30/06 Loading

[mausermate]

I have just picked up a 30/06 and wondering if anyone can comment about their reloads.

I read an article last night about using the old 2206 (IMR3031). I do have a few tins. The article from April/June 3013 Guns Australia claimed 50 grains of obsolete 2206 with a 150 grain Berger was perfect and achieved 2900 fps.

Has anyone had any experience with the old 2206 in their 30/06?

I also have some 150 gr Hornady Super performance factory loads boasting 3080 fps. Anyone up there with their reloads?

What is your favorite 30/06 hunting load? I will use it on Pigs, Goats and the occasional Fallow.

[bobnob]

Gday Mausermate,

When I was a teenager in the 80s I used to load a lot of 30-06. Dad would bring home whatever bullets were cheap at the gun shop, nearly always 150g ones of various brands. Mainly Sierras but all manner of odd ones too at times.

We were loading AR2206 in the little 500g tins.

Now I am going from memory; so take this data with a grain of salt...

I am pretty sure the load was 48g of AR2206 with the 150g bullet. It was never chronoed but I feel it was a light load.

As a comparison I remember clearly at the same time I was loading 42.5g of AR2206 in the 308 Win with 150 grainers. In the last couple of years I chronoed some old left over ones loaded with that powder and they were doing 2650fps out of a 24 inch barrel. This was the 308 load. So with relative powder capacity I'd be surprised if the 30-06 loads I was doing were going much faster if at all.

Another thing, I never knew the original AR2206 was IMR3031. Is that right?


These days I am shooting a stainless Zastava in 30-06. My fave load is the 180g Interlock with 57.5g of AR2209. These are doing 2780fps and are the business on pigs I can tell you!

Hard to imagine a better 30-06 powder than AR2209.

[bobnob]

To answer your question re the Superformance loads. I generally don't load 150 grainers much in my 30-06, but I think 3080fps wouldn't be a stretch at all in a 24 inch barrel. 2209 would be worth a try if you were so inclined.

I've loaded my 270 Win to over 3000fps with 150g bullets; with the greater bore diameter of the 30-06 another 50-100fps should be achievable.

[MrClark]

Im not sure if im allowed to post data but im loading 58.5 Gr of AR2209 with a 165gr Interbond. hooting out the muzzle at 2915FPS !!! 24 in Winchester M70 sporter.
i worked up very slowly and checked ADI's data and its all safe, no pressure signs. but thats just my rifle

[bobnob]

Clarkie, that would be am awesome pig and deer load no doubt.

[Releb]

Any 150gr hunting bullet out of a 30-06 will make mince meat out of pigs, goats and fallow.

Berger VLD hunting bullets, any of the Hornady hunting offerings, Sierra Game Kings and Pro-Hunters.

Whichever is most accurate is the one to use and damage with all will be plenty.

Have you done any load testing at all yet or starting from scratch?

[SendIt]

The article from April/June 3013 Guns Australia claimed 50 grains of obsolete 2206 with a 150 grain Berger was perfect and achieved 2900 fps.

Has anyone had any experience with the old 2206 in their 30/06?

I haven't, but FYI if you're trying to imitate that result have you had a look at 2206H? It's burning rate is only slightly slower than the 2206 and should give you a similar result with a little load development.

Has the advantage of being a current powder too of course so will be readily available in the future, and load data will be maintained too.

I know you've already got a few tubs of the 2206 but just something to keep in mind for when you eventually have to move to another powder.

Failing that 2209 is a tried and true powder for the 30-06 Spring.

[Garth]

2209 or 2208 2209 is great

[Jeff303]

I use 09 for 150gn onwards. Currently using 06h for nosler 125gn bts,
They do the s**t on piggies let me tell ya

[Oldbloke]

My current load for my Marlin 3006 is 44.1 gr ( Hornady 180 gn spire interlock ) of AR2208 for about 2530 fps. Pretty mild but I think another 100 fps makes SFA difference for any pigs on the receiving end.

By all means use all the old powder if you can find a decent load. But there are one or two powders that are very versatile and AR2208 is one of them. I also use it for my 223. True I'm sure both rifles could achieve perhaps another 100 fps but using one powder can reduce waste and perhaps an over load due to picking up the wrong bottle. And as I said the foxes and pigs won't know the difference.

Here is a snap shot from the 2000 ADI manual. AR2206 gets a mention. If you want the full manual PM your email address.

2000 manual 3006.JPG (55.95 KiB) Viewed 6596 times

[Oldbloke]

Below is the ADI powder chart for 2003. Note that AR2206 is NOT the equivalent to IMR 3031. AR2206 is a little slower.

ADI Powder chart equil 2004.JPG (176.3 KiB) Viewed 6594 times

[Oldbloke]

AR2206 sits between Benchmark 2 and AR2206H according to the chart. Here is some data from the 2004 ADI manual. Should load fine with some careful testing.

ADI 2004 data.JPG (68.9 KiB) Viewed 6592 times

[Wm.Traynor]

Currently using 06h for nosler 125gn bts,
They do the s**t on piggies let me tell ya

That surprises me. After having a factory Remington 150 gn from a 308W, break up on a pig, I vowed to use 165s
Life's full of surprises I suppose

[No1Mk3]

G'day mausermate,
I used to load 2206 with Sierra 150g pills in a M1917, my load was 48.5g, 1.5g more than the Mulwex load data recommendation, for an avg 2810fps in MY barrel. When 2206 was withdrawn from the market, we were told to use 2206H data for all 150g and LESS projectiles by a Defence Science source. I have never come near 3000fps with the faster powders, my last 2206H load was 49.5g x 150g Speer HPBT for 2890fps, only with 2209 have I made 3000+ in an M17. Use 2206H data, start 10% down and work up your load. Cheers and Happy Hunting!

[Jeff303]

Mate, i like to experiment ( dont we all ) .
Ive messed around with varmint pills to practice my marksmanship on bunnies ( expensive, but s**t tons of fun). & i seen these noslers at the lgs & gave them a go. No real long range stuff, but a 80kg pig , almost head on at 50mts, got hit in the front half with the pill leaving through the rear hip, taking everything with it. Hell of a mess & his mate got zippered at 120 mts. So, theyre working for me