200 gr 30-06 Elk Hammers

[ApacheHunter]

I'm going to start up some loads for a 200gr Accubond in my -06. I figure it'll be Thor's Hammer out to about 300 meters. Anyone had any experience with this load?

I'm going to start out with a hot load of R19 and see how tight I can group it. I'll be shooting it out of my A-bolt with a BOSS so that may help also.

[Classicvette63]

Originally posted by ApacheHunter

I'm going to start out with a hot load of R19

I wouldn't do that. You may end up buying a new gun or worse. Work up is the best advice there is. Don't be tempted to start with a max load listed in a reloading book. It was good in THEIR rifle, not yours.

When I started loading I picked a max load for my 6mm and backed it off only .5 gr. I needed two hands on the pump to get the action open after firing 1 round. Even though it was under max in the book, it was over max in my gun.

[ApacheHunter]

Let me clarify. I'm NOT going to start out at max and didn't mean that even though it sounds like that. I used the term "hot" loosely.

Thanks for the reminder, though.

[L. Cooper]

I think that, for most guns, the 200 grain bullet is a little too much for the case capacity of the standard '06. I think you can load the 180's to higher energy levels than you can get from the 200's out of '06 cases, but you are right at the break even point. It's a tough call to decide which is better. Your individual rifle may have a profound effect on the results. Be sure to measure velocities to be sure you are gaining an advantage.

The 200 grain bullets are ideal for the .300 magnums, however. You can get significant energy down range with very little loss in trajectory from the 200 grain bullets over the 180's in the magnums. That's what magnums are good for: pushing heavy for caliber bullets.

Now, the effect on game animals of the 200 grain may be an advantage even if you don't have as much kinetic energy, since foot/pounds is not the only measure of effectiveness. It will be an interesting experiment. Be sure to let eveyone know how it works out.

[Cossack]

You can have your terminal performance and flatter trajectory if you go with a 150 or 165 Barnes TSX. They are solid copper and will give you at least 95% retained weight. And they penetrate like nothing I've shot before. I've had 19 one-shot kills with Barnes X and more recently their TSX on large northern deer with various smaller calibers but recovered only one bullet. That one, a 130 gr shot from a 7/08, went the LENGTH of a sizable buck.

[Barlow]

Their was another thread about 165's in a 30-06 for elk, similar to yours about 200 grs for same animal. I went to Wyominmg last fall with a buddy who killed his 25th Bull Elk with his 30-06, with 165gr Nosler pt. He has never lost one. I would say that this is convincing enough proof that an 06 with a good 165 gr is great elk medicine. I killed one with the same bullet, and two with a 7x57 with 160 gr Hawks.

[Adam Helmer]

ApacheHunter,


You say you are going "to start out with a hot load." I agree with Classicvet, better start with an accuracy load and forget the "hot" load.

If you want "Hot" go to the .35 Whelen and bigger guns and forget about hot-rodding the .30-06.

Adam

[ApacheHunter]

Well, this post was started a while ago and I've loaded up quite a few of these with some RL19. I've got them shooting sub MOA but no velocity because I'm too cheap to buy a chrony. Maybe after income tax. I left about 10 left loaded that shoot well in my rifle. I had a little break before hunting with them and have not shot anything with them "yet". I can't wait to drive them into a shoulder of something.

Anyways, my next project pill will be 165 Accubonds starting over some IMR4350 or RL19. When I get my chrony, I'll revisit this post and post some speeds or slows for the 200s!

And yes, I'll get around to dabbling with some 180s as well. I'm also busy with my .280 Remington and my son's .243 Winchester.

[PJgunner]

"If you want "Hot" go to the .35 Whelen and bigger guns and forget about hot-rodding the .30-06."

I believe I'm going to have to mildly disagree with you. It's not too difficult to get a load that does more than factory levels with the 30-06. The cartridge is NOT loaded to it's full potential due to several older and weaker rifles chambered to the round. Even most reloading data is deliberately held back for the same reason.
However, if one has the experience, a good chronograph, and uses a little common sense, then getting a bit more from the 30-06 is no great problem, provided one has a modern rifle. As the original question involved a Browning "A" Bolt, a modern firearm, some careful load development should gain him a load that will serve his purposes.
If that Accubond doesn't work out, then I would suggest the Speer 200 gr. Hot-Core. It should work very nicely in a 30-06 as it does very well from my
.300 Win. Mag. at 2930 FPS at the muzzle.
My favorite bullet in the 30-06 however is the 180 gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter. I use them in the 06 for both deer and elk.
The suggestion of the barnes TSX bullets may be a good one. I say may because although I hunted with them last year, the deer did not cooperate. :(
That happens. I will say that the 100 gr. TSX in my 257 Robt. was very accurate and in my .35 Whelen, the 225 gr. TSX was sub .5" If I'd have gotten a shot and missed, it would have been my fault all the way. :o
Regardless of what one can do when loading the 30-06, I still start low and work up, even though I know that with the slower powders I can probably pass the max loads by a small margin. Doesn't mean I suggest anyone else do that, I only say I do it.
Paul B.

[Evan03]

3006
200gr acubond
rl 19 min 52 at 2420
max 56 at 2620

165gr acubond
rl22 59 at 2812
63 at 3000 ;) good load

imr4350
53gr at 2602
57gr at 2872 :) my go to tight shootin big game load

150gr acubond
imr4350
55gr at 2760
59gr at 3000 very good all around deer big game load.. i like it

150gr triple shock
imr4064
49.5gr at 2780
52gr at 3000. fast deer elk load, i feel this load is all around better than the 200gr acubond. much tougher bullet. even though its much lighter

i realy like the 3006 it is very versitile with todays modern big game bullets as well as with yesterdays partitions and core lockts. it is by wich all others are compared.