Beginner questions - 30-06 and 270

[bison]

Hi - hoping for some tips as I start to reload for my 30-06 (Win M70) and 270 (Tikka T3). I'm planning to work on both a target load and hunting load for each.

First - primers. I'm starting with H414 powder. I've seen that this powder may work best with magnum primers vs regular. How will I tell what works best? Also how will this affect the load? For example, the Hogdon data for 30-06, H414, 165gr Hornady SP's is max 56.5 grs using regular primers, with nothing shown for magnums. I have both primers.

My plan for working a load will be to load 5 or so rounds in 1 gr increments to see what patterns best (all with recommended COL). So for the above I'll start at the recommended 51 gr's and go up 1 gr from there, using 3.30" COL. Should I go all the way to max? Is 1 gr a good spacing?

Then my plan will be to play with the COL a bit (distance to lands) once I get my powder load figured out. It appears as though my M70 will allow me to do this but there's too much of a gap in my T3 to do so.

Then down the road I'll probably try a different powder.

Am I right that there's no need to crimp?

Any other tips gladly appreciated - thanks!

 

[warnerwh]

Primers-The first thing I do is work up a load with both primers starting at the starting loads. You also load at least 5 with another .5 grains and adding .5 grains up to near max all the while watching for pressure signs. With the magnum primers I'd only go halfway to max load. There's a good chance you'll notice one primer has been working better than the other.
I think .5 grain is a better increment because a half grain can change the accuracy significantly. It depends on what you will be satisfied with though. You will enjoy loading your own ammo.

 

[bison]

How about crimping?

Do I need to do it at all?

Thx

 

[lwknight]

I never crimped for my 30-06 except for hunting rounds and then it was a light crimp just to help prevent "bullet setback" in the magazine since there is substantial recoil and the last round will get pounded like 6 times before chambering.

 

[James2]

No crimp.
I would get some IMR 4831 for the 270. Large Rifle Primers.

 

[interlock]

i would suggest a manual?

 

[NuJudge]

Can I suggest you search around the net for data that has a reputation for shooting well in any rifle that will shoot well at all? For the .30-'06, it is a 180gr bullet with about 56 grains of IMR 4350. Work your load up to there, watching for pressure signs. I also like Norma MRP, but good luck finding it.

I have no experience with the .270.

CDD

 

[Grumulkin]

First - primers. I'm starting with H414 powder. I've seen that this powder may work best with magnum primers vs regular. How will I tell what works best?

You'll know what works best by trying each. In my opinion, regular primers work just fine with ball powders.

Also how will this affect the load? For example, the Hogdon data for 30-06, H414, 165gr Hornady SP's is max 56.5 grs using regular primers, with nothing shown for magnums. I have both primers.

Useing either primer, you can start at the lower end of suggested loads and work up watching for pressure signs. I usually go up in 1 grain increments in cartridges of this size and switch to 0.5 grain increments as I approach maximum suggested loads. It's true 0.5 grains of powder can have a significant effect on accuracy but if a powder is that picky, I'd rather go with a different one. If it's that picky, it means a change in ambient temperature is also probably going to effect accuracy. By the way, Win. 760/H414 which are the same powder should work with both cartridges.

Am I right that there's no need to crimp?

You're right.

 

[JimKirk]

Since H414 is a spherical powder, it is normally recommended to be used with a magnum primer, however I have used regular primers without any problems.

This is my opinion... there is too much worry over primer type. The only time primers would make a big difference, is when you're loading a max load with a regular primer, then you change to a magnum, you would run the chance of being over max with the magnum primer. Cold weather would be another use of magnum primers.

Hodgdon reccomends 51-56.5 grs. of H414 under a 165 gr bullet for the 30/06.
With a safe load of say 55 grs - H414, magnum primers over regular primers would maybe give you a little more velocity, a few FPS at most. Accuracy may be better or worse at that load.
Say that you load on up to 56.5 grs - H414, you begin to see some very mild flattening of the primer(regular) and then you swap to a magnum primer, you would most likely see flat primers for sure. You would need to back down on the load for both primers, but it will take a little more for the magnum.

Hodgdon list 50-53.5 grains of H414 for 130 gr bullets with the 270 Win.
These numbers are from the Hodgdon Web site:
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Jimmy K

 

[bison]

Thank you all - very helpful info!

Much appreciated

 

[Zeke/PA]

For several years, I have loaded 46 grains of IMR 4064 behind a 180 grain Remington Core-Lokt in the .30-'06 for a very accurate and effective round on the PA whitetails.
I load 44 grains of 4064 in the .270 behind a 140 grain Sierra for PHENOMINAL accuracy in my Ruger #1.
My buddy , shooting a Pre- War Model 70 shoots sub MOA with this loading.
I really like the verstility of 4064 and I use it when I can.

 

[interlock]

i load for both. in .30-06 i use 165 gr sierra gameking and 60 grains of imr 4350 and in .270 i use 130 gr barnes x bu;;ets and 55 gr of imr 4350 BOTH THESE LOADS ARE SAFE IN MY RIFLES.

Please work up your loads. and before when i said get a manual - I wasn't taking the mickey - it is a shrewd investment

 

[bison]

Thx for your comments - I have a Lee manual and haven't yet gotten another (Plan to). The Lee manual is OK but not great (mostly pats himself on the back for how brilliant he is). From what I've seen it's somewhat confusing to try to learn as different sources have different info and/or don't have the powder I have (there's not a lot of powder choices where I live). Also a lot of the info I've seen is contradictory (such as saying to only use standard primers, then I hear to use mags...). I understand that's just the way it is - thx to THR'ers for helping me get going.

 

[interlock]

fortunately both rounds like similar powders. slow ones.

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

I have a Lee manual and haven't yet gotten another (Plan to). The Lee manual is OK but not great (mostly pats himself on the back for how brilliant he is).

Yeah, that and the fact that he lists a LOT of different powders and bullet weights and gives you formulas for figuring out other loads... You should buy the Norma book - that at least shows loads for Norma powders and ... ok, just Norma powders. And you can learn the history of Norma! Or you can pick up one of the other company's books and read about THEIR history, too.

I'm not saying that Lee doesn't pat himself on the back in his book. "His book". But to say that's what's MOSTLY in the book is not being honest.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

H414/W760 is a very popular powder for loading the 30-06, you should be fine with that powder. I usually use H4350 in my 30-06 ammo and have used 4895, 4064 and Varget, all work just fine too.

 

[Sport45]

Any other tips gladly appreciated - thanks!

Buy a lot of quality bullets and buy powder in 8# jugs. You really don't want to run out of that lot of powder just when you've found the magic load.

Figure on making 10 of each (2 3-shot and 1 4-shot groups) with powder increments of 0.3 -0.5 gr. When you change seating depth figure on repeating the powder increments.

Do a search on "ladder testing" for a good procedure for helping to find the sweet spot.

Me, I finally gave up and decided good enough was good enough for me.

 

[AzBuckfever]

Agree with all previous threads....Don't agree with the slight crimp for hunting rounds though....but maybe that's because it only takes me 1 shot so I don't have to worry about set back