Looking for some reasonably priced accurate .30-06 ammo

[Steve Smith]

I want to check out a new (to me) rifle this weekend, and I don't have .30-06 dies yet. Can someone recommend some reasonably priced ammo for me to see how my barrel is? I know my own mantra is "every gun is a law unto its own" but hopefully I can get a concensus on a brand and bullet. Thanks guys.

Pre-64 Win Mod 70, original barrel

 

[dakotasin]

funny... i was in this exact situation about 4 days ago, except the rifle was a rem 721...

i noticed that wal-mart was peddling winchester black box stuff (brass case, not nickel) for $11.

hornady custom is probably the best route to go here, though, but at $20 a box, it will make you hurry up w/ the dies!

but, i used federal classic 150's and hornady custom for my initial shake-out tests. the federal works, but it is real weak. i was clocking it at 2665 through my 23" tube (150 grain pills). the hornady is a little stiffer, at 2800 f/s w/ 165 pills, and proved far more accurate.

 

[Edward429451]

Steve, I've got some RCBS 30/06 dies & LEE trimmer setup you can borrow for awhile if you want to. I hardly ever use them, just picked them up on a whim awhile back. Got some once fired brass that you're welcome to also.

PM me.

 

[Gewehr98]

I've been sitting on an extra set of .30-06 dies.

Let me dig them out.

I'll ask for an address in a bit.

 

[SodaPop]

You won't do better than 2 MOA with most of the factory stuff. I have the exact same rifle as you and the most accurate bullet I've shot threw my '06 was a Sierra 200gr SP. It did a 5 shot group inside an inch at 100yds and fanned out to about 7inches at 500yds.

I still have yet to try the 175gr Matchkings for accuracy.

 

[Steve Smith]

Gewehr98, I don't know what to tell ya, I've already turned down a loaner set from Edward! I reckon if they're really "extra" shouldn't turn them down!

Soda, by my calculations, 5 shots under an inch at 100 and 7" at 500 is under 2 MOA! I'm totally new to this critter, so we'll see how she goes.

 

[SodaPop]

How many lbs is the trigger? Mine is down from 7lbs to 4.5lbs. Big difference

 

[Steve Smith]

Guessin about sixish. I'm gonna bed it in the McMillan stock and try it. I wouldn't know what to blame bad shooting on right now, barrel or the Bell & Carlson stock it's in.

 

[Gewehr98]

Ok, Steve.

PM sent.

 

[SodaPop]

Does anyone have a spare SLR-95?

 

[Gewehr98]

Oh, c'mon, SodaPop!

You and I both know that if there was something "spare" that you wanted from the Gewehr98 collection, the SLR-95 wouldn't be at the top of your list.


Steve, those dies were left for me by the late Robert Klager, who was a regular fixture at the Spaceport Rifle & Pistol Club. He was the head Range Officer who hired me on the spot one day, and I hadn't even asked to work as one there. He was also a very avid Bullseye and NRA High Power shooter. That's why I felt it was only fitting that his .30-06 dies, used for his High Power M1 Garand, should go to another avid High Power shooter, perhaps for your own M1 Garand someday.

We held a solemn ceremony and spread his ashes on the range while firing a salute. I'm sure Bob approved while watching from above. And I'm also certain he'd approve my keeping the dies in the family, so to speak.

 

[Gewehr98]

Speaking of .30-06 handloads...

Steve, how are you doing on .30-06 brass?

Do you like Lake City military, or commercial stuff?

(since I'm already sending stuff that way)

 

[cracked butt]

I've used winchester white box 30-06 (147gr FMJ's) to function test and make some brass for my M1. Never shot it through my '03 though so couldn't tell much about its accuracy potential, but shot reasonably well in the M1. It cost about $6 per box.

 

[SodaPop]

Gewehr98, if you can leave a dead guys reloading dies to a guy in Colorado........ you can leave your SLR-95 to a guy in Pennsylvania.


Put it in your will.

 

[Gewehr98]

Oh, SodaPop, I have something special for you.

Put it in your will.

You'd better have room for it all, because I won't when I go to take my dirt nap:

 

[Steve Smith]

Dude, between you and Edward I'm gonna be hooked up! What price on the commercial do you have?

 

[Gewehr98]

No price, Steve.

I already put a few hundred pieces in the same box as the dies. They will go out your direction this Friday.

I am getting ready to take more pics of my reloading room/evil lab. I've been busy cleaning and reloading, spiffying things up before I head back overseas for my next deployment. One never realizes how much brass one can squirrel away after 10 years, until one tries to organize it all...

 

[Steve Smith]

Awesome, man! Thanks!

 

[Hutch]

G98, I'm trying to imagine being able to have an excel spreadsheet w/ all my ammo accounted for. I just can't. I stand in slack-jawed admiration.

 

[Gewehr98]

Hutch, it took years to get to that point.

Trying to create order from chaos is a never-ending task. But I'm making serious progress, and am currently working on a copy of Preacherman's ammo cabinet. I should have some pics up soon of my cleaned-up reloading room/evil lab. The ammo spreadsheet comes in handy when I want to place an order for bullets, or head off to my local reloading supply store for powder and primers, since the majority of my ammo cache is my own handloads. And if ever there's a THR gathering near Spacecoast Florida, I know what and how much to bring along.