Thread: Advice 30-06 0-500yards load

Hey guys got a new project in the wings that I will be loading for at some stage.
I mostly shoot reds and the occasional fallow can anyone give me some advice of their experience with 30-06 and where I should be looking for a all round load that will be ok from 50yards out to 500 yards ?
Haven't played with a 30-06 yet so not sure where the shine best.
Heavy and slow say 180ish gns for high bc pills that wont blow up at close range ? Light and fast for flat shooting ?
Hard monos ? Or softer pills ?
I have 2208 on hand which seems ok I understand that 2209 is better but open to suggestions.....
I know all components are hard to get currently so hypothetically just researching at the moment so I can keep my eyes out when components become available.
Thanks everyone

I used 165 nosler bt in my 30/06. Worked well but never shot to that distance. A friend is using 178 eld-m in his 308 with really good results at 600+ yds. I’d they them or a match 180gr.

56 grain of IMR4350 behind a 180 sgk bt will be accurate and about 2700+ fps. Around 58 grn will give you over 2800fps with a 165 grn sgk.

178g ELD-X

I started with the 165 SGK, kills anything it hits. Then loaded some 165 SST's - shot same point of impact. And they kill anything they hit. To make sure things were all good I spent some time on the gongs out to 600, nothing fancy, just punch some numbers in to a ballistic's app and have at it. Way out to 600 was easily achievable with both projectiles, in fact boringly repetitive.
Then just to try and screw with the system I loaded some 150's and 180's. Bugger me, they performed the same, accurate and repetitive. I would suggest dont over think it, pick a projectile you would be happy to use, load some up and if it works, go shoot some shit.
If you need some 30 cal projectiles to play with, let me know Danny, I can drop some over.

Originally Posted by Husky1600

I started with the 165 SGK, kills anything it hits. Then loaded some 165 SST's - shot same point of impact. And they kill anything they hit. To make sure things were all good I spent some time on the gongs out to 600, nothing fancy, just punch some numbers in to a ballistic's app and have at it. Way out to 600 was easily achievable with both projectiles, in fact boringly repetitive.
Then just to try and screw with the system I loaded some 150's and 180's. Bugger me, they performed the same, accurate and repetitive. I would suggest dont over think it, pick a projectile you would be happy to use, load some up and if it works, go shoot some shit.
If you need some 30 cal projectiles to play with, let me know Danny, I can drop some over.

Thats bloody generous of you, I may take you up on that. My biggest issue will be finding a suitable projectile I can get enough of once a load is developed.....

165 SST and 2209 or RE16 will do what you want perfectly

2209 is the go if you have it, but 2208 and quicker powders will work in the 06.

With 2209 and a 180 gn pill, 56 of 09 is about where it’s at ~2700 ish fps, up to 58.5-59 with a 165 for 2900 fps in my rifles.

On reds and pigs etc a cup and core 165 is fine. Use your favourite flavour or what you can get. I swap between Nosler bt and AB for when a Sambar might come be in the area. Similar point on impact to each other.

Shooters world Gore have 178gr Eld X a plenty.

For those interested. Being the minion I am taking note of who has what in stock on my travels

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

Shooters world Gore have 178gr Eld X a plenty.

For those interested. Being the minion I am taking note of who has what in stock on my travels

I did comment on the various projectiles I saw on the shelf a week or two back, something along the lines of "if you had a website they'd be goneburgers" and the answer went a little something like "we're here to look after the locals"

178eldms would be epic with some 2209.

Originally Posted by superdiver

178eldms would be epic with some 2209.

any reason to think they wouldn't work with Superformance ?

Originally Posted by dannyb

any reason to think they wouldn't work with Superformance ?

Greetings @dannyb,
Rather than lusting after powders you don't have and probably can't get why not just go with the AR2208 that you do have. Almost all military cartridges for the 30-06 were loaded with powders no slower than AR2206H. You would give up less than 100 fps with the lighter projectiles and only a little more with the 178 or 180 grains. Move over to AR2209 when you can get some. The deer won't know the difference.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS I believe that the Superformance we can buy was the blend formulated for the 30-06 so it should work well.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings @dannyb,
Rather than lusting after powders you don't have and probably can't get why not just go with the AR2208 that you do have. Almost all military cartridges for the 30-06 were loaded with powders no slower than AR2206H. You would give up less than 100 fps with the lighter projectiles and only a little more with the 178 or 180 grains. Move over to AR2209 when you can get some. The deer won't know the difference.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS I believe that the Superformance we can buy was the blend formulated for the 30-06 so it should work well.

I do have 4lbs of Superformance now....

Originally Posted by dannyb

any reason to think they wouldn't work with Superformance ?

Never thought it wouldn't but 2209 seemed to be the go to. Keen to see how SF goes in it. What pill you going with?