My dad’s birthday is in a few weeks and I’m looking to load up some match ammo for his pre-'64 .30-06 that he’s extremely proud of so he can have some long range fun. It’s looking like for the .30-06 that the 180 or 190 grain bullets might be a good way to go since he says that 180’s shoot better in his barrel than 165’s do in loads he’s tried. I’m looking at 3 choices so far: Sierra, Nosler, and Berger. Any others you recommend? What has been your experience in loading something like this? Any particularly good or bad results? Any tips?
Pre 64 Win is a 30-06 length action. Bergers will have to be loaded long and will not fit in your mag box so you will have to single round load them.
If your just going to punch some paper and maybe shoot a deer, I would suggest the 178g AMAX.
Where do you live?
I live in upstate NY, he lives in Alabama and they’re going to him. He’s got plenty of 180 Remington stuff, I’m loading this stuff for fun mostly.
For my pre-64 .30-06, I use what some consider the “standard” load for a 180 gr. bullet…consisting of 55 grs. IMR4350 powder. I use it in Winchester brass with CCI200 primers, and it runs about 2730 ft/sec. in the 24 inch barrel. If I were using the H4350 variety, it would be a grain more powder. My rifle has a fairly short throat, so you’ll want to keep the overal length in spec.
As to bullets, I’ve loaded 168 gr. Hornady Match, but all the 180s have been Hornady, Sierra and Nosler. When there are so many good softpoints available, I don’t want a match bullet fragmenting in stuff that I might eat. Also, it’s nice to have the rifle zeroed for the game load and to be able to practice with it. My rifle seemed to like the 165 gr. and 180 gr. Sierras the best.
The 165s get 56 grs. IMR4350 or 57 grs. H4350 for 2840-2860 ft/sec. I realize you are looking for a match bullet, so I’d try a 175 gr. Sierra Match King with 55 or 56 grs. of one of the 4350 powders. The 175 gr. SMKs are very accurate in the shorter .308, so they may work well in your father’s .30-06.
Yes I was able to gleen from your hedding you live upstate. I was asking more localized ie. I live in Rush south of Rochester etc…
So am I’m I to understand you are going to load the rounds here for your fathers rifle and take them to him?
Ah, gotcha, sorry about that. I’m just outside of Corning.
I’m thinking I’ll send it via UPS. I know I can’t use USPS, but UPS does ammo shipment, right?