Flatbush Harry
Member
I've been traveling for the past 7 weeks and today was the first day I have been to the range in that time.
I brought my .30-06 hunting rifles to do some ammo testing (factory & hand loads) and practice to be ready for a second week in Nov. 2011 hunt.
First, I got two 3-shot 1/2" groups of 150gr SMK IMR 4064 loads...good to go with both my Savage 116 and my Win M70 EW...both terrific rifles. My SGKs were a little behind at 0.66" and 0.75" for the two rifles respectively.
I tried a box of 165gr Hornady Superperformance loads...disaster...the groups widened to 4" out of both rifles. I went back to my my Sierra Match Kings w/ IMR 4895...1/2" groups. I'll be writing to Hornady tomorrow. Now I've had great results from Hornady A-MAXs in both .25 and .30 cal and excellent results with Hornady Custom ammo using 117gr SSTs in .25-06 and good results with 165gr SSTs in .30-06. I'll be corresponding with Hornady...stay tuned, but my experience with them has been excellent to date.
Interestingly, I got no better than 1" groups at 100 yds with FGMM while getting as small as 0.33" groups with my hand loads in .30-06.
For those of you who don't hand load, you should...I'm looking forward to Wednesday's winter storm here in Denver to build some loads. My nephew took a Pronghorn at more than 200 yds and a Cow Elk at more than 400 yds with my custom hunting loads (both using Barnes TSX and TTSX)...he called Sunday requesting more ammo for his 2nd Elk tag...I'll get my grandnephew to assist...(he feels his Dad's success is on him!). Life is good.
More work required for .30-06...my match loads (47.0gr IMR 4895 over a 168gr SMK) are terrific target loads but I'll stay with Barnes for live game.
FH
I brought my .30-06 hunting rifles to do some ammo testing (factory & hand loads) and practice to be ready for a second week in Nov. 2011 hunt.
First, I got two 3-shot 1/2" groups of 150gr SMK IMR 4064 loads...good to go with both my Savage 116 and my Win M70 EW...both terrific rifles. My SGKs were a little behind at 0.66" and 0.75" for the two rifles respectively.
I tried a box of 165gr Hornady Superperformance loads...disaster...the groups widened to 4" out of both rifles. I went back to my my Sierra Match Kings w/ IMR 4895...1/2" groups. I'll be writing to Hornady tomorrow. Now I've had great results from Hornady A-MAXs in both .25 and .30 cal and excellent results with Hornady Custom ammo using 117gr SSTs in .25-06 and good results with 165gr SSTs in .30-06. I'll be corresponding with Hornady...stay tuned, but my experience with them has been excellent to date.
Interestingly, I got no better than 1" groups at 100 yds with FGMM while getting as small as 0.33" groups with my hand loads in .30-06.
For those of you who don't hand load, you should...I'm looking forward to Wednesday's winter storm here in Denver to build some loads. My nephew took a Pronghorn at more than 200 yds and a Cow Elk at more than 400 yds with my custom hunting loads (both using Barnes TSX and TTSX)...he called Sunday requesting more ammo for his 2nd Elk tag...I'll get my grandnephew to assist...(he feels his Dad's success is on him!). Life is good.
More work required for .30-06...my match loads (47.0gr IMR 4895 over a 168gr SMK) are terrific target loads but I'll stay with Barnes for live game.
FH
