I have been reloading for my .30-06 BAR since around 1983. I have loaded lots of rounds of Hornady 150 gr. SP bullets with 57 gr. of IMR 4350 and for the 165 gr. loads I use 56 gr. of IMR 4350. The 150 gr. bullets travel at around 2,830 FPS and the 165 gr. loads at 2,770 FPS. As long as you tear your gun down periodically and clean the gas piston and system you almost never ever experience a jam. Take your slide bars out and lighty lubricate them and you are good to go. My gun was made in 1977 and I bought it used around 1980 for $200.00 from a friend who was choosing to quit deer hunting. It had less than one box of shlls shot in it when I bought it and had never even had a scope mounted on it. That was by far the smartest and best gun purchase I have ever made. That gun is a killing machine and I have taken tons of whitetails with it.