Softer .30-06 load for hi power

[Rick Mitchell]

Hi Folks,

I'm new to this forum and was hoping your collective experience can help me out. I have a Savage model 114 in .30-06. I'm currently using 168 grain Sierra Match Kings over 45.5 grains of IMR4895. Problem is that even with a reduced powder charge the recoil is causing a flinch that I just can't get past. Has anyone worked up an accurate load with a lighter bullet that works for them?

-Rick

[Snake]

Yes----we call them 7-08 or 6.5's Try a 150....but even with a 308 (when I was young and more foolish) I still needed a 190 for reliable ram slamming

[daisy]

I only use the 30-06 for hunter class which I only shoot 3 times a year and down here they are 40 shot matches.
When I started I used the 30-06. It wasn't too long until I got a 7-08 .

I run 49g of 2208 Varget with 155g amax for c,p,t and 45g 2208 Varget with a 180g pill .

HTH

[dustinflint]

I developed a flinch just reading the post and now my shoulder hurts!

Dustin

[BCloninger]

Wow. I'll just slink back to the small bore forum and let y'all real men talk.

[PhxShooter]

I've started shooting a 1941A1 with a 8X Unertl scope for Vintage Sniper Rifle Silhouette here in Phoenix. We compete with the BPCR guys and shoot prone from sand bags for everything except chickens which we shoot offhand. I use a 155 MK for everything except Rams and for those it's a 180 MK. I'm using appox 59 gr H4831 for the 155 and 57 gr for the 180. (Loads are approximate and you might want to start lower) Since the '41A1 is so heavy, shooting those 30-06 loads, even with the original steel butt plate, really isn't an issue.

For normal rifle silhouette my 30-06 is a 7-08.

November 15th -17th we're having our first Arizona Vintage Sniper Rifle Silhouette State Championship at Ben Avery. Again, we'll be shooting at the same time as the BPCR guys are shooting their State Championship. Should be a ball.

[Rick Mitchell]

Thanks for all of the input folks. So, no really "lighter load" below 150grains. Makes sense I guess. Believe it or not, when I'm shooting service rifle class in high power competition (40 rounds only!) I actually have less recoil and flinch using a 198 grain .323 out of a M48 Yugo Mauser. 'Course iron sights make hitting a challenge.

On the other hand with iron sights, if you hit it you're a hero and if you miss its the iron sights fault...

[Jerry G]

I developed a flinch just reading the post and now my shoulder hurts!

Dustin

Me too..............

[Bigfoot]

Rick I use 44 grains of 2520 behind a 150 gr fmj to fire form loads in my PO Ackely mauser. This should work out pretty well for you but try it for accuracy and go up to 45 to see if the groups tighten (they do in one rifle and not in the other for mie).

For shits and giggles I tried this load in my Rock Island 03 at our high power silhoutte range and they were very accurate (given the iron sights) and took down everything out to turkeys that day with authority (we didn't have any rams set up as it was the day before a match).

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the recoil generated. I fully admit to being a girly man when it comes to recoil and thus don't even use a 260 rem or 6.5x47 but rather a 250 savage necked up to 6.5mm (the vaulted 260 bobcat. I so love this round).

Good luck and happy shooting!

[Jason]

Corrected that for you, Mark...

I fully admit to being a girly man when it comes to recoil and thus don't even use a 260 rem or 6.5x47 but rather a 250 savage necked up to 6.5mm (the vaulted 260 Pipsqueak. I so love this round).

Seriously, though, Mark does do very well with his 260 Bobcat and the recoil is noticeably lighter with his ram loads than the ram loads that I use in my 260 Rem. My knockdown rate for hits may be slightly higher than his, but not significantly so. I doubt it would be enough to notice in a 40-shot match except at the top end of the master scores. Over the course of a multi-day match like the Iron Man out in Montana, I'd guess that the lesser recoil would probably result in a couple more hits that could make up for the slightly lesser knockdown rate on rams.

[Bigfoot]

To be fair Jason it's also economics as I'm only burning 33 grains of powder.

Now if you would have made it out to the Montana state match you could have watched me win a four way shoot off on rams. Ahem ahem.

Pipsqueak my arse. Hell I might even have Mr Peter put that on the barrel of my standard gun for the hell of it. Once this darn wedding is paid for that's my next project for the 2014 season.

[Jason]

Maybe that's a group buy wedding gift...

[boats]

Way back when the 300 meter International matches were often fired with 172 gr 2200 fps 30/1906 cartridges. Years ago I duplicated it with 168 gr Sierra Boat Tails and about 33 grs of 3031. Shoots soft, very accurate, good offhand load for shorter ranges. Get out to Rams it won't knock down. I don't shoot my old 03 with Jacketed anymore, all cast bullets about 1600 fps. 200 yards offhand Cast is very effective longer it's more of a stunt than practical . 200 gr gas check Saeco using 4759 is my cast load.

Lot written about the International load, try a Google search using this " International Match (2200 fps) ammo -history "

Shoot Silhouette serious get a Remington 700 in 7mm08 or 260.

Boats