30-06...I'm coming out!

enfieldspares

Well-Known Member
I've decided to come out and confess that I am now looking to seek a variation to purchase a .30-06. I'm out!

For years the fact that I worked in France kept me from ever considering the calibre and when I started stalking .270 Winchester was pretty much the "go to" choice. I must have owned for varying amounts of time, five or six of the things, along with 6mm Remington, .280 Remington, 7mm Remington Magnum, 8x57 and 8x60S.

But never a .30-06. So as I will use only Vihtavouri N160 and always a bullet or 150 grains, 165 grains or (I intend as the one size fits all) 180 grains what loads are fellow forum members using with as my only powder I use now Vihtavouri N160, please?

Barrels is twenty-four inches and it will be used mostly for woodland stalking on muntjac or roe with the odd fallow and maybe, when I can afford the time and the money, red hinds and perhaps red stags. NB...I'm not trying to stop trucks, enemy tanks or runaway trains with it!
 
30-06 is a wonderful round -- Most flexible! However Viht N160 powder is a bit slow for 30-06.
With all three bullet weights you have mentioned you would only get between 2400 & 2500 ft/sec with a 100% case fill. Your pressures will be low though! - Maybe too low for best obturation - look for sooty cases.
N150 would be a better choice IMHO. - Good % case fill for excellent velocity & acceptable pressures.

Ian
 
My limited experience with VV N160 has been in the .270 Win, 7x64, and .280 Remington - all .30-06 case volumes, but smaller bores. I got terrific accuracy and good velocities as I passed 55.0 grains, and went towards 57.0 grains with appropriate bullets. I think the .30-06 is going to require going to 58.0 grains with a 165-gr BT ( near max! ), and probably the same with a 180-gr. H-4350, W-760, RL-17, RL-19 will give great accuracy and 100 FPS more velocity with the 165-gr bullets, and RL-22 and H-4831 with the 180-gr bullets.

I am interested to see how N160 does for you in the .30-06. Your 24-inch barrel will help a lot. What kind of rifle is it?
(PS: I hope you kept a .270, .280, 8x57 and 8x60S ).
 
Thanks for the interest and the replies so far. Hmm. I hadn't taken account of the larger bullet base factoring in to give lower pressures. But yes I take the point and agree. I found it excellent in .270 Winchester so had assumed (not realising the base area of the bullet becomes relevant) that I'd get as good results with it in a .30-06 size bullet. Point very much noted.

Rifle is likely to be a Parker Hale M81 Classic and I am hoping that the same guy that cut the chamber on my (now sold .270 WCF Parker Hale M81 Classic) wasn't the one that cut the chamber on this .30-06!
 
I had good results with a load using H4350 under 165 grain ballistic tips, I'll check later but I think it was 57 grains of powder.
Dead accurate and when my factory ammo runs out it's what I'll be going back to
 
Try 57 grains of Viht 160 behind the heavier 180 grain bullets, gives good results in my Tikka.

That does look like its just coming on song with a nice case fill of around the 100%.

What velocity are you getting? - Quickload him say 2524 ft/sec out of a 24" barrel & a peak pressure about 45000 p.s.i.
 
Yes, 57.0 grains is a good case fill for the .280 and 7x64. With 160-gr Sierra GK and 58.0 grains, groups were best ( a ragged hole ), at 2,885 average FPS from a 23.5-inch barrel

With a 24-inch barrel 30-06, you should be getting over 2,600 fps with 190 and 200-gr bullets over 57.0 grains of N-160.

Depending on the case volume, of course, you might need to step it up carefully towards 60 grains, like RL-22 and 4831, for the 180-gr bullets, to get it to a normal 2,700 fps. In heavier brass, 57.0 grains should do it.
 
I always seem to like a guy that shoots a 30/06. A 150 gr. seems like a good choice for what you will be shooting. The Viht manual, 3rd edition does not list a load for N160 and a 150. grainer. Go to the place where Muir buys his powder, they seem to have everything. Get some IMR 4350, and some Norma 204. Work up to 59 gr. of IMR 4350 with a Hornady 150 SPBT. Very nice in my Remington 700. I just discovered that 55.6 gr. of Norma 204 with a Hornady 168 gr. BTHP is a real good combo, it may be good for a 165 grain hunting bullet as well. 55 gr. of Winchester 760 & a Sierra 165 gr. BTSP is pretty spiffy as well. Good shooting to you.
 
Just dont miss high

One of our new stalkers got his first ever deer last Sunday and he didnt know what to do with it so I took it to my chiller skinned and butchered it

Having seen the devestation, I asked if he'd perhaps used a bazooker to shoot it

No he said 30/06 150g

Pretty much the whole front of the carcus was a write off

2015-08-04%2018.02.43_zpsiwmw5fcm.jpg
 
I always seem to like a guy that shoots a 30/06. Get some IMR 4350, Good shooting to you.
I was stuck on 2 powders for a long time, but now only use one, if you find a load for your preferred powder great, if not try IMR4350.
I use it in both my .243 and 30-06.
I agree with what i was told once, 'any 30-06 that won't shoot a 180 Nosler Partition with 56 grains of IMR4350 just won't shoot anyway!
Cheers
Richard
 
I was stuck on 2 powders for a long time, but now only use one, if you find a load for your preferred powder great, if not try IMR4350.
I use it in both my .243 and 30-06.
I agree with what i was told once, 'any 30-06 that won't shoot a 180 Nosler Partition with 56 grains of IMR4350 just won't shoot anyway!
Cheers
Richard

Funny , that's what I use in my 06 lol . I was told the same thing many years ago and have used this load on a lot of game , totally reliable on everything .

The same powder works great for 165's as well , it is a max load , but it's shot extremely well in more 06's than I can remember . It's 57 grains of IMR 4350 , standard primer under a Nosler 165 Partition . As always , reduce by 10% and work up . I know you know this Enfieldspares , the disclaimer is for anyone else who may wish to use this load .

There is data for Viht 160 in the Nosler guide for 165's and 180's but none for 150's .

165 gr start load 54 grains N160 WLR primer 2560 fps 100 % load density
Max load 58 grains N160 WLR primer 2767 fps 107 % load density
The starting load is shown as the most accurate

180 gr start load 53 grains N160 WLR primer 2471 fps 101 % load density
Max load 57 grains N160 WLR primer 2675 fps 108 % load density
Again , the starting load is shown as the most accurate in Noslers test rifle .It doesn't work as efficiently as some powders in the 06 but if you have some I'd try it out and see how it shoots , it might surprise you . I hope this helps .

AB
 
Last edited:
just moved over to it for the new rifle .280 ack all the kit's ready View attachment 60099 just waiting for the rifle no rush it will be sorted ready for the fallow :D

"still can't get the pix to come out right way up on this site " ;)
 
in a Winchester Model 70
Nosler 165g B/Tip N160 58.5g, 3.685", estimated 2600f/s
Hornady, 180g Interbond, N160 55.0G, 3.367", estimated 2,524 f/s - exceptionally accurate.

-JMS
 
Back
Top