Best long range round for .30-06

[CA_sharpshooter]

Hello Gentleman, I am new to reloading and have a few questions on what the best long range load for a .30-06 would be. I have been hunting since I can remember and am no stranger to the rifle but lately I have become more and more interested in long range target shooting. Another question I have is whether or not a .30-06 is the wrong choice, my ruger is by far my favorite gun and I shoot comfortably out to about 300 yards (cant really see a deer much farther than that with a 3x9) . If the -06 is the wrong choice what would be the best CA legal choice?

 

[loadedround]

In my opinion the best long range target bullet for the 30-06 is the 168 gr Match bullet, and my favorite bullet in that weight is the Sierra 168 gr HPBT Matchking bullet with a suitable powder for your particular rifle.

 

[Chawbaccer]

If your rifle has the faster twist you can use the heavier bullets, like the 220 grain Sierra Match bullets, you will get less wind drift at a longer distance. You will have to try different weights to find your best accuracy.

 

[rcmodel]

I feel the 165 grain is the best hunting bullet weight. Ideal balance of velocity, trajectory, energy, and expansion at normal hunting distances.

The 168 has a lot to like in Match bullets at 300 - 600 yards.
Until you get to extreme long range.

For 1,000 yards there is a lot to like about the 175 grain match loads. Unlike heavier bullets with better BC that have to start out slower, the 175 can stay super-sonic the distance.

rc

 

[Slamfire]

but lately I have become more and more interested in long range target shooting.

Out to 600 yards the 168 SMK is fine. However at 600 yards it is a bit wind sensitive. I have used the 175 at 600 and 1000 yards.

However my 600/1000 yard bullet with a 30-06 is the 200 SMK. The 190 is a good choice. The bigger bullets are slightly less wind sensitive.

There are similarities between a train wreck and a bad wind call. There is a lot of screeching, a bang, and a unrecoverable mess when its all over.

 

[CA_sharpshooter]

Thanks guys, also are the smk sold by federal, winchester etc. or are they only available to reload yourself?

 

[Slamfire]

I have seen 30-06 Federal Gold Medal match loaded with 168 Sierra Match Kings.

Hideously expensive, but Federal Gold Medal match is wonderful ammo. Shoot the stuff and save the brass.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

160 something match boat tail. Hornady and Speer both I've shot with good results at 200 yds.

 

[USSR]

CA_sharpshooter,

Nine years ago, I sent a factory .30-06 rifle off to Jack Krieger with instructions on what to do to it, to make it into an honest 1,000 yard target rifle. Here is the result:



I shot it for several years in 1,000 yard F Class Competition, and in conjunction with another shooter, we established the following long range load:

Lapua or Lake City Match brass
190gr Sierra MatchKing bullet
Fed. 210M primer
60.7gr RL22 powder
2900fps
30MOA from a 100 yard zero to 1k.

If you are going to use the '06 for long range target shooting, the high BC's offered by the 190gr to 210gr bullets is the only way to go. You get to make use of the cartridge's large case capacity when you use heavy bullets and slow burning powders. Just MHO.

Don

 

[tacosauce]

I am in the same boat.

CAsharpshooter:
"Best long range round for .30-06
Hello Gentleman, I am new to reloading and have a few questions on what the best long range load for a .30-06 would be. I have been hunting since I can remember and am no stranger to the rifle but lately I have become more and more interested in long range target shooting. Another question I have is whether or not a .30-06 is the wrong choice, my ruger is by far my favorite gun and I shoot comfortably out to about 300 yards (cant really see a deer much farther than that with a 3x9) . If the -06 is the wrong choice what would be the best CA legal choice?"

 

[tacosauce]

USSR,

That's a nice setup. What scope, rings, and base are you using? Is that a McMillan stock? Also, what twist were you using for the 190-200 grainers? Would 210 or 220s work well in a 30-06?

Thanks

 

[GRIZ22]

Hollowpoint match bullets have a hollowpoint for ballistic reasons not expansion. I'd check with the manufacturer if these are suitable for hunting.

 

[SP Shop Foreman]

Consider the Berger VLD 200gr. All of our real distance shooting here is done with Bergers. They're a little pricey, but meant by profile for true distance shooting.

Latigo

 

[Hummer70]

Don (USSR) is right on the money with his recommendation. Hard to beat a hard man with a hard gun in 30.06. If you plan to shoot the Palma Match at Perry you have to have a 308.
30.06 used to be allowed but when the Palma Match was won two years in a row with 30.06 they outlawed the caliber. Load was 53 gr. 4350, 190 Winchester Match, Lapua cases.
Larry Moore's 1000 yard load was 54 gr. 4350 with 200 MK and FA cases. He won more long range matches than anyone alive. You can read his articles in Rifleman from 40s through 70s.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree with the posts above. I think a 165gr bullet is best for hunting in a 30-06. I think a 168gr BTHP Match bullet is best out to 600 yards and a 175gr BTHP Match bullet is best for 1000 yards. Sierra are still my favorite bullets. I also use H4350 in my 30-06 rounds made for bolt action rifles.

 

[Bart B.]

While the .30-06 was popular (and for years the only cartridge allowed), it never had nor has the accuracy of the .308 Winchester at 1000 yards. The most accurate rifles chambered for the .30-06 can easily have their best group halved by the .308. This is the reason NRA high power targets had their scroing rings reduced in size back in 1966 three years after allowing the .308 to be used in highpower match and service rifles.

The best loads for the .30-06 at 1000 yards used Sierra 200 gr. bullets atop 54 to 55 grains of IMR4350 and did very well on the old "C" target. But they got eclipsed by the .308 Win. in standard NRA match rifles beginning in 1971 when the new, smaller ringed target came about.

I wrote the first rule for the US Palma Rifle used in the NRA high power rule book allowing either the .30-06 or .308 cartridge, but it was soon changed to only the .308 Win. to be in compliance with international rules for the Palma matches; it had nothing to do with a .30-06 being used in Palma matches.

What years since the late 1980's at the Nationals did a .30-06 win the Palma match? Who did it?

I'm really curious about this .30-06 winning the Palma match as the most accurate .30-06 rifle I know of could not put 20 consecutive shots inside 15 inches at 1000 yards.

 

[Sunray]

Depends on what you call long range. 300 yards is short range for match shooting. Very long range for deer hunting. However, like rcmodel says, a 168 grain match bullet works best out to 600 yards. A 175 grain match bullet past there. IMR4064 is your friend. Varget has a following too though.
Palma matches require a 155 grain bullet only. The rifles are 14 pound single shot .308's.
"...He won more long range matches than anyone alive..." A sweeping statement. And maybe Stateside. Know a guy who regularly won 1,000 yard DCRA matches with a custom built .300 Mag with 190 grain match bullets. His Win 70 actioned rifle weighed 17.5 pounds.

 

[R.W.Dale]

While the .30-06 was popular (and for years the only cartridge allowed), it never had nor has the accuracy of the .308 Winchester at 1000 yards. The most accurate rifles chambered for the .30-06 can easily have their best group halved by the .308. This is the reason NRA high power targets had their scroing rings reduced in size back in 1966 three years after allowing the .308 to be used in highpower match and service rifles.

So are you saying a modern heavy custom bolt gun with a precision hand lapped bbl firing the most modern propellants and bullets is always twice as accurate when chambered for 308 vs 30-06?

Why do I have a really really really hard time believing that?



Here we go, opens a bag of cheezy poofs and a beer sits back to watch the show

The best loads for the .30-06 at 1000 yards used Sierra 200 gr. bullets atop 54 to 55 grains of IMR4350

OMG are you stuck in the 1960's?

 

[Bart B.]

krochus says:

So are you saying a modern heavy custom bolt gun with a precision hand lapped bbl firing the most modern propellants and bullets is always twice as accurate when chambered for 308 vs 30-06?

No, it's not always twice as accurate. Sometimes it's three or four times as accurate.

If you know of anybody who's used a .30-06 to put forty consecutive shots into less than 2 inches at 600 yards, let me know.

Same thing goes for 20 consecutive shots at 800 yards depicted in this photo of what a good Palma rifle in .308 Win. will do:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12787226@N00/3394146444/in/set-72157616051794780/

Why do I have a really really really hard time believing that?

I have no idea why.

 

[R.W.Dale]

No, it's not always twice as accurate. Sometimes it's three or four times as accurate.

Do you actually believe that? I mean really, have you shot amore modern rifle than the ones required for a certain old mans shooting game, the firearms equivalent of NASCAR

I have no idea why.

Because I've already debunked the myth of one cartridge being more accurate than another. I have a rifle built for precision shooting chambered for the most "inherently inaccurate" around that shoots in the .2's and USSR a long time poster has shown us what a well built and loaded for 30-06 can do.

If You came here expecting your name to allow you to make broad sweeping generalizations and the masses to blindly digest em you came to the wrong forum

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I don't know that you couldn't make an '06 a viable 1000 round competition F-Class rifle. I do know you see more .308's and .300 Win Mags than '06(s).

I'd rather have a 6.5x284 for 1000 yards.

 

[model14]

Don't know anything about long range target rifle shooting, but I did just see a press release where someone set a new world record at 600 yards, shooting a 3/8" 5 shot group with a .308. It was on the Lapua web site.To me a 3/8" group at 25 yards is amazing

 

[RugerOldArmy]

One of the interesting aspects of this forum is the number of diverse viewpoints received when viewing any particular issue. Imagine there was a one room building with windows on four sides and in the center was an issue being discussed. We'd get viewpoints from:

- The East Window: The History/Military/Mall Ninja side, slightly biased toward historical or military technology.

- The West Window: The Big Game hunters. Biased a bit toward energy, penetration. Heavy stuff at moderate speeds is nothing to sneeze at.

- The Southern Window: Varmint Hunters and Wildcatters. A serious preference for velocity AND accuracy. Air time is a preference, and recoil just spoils your view of the hit through the scope.

- The Northern Window: Competitive shooters. It's all about holes downrange.

As I read posts, you wonder about personal preferences and objectivity. If you only look through one window, it all seems black and white.

Because I've already debunked the myth of one cartridge being more accurate than another. I have a rifle built for precision shooting chambered for the most "inherently inaccurate" around that shoots in the .2's and USSR a long time poster has shown us what a well built and loaded for 30-06 can do.

If You came here expecting your name to allow you to make broad sweeping generalizations and the masses to blindly digest em you came to the wrong forum

In a similar fashion, We're not all going to blindly accept sweeping statements like:

I've already debunked the myth of one cartridge being more accurate than another.

Come now:

- Would an '06 really be able to compete with a .30 BR for short range benchrest? How would you explain the dominance of the 6mm PPC for SRBR?


Nor would may readers embrace the wisdom of a building a new F-Class rifle chambered for the '06. In .308, it can't move the heavier bullets like the .300 Win mag, and if you're moving 155 Sceaners or 175 SMK(s) it doesn't have much (if any) advantage or .308 Win.

 

[Jim Watson]

I agree with that last.

If you HAVE a good .30-06, load some good ammunition for it and have a fine time. It will likely do best with 190+ grain bullets.

If you are going to BUY a .30 caliber mid-to long range target rifle, the .308 has more recent development with ammo and guns. If you want something to shoot through the wind better and don't mind the recoil, jump up to the .300 Win Mag. (But I DO mind the recoil and would go with a 6 or 6.5mm if I were moving from F-TR to F-open.)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This thread went to hell fairly quickly. I really don't think the OP wanted to debate which is more accurate, the .308 or 30-06. I really think we should try to stick with the original topic instead of going OT all the time.

Yes the .308 is very accurate and more so than the 30-06 most times but that's only because the Military is now using a 308 instead of a 30-06 and the custom long range rifles are being built for the .308 cartridge. I feel if the same custom rifles were built for the 30-06 you would achieve similar results.