Shortage of match grade 30-06 ammo

[Impala]

I have been noticing a lot lately that there are hardly any ammunition manufacturers that make match grade 30-06 ammo. Sure, you can take your pick of high quality .308 Win. ammo like Federal's TRU or Hornaday's TAP, but where's the '06 stuff?
I know of only two types of 30-06 ammo that are designed for target shooting.
The first is Federal Gold Medal which loads a 168 grain Sierra Match King BTHP, an excellent load which is incredibly hard to find.
The other is Black Hills with three match grade loads. Does anybody else know of any factory loaded match grade ammo for the 30-06?

 

[LeonCarr]

Mr. Impala,

The match grade .30-06 ammo you mentioned, the Federal and the Black Hills, are probably the best match grade stuff out there, and is typically more accurate IME than the military match .30-06 ammo. You also might try some of the premium hunting ammo (Federal Premium, Winchester Supreme, etc) in your rifle. It might be more accurate than the match grade stuff.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[CraigJS]

Learn to roll your own. I had a .308 that I could reload using Match King bullets, Lapua brass etc. that shot as well or better than any I bought.. At 1/3 to 1/2 the cost. Plus it was fun! I'm sure you could do the same with your 06..
Be safe.

 

[DogBonz]

Federal Gold medal

Is great. The other really good stuff is Remington. Their '06 match is also top notch. Cabela's has both last time I checked.

 

[hankdatank1362]

As a matter of fact, I shot my first box of Winchester Supreme Silvertip today through my "thutty-ought-six".

I remarked to a friend just how much more accurate this was at moderate distances (150+ yards) than what I usually order from Black Hills.

 

[JesseL]

I've still got a few cans of M72 match ammo (mostly loaded in en bloc clips)I've been thinking about selling if anyone wants to pm me.

 

[USSR]

Impala,

There's been a shortage of .30-06 Match ammo ever since that .308 youngster came along. Now days, the .30-06 as a target/tactical cartridge is pretty much a reloading proposition. I have been shooting the '06 at 1,000 yards for the past 5 years, and have developed a match load that is closer to a .300WM ballistically than a .308 (this assumes a modern bolt action rifle). First, with it's greater case capacity, the '06 is best suited to 190gr bullets and slow powders. With the 190SMK bullet, RL22 is THE powder in the '06, and velocities of 2875-2925fps are easily and safely achievable. Use either Lapua or Norma brass for best results.

Don

 

[C-grunt]

Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip has been extremely accurate in my Savage. Mines a .308 but Im pretty sure the 06 would be just as accurate.

 

[Sunray]

Regular primers, a 168 grain match bullet and IMR4064 carefully loaded and weighing every charge make the problem go away. Match grade bullets aren't cheap though.
Except for the JC matches, there aren't many shooters using the .30-06 in HP matches these days. The better inherent accuracy of the .308 has superseded the '06.
In any case, few match shooters use factory ammo. Even the Federal stuff gives you no guarantee it'll shoot well out of your rifle.

 

[USSR]

The better inherent accuracy of the .308 has superseded the '06.

Sunray,

There's nothing inherent about accuracy. It's all a matter of the rifle and load. Of course, when you load the '06 down to work in a Garand and perform similar to a .308, the .308 has a distinct advantage.

Don

 

[ScottsGT]

I've still got a few cans of M72 match ammo (mostly loaded in en bloc clips)I've been thinking about selling if anyone wants to pm me.

PM sent......

 

[Onmilo]

Winchester Supreme Gold 168 grain is a Match and Hunting cartridge that is still available though not readily available through most shops.
Expensive and most likely special order but very, very good ammunition.

 

[Deanimator]

Learn to roll your own. I had a .308 that I could reload using Match King bullets, Lapua brass etc. that shot as well or better than any I bought.. At 1/3 to 1/2 the cost. Plus it was fun! I'm sure you could do the same with your 06..

+1.

If you're not handloading, you're not REALLY serious about your rifle shooting.

I only shoot my .30-06 Savage 112BVSS at 600 yards. I use the 200gr. Sierra Matchking BTHP, Federal 210M match primers, Winchester brass and IMR4350. I've determined the optimum OAL with a Stoney Point gauge. It's FAR more accurate with this load than with ANY factory ammo.

I get similar results from my .308 10FP using 175gr. Matchkings, 210Ms, Norma brass, and Vihta Vhuori N150. It's the equivalent of the M118LR sniper round.

 

[Deanimator]

Winchester Supreme Gold 168 grain is a Match and Hunting cartridge that is still available though not readily available through most shops.

The 168 is considered a less than optimum bullet these days. Most people seem to prefer 155s, 175s, 190s or 200s. They have better Ballistic Coefficients than the 168s.