.30-06 load question
 

I'm working on a load for Tikka M65 in .30-06. Using Berger 168gn VLD-H and IMR4350.

Berger's data shows a max of 55.7 grains, I have a load at 55.0 that's shooting decent at 100, still need to play with seating depth and take it further out.

The velocity at 55.0 is 2700fps.

It's my first time loading for this cartridge, I'd like to use it for whitetail buck this year, Southern Alberta prairies, where 300 yards or more isn't uncommon. Typically I use a .25-06, .243 or 7RM.


My question is, in your experience with the .30-06, is this fast enough?

No doubt the others shoot faster.

Maybe a 225 yard zero will give you a good start.

Or have a drop chart and range different scenarios out beforehand

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More like is the shooter good enough.

Just what prey tell do you think is needed to dispatch a whitetail?

For one
 

A better bullet.Any cup+ core bullet or better yet a Scirroco,Partition or TTXS.I load my son's T3 with 150gr TTSX's with a stiff dose of IMR 4895 at 2925fps.You won't find a bullet in a deer as it does 40" penetration in moose losing only the polymer tip.Without starting a major debate Bergers will never be used again in my guns .Your mileage may vary.

Those numbers equate to 1800fps at roughly 580 yards, while maintaining 1200 ft-lbs of energy at that same distance.

Plenty of juice for a 500 yard shot, under the right conditions and with appropriate and sufficient practice.


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With a 24” tube that load leaves 300 FPS on the table vs loading with IMR 4064. I wouldn’t suggest 2700 isn’t fast enough but why wouldn’t you see how the accuracy is with a powder that gives you more velocity?
Heck my ‘06 will do better then 2700 with a 200 grain accubond.

That load is gonna be more then adequate. If it’s giving you excellent accuracy I’d spend the time taking it out to the ranges you intend to shoot at when your hunting and getting an idea how the load performs at distance in terms of inches of drop.

Thank you for the replies, pretty much what I suspected I suppose. Getting into new territory for me with this gun, I think I will tinker with it a little more while shooting out to distance. It will be sufficient for this year, I may look at different powder soon, I'm thinking of trying to lower the types of powder I use.

I am not sure what powder data you are using. I use an older Hornady manual and the 3006 165 Gr. Boattail Spire Points we shoot are running 2900 FPS. The Hornady Light Magnum store bought bullets run 2900 fps, so this is a reasonable load with a different powder choice.

I think you could look at other powder options and get a little bit more speed out of the gate.

200 fps does not seem like much at 200 yards, but you will see the longer shots do work a bit better when the bullet is going a bit faster.

The alternative, is to shoot something with similar overall length but a lighter bullet, such as a Barnes or similar all copper bullet.

Drewski

Yes

I used a berger 1 time on a cow moose, never shot another Berger at a game animal ....FS

I shoot a 30-06. And often use 168gn bullets in my reloads.
I load for a MV of around 2700. That's where I get the best accuracy with my rifle.

With that combination I have taken several Bear and a few Moose at ranges past 300 yards.

I would be more concerned with accuracy then velocity.

Loading to max velocity often results in a load with poor accuracy.

The simple fact is just about any legal cartridge is capable of doing the job out to those ranges if the shooter does his part well.