Opinions on 30-06 plinker load.

[Bwana John]

I have been playing with plinker loads for my 30-06 due to shoulder problems.

I have found very little data for the load I settled on, and am interested in peoples thoughts.

My current load uses a 70 gr plated .32acp bullet resized to .308, 10 gr Unique, a LG magmun primer, in USGI brass.

Velocity is 1800 fps, 5 shot 50 yard groups are 1.25", 5 shot group at 100 yds are around 4.5." Case seals neck for no powder fouling from light load but no case expansion at base when firing, primers show no flattening.

Rifle is very close to 100 yd 165gr bullet zero, does not need to be resighted for shooting ~50-75 yds.

I have tried sr4759, trail boss, 4895, and unique, and 110 plated and fmj carbine bullets.

I settled on the 70 grain and unique load because of economy and accuracy, the mag primers for complete ignition of small charge at different positions in case, and the USGI brass for strength and reduced powder capacity.

I had been using 110 gr bullet but found the 32acp plated pulled bullets for 6 cents each, and they shoot very well (sized OR unsized) so I bought 4k

The load costs 13.5 cents per round counting the brass (based on 10 reloads per brass, but I think I can get many more)

 

[adcoch1]

Where'd you get the 32 bullets from? Sounds like a winner of a plinker load!

 

[Bwana John]

They were pulls from RMR, they are not available very often, and usually sell out fast.

They come .3125, I put them through a Lee .308 swage die.

They shoot fine without resizing, I run them through the die to prolong the life of the case neck.

Does anyone have 30-06 data for pistol powder? I know the cast bullet people use fast powders.

 

[ybuck44]

Unique is my go to for cast bullets and if I am right not case position sensitive, so magnum primers shouldn't be needed. You should look for loads using red dot or green dot, shotgun powders are better for that sort of thing

 

[ants]

I assume those 32 caliber plated bullets are equivalent to cast lead. For your purpose, they are the same. Lyman's current manual has pistol powder loads for lead bullets. And Lyman's "Cast Bullet Handbook" is a gem. And those cast bullet forums have huge amounts of information.

Most pistol powder loads for 30-06 start at 100 or 115 grain for cast bullets but you can use those exact loads with 70 grain bullet. In fact, that's what you are doing.
Lyman's max load for 115 grain cast is 14.0 grains of Unique, so you're on the light side. You might try bumping up a little to see if it improves even more.

 

[redbullitt]

I think that sounds like an excellent load!

If you cannot get unique, I am sure you can work up another suitable load using red dot if you happen to have any. I have fired plenty of those with good results.

 

[243winxb]

70 gr plated

Not much data for a 70 gr in 30-06, if any at all. You have broken new ground.
http://castpics.net/dpl/index.php/reloaders-reference/cast-bullet-data-lookup

 

[RPRNY]

The 80 grs 30 cal Mauser half jacket and 30 Carbine 110 grs bullets also good plinkers. Sounds like you have a winning formula here.

 

[hdwhit]

Bwana John wrote:
My current load uses a 70 gr plated .32acp bullet resized to .308, 10 gr Unique, a LG magmun primer, in USGI brass.

When I read the title, I thought I was going to be reading about someone loading 30-06 with 110 grain carbine bullets essentially mimicking the Carbine. I was really impressed at the thought of taking the plated 32 caliber bullets and just swaging them down to where they would go into the case. I'm really surprised that they swaged down so readily. I think you have a brilliant solution to the problem!

 

[Sunray]

Any cast bullet will work. Better than any jacketed and way lighter than a 110 grain '06 load. Those run around 3,000 FPS and up with 36,000 PSI and up.
You using a filler to keep that wee drop of Unique where it needs to be? Typical .30-06 case holds 69 grains of water.

 

[ants]

You using a filler to keep that wee drop of Unique where it needs to be?

That's what I do. Highly recommended. Probably smart to drop a grain or two and work up to your 10.0 load again, just to make sure it still works the way you like it. I'm sure it will.

 

[Bwana John]

Any cast bullet will work. Better than any jacketed and way lighter than a 110 grain '06 load. Those run around 3,000 FPS and up with 36,000 PSI and up.
You using a filler to keep that wee drop of Unique where it needs to be? Typical .30-06 case holds 69 grains of water.

I am not using any type of filler, I am using USGI brass which is supposed to have 10% less internal volume due to thicker case web, and large rifle magnum primer for more consistent ignition of small charge in different position

I used 10 gr of Unique because of a old proverb, "anything can be loaded with 10gr Unique."

I have tried both consistent powder position by pointing rifle up before firing, and inconsistent powder position, it didn't seem to matter for accuracy.

What type of filler? Kaypoc, cotton, cornmeal, polyester? I would rather not put anything extra in the case.

I am more worried about copper fouling from too much velocity.... I know not to reduce slow powders, but this little tiny bit of fast powder in this big old case is new to me.

 

[Englishmn]

I had issues with unburned powder and variable speeds tilt dependent with slower powders. Shotgun powder works great in my mosin I'm using up some old al-7 and 115 grn 32-20 slugs, it burns completely.

 

[243winxb]

Kapok is listed in old Lyman cast bullet data. I tried it back then with Lyman reduced loads. On target, i didn't see a difference with it.

I guess this is were a chronograph may be useful. Sold mine back in the late 70s. Less to carry to the range.

 

[Bwana John]

When I saw the 32acp projectiles advertised I thought of the old 32acp 30-06 chamber adapter "small game getter".

Shooting the .312 unswaged bullets worked as well as swaged to .308, and judging by how little force it takes to swage it is only nessary for case neck life.

Is there a rule of thumb for using same powder for plated vs lead load weight differentials?