"Go to" Factory ammo

[No Plea]

In .30-06 and 6.5x55, what's your "go to" factory ammo? In other words, where do you start with factory stuff?

Need to test some in a couple of new rifles, so that I know what factory ammo backup works when I'm too lazy or unorganized to have handloads available.

Thanks.

 

[kingmt]

I liked Hornady Custom until I started handloading but after I loaded the first round I never bought another. I have rifles that have never seen factory ammo except at the factory.

 

[kingmt]

I did shoot 2 factory rounds at the range the other day. There was 2 guys that couldn't get a 303 Brit shoot in so I offered to shoot it for them. I reach for a round & done a dubble take(one of these is not like the other). There was a 7mm in the box. Iasked about it & they said it was a new box they had just bought at the GS. I had never shoot a 303 so when I got a light kick(less then my 243) I thought that was it which hit 8" low @ 100yd so I adjusted the scope 8 MOA & the next shoot kicked harder then my 30-06 & hit 7" low. I handed the rifle back & told them to call the maker of the ammo.

 

[T Bran]

I havent had a 30-06 that didnt like 150grain Remington Corelocts yet im sure i'll find one some day but so far i'm 5 for 5. Still prefer my handloads though. Only time I shoot the CL's these days is in a rifle belonging to another. I dont load for anyone but myself. I've never had an issue with my 30-06 loads but as soon as I loaded for another shooter i'm sure that Murphy would rear his head once again.
T

 

[Strykervet]

I liked Hornady Custom until I started handloading but after I loaded the first round I never bought another. I have rifles that have never seen factory ammo except at the factory.

+1 on Hornady. I use their components too, so falling back on a round that I typically load, say at the range and I didn't load any, the Hornady Custom is what I use. They usually are loaded lighter than I load them, depending on calibre though. Mostly for pistol.

In rifles, I use 5.56 and 7.62. So for me, Lake City all the way. Here, I load using those components too. LC brass and SS109 and SMK bullets.

I also have rifles that have never seen factory ammo and since I built them, they never saw factory ammo ever. My Grendel is an example.

I try to keep shooting loads on hand for popular rounds, but I never seem to be able to catch up. Stuck on that single stage!

 

[41 Mag]

In both of the calibers you mention, the rifles I have are 03A3's in '06 and a 96 Mauser in 6.5 Swede. As such I keep things in the middle ground with my handloads.

For the '06s, the Remington 150 or 165gr CL works just fine for me.Usually easily found on any backwoods shelves, and not priced through the roof. Over the years when things actually went on sale and the prices were reasonable I stocked up on the CL's in both weights. I worked up loads using H-4895, which are for the most part factory duplicates, in that there is so little difference out to 200yds in the groups I don't sweat it if I have to pick up an extra box while out of town. I usually pick up a box on sale somewhere every year just to keep track of any changes. Witht he hogs around or simply practicing they easily get consumed.

For the 6.5, I have had it going on 20yrs and really never bought but two boxes of factory and that was when I first got the rifle. Since there were only two offerings when I got it I found that the $30'ish dollar a box thing simply wasn't my cup of tea. Year before last however I picked up a dozen boxes of Privi 139gr SP for around $12 a box. Figured it would work just fine on deer and hogs out to 100yds and was cheap enough. Turns out it best my handloads in accuracy from this rifle, so now that is our go to ammo. Several hogs and a couple fo DRT deer for the daughter and grandson, is proof enough for me. Once these are dwindled down I plan on simply picking up a case and being done with it. I plan to work up something equivalent using Privi bullets shortly after the first of the year as well so at least we have either to choose from.