Well I finally made up some .30-06 loads using Trail Boss powder. Used 9 grains as suggested on surplusrifle.com. I had two bullets on hand, 190 grain
Lymans with a gas check that was sized and lubed with LBT blue. Next up was a 170 grain from Lee that is made with a flat point for .30-30 use. This bullet
was meant to have a gas check but I didn't size it or put on a gas check. I tumble lubed it by dipping it up to and over the lube grooves and set it down
on waxed paper to dry.
Both loads shot to 2" at 50 yards in a 03 A3 Springfield. I typically shoot 3 to 4 inch groups at 100 yards with jacketed bullets in this gun. Recoil was almost nonexistant and noise was very low. I should have taken off my hearing protection for just one shot to see just how quiet it was. It was very cold and windy so i didn't do any more testing. Next time out I will bring my scoped sub minute of angle firing Tikka and test the loads using a scope.
My conclusion so far is don't waste the time and money applying gas checks at these velocities and these rounds will make fine close range plinking loads.
PS: There was no leading whatsoever with either load.
Both loads shot to 2" at 50 yards in a 03 A3 Springfield. I typically shoot 3 to 4 inch groups at 100 yards with jacketed bullets in this gun. Recoil was almost nonexistant and noise was very low. I should have taken off my hearing protection for just one shot to see just how quiet it was. It was very cold and windy so i didn't do any more testing. Next time out I will bring my scoped sub minute of angle firing Tikka and test the loads using a scope.
My conclusion so far is don't waste the time and money applying gas checks at these velocities and these rounds will make fine close range plinking loads.
PS: There was no leading whatsoever with either load.
