Most 165 grain Bullets= IMR 4350 is lights out in my Rifles.

 

Amen and amen.

 

Here's another vote for the IMR-4350. Other powders that I have tried and have worked well for me in my .30-06 are IMR-4320, IMR-4064, IMR-4895, H-4895, H-4350, and of course, my favorite, H-414 (same as W-760). I reckon some more folks will chime with their preferences pretty soon too.

One good thing about the '06, it will digest quite a few powders with a broad range of burn rates... Powders on the faster end of the spectrum (like the IMR-4064, H-4895, IMR-4895, & IMR-4320) do well with 150 grain bullets. Powders on the slower end of the spectrum (H-4350, IMR-4350, H-414, & W-760) do well with bullets 165 grains on up. Like Papajohn always says, your rifle will tell you what it likes.

 

Thanks for the info guys!:biggrin:

 

I've burned a few pounds of Reloader 19 in the .30-06; but there are so many powders that do well in it that I can't say which one is best.

Robert

 

My 30-06 likes the Sierra 165 gr Sp and the 168 gr MK with 4350, and gives 5/8" groups with the MK's and 3/4" with the Spire Points. With the 150gr core lokt or Speer Grand Slams loaded with 4064 it shoots sub 1/2" groups at 100yds. I have used 4064, 4350, 4831, 414, BLC2 and 4895 with several 30-06's, and I have found that I got best results with 4064 and 150gr bullets; and 165/168 gr bullets best accuracy loads were achieved with 4350 and with 4831 running a close second.

Gary

 

Yeah...hard to beat IMR4350 with the 165's, same holds true for IMR4064 and the 150's.

 

Thanks guys! :tee:

 

For best metering with great performance:
Win 760 (H-414 is the same stuff)
Ramshot Hunter or Big Game. I like Hunter under 180s; never tried it under 165s.

Less-good metering, but still great performance:
One of the 4350s
4064 or 4895 for 150-class bullets.

 

Heck MZ5, you may have just made up my mind for me. It was between IMR 4350 and H 414. I think I will take a chance with H-414. Thanks Buddy!:tee:

 

I would like to give you a warning about H414. It can cause hang-fires with lighter loads and/or in cold temperatures. If you are new to reloading, I suggest going with IMR 4350.

 

Never tried any of the 4350's?, if I showed you the target from my dad's 03-A3 with Speer bullets pushed by IMR 4064 you'd swear it was a target rifle!

 

My '06's like 4350 also with the 165 grains bullets. It's an old reliable combo that is accurate in most rifles. I'm very partial to the 165 grain Hornadys for deer and have been for decades. I had a 742 Remington that was spooky accurate with this handload combo.

 

I use Varget in my Savage 116 .30-06, mostly because I also have stock for the .22.250 and .223, too.

 

Let us know how it goes for you, DDS444!

 

H4831sc meters well. RL-22 is another top performer especially with 165,s. I ran out of 4350 a while back and tried RL-22 with 165 and 180 PT,s. I,m switching to RL-22 in my own rifle. I,ve loaded IMR-4350 in several different 30:06 rifles and have never been disappointed. I use a lot short cut H4831 in other calibers and it does meter real well. My sierra load book shows a max load of 59.9 grains for there bullet. Bet that load would work fine.

 

I would like to give you a warning about H414. It can cause hang-fires with lighter loads and/or in cold temperatures. If you are new to reloading, I suggest going with IMR 4350.

Thanks for the heads up Win_94. As I have already purchased some H414 I am kinda committed. I don't plan on using this powder in lighter loads. I have not heard about its cold temp sensitivity. Could you elaborate on that? Do you think I should get some IMR 4350 as well, just to try both? I'm not exactly new to reloading, but I am new to the 30-06 as far as re-loading for it goes.

 

Evidently, all spherical powders are a bit touchy when it comes to lighter loads. I don't mean reduced loads, I mean loads that aren't quite hot.

When I started reloading 30-06 with bullets larger than 165gr, I bought some H414 instead of the IMR 4064 I had been using. I was using 180gr SP bullets and started my ladder test at a suggested medium level charge weight. Right off the bat I had a hang-fire; it was just like I was shooting a flintlock.

Not realizing what was happening I cut the ladder test short. I later found out what was happening and why. My fix was to increase the powder charge by a good deal more, so I started my next ladder test in a rather hot zone.

If I was you I would go with another powder at least until you know what kind of pressures your rifle can handle. That way you'll have a better idea what charge weight to start with.

And I've never found a powder more temperature sensitive than H414. It is unusable at temperatures not load developed in. If you load develop in the winter, when summer comes around the load will be too hot; dangerously hot.
Google: H414 temperature sensitive
H 414 is the only powder I'll never buy again.

 

I have used H414 in the 30-06, but I just never got the accuracy that I was able to achieve with the 4350, 4064, and 4831. I never had the hangfire type lag, but I do know it was temp sensitive. Loads that were developed in the 40-50 degree range became very hot when the temps go up into the 90's. My loads were still safe in my opinoin but the primers were very flat, and loads I developed were not on the hot side. H414 does measure very well, and the temp sensitivity is manageable, you just need to be aware that it happens.

Gary

 

I really like IMR 4350, but I have also had good luck with Ramshot Hunter for 165-grain Accubond loads and 168-grain ballistic silvertip loads. Ramshot Hunter with 168-grain ballistic silvertips consistently gives me 0.5 to 0.75 inch groups at 100 yards. Accubonds perform great on game - good expansion but hold together and penetrate. I haven't had a chance to test the ballistic silvertips on game yet.

 

I like Varget also, in addition to H4350. I have also used R15 with good results...all are temperature stable, very big deal in my area.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about the temperature sensitivity of H-414/W-760... As has been mentioned, keep the loads in the reasonable range, and they will be fine. Keep in mind that .30-06 factory ammo from Winchester is loaded (exclusively, I think) with W-760. If there is a concern, H-4350, IMR-4350, AA-4350, and VV-N150 all have nearly identical burn rates and pressure characteristics and are very close to those of H-414.

If you have already committed (as in already purchased) to H-414 and 165's, double check all your available loading manuals, pick a starting load and work one up that suits you. For me and my CZ-550, 56.0 gr of H-414 and 165's (hunting bullets) are generating 2,850 fps and incredible accuracy. Switching to the Sierra 168 gr MKBT, a similar load will print 3/4 MOA past 250 yards. I have never had a hang fire, no radically flattened primers, or blown cartridge cases. Using H-4350 and IMR-4350 and the same 165 - 168 gr bullet weights, the loads are producing comparable velocity for me. However, that particular rifle seems to prefer H-414 in terms of accuracy. Another .30-06 in my locker has a penchant for IMR-4350 (but not H-4350 - go figure) and 180 gr bullets. That particular rifle won't shoot 165's for beans.

Of course, each rifle is a rule unto themselves, so work your own loads up, and have fun with it. If H-414 doesn't float your boat, ease into a different powder and start over... There are too many bullets that need to be loaded to settle on just one load.

 

06 powder

I have had good luck with 4831 and 4350 powders in the 06, either IMR or H powders work great.
For the 06, I usually used the 180 grain bullet with the 165 being the choice for the 308 size case.

 

I guess I'll chime in on what powders I use instead of not use.

IMR 4064; iron sights

H 4895 iron sights

IMR 4831; scope

Varget; scope... .5moa

I can't find a H4831 group whereas I was satisfied with the load, so I'll show the temp insensitivity of it.
This load was developed during winter.

That is the same scope setting as when set for winter.

 

60 grains of w 760 and a 150 barnes ttsx will shoot 1/2 moa in my Ruger Hawkeye all day long.