30-06 howa

[Cal-ApeR]

Finally picked up my 30-06 Howa new today. Keeping this one simple, just putting a little 3-9 Redfield on it.

Curious to know what people are running successfully in their Howa 06. Projectile weight especially. I've read a few people saying that 150-165 was the best weight range for their Howa. I was hoping 180s would go well but don't really want to throw away cash if they are unlikely to go well. This was purchased purely as a big boar rifle

[solarpak]

Running Rem Core-Lots in 150's through my own Howa 30-06....

Groups around an inch (for 3-shots) at 100 - plenty enough for anything out to 300m..

CK

[Cal-ApeR]

Solarpak ever tried heavier by any chance?

[Kumaabear]

Hey

Looks like the barrel twist is the traditional 1:10

You should be good from 125 all the way to 220 grain round noses.

Keep in mind that if a particular brand of factory ammo at a projectile weight isn't shooting good and you know the barrel twist should stabilise that weight projectile then its likely that brand is just using a load that your rifle doesn't like, someone else's howa may like it fine.

I think that 165g with a good bonded / mono bullet is the sweet spot for the 30-06 with the new tough bullets we have now, same sectional density as the 130g .270 for great penetration but with the frontal area of .30 cal and still high muzzle velocity 2850 - 2900 fps so fairly flat shooting out to about 300 yards with point blank aim, 350-400yd would be very doable with no scope adjustments if you know your hold over.

180g -220 grain should also shoot very nicely and gives you an option if you ever go after something really large.

[Cal-ApeR]

Thanks Kumaabear, have a trip planned later this year where there are certainly larger sized boars expected. Thinking 180gr would work a treat.

Will look into the PBR on particular loads once I've found how's shooting. I need to invest in another chrono, one which will sit on the barrel and simplify the process a bit.

[TassieTiger]

I’ve got a sauer in 30/06 with 1:11 twist and it shoots 200gns ELDX with 56gns of ar2209 very nicely indeed, so 1:10 should easily handle 180’s.
But after a bit more testing, I’m starting to also think the 165’s Are the sweet spot for 06’s for anything mid range (300-400m) at least.

[Oldbloke]

I have 2 30-06 both 1 in 10" 150 to 180 will be fine for hunting. Even using 130s in one lately.

I would select from 150 to 200 based on the quarry. Hornady interlocks are good value for money and reliable.

[deye243]

So it's pigs not sambar so any 150g pill will stop them........... now saying this the one pill I miss the most in the last 30 years is the PMC 30 cal 150 , pigs to sambar out of my rem 700 lethal only took 2 shots on a sambar once because I hit high lung just under the spine .
They were like the nosler solid base even out to 70 yards they would mushroom down 50% and hold the jacket .
If I was not a hand loader I would use Remington corloked ..... If it grouped under 1.2 MOA

Cheers d

[solarpak]

Solarpak ever tried heavier by any chance?

Never needed to go down the heavier projectile avenue - if i want a tougher bullet than the core lokt 150 i would opt for the Barnes Vor Tx 150 gr TTSX factory loads

CK

[Cal-ApeR]

Thanks fellas, I've got a few 165sst sitting in the garage. Might be a good middle ground load.

I'm kicking myself Oldfella, the local shop had interlocks 150s going for$33 box. I was too slow to get there and pick some up. I've always had pretty good luck with the Speer Hot-Cor and they are also reasonably priced. Interested to see how they go in my new 06

[TassieTiger]

Special on at moment - $190 for 500 of 168gr Zmax = 38 cents per projectile. Might not be the greatest projectile but plenty to allow for development lol.

[Cal-ApeR]

Zmax are amax right? No good for hunting I read....

[TassieTiger]

Amax were designed for accuracy over everything else. Z-Max are for Zombies lol. the Z's have a polymer tip that extends into the bullet to ensure fragmentation and kill that Zombie dead...or that's what I read anyways.

[Kumaabear]

Keep an eye out for the 150g fusions

I managed to order 10 packs at $28/box really great ammo at a great price if you ever after factory ammo

Bonded core with a boat tail, shoots 0.7 inch groups at 100 out of my M70

[Jeff303]

Nothing wrong witha good old fashioned 150gn hot core in an 06. Kills the s**t out of pigs.
I use 125gn nossy bt, theyre really nasty.

[SCJ429]

Zmax are amax right? No good for hunting I read....

I have used the 168 grain ZMax for hunting and it has worked very well. Even shot a fox with one and it expanded just fine.

[bladeracer]

Zmax are amax right? No good for hunting I read....

I have used the 168 grain ZMax for hunting and it has worked very well. Even shot a fox with one and it expanded just fine.

You recovered a 168gn bullet from a fox!

[SCJ429]

He was running away from me and was hit in the date. No exit and I was able to take the pelt.

[TassieTiger]

I shot one into a house brick at 100m and everything - I mean EVERYTHING was completely obliterated. Red dust hanging in the air for quite a time....

[Cal-ApeR]

Unfortunately I never made it to the range this weekend so I pulled out some snap caps and had a play around with the trigger. Based on my old 1500 which I purchased (and later sold) in 2006, it is laid and bounds ahead. The 2 stage trigger is new as you all know but there is no creep.. At all! This is such an improvement in my old 1500, the trigger had so much creep and didn't really break cleanly. It's not my tikka but it's pretty damn good for the price.

I'm hopeful this thing can produce good results. Things are looking good.

[flutch]

Unfortunately I never made it to the range this weekend so I pulled out some snap caps and had a play around with the trigger. Based on my old 1500 which I purchased (and later sold) in 2006, it is laid and bounds ahead. The 2 stage trigger is new as you all know but there is no creep.. At all! This is such an improvement in my old 1500, the trigger had so much creep and didn't really break cleanly. It's not my tikka but it's pretty damn good for the price.

I'm hopeful this thing can produce good results. Things are looking good.

find it hard to believe there is a Howa HACT trigger with no creep, they usually have about 4km of it... Mine for example i removed one of the springs and added a piece of match stick to the inside of the spring and put it back to get rid of the creep. other alternatives is to take the first stage spring out altogether, theyre horrendous for creep.

[Cal-ApeR]

Flutch, can only comment on mine. My last one sounded much like yours, terrible amount of creep. Couple that with a s#$t stock and it was a horrible combination.

This one came with tags claiming moa guarantee etc etc. Not sure if they tidy the trigger on this one more than the others or if they all come with this tag nowadays. Either way, it definitely is creep free and I'm happy.

[flutch]

Flutch, can only comment on mine. My last one sounded much like yours, terrible amount of creep. Couple that with a s#$t stock and it was a horrible combination.

This one came with tags claiming moa guarantee etc etc. Not sure if they tidy the trigger on this one more than the others or if they all come with this tag nowadays. Either way, it definitely is creep free and I'm happy.

nice, yeah mine shoots clover leafs all day, theyre solid guns probably best bang for buck out there... my trigger was appalling took a lot of lapping it in with diamond paste and steel wool to remove all the grittiness too