Well went back to the range with the 06 and a batch of fresh loads with IMR4064 and both guns shoot great! What am I giving up by switching from IMR4350 to IMR4064? Someone earlier posted I would be giving up some velocity 100 to 150 F.P.S. I'm basically looking for a accurate load for deer in Nortern Wis. My longest shot would be 200 yards. Most ofthe deer I shoot are between 50 and 150 yards. Is 2600 F.P.S sufficent for 30-06?
Thanks Again!!!!

Yep, isn't that about what a 180gr .308 bullet is doing???

That's about perfect velocity for the softer bulles like some ballistic tips and the Sierra BTSP GameKings...

Of course, it's best if you reload to use a crony, so you know exactly what's going on...

Claydee-you OR the deer won't ever be able to tell the difference of 150 fps. When I handload,top accuracy with just about any reasonably velocity is what I look for. I'm a accuracy freak so it comes first. With just about any cartridge,there's more than enough speed anyway.

A 150 or 180 grain bullet will easily kill a deer at that velocity,accuracy is just as important as 100 or 200 FPS,proper shot placement will put them down at 2600fps fast.

Stalkingbear thats kind of what I was thinking! What is all the rage behind high velocity? I'm not trying to start an argument in any way. Is it just fordistance shooting, or personal goals????

I have several 30-06's. I use a Remington Pump Carbine for all my hunting that is under 200 yards. The bullet I shoot is a 200 grain Sierra Game King. I realize that is a large bullet, but out to 200 yards drop is not really an issue with any bullet at any velocity. You probably have some big deer up in those big north woods??? I am not saying it takes a 30-06 with 200 grain bullet's to kill a deer, but I can promise you a 200 grain bullet at 2500 fps from a 30-06 will plant those deer. And with the heavier bullet there is normally less meat damage. I also shoot other bullets in my 30 caliber rifles, but I normally tailor the bullet to the distances I will be shooting. You can do that with deer because basically any quality bullet out of any heavy 30 caliber will kill a deer. Tom.

an article I read on the .30-06 said that for a handloader you can't beat a 200gr in a '06.

I think you can get "standard" velocities from a .30/'06 using IMR 4064. The GI powder for the '06 was IMR 4895 or an equivalent ball powder. These powders are nearly identical to IMR4064 in performance. The military M2 Ball cartridges wereloaded to a MV of around 2800 FPS. I think you can do as well with IMR 4064.

Yes, it is possible to get a higher MAXIMUM velocity than this with heavy loads of IMR 4350. But you will not be handicapping yourself for the kind of ranges you encounter if your MV is down to 2600. The imporatant thing is accuracy, not MV here. 2600 with your bullets would be good to at least 300 yards. Shot placement is most important anyway.

I too prefer the 200-grain bullet (Nosler Partition, to be exact!!) in .308" size cartridges. For deep penetration on elk, moose, and big bears!! However, for deer, I use a 150 or 165-grain bullet as an all-round weight. The 200 is just plain NOT NEEDED for lightly-built game.

I think its that, from time to time, the cartridge and rifle manufacturing companies have to develop the newest, latest and greatest thing so that they can sell more guns and more ammo... And, in order to do that, they have to convince folks that cartridges like the .30-06, which have worked perfectly well for 100+ years, will just bounce off the side of the new genetically enhanced, kevlar skinned, super beasts that we now hunt. From a practical standpoint, it's nothing but marketing. Anyone who thinks they need some super duper ultra magnum to kill a whitetail at normal hunting ranges is simply falling for a big pile of hype.