I have shot tens of thousands of 30-06 rounds, in NRA competition, with three basic loads. Two were a 168 or 175 Match bullet with 47.0 grains IMR 4895 or 55.0 IMR 4350. These loads were staples for decades in Camp Perry Competitions. They are predictable in hot or cold weather, which is very important. Develop loads in the springtime, shoot them all the way to the Nationals, and then find out they are overpressure and you are popping primers in hot July-Aug Camp Perry weather!. That sort of ruins your score and your shooting year!. (Pressure is not your friend).
I believe it is nonsense that you can some how push bullets faster with IMR 4350 than IMR 4895. Book values and data just don't work out in the real world, especially since no one I know has a pressure guage. Maybe if you could measure pressure you would see a velocity difference, but what you are going to see in real life is that if you are pushing maximum loads, suddenly you are going to be popping primers, you are going to be surprised by the phenomena as it creeps up without warning, and the velocities are not going to be that much different between the powders.
Any of the 4895 series of powders are appropriate and will do well with you 165’s. That is IMR 4895, H4895 and AA2495. AA2495 is a ballistic copy of IMR 4895 but Accurate Arms stupidly calls it AA2495, instead of AA4895, and confuses everyone. (they do call their copy of IMR 4350 Accurate Arms 4350, and AA4350 is a ballistic copy of IMR 4350) . I have found very little velocity difference between any of the powders by weight. Buy by price.
I use my 165/168/174/175 grain data interchangeably. Loads developed with my ammo boxes of pulled GI 174 FMJBT have always proved safe with any 165 grain hunting bullet, any 168 match bullet, and my 175 Sierra's. I have conducted a lot of load development with the 174 FMJBT match bullets, because, they shoot well and I got them cheap! I cracked LC match ammunition, pulled the 174's and substituted 168 SMK's, as everyone did back then. It was called Mexican Match.
The following is chronograph data I measured with my Mauser Match rifle, it has a 26” 1:10 Wilson barrel”
I did a primer test, seeing how primer brands affected velocity. Not that much, but a little.
Code:
168 gr Nosler Match 47.0 IMR 4895 thrown lot L7926 FA/LC cases WLR (brass) OAL 3.30"
13 Aug 2014 T = 80 °F
Ave Vel = 2650
Std Dev = 16
ES = 46
High = 2675
Low = 2629
N = 8
174 FMJBT White Box 1968 NM M72, Headstamp LC67 match, box velocity 2640 fps
14 Nov 2011 T = 68 °F
Ave Vel = 2698
Std Dev = 51
ES = 117
High = 2771
Low = 2654
N = 5
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI #34 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2645
Std Dev = 12
ES = 42
High = 2671
Low = 2629
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Tula 7.62 lot 1-10 primers OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2665
Std Dev = 9
ES = 28
High = 2677
Low = 2649
N = 10
outstanding accuracy
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Wolf NCLR lot 18-09 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2656
Std Dev = 15
ES = 36
High = 2677
Low = 2641
N = 9
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Fed 210S OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2656
Std Dev = 13
ES = 34
High = 2674
Low = 2640
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM WLR (Nickle) OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2665
Std Dev = 18
ES = 60
High = 2696
Low = 2636
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI200 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2680
Std Dev = 14
ES = 56
High = 2712
Low = 2656
N = 10
175 Sierra Match 47.0 grs AA2495 wtd CCI 34 R-P Cases OAL 3.30"
5-May-00 T = 82 ° F
Ave Vel = 2704
Std Dev = 17
ES = 44
Low = 2677
High = 2721
N = 5
175 gr Sierra 55.0grs AA4350 wtd. FED 210M W/W cases OAL 3.30"
5 Oct 2000 T=70° F
Ave Vel = 2710
Std Dev = 18
ES = 43
Low = 2679
High = 2722
N = 5
Group Size: Excellent group, rounded primers
175gr Sierra 56.0 grs H4350 wtd. WLR Commercial cases OAL 3.290"
5 Oct 2000 T=70° F
Ave Vel = 2733
Std Dev = 24
ES = 80
Low = 2686
High = 2766
N = 14
This rifle shot 168's and 47.0 grain IMR 4895 very well at 300 yards. The high shot is primarily due to me trying to move the group up by shifting point of aim. These CMP targets are in fact a huge featureless black circle, no aiming point in the black. With my 6X scope I was quartering the target, and quite afraid to touch the windage and elevation knobs. A slight movement up and shot eight moved a lot. Might have been a three inch group with out that.
It took me 13 shots, only seven of which are on target, to get the scope in the ten ring at 600 yards!
But once there, I was very surprised to see that 165 Rem Core Lokts and old IMR 4064 shot a 7 3/4" group at 600 yards, out of a 1937 vintage barrel.
This is a different pre WW2 M70 in 30-06. This rifle also shoots a 168 with 47.0 grs IMR 4895 very well. A 17 round group size of 5 3/4" at 300 yards is not bad from a M70 Sporter!
I have not posted any of my 175 SMK targets with 55.0 grains IMR 4350 or 56.0 grains H4350. They shoot the same within my hold. I can't tell a difference except for recoil. I always preferred IMR 4895 in the rapids because the IMR 4895 loads kicked less. I don't know why, the velocity of the bullets is basically the same and yet, be it IMR 4350 or H4350, they both hurt more.
So, my recommendation, of IMR 4895 or IMR 4350, buy by price. I promise, you won't save any money buying IMR 4895. Yes, you can get more cartridges out of a pound, but, powder spills and mistakes always proves that the
best laid plans gang aft agley.