30/06 load or powder help

[Bitman]

I'm wanting to load 150 grain Nosler Ballistic tips in 30/06 for my son.
Not sure what powder to start with. I was thinking Varget.
I have H-4350, IMR4064, H-4895, H-335, and Benchmark on hand.
I normally load for 7mm and smaller cartridges, so not sure where to start with a .30 cal. Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.
It's for a tang safety Ruger if that matters.
Thanks.

 

[B.Roberts]

I have had good luck with 150's and both 4064 and h4895. I also use those two powders for lighter bullets. 165gr and higher weight bullets, I switch to H4350.

I have not tried Varget yet, but have heard nothing but good things from those that have used it with 150gr bullets in the 30-06 and .308.

 

[catfish621]

My load for years has been 52 grs. of 4064 under a 150 ballistic tip. This load is now considered over max by imr. Please consult manuals and work up accordingly.

 

[96/44]

50.5 gr of Varget is the most accurate load I have found with the 150 NBT in my Remington 700. Hodgdon lists the max at 51.0 at 2975fps , and the Hornady manual shows 51.6. You can't go wrong with H4895 either, since that powder was developed for the '06 originally.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I have H-4350, IMR4064, H-4895, H-335, and Benchmark on hand.

Hi,

Of those you have on the shelf w/o having to buy something else, I'd start w/ the H-4895. As already mentioned, it WAS developed w/ the '06 in mind. I have a jug of each of the 4895s (H- and IMR) I bought to help a buddy load for his Garand, but we haven't gotten to that project yet, and I haven't tried either in my own '06 rounds.

My Savage likes 150s over a starting load of Reloder 15. My brother in law feeds his M-77 a lot of IMR4064, and uses Reloder 7 as his "back up" choice.

I've tried IMR3031, H-4831 and IMR4198, too. They all worked well enough for a hunting load, though I didn't develop a particular attachment to any of them. The IMR4198 DID make a reasonably accurate AND rather soft shooting load--it's a ways down on the velocity scale, so I wonder if it might be close to some of the "low recoil" loads the factories are offering now.

I use Win 748 in the .30-30, where it does well, and on paper it appears it's a "possible" for a lighter end load for 150s in the '06, too.

Rick C

 

[GP100man]

For lightish 150 gr. bullet I have luck with 4064 , 48grs. does 2 qwik shots side by side at 150yds .

 

[I_Like_Pie]

I would also go with 4064...it produces great results in all of my loadings from bolt actions to M-1s

 

[Pal Val]

You didn't say what rifle. My pet load of 49.5 gr of IMR4064 and 150gr Hornady SP makes tiny groups from my T/C Encore rifle. I have tried the same load in three other rifles and groups have gotten as big as 4" in 100 yds. The same rifles will outshoot my T/C Encore with different loads.

It pays to experiment a bit.

 

[Ruber]

Here's another older post you might be interested in...

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=61620&highlight=

With what you've got, I'd pick the 4895. I've also had a great target load using a middle of the road charge of Win 748 with the Nosler BTs that my niece and nephew started on centerfires with. It's pretty comfortable and still a proven target and game getter!

Using a medium rate powder like H4895 or W748 at around 2700 fps with the 150gr Nosler makes for a great afternoon with the kids!

Have Fun!!

 

[Silent Sam]

If recoil is the concern, there are even lighter 30 cal 'hunting' bullets that will do fine on whitetails although not as common as your choice.

 

[protoolman]

Ill jump in on the 4064 It shoots great in my 30-06 Ruger as well as my sons Marlin MR-7 30-06. We both handload the 150 gr. Nosler ballistic tips for whitetail and Mule deer. I can get sub inch groups at 100 yds at the range off the bench. I haven't seen the need to play with other poeders after finding this load.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

if your willing to do some experimenting id buy a lb of 4895, 4064 and 4350 to start with. Ive also been shooting ramshot big game with 150s lately with real good results. Adavantage with it is its a ball powder and it meters so well that weighting individual charges isnt nessisary. As to bullets if i had to pick two it would be the sierra flat based spitzer and the nos bt.