Remington 7400 Powder recommendation 30-06

[o2golfpar]

I do not want to reinvent the wheel and I know someone has already gone through this process. I want to ensure that the chamber cycles every time and I eliminate jams.

I want to work up a deer hunting load for my Remington 7400 semi-auto. The caliber is 30-06 with a 22 inch barrel.

Bullet selection is Swift 165 gr. Sirocco.

What powder and grains do I use for this semi-auto?

Should it be a faster powder like H4895 or slower powder H4350?

Please share your knowledge and experience.

What do you guys use?

Thanks.

[Ken14]

I use IMR 4064 with 150gr bullets in my 742. But i use a mid-level load in the autoloading rifles. Hope that helps.

[RUMLUVER]

I have usesd H4350 with great results in the past it was about 57.0grs but that was in a bolt rifle. In your case use 2 grains less and start there. Also according to the Swift manual IMR-4064 is the suggested powder at about 46.0grs should do. Hope this helps

[Dom]

Believe I'm using 53 gr H4350 pushing 180gr Nosler partitions in my 7400. Wouldn't hurt to pick up that "One Caliber Load Book" for the 30-06 Springfield that's sold in may places -- they list a lot of load combinations in one nice little book.

Hey, I didn't think golfers had time to reload ;-) !! Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[Rocky Raab]

Most semi-autos will live a lot longer if you'll select a powder with a steeper pressure curve. That usually means a slightly faster powder - and stay away from MAX loads, too.

I'd pick a powder in the medium range for this job: 4895, 4064, 4320, Varget, RL-15. In ball types, AA2520, H335, H380, W760.

If it were me, I'd reach for the RL-15, as usual. Load halfway between the Start and Max loads (or 5% less than Max) and I bet you'll be happy.

[Evan03]

im not positive but i think 47grs of either h4350 or IMr 4350 is closer to a max load.


http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/30-06-2005apr03.php


http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/30-06.php

[buckhunter]

I use and have used for years IMR 4350 (54.0) with a majority of 180 gr bullets. Keep the velocity as close as possible to factory. This will help it function properly. Also use small base dies. Trim after every firing.

[Rocky Raab]

4350 may well be the best powder for a BOLT-action .30-06. That's what I'd use.

But (again) a powder with that broad a pressure curve will overstress a gas-operated semi-auto. Or at least it will cause much faster wear if not damage. I'll explain.

In a gas-auto, the action is opened by the pressure of the burning gasses when the bullet passes and uncovers the gas port in the bore. If the powder is a slow one, the remaining gas pressure when that occurs is likely to be very high. If high enough, the impact of the pressure on the operating piston/rod/bolt carrier can be strong enough to bend or break something. Also, the cartridge case is still being held tightly to the chamber walls by the same pressure, so the extractor and other parts are stressed still more. The cartridge rim might even be torn through by the extractor claw.

Oddly, too high a port pressure can even reslut in a failure to extract/feed if the case is held tightly enough to the chamber walls that extraction is slowed.

Bottom line is that slow powders are a poor choice for gas-operated semi-autos.

[wrenchman]

I have a 7400 carbin i like to stay with factory loads only becouse some guns gan get real choosy with what they like.
I do hand load for my bolt guns if you spend the time you shouldnt have any problim just make sure you the gun cycles the rounds and the gun likes them before you are in the wood looking at a deer.
The other thing about the 7400 make sure it is clean or it wont feed good a dirty chamber and the bolt wont close all the way.

[o2golfpar]

Fellow Hunters, I am back from deer camp and my Remington 7400 was accurate and functioned flawlessly.

I worked up two different bullet weight loads and the following were the best tested, both at the range and in the woods. Because I shoot a Semi-Automatic I used RCBS Small Base Sizer Die.

Bullet: Hornady 150 gr. BTST
Powder: 48 grains of Reloader 15

Bullet: Swift 165 Scirocco
Powder: 46.5 grains of Reloader 15

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and assistance.

[RUMLUVER]

Glad to hear that everything came out well for you. Good luck in the future for you also.

[Rocky Raab]

Great! I'm delighted for you.

Glad to know that we've created yet another RL-15 fan, too!