Hot 30-06 Rounds and Accuracy

[cyclopsshooter]

I just picked up a Savage 110 30-06 Lefty (the most budget of budget model from the days of crappy colored varnish)

I have been looking for an accurate beater rifle for bad weather or loaning out. I have a nice old 110CL in 270 that does a quarter inch at 100 yards from a bench and have heard much praise about Savage accuracy so I thought this 30-06 would fit my need-

However, my groupings were atrocious with it- 3 or 4 inches... the only ammo i had was a hand me down box of hand loaded 30-06 (i know you shouldnt soot other peoples hand loads but...)

There were at least two bullet types in the box, and of the rounds shot, they were so hot the primers were plum flattened out-

never mind the variance in grain weight for the displaced accuracy, Im just wondering if loads that hot would also affect accuracy... any one know?

 

[Jefferson Herb]

hot 06

Yes!!! and may be unsafe.to continue use of such ammo could be awakeing to shooter. The savage is a fine rifle,but that stuff would be better off dismantling,for recycle.
I've loaded 06 for Garand mostly,and used medium burn rate powder,so as not to damage the op rod.Another approach would be to use 4831,about the slowest,and good w/180 gr hunting loads.Others may have pet loads,be sure to start below max,and best accuracy is usually with a round [ ie not flattened ] primer.

 

[JimKirk]

Cy
Some guns will shoot their best at max loads, while other have their sweet spot at medium to lower velocity.

I have found that most rifles will have three sweet spots.

One at low velocity, which will be very accurate but would make poor use of the round.

One at the upper middle of the velocity range, which is the best all around.

One at the upper end(max)of the velocity range, which will be hard on the gun and the brass.

Jimmy K

 

[cyclopsshooter]

thanks guys, i will dismantle that ammo- i have already bought a few boxes of federal 180grain Tripple Shock X-Bullets (whatever that means) but it may be a week or two before i can use my friends bench... his misses dont like the sound much

 

[R.W.Dale]

Another thing to try is to cover as much of the bullet spectrum as possible covering vastly different projectiles in your search for the perfect load. For some strange reason one of my 30-06'es has always hated 168grn BTHP bullets darn near vomiting them at the target. Yet this same rifle when fed a flat based SP would preform the most miraculous feats of accuracy for a sporter weight firearm.

 

[Mustanir]

what about trying FMJs consistent grain with boat tails to check the accuracy of the rifle.

 

[rcmodel]

FMJ & FMJ-BT military style bullets are inherently and consistently the most inaccurate bullets made because the jacket opening is in the base of the bullet.

That makes a perfectly flat uniform base impossible to manufacture..

Don't waste your time or money.

rc

 

[hometheaterman]

Yeah I'd try some other ammo. All the Savage Model 10's I've seen have been sub moa. However, I've never shot one in 30-06 even though a buddy has one.

 

[PAPACHUCK]

When I bought my Ruger M77MKII in .30-06, I picked up as many different types/brands/bullet weights as I could afford. MY rifle didn't like any of the premium stuff, standard and high velocity, but it shoots Rem Corelokt 165gr. and mil-surp 150gr. very well.

Try more different ammo choices and see what YOUR rifle likes.

 

[Mustanir]

+1 Papachuck,, my rem 3006 doesnt seem to like premium brands too. Mil sur FMJs go rite on the spot. I think mil ammo in our country was made for M1 with slow burning powder, my rifle seems to like it slow.

 

[Bart B.]

For what it's worth, virtually all .30-06 ammo loaded by arsenals for military use had IMR4895 in them. That's a medium speed powder.

Sierra Bullets' head ballistic guy told me years ago that after shooting all sorts of bullets in all sorts of barrels, flat base bullets tend to shoot more accurate out of factory barrels and military arsenal barrels but boattail bullets typically do better from match grade barrels. It's got something to do with the way the bullet's base upsets to groove diameter when fired that makes the difference.

Although most arsenals make ball ammo for the 7.62 NATO round with boattail bullets, that's done so they'll have a better ballistic coefficient for longer ranges. The slight degradation of accuracy in aresenal barrels is miniscule; not an issue.

 

[janobles14]

have already bought a few boxes of federal 180grain Tripple Shock X-Bullets

also be aware that these typically have different load data than lead or jacketed bullets. i only toss this in if you are gonna get up toward max loads.