.30-06 (308) loads

[Miki]

Having recently taken ownership of a .30-06 and bought some Sierra #2170, 180gn bullets i'm just in the process of working out/towards a sensible load.

In the cupboard I have some N160 - Vhit's website have some recipes = Vhit .30-06 weblink
Starting @ 54.6gr topping @ 60.3
All good so far - so I plug this data into Quickload (another recent acquisition) to find that it's bordering on hopeless. Quickload suggests a much lower MV (2360 v 2582) and shows that i'm only burning 88.79% of the propellant. At max i'm in the 'purple' zone, burning 93.9% but with a 107% fill.
@57.5gr i'm still a 102.4% fill (or should that be full) burning less than 92% and just touching 2500fps.

Alliant RL17 ticks more boxes as with a 54gr load i'm 87.9% full and burning 99.42% of the powder to get 2591fps.
Less powder, better burn ratio, more velocity, less of a pressure spike.
Their load of 54.5gr just takes Quickload into the 'yellow' zone and suggests (to me) to be a max although the calc sheet offers 57gr as a (near) max and drops the pressure spike into the purple zone.
Alliant RL17 .30-06 weblink

I bought RL17 and will fill some cases starting @ 54.4 and going up to 56.6 (in 0.4gr increments).
Optimum range appears to be around 140M offering a 6" drop @ 200M and +1" @ 100 (give or take a wee bitty).

Words of wisdom gratefully accepted

 

[Selous]

If you have access to a chronograph I would definitely use for your testing it as then you can correct Quickload to more closely represent real world. Also have you measured H2O capacity of your cases and plugged that in?

 

[Miki]

Not done the H2O measurement yet, am still in the 'getting around to it' phase.
.

 

[takbok]

1. Get rid of quickload
2. Try N160
3. Get real world experience with a chronograph and save yourself a lot of hassle

 

[Miki]

I take your point @takbok, however, there has to be merit in using a powder that burns close to 100% of the charge, provides a higher MV and uses less powder (I know only 3 to 4 grains or 7 loads per pound) all within safety/pressure limits.
And i'm learning .... it's a constant curve, which I quite enjoy, almost as much as taking my gun for a walk in the woods

 

[StoatallyDifferent]

See if you can get use of a chronograph. You might have a load that shoots nicely at 100m but if there’s a large variance in velocity then you’ll find your groups opening up significantly the further out you go. Knock up batches of 10 rounds and fire them through the chrono. Find the best velocity nodes for your rifle (can anything over 25fps spread, example - my preferred .308 load has a 13fps spread and I’m able to repeatedly hit a figure 11 at 1100m with that as I have good, reliable DOPE for that round and rifle) then start messing with COAL.

A somewhat simplified explanation but there’s plenty of info on load development online. If you can find someone with a Labradar, even better. Used one for the first time this weekend and it blew my tiny mind. Good luck!

 

[25 Sharps]

Having recently taken ownership of a .30-06 and bought some Sierra #2170, 180gn bullets i'm just in the process of working out/towards a sensible load.

In the cupboard I have some N160 - Vhit's website have some recipes = Vhit .30-06 weblink
Starting @ 54.6gr topping @ 60.3
All good so far - so I plug this data into Quickload (another recent acquisition) to find that it's bordering on hopeless. Quickload suggests a much lower MV (2360 v 2582) and shows that i'm only burning 88.79% of the propellant. At max i'm in the 'purple' zone, burning 93.9% but with a 107% fill.
@57.5gr i'm still a 102.4% fill (or should that be full) burning less than 92% and just touching 2500fps.

Alliant RL17 ticks more boxes as with a 54gr load i'm 87.9% full and burning 99.42% of the powder to get 2591fps.
Less powder, better burn ratio, more velocity, less of a pressure spike.
Their load of 54.5gr just takes Quickload into the 'yellow' zone and suggests (to me) to be a max although the calc sheet offers 57gr as a (near) max and drops the pressure spike into the purple zone.
Alliant RL17 .30-06 weblink

I bought RL17 and will fill some cases starting @ 54.4 and going up to 56.6 (in 0.4gr increments).
Optimum range appears to be around 140M offering a 6" drop @ 200M and +1" @ 100 (give or take a wee bitty).

Words of wisdom gratefully accepted

Check your drops, 6" from 140 to 200 can't be right, I've just run through the Ballistic AE app, 150 yard zero, 1.9" scope to bore and 2500 fps gives a 2.8" drop at 300 which is far more respectable

The other thing I would say is treat quickload with a pinch of salt, its well known for being a bit out with some powders so work up, RS60 is one that it struggles with I believe and its the same powder as RL17 just different branding.

I also would definitely would not discount a powder because quick load suggests it will not give you what you want, very little data out ther forthe 25-45 sharps so I relied heavily on QL I tried 'the best' powders according to quickload and couldn't get much over 1600 ft-lb. Tried accurate 2460 and subsequently Lovex DO73.5 after reach ruled the 2460 out and both gave reliable loads at 1750 ft-lb plus with no pressure signs in my rifle. This powder was about 10th down the list and QL showed it nowhere near 1700 ft-lb, I only tried it as i had a little 2460 left over form a previous 0.223!

Fill capacity can be better if you use a drop tube but I wouldn't suggest this is a good idea for a novice reloader, or going away from published data in that matter, I only use a drop tube for the 25 and .22 hornet.

Also bear in mind RL17 is double based and has a reputation for being particularly hard on barrels, may not be an issue for a stalking load but something to be aware of, no such thing as a free lunch!

 

[25 Sharps]

Not done the H2O measurement yet, am still in the 'getting around to it' phase.
.

You really need to do this as it can make a big difference as can COAL, but even then as I say, take it with a pinch of salt including theoretical 100% burns - Takbok is 100% right, real world experience over a chrono is what is needed especially for cartridges where there is plenty of published data out there.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

- so I plug this data into Quickload (another recent acquisition) to find that it's bordering on hopeless.

N160 is a great powder for the .270...not so much for the larger bore 30-06

Ignore the pressure limits indicated and find your own.
The 58k cartridge limit is VERY conservative
Modern rifles are capable of running higher. Same goes for 6.5x55

Run faster powders ideally double/high energy
RS52
N150/550

Larger bore = Faster powder

I would expect to see any of these charge levels exceeded by working up to an accurate load at the upper level of charge and finding an accuracy node
That said, a nice accurate load around the 2700-2750 mark should not be hard to find with a decent powder choice

 

[Miki]

Sorted the water/capacity today over 10 cases. SAAMI said 68.2 I measured (average) 70.19 H2O (twice fired, annealed and full length resized) - the effect of this increased capacity (as expected) is that the pressure dropped slightly as did the MV, so all-in-all i'm happy to stick with the SAAMI as a reference and my case volume as a small margin.

180gn round nose, 2630fps (calc) with a 125M zero, 200M shows -12.8cm (5") - not sure why we have such different results on POI/POA @ 300 - Chairgun Pro shows -5 @ 200 and -25" @300 (similar to QuickTarget) ?
Obviously I need to look at this again.
2750 gives me a 4" drop (140 zero). Possibly i'm being to tight on my 'kill zone' of +/- 1" (vertex) but at the end of the day it's not perfection i'm after just knowing that I can work up a load that offers me a +/-3" accuracy (thereby account for the Miki wobble factor) out to 200M as I doubt i'll ever be tempted to take a shot circa 300 anyway. If the deer is that far away, stalk closer.

I do appreciate what you are all saying, obviously QL isn't the 'be all and end all' but it does give me a good idea of what to expect and I find (all) your responses, very helpful.

 

[stephentri]

Go with a 200 yard zero

 

[jp vanden weghe]

Do you have access to Ramshot?
That is what I use..

 

[Colonel]

I use 51grs of N140 with a 150gr Accubond in my 30-06 and its very accurate going at 2800fps.

 

[Miki]

Do you have access to Ramshot?
That is what I use..

I don't think Ramshot is REACH compliant (?)
I'll stick with RL17 for now as it seems (in QL) to be ticking all the boxes

 

[25 Sharps]

All ramshot powders are compliant which is good as they are excellent powders