414 an Barnes in it. The rest get the above. Gonna have to try it in a couple of 03 an a 1917 enfield one of these days.

 

[Rubberduck270]

He is using IMR4350 not H4350.