reloading for a 30-06. massed my shoulder up badly a few years ago and it never hailed wright. so recoil has become a big issue.


right now is am working with 150gr (both hornidy and seirra) and varget

Well, like I say Corey......move down to 125 gr bullets and you'll shuck a lot of recoil instantly. The problem is bullets that light in 30/06 get pretty explosive and are best for varmints.

There is another option you might consider and that is shoot cast bullets in your /06. The 30/06 is an excellent cast bullet rifle and reduces recoil to ***** cat standards. You can do this and still maintain a very deadly rifle easily suitable for deer sized animals. Basically you are throttling back to about 30/30 ballistics.

But with your shoulder situation, you may simply be faced with the need to move down to smaller caliber and sell your /06. No shame in this move at all. In fact, I know what you mean. Had surgery on my shoulder for bone spur years ago and then shot my 06 couple of months later. The pain brought tears to my eyes. Happily a few months later I tried it again with no ill effect. But you may not be so lucky.

250/3000 is very mild, very sweet cartridge and extremely capable deer rifle.

I am working on casting for my Muzzleloader. I may play with that idea. I just refinished my /06 stock, so not really wanting to sell it yet. I will play with the lighter bullet. also look in my books see if they have. I got other options but I don't want to spend the money.

I should of got that 243 and paid an extra $100 [&:]

thanks for your 50 years of reloading

Eons ago, when I started shooting my first .30/'06, (a lightweight, Remington Model 721), I was more disturbed by shooting 150-grain loads than factory-loaded 180-grain bullets. I think the reason might have been that althought the 180's produced more total recoil, the difference in muzzle velocities resulted in a different acceleration pattern-the 150's applied their recoil much more suddenly, it seemed. At any rate, if you want to try them, there are now "managed recoil" loads on the market which deliver much reduced backthrust compared to full-charge ammo, yet are supposedly adequate for game up to deer, at least. You might consider trying these, and if they work out OK, you could load some bullets of similar weigh to the same velocity levels.