What's your favorite powder for 30-06?

thump_rrr said:
With your cast bullets are you powder coating, GC’s, both?
What alloy or BNH?
Inquiring minds want to know.

I’d love to start casting for my rifles.
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I just use gas checks for my own cast bullets, which are Lyman 311334, and lubed with White Label Lube's Carnauba Red. I do have 100 powder coated 311399 bullets I think from Montana Bullet Works but I haven't loaded them up yet.

My alloy is just plain old wheel weights with a little added tin. I'm not sure of the BHN.

I did find that I can get up to about 2300-2400 fps using IMR4895 if I water quench the bullets to make them a bit harder. I much prefer to run them slower though.
 
IMR4895 ... IMR4350 ... and Varget would be if I could find some ... that stuff is Elusive .

The local dealer never has any in stock when I get there !

I hear good things about Accurate 2520 in the 30-06 and will keep an eye out for a supply to try !

Gary
 
Either IMR4350 or H4350 with 150-180 gr bullets. If I were to go to 200 gr or heavier bullets there are better options. I've gotten equally good accuracy and the same speeds with both. The load data isn't interchangeable BTW. Given the option I prefer H4350 simply because it is more stable over a wide range of temperatures. Ramshot Big Game is another good one. It's usually a bit cheaper and often available when the others are not.

Varget and 4064 will produce some accurate loads, but they are better suited for 308. When used in 30-06 you're going to get 308 speeds.
 
illinoisburt said:
Need a bit more information. What weight bullets are you looking to load & for what purpose? A 150 fmj load for Garand or Springfield is very different recipe than a 208 eld in a 26" barrel.
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Most likely I'll start with 150 hot core/SP, and move up from there, max out 200-220 powder coat.
 
jmr40 said:
Either IMR4350 or H4350 with 150-180 gr bullets. If I were to go to 200 gr or heavier bullets there are better options. I've gotten equally good accuracy and the same speeds with both. The load data isn't interchangeable BTW. Given the option I prefer H4350 simply because it is more stable over a wide range of temperatures. Ramshot Big Game is another good one. It's usually a bit cheaper and often available when the others are not.

Varget and 4064 will produce some accurate loads, but they are better suited for 308. When used in 30-06 you're going to get 308 speeds.
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Great info. thanks
 
It WAS IMR4064, butmytimemachineisintheshop. Going forward it will be AA4064 with H335 or W 748 substituted for practice ammo. After I run out of AA4064, hopefully things have returned to some sort of normal. In today's market, if you wish to shoot 150s, give AA4064, 2495 OR VN140 a try. If 180s, the 4064 will work, and H414 or W760 are worth trying.
 
Alaskamike said:
I may be the only one here shooting cast in .30-06, but for 180-200 grain cast bullets at 1500-2000 fps velocity, I love either 2400 or IMR4227.
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If you have it available, give either H or IMR4198 a try. A wee bit slower than 2400 or IMR4227, a little better case fill, and I've gotten very good performance out of it with cast. .308, .30-30, .348WCF, and .45-70 are my usual suspects with IMR4198.
 
Charlie98 said:
If you have it available, give either H or IMR4198 a try. A wee bit slower than 2400 or IMR4227, a little better case fill, and I've gotten very good performance out of it with cast. .308, .30-30, .348WCF, and .45-70 are my usual suspects with IMR4198.
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I use IMR 4198 for 7.62x39 with Hornady 123gr soft points.
 
Being a reloading prepper; years ago I scored a whole lot of 4895 for $8.00 a pound. I have found it to be a very versatile powder for many cartridges. Got a life time supply and I do not sell any! Great in my 03A3, Garand both on 30-06!
I have been thinking about getting a 30 cal. mold for some gas checked bullets. 150 gr or less and for less than 2500 fps. Cannot wear a barrel out shooting cast bullets in one life time :thumbup:
 
Unequivocally, RELOADER 17 ! Accuracy and speed!
Secondly, H4350, and IMR4350
But, Rl17 is now Unobtanium…

For 150gr and lighter, for competition, H4895, IMR4064
-Hunting; Win 748 gives fantastic velocities
Reloader 22 for 190-220gr bullets.
 
I started with IMR 4895 for most bullet weights because I thought that’s what the military used to use. It’s interesting to read all the varied powders in use. I’ve tried 8208 for 125s but will try some of the others for the heavier bullets.
Nosler publishes load data and tags “most accurate” powder, for their combination.
 
Jonny2guns said:
Looking to start reloading 06 and just wanted to see what powder ya'll prefer.
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For most of my .30-06 I use Varget, SW Precision Rifle, SW Match Rifle and AA2520. I have used others...but ultimately settled on those.

My Garand and other milsurp .30-06 is SW Match and AA2520. Those two powders are very very close (there is history between Lovex and Accurate Arms), and you can use the same start load data.

There is no relationship between Varget and SW Precision, but oddly, the two powders perform similar, but with SW Precision being a little better when it comes to temperature sensitivity. The Lovex labeled (S062.02) I have heard referred to as "Euro Varget", which makes me smile. I switched when Varget became unobtanium, and ended up liking SW Precision better. I use that for any match ammo, hunting ammo, etc. I also use SW Precision for a number of other calibers. Shooters World has load data, and you can also get load data directly from Lovex as well. The SW branded bottles will have the Lovex name on them as well.
 
4895 but I think I will need to start working with other powders as 4895 is non existent and I won't pay the asking price for what is out there
 
IMR 4350 with both 165 grain Sierra Gameking JSP for deer and 180 gr Nosler Partitons for Elk. Both shot so darn good I didn’t try another powder. Going on. 22 years now with that combination
 
I use 3. AA4064 for 168gr bullets, AA4350 for 180gr bullets and Varget is my general purpose go to for everything and what I use in my M1 Garand. If I am competing I definitely use the first 2 as designed. IMR variant is good too but AA is cheaper and I am super impressed with its performance.
 
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