30-06 hornady sst 165gr
08-31-2011 | 05:20 PM
#13
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
I haven't used the SST as much as I have the 165 Interbond, but my current load for the .30-06 is built around IMR4350 and CCI 200s.
When I first started reloading, I tried to wring the most velocity that I could out of a load. Over the years though, having grown tired of picking fragments of lead and jackets out of venison, and not being all that satisfied in the accuracy of my reloads, I started over.
Interestingly, most of my rifles performed best accuracy-wise with less than the maximum loads I'd thought were the holy grail before. Once I started using them on game, I started finding that the bullets were performing far better than they had when I'd been driving them at max velocity.
Comparing ranges at which I'd shot game against tables for each load, I started to discover a trend: My jacketed lead bullets tended to perform best when they'd strike an animal traveling at 2500-2700 fps. Most of my encounters with deer occur at about 100 yards. My current load for .30-06 is traveling at just under 2600 fps at 100 yards - and consistenly groups at 3/4 MOA or better out to 300 yards - which I consider the maximum range I'll encounter game at (lots of trees, lots of terrain).
So, my advice is pretty simple. Find a load that shoots well from your rifle first. Chronograph it. Apply it to an exterior ballistics program. If it's traveling at 2500-2700 fps at ranges you expect to encounter game at, you shouldn't have any concerns.
When I first started reloading, I tried to wring the most velocity that I could out of a load. Over the years though, having grown tired of picking fragments of lead and jackets out of venison, and not being all that satisfied in the accuracy of my reloads, I started over.
Interestingly, most of my rifles performed best accuracy-wise with less than the maximum loads I'd thought were the holy grail before. Once I started using them on game, I started finding that the bullets were performing far better than they had when I'd been driving them at max velocity.
Comparing ranges at which I'd shot game against tables for each load, I started to discover a trend: My jacketed lead bullets tended to perform best when they'd strike an animal traveling at 2500-2700 fps. Most of my encounters with deer occur at about 100 yards. My current load for .30-06 is traveling at just under 2600 fps at 100 yards - and consistenly groups at 3/4 MOA or better out to 300 yards - which I consider the maximum range I'll encounter game at (lots of trees, lots of terrain).
So, my advice is pretty simple. Find a load that shoots well from your rifle first. Chronograph it. Apply it to an exterior ballistics program. If it's traveling at 2500-2700 fps at ranges you expect to encounter game at, you shouldn't have any concerns.
Thanks for the advice. I agree with you, My other two rifles I'm not pushing hard at all. This one I started about three quarter of the max load. I think i'll slow it down and see what happens. I'm not ready to give up on the gun yet. I had broke my cleaning rod is why I dont have the twist info, yet. Thanks again for the help.
