Reloading .30-06

[Tuffm]

I am looking at NOSLER Manual at 165 Gr. Solid Base Ballistic Tip (Green) .... I see all the Powder and the charge weight and also the Velocity. But I dont see The OAL for any of the Noslers Bullet? If I look at the Speers Manual I has it all there.. Humm

[DM]

For the most part you should figure out the OAL for YOUR firearm anyway!! Not go by what the book says...

Drilling Man

[Tuffm]

Remington Pump model 700

[Slamfire]

I think the depth the bullet is seated in the case has more to do with accuracy than the charge weight or burn rate of the powder.

1) The cartridge oal should be short enough to work through your rifle. Only a single shot is exempt from this requirement.
2) The bullet must not be jammed into the rifling at the leade (then end of the chamber).
3) Some rifles like the bullet real close to the rifling and others want it backed off a considerable amount for the best accuracy.
4) The loa of the longest available bullet will probably be too long for the shortest available bullet, which needs to be firmly held by the case neck.
5) The loa of the shortest available bullet will be too short for the longest available bullet to keep the base of the bullet from intruding on the powder space.

That is enough to start with, and you'll learn more, by experimenting, about how your rifle prefers one or two bullet weights over all the others.

[Mykey]

I think the depth the bullet is seated in the case has more to do with accuracy than the charge weight or burn rate of the powder.

My experience with seating depth has been a little different. I agree that seating depth does play a role in accuracy but i personally think sometimes it's very overrated especially for a hunting rifle. I have found that i get excellent accuracy when juggling powder and components more so than changing seating depth. I use to pull my hair out playing with the seating depth but i don't anymore. Now i find the lands and back it off about .020/.030 and then work up a load. When i find a good load and don't have anything else to do then i may play with seating depth just to see if it makes a difference, sometimes it does but more times than not it doesn't so i really don't concern myself with seating depth anymore. I have only one rifle that likes the bullet anywhere near the lands and it's seated .010 off, the others are seated much farther back. Just locate the lands is in your rifle then you can determine the cartridge oal for that rifle. If you don't have one i would highly recommend investing in a Stoney point OAL gage with the bullet comparator. Also you'll need to make sure your reloads aren't to long and will fit in the magazine of your rifle. Good luck.

[Briman]

In all likelyhood, the throat is going to be cut too deep to make bullet seating an issue. Just seat the bullets so that they fit and function well in the magazine, or that the bullet is seated so that .30" of th bullet's bearing surface is in the neck, whichever is shorter.

[48thguns]

I'm on target with Mykey. Been reloading the '06 since 1962...having said that, don't stop reading cause you think I'm senile. The beauty of the '06 is that it is so forgiving you really can't mess up if you stick with nominal seating depths. I have an OAL gage and think thet are especially important if you shoot alot and care about your barrel. If you have a newer rifle, typically you need to get close to the L & G's. As your rifle gets older, you may need to back off a bit to "jump" the bullet. this also lowers chamber pressure. The '06 is just a great reloader and fun fun fun and fast to work up loads. My fav powders are 4064, 4350 and 4831. 150 and 165 bullets for deer , 180 for Elk, 200/220 for Moose/Bear. Good luck and regards, Rick.