.30-06, 180gr Bullets, favorite powder?

Research Winchester StaBall 6.5 . I get great velocities, very low S.D.'s, and superb accuracy in all 3 of my .30-06 rifles. I was a big user of the 4350's, reloader 16 and 22, for the '06, but Staball is my new go to powder. It meters very well, very predictable on ladder tests, temp stable. best of all....AVAILABLE in quantity!

"MY" pet load in my rifle, 180 Norma Bondstrike, 57.1 grs Staball, 2777fps... and 1/2" groups in several .30-06 rifles!

Good shooting!
 
Hififile324 said:
Research Winchester StaBall 6.5 . I get great velocities, very low S.D.'s, and superb accuracy in all 3 of my .30-06 rifles. I was a big user of the 4350's, reloader 16 and 22, for the '06, but Staball is my new go to powder. It meters very well, very predictable on ladder tests, temp stable. best of all....AVAILABLE in quantity!

"MY" pet load in my rifle, 180 Norma Bondstrike, 57.1 grs Staball, 2777fps... and 1/2" groups in several .30-06 rifles!

Good shooting!
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Thanks, I found it from a local shop I use. Not so ridiculous price at $44, not great but better than others.
 
IMR 4350, by far.
 
PHOENIX PHIL said:
I already know the other M70 in 30-06 likes IMR4350 and 165gr pills, pretty much like it seems every .30-06 does. I'll giving that recipe a go and tweak as necessary. But I'd like to develop a 180gr load, so what powder do you guys like?
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A belated opinion: In a 1967-era Remington 700ADL (1-10 twist) with Weaver K3 or Weaver V7 scope mounted at various times, I always got good not great accuracy (1.5-in 5-shot groups) and reliable ignition without seeming to unduly stress the brass (many GI and assorted commercial), when I used 54.5-grains IMR4350 and 54-grains of H414 behind the Nosler 180-grain spitzer partition, the Sierra 180-grain spitzer-boattail, and the Hornady 180-grain spirepoint. Since these were near-max loads, I weighed every charge. I used Remington #9-1/2 primers or CCI #200 primers. But what I write was true for components from 1968-1987. I have not reloaded these, as stated above, in 38 years. . . so beware.

(And for what it is worth, I fired these same loads in a surplus 1903A3 and got safe, fully functional results; but with only issue iron sights, the groups opened up to 2-in or a shade more.)
 
This is a older thread now but I was getting near or same velocity as factory 300WN in my 22in Browning A Bolt 30/06 with Reloader 17 & 180gr ELD-M & -X, loads were way over book but showed no pressure signs in my rifle, animals died like their legs were cut off !

Trouble here has & is getting powder - primers & sometimes projectiles.

Powder is $120-$180 a can & primers $30 a 100 !
 
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I'm loading with Accurate 4350 and 165 gr Barnes or Hornady Interlock. Seems to perform the same as IMR4350. I switched to Accurate when that was all I could get. I dropped down to 165 gr a long time ago. Sometimes I like to have a bit more range now and no longer hunting among grizzlies so less thump required on hand. Splatter factor with 165 gr is a concern at closer ranges and wrecking meat has always been an issue for me. It's a balancing act.
 
I've probably loaded the most 165/180 with Varget or Hodgdon H4895 but I recently loaded some Shooter's World Precision Rifle that made nice clover's at 200 yards.

I will add that neither of my rifles (Weatherby Vanguard 80's vintage and Winchester Model 70 70's vintage) do NOT like solid copper nor ballistic tipped bullets. Lead core, solid or soft nose or hollow points will perform very well and consistent. The others not so much. Probably just me but the Hornady soft tip 165 or 180 are consistent in every batch.
 
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What ever Barnes uses….
 
cwickgo9 said:
I've probably loaded the most 165/180 with Varget or Hodgdon H4895 but I recently loaded some Shooter's World Precision Rifle that made nice clover's at 200 yards.

I will add that neither of my rifles (Weatherby Vanguard 80's vintage and Winchester Model 70 70's vintage) do NOT like solid copper nor ballistic tipped bullets. Lead core, solid or soft nose or hollow points will perform very well and consistent. The others not so much. Probably just me but the Hornady soft tip 165 or 180 are consistent in every batch.
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Try backing the copper bullets off the rifling a bit further. That might help.
 
Around 56gr of IMR4350 always seems to do well in the 06.
 
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