Thread: "Karhu" A.K.A "Finnish Bear" 30-06 load developement

So recently I picked up a very nice example of a Sako Finnbear in the caliber of the Gods the mighty 30-06.
I'm still finalizing a few bits to get this rifle together but once it's ready I'll be developing a nice accurate hunting load for it.
So far I have accumulated some ADI2209, Norma brass, 165gn speer btsp's and 178gn Hornady eldx to get me started.
The Finnbear has a 24" barrel and a 1:11 twist so hopefully both pills will stablize.
Tomorrow I'll get started by doing some brass prep, and hopefully figure out max COAL possible with the mag box and my jam length.
My previous experience with a 270 finnbear tells me that there should be heaps of room in the mag and if the 30-06 version is like the 270 I should be able seat projectiles out far enough to be jammed in the lands and still mag feed.
Obviously I won't start there but I'll try and seat my projectiles out as far as I can so as to maximize case volume.
I haven't taken any measurements yet but I have been thinking.... depending which projectiles I use, to seat 10 thou off the lands I may not leave sufficient projectile in the neck for consistent seating etc.... I guess I will find out tomorrow.
I do love me a bit of load developement especially something as beautiful and accommodating as the Sako Finnbear with it's generous mag box and long throat.

TBC.....







For those wondering "Karhu" is the Finnish word for Bear

Originally Posted by dannyb

So recently I picked up a very nice example of a Sako Finnbear in the caliber of the Gods the mighty 30-06.
I'm still finalizing a few bits to get this rifle together but once it's ready I'll be developing a nice accurate hunting load for it.
So far I have accumulated some ADI2209, Norma brass, 165gn speer btsp's and 178gn Hornady eldx to get me started.
The Finnbear has a 1:11 twist so hopefully both pills will stablize.
Tomorrow I'll get started by doing some brass prep, and hopefully figure out max COAL possible with the mag box and my jam length.
My previous experience with a 270 finnbear tells me that there should be heaps of room in the mag and if the 30-06 version is lije the 270 I should be able seat projectiles out far enough to be jammed in the lands and still mag feed.
Obviously I won't start there but I'll try and seat my projectiles out as far as I can so as to maximize case volume.
I haven't taken any measurements yet but I have been thinking.... depending which projectiles I use, to seat 10 thou off the lands I may not leave sufficient projectile in the neck for consistent seating etc.... I guess I will find out tomorrow.
I do love me a bit of load developement especially something as beautiful and accommodating as the Sako Finnbear with it's generous mag box and long throat.

TBC.....







For those wondering "Karhu" is the Finnish word for Bear

You reckon you might actually take this one hunting???

Originally Posted by Shearer

You reckon you might actually take this one hunting???

I won't be selling it in a hurry

you might get lucky and max mag length will still be shy of lands
fun times ahead
just remember to keep end game in mind..eg Im going to use this out to X distance..so need Y maximum group size and Z amount velocity and anything better ,then that is a bonus
the dirty06 is always a lot of fun.

Originally Posted by dannyb

I won't be selling it in a hurry

lol...just so can quote you on that

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you might get lucky and max mag length will still be shy of lands
fun times ahead
just remember to keep end game in mind..eg Im going to use this out to X distance..so need Y maximum group size and Z amount velocity and anything better ,then that is a bonus
the dirty06 is always a lot of fun.

If it's got enough punch for reds at 500-600 yards I'll be happy, heck my 308 has enough easily out to 500 yards so I'm sure the Bear will be capable.
Will be entertaining to see how it shoots with no recoil reduction in any shape or form, I'm a big fella so I can soak up a bit of recoil.

when my buddy tried the mighty 30/06 some 30 years ago..old Buckley gave us box of 180grn winchester to use..we went out and shot wallabies at 300 yards no trouble AND it kicked less than my .270 using hot 130s.... thats an old majestic?? but great rifle. you will do fine mate.ear protection will cancel out most of it and yip your a big specimen

Probably should have kept my Dickinson Howa Golden Bear a copy of your sako in 30-06 too.

I use to load 130gr Speer hp with 60gr 2209. The base of the projectile was inside the neck of the case. Absolute murder on goats!

loaded 125gr ntaipan soft points for a mate..decapitation was the term he used when telling me of effectiveness on goats,those speer 130s are an awesome pill in any cartridge.

Right, whilst waiting to sort out ring/scope related complications, I'll get started on brass prep and putting a charge ladder together.

Here is the load data for both projectiles I'm going to try. I'll be using ADI 2209 for both, in the eldx load data they list H4350 which is ADI 2209 repackaged by Hogdin in America

Quick batch of hot salt annealing





In between annealing and cleaning cases I took a couple of fired cases and worked out my jam length (ogive of bullet touching lands) used the loctite method I learnt from Ultimate reloader on youtube, both the 165btsp and the 178eldx will easily fit in the mag with the projectile touching the lands (old Sakos are brilliant for this) so I will start my charge ladders with the projectiles seated 10thou off the lands. This means my charge
ladder rounds will be seated longer than SAAMI spec so I will start mid way up the book data and load up to 1gn over book max for starters (these over book max don't need to be shot if pressure signs or velocity indicates pressure) because I am starting with a longer C.O.L this will give me larger case volume and less pressure for the same charge, but also allows me to seat my projectiles 10thou off the lands and this is the objective I am aiming for to start with.





Then on to full length size bumping the shoulder back just enough that the cases chamber, cleaning and drying the cases, neck chamfer then priming ready to load.

be interesting just how much you have to turn seating die stem between the two loads....or if its pretty much in the same spot for both.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

be interesting just how much you have to turn seating die stem between the two loads....or if its pretty much in the same spot for both.

Very different projectiles so it won't be anywhere near the same. Will do eldx ladder first as if I find a sweet load with them I won't bother with the 165btsp I'll just use them in my other 308win