Thread: Low power 30-06 loads

Hi all, looking into making a couple of different 30-06 loads. First is a 30-30 equivalent load for bush hunting - this one is easy.
The second is a low power load to introduce my wife and or kids to shooting it. What projectile would be suitable for taking a deer at 200m or so, with a reduced load? I was thinking the Sierra 2120 (125gr pro hunter). Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks.

Do you have a smaller rifle they could use

nosler 125grn balistic tips (you can buy bags of 50 off trademe cheap,2nd cause they have blemishes eg the copper not all shiney) or 130grn speer hollow points would be my choice IF you want to go lighter projectiles for reduced recoil....by same token if you are using .30/30 type load THAT will be reduced recoil and capable to 200 yards....now me personally would be feeding the dirty06 a big fat round nose with plenty of exposed lead like the 180grn hornady I use in the .308 win at about 2 grns below book max for a bush load,or even a 200 grn if something took my fancy in that range...big soft and HARD hitting.
for introducing new/lighter shooters I HIGHLY recomend going with shootersnz wonderful cast 151gn hp projectiles and a trail boss load at low velocity or even subsonic if you want to get real fancy....people just love using them as they are so much fun without the big boot or bang...you could load them to .30/30 velocity and kill two birds with one stone....but again for me personaly I would be bush hunting with big soft load in dirty06 thats what she is made for bud,its over a hundy years old but still one of the best for that job.

Buy a 223 or 7.62x39
Reducing loads in large cases is not the best idea
Can have alot of negative drawbacks

Google reduced loads 30/06 you'll find tonnes of data, The 30/06 has been loaded with all types of loads since day one the US Army used Gallery loads for training
in drill halls at 25yds, It is probably the most reloaded hunting calibre ever, Like Micky Duck says try my 151HP for light loads with Trail Boss, I have a new mould
that casts a 200 grain HP also can do a cup point and flat point at 1800fps it will flatten any deer on the planet, also have a 170 grain spire point that should suit
200 metre shots, Check out TM Listing #: 1840028564,
I can do a mixed pack of all 3 if you like,
Cheers Robert.

ADI 2206H is the same stuff, H4895 was the original powder loaded in the 30/06, Hodgdon started his business selling surplus 4895 from pulled 30/06 military ammo
It has been used in reduced loads ever since, it's the only powder you need for the 30/06

If you are using 30/30 velocities then stick with the projectile from a 30/30
Perfectly designed for those velocities so you know it will work. Shot as many deer as any other American calibre and probably a lot more
First article I picked up from the net
The 160gr flexitips can be started low speed and still ok at 300 if you accepted the 30/30 normally ok at 200.
Somewhere to start at least and it certainly wouldn't have the boot at the shoulder of a normal 3006

"Let’s compare the standard 150gn FN load with the 160gn FTX load. The 150gn FN starts out with the nominal muzzle velocity of 2390fps which drops off to 2019 fps at 100yd., 1685 at 200 and 1398 at 300. The 160gn FTX starts out at 2400fps and is still doing 2150fps at 100yds., 1916 at 200 and 1699 at 300. So the pointed FTX bullet is travelling as fast at 300 yds. as the 150gn FN is at 200! But retained energy figures show an even more dramatic difference. The 150gn FN which sheds velocity twice as fast has 1902 ft/lb of energy at the muzzle dropping off to 1357 at 100, 945 at 200 and 651 at 300. The 160gn FTX has 2046 ft/lbs at the muzzle dropping off to 1643 at 100, 1304 at 200 and 1025 at 300. So the LEVERevolution factory ammo or Flex Tip handloads deliver almost as heavy a punch at 300 yds. as conventional loadings of that cartridge do at 200.
Read more at http://www.sportingshooter.com.au/news/30-30-loads-for-leverguns#P4XVFWW8YGASqJYE.99"

buy a cheap sks, ammo is cheap and roughly same power as a 30/30.

I have made some .30/30 equivalent loads, but the trouble with the .30/06 is getting them to go slow enough. I'll have a look in my book when I get home.

Thanks all. I’m aware of the unique properties of 2206H/4895 in low power loads. Really after a deer projectile that is suitable to lower speeds and still good out to 200+m. I may go cast for the bush loads.
Was also thinking of a varminting load, using 30M1 projectiles. Anyone done this?

Better to use 125 Sierra 130 Speer HP or Hornady 130 spire point the MI projectiles are little stubby things and not very accurate
Tried all those over 50 years ago the proper projectiles work very well the Speer and Hornady are extremely accurate and turn rabbits inside out
the Sierra is a bit harder makes a good deer load.

I was using 147 grain FMJ's on rabbits with AP70, (Universal/Unique equivalent) I think it was 12 grains and from memory were doing 1500 fps. They shot to point of aim at 50 metres. Not "varminting' but a good rabbit load if I was out deer hunting as well I would take a few of them. I like fried rabbit.

Originally Posted by Carlsen Highway

I was using 147 grain FMJ's on rabbits with AP70, (Universal/Unique equivalent) I think it was 12 grains and from memory were doing 1500 fps. They shot to point of aim at 50 metres. Not "varminting' but a good rabbit load if I was out deer hunting as well I would take a few of them. I like fried rabbit.

Great, thanks James.

I have the load that I settled on for a lower power .30/06 load -

170 grain Hornady Flat Nose Interlocks using 46 grains of IMR4895 (not H) with velocity 2450 fps. It was very accurate, (under an inch at 100) and low recoil. I checked with Hornady themselves over the velocity window of this bullet (which is a standard .30/30 bullet) and they told me it was good up to 2500fps.
One deer was shot with this and it penetrated on a 3/4 angle traveling through most of the animal, did as much damage as any .308 does, and was caught in the offside hide, having worn the mushroom down so it was just a shank. My records indicate that the deer was dead at the time the bullet was recovered.

Basically this load is like a .303 ballistically, but I recall the recoil being mild.

I am sure I made a similar load using 2213/H4831 and the same bullet for the same velocity, that also shot very well and was light to shoot, but it was for another .30/06 I had and I didnt keep the load data for it when I sold it, which is a thing I have to stop doing.