Working on a load for deer season: 165 GMX, Varget, 30/06

[ECVMatt]

Good afternoon to all,

I am getting ready to load for deer season this year. I live in a lead-free state and shot through my stash of Barnes bullets. I was not able to buy them again do to the current madness. I was able to pick up some Hornady 165 GMX's. Going through my powders I have Winchester 760, CFE223, and Varget.

I use a lot of Varget and find it very stable in both hot and cold weather. I think I am going to start there and see if I can find a load that works.

I was wondering if anyone has experience with the Hornady 165 GMX's or if anyone is using this bullet with Varget in a 30/06?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

 

[Dwb1957]

If Varget don’t work the way you want it to try w-760. I just worked a load for my rem 700 using a165sst over 57 grs of w-760, it’s not the same bullet but it’s similar enough for start. I was getting a little over 2850 with a 22” barrel and good accuracy. Good luck

 

[jmr40]

Normally I'd not recommend Varget for 30-06, it is my go-to 308 powder however. But the way things are right now you've gotta use what you can find.

I just worked a load for my rem 700 using a165sst over 57 grs of w-760, it’s not the same bullet but it’s similar enough for start.

The GMX bullets are solid copper and load data for them is much different than for conventional bullets. You might look at the load data from Barnes who use very similar solid copper bullets.

30-06Springfield.pdf (barnesbullets.com)

 

[unwashed]

I just loaded my 06 with Barnes 165 TTSX with 49.7grs of 4064. The chrono put it at 2595 fps, may go back next week to zero. Load data says I can go as high as 52grs but I'm happy at the current velocity. I also worked up a load for my 223 with hornady gmx and barnes tsx 2 years ago and they had very similar ballistics. So the hornady shouldn't be much different from the barnes. Oh, btw just bought another box from midway of Barnes 165 ttsx, they had them in stock.

Here they are.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010394962?pid=110882

 

[bigpower491]

According to my Hornady manual , they list a start charge of 41.4g and a max of 48.4 for Varget.
760 starts at 46.2 and max at 56.2
Both book out at 2800fps
I've used Varget in 06 with their 165 SST, and found it to be very good, almost to the point it would replace my all time favorite powder for heavier bullets in this caliber, IMR4350. It's just a bit fast for 180 and heavier, tho.
The manual lists 3.210 as COL for that GMX, .447 BC for your distance calculations.
Very similar to the 165 SST, they should do real well for you, those SSTs were laser beams.