Improving Accuracy. Tuning 30-06 Springfield from 3 MOA to under 1 MOA

In this video we show the results of load development in a Tikka M695 Chambered in .30-06 Springfield. We settle in in Hodgdon Varget, CCI-BR2, Nosler Brass, and the Speer 150 Gold Dot.
Tools we use to accomplish these results available on Amazon: (affiliate link)
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[@conservativesniperhunter7439]

Accuracy of under .5 inch for a five shot group @ 100 yards from a stock standard hunting rifle with hunting bullets is outstanding. Heck under an inch 5 shot group is awesome. Well done . We’ve always known these Tikka rifles are very accurate .

[@9000ftElev]

It is so sad that the cost of reloading has risen to this extent. I am 70 years old and cannot afford $2.00 per round!!! Shooting has been a passion of mine for my entire life. Now my gun collection and reloading equipment is reduced to collecting dust and a large sell-off seems eminent. I do NOT believe "Covid" has a damn thing to do with it, GREED is the motivator for these stupid high prices. Well, I have cried enough about this! Goodbye to all my dear shooting friends. It was a sweet ride while it lasted.

[@jasonlopez4855]

You are right sir I'm with you. I think it's fed by greed also. Back in 2003 I that's it was high but now a hole nother level for me my 300wm $39 box for the cheapest ones. Now is $45box. So whent to 308win for cheeper rounds but That's Gon before c19 I was getting Federal power shock for $19 box in 308- 30-06- 300win mag at Walmart now $27 box now nothin stalked on their shelves. But I did get 4 box Federal 150g fusion bullet's for repacking rounds for $11 box and primer's. I'm just going to be using it for hunting season only for the next 4 years let the price go down. They're just sending on ammo to other countries and not for USA right now. We need it.

[@stevenbradley2245]

Never disappointed in the information.

[@mattfleming86]

The gold dots are amazing bullets! They perform well terminally and shoot great with minor tweaking in many guns. Don't believe Speer's advertised BCs- they are usually utter BS. Check for data from Brian Litz. He tested several and may have data for the 150. I'm excited to try the new Speer Impact. Tipped, vld profile, nice boat tail... and a gold dot body ;-)

[@chrishammond3286]

I just love the fact that some on there are complete know it all's. Thank you for your time and effort and SCREW the other guys on here that naysay your efforts but do nothing on their own

[@ToadleyBrowne]

That will be a fun load on steel to 600. Thanks!

[@alexmanouilov9526]

Well done mait good shooting

[@joewoodchuck3824]

My Ithaca LSA 65 which is a Tikka to my understanding, does 1 moa with some of my various handloads. I'm far from unhappy with that, but I would give the Speer bullets a try sometime after the current availability problem is over. Nice work!

[@howtoshootstraighthtss4948]

Make the 30-06 great again!

[@benjiaminreppend416]

Big homie it never stopped being great.

[@howtoshootstraighthtss4948]

Benjiamin Reppend keep the 30-06 great.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

No problem there. The .30 06 has always been great but the gun trade industry is fickle, and the marketers are always introducing new guns and ammo to boost sales. If you've ever looked at the list of calibers you'd be amazed at how much overlap and near duplication there is. But nope, that still isn't enough. I suppose it's part of what keeps gun mags in print too.

[@rogerramjet7567]

Don’t know what closet you’ve been in, FYI, the 06 IS great, HAS ALWAYS BEEN great and will continue to be great!!! Time to wake up!!

[@user-cu6kg9pw2b]

Awesome Bravo

[@DustinNulf]

The thing is, if you go .20 gn higher or lower than that load, you get +1 MOA. I would be interested in seeing if you increase and decrease by .10 gn of powder what the resulting MOA would be.

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

Excellent! I hand load for hunting in Alaska. I am curious why Speer Gold Dot as most of the hunters I know that handload use Nozler Accubond, Nozler Partition, Barnes TTSX, Swift A-Frame, Sierra Game King, Hornady ELDX, GMX etc. I am also curious why you velocity declined with 210M primers from 3006 fps to 2920 fps when you went up 55.0 to 55.6 gr Varget? I like that your tightest group had the lowest velocity variation and I like that you end showing checks for excessive pressure. Thanks!

[@aaronarcher2356]

Typically, I'm always longer then book OAL.

[@edhyde1741]

You should turn the necks on these cases and see the impact on ES, SD and group size.

[@jasonlopez4855]

I like the cheeper ammo nothing better Tula bullet's repack rounds in 300wm casing good dropping power on ELK hunting. Some of my best looking on my gel testing so I went with it with good results. Starting to like reloading.

[@larryw5429]

Interested in what kind of rest you use.. You can't have that kind of accuracy without a good rest!

[@paulvenn4447]

Awesome vid mate. I'm sure you've linked it in the comments before (apologies if you have) but do you have the link to the 6.5 guys spreadsheet?

[@BoltActionReloading]

Hi Paul, I am pretty sure there is a link in their video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXzbl2Cal8qrg68

[@jasonweishaupt1828]

It’s the talking arm.

[@phoenixdesigndrafting1006]

Could you please tell me what app you use to figure out your Moa and the distance between your impacts I am looking for a good app for my load development. Thank you

[@BoltActionReloading]

I believe its called on target but there are lots of option on there

[@joewoodchuck3824]

I just use a ruler.

[@saltcreekammo]

I started reloading 30-06 and can’t get my gun to group. The best I can do is a 3 shot group that shoots a 0.5, but when I shoot 2 more shots it opens up to a 1.7” at 100 yards... is it barrel heat? I can’t figure it out.

[@endutubecensorship]

I think you are correct. I would look to see if theres any contact between the stock and the barrel that takes effect when the barrel is hot. The solution may be stock inletting as well as a stock bedding job. This is something most custom setups have and proves to be worthwhile. Best of luck

[@andriesfourie6859]

Hi. Does anybody have a link to the 6.5 guys spreadsheet?

[@bltoth1955]

How’s it goin’? I may have missed it but do you turn the case necks? What are your thoughts on that procedure?

[@BoltActionReloading]

I think that case neck turning can help, but if you buy better brass to start with you don't need to spend the time.

[@bltoth1955]

@@BoltActionReloading Thanks for the quick response. I’ve been reloading Hornady brass. I’ll take a look at neck thickness.

[@goodboyringo9716]

Why does my Speer book show 150 gr bullet ( book doesn't list gold dot ) using Varget powder start charge 49 , max charge 53 but you are using 55.3 and 56.1 ??

[@alexandrealain]

Is varget even still available??? I have not been able to find it anywhere.

[@alexmanouilov9526]

It's Australian powder Ar 2208

[@58harwood]

It’s interesting Speer doesn’t provide load data for the 30-06/ 150 Gold Dots! Actually, for any weight Gold Dots! That should be a red flag, at least for me. Data for the 308 but not in the 30-06. I’ve always heard the GD’s build pressure quicker than standard cup and core bullets. Did you contact Speer and get data directly from them or you’re off blazing your own trail? Did you check it with your pressure gauge tool?

[@thehoneybadger8089]

You need to get that scope lowered as far as possible.

[@korak8456]

Any chance to a link of that excel sheet?

[@BoltActionReloading]

Check the description box of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppK4fnR5l6-ritU

[@johnjaegerjr6539]

Let’s see what you get with 168s

[@HunterParkNZ]

Can someone tell me what it means by standard dev?

[@DrewWhitehead]

[NZ Hunter Park]헌터팍 standard deviation. It’s the average amount of variation in speed from shot to shot.

[@HabeasJ]

I picked up a winchester 670 in 30 06 a few weeks ago and Im getting about 3" groups at 100 yards. Im hoping I can get some 180gr partitions to group well before elk season . Update: I'm now getting roughly moa groups (itd be better if I was a better shot) with the 180gr partitions at 100 yard. Average velocity of 2741 fps, SD of 2.32 fps. Pretty happy since the gun only cost me $250

[@BoltActionReloading]

There is a slightly heavier version of the gold got that I use in this video that is 168 gr. These Gold Dots just seem to fly well might want to give them a try too.

[@HabeasJ]

@@BoltActionReloading thank you for the advice. Love the channel!

[@BoltActionReloading]

Thanks!

[@luvtahandload7692]

Habeas J Stick with the 180 Partition for now. Be sure to work up to max powder charge before passing judgment on group size. The open base of Partitions allow the bullet to slug up, or obturate, and sometimes needs maximum velocity/ pressure to do that. If you're not happy with the groups, go to a slightly faster powder and work up again to max. 30-06 and 180 Partitions: an elk hunting classic.

[@HabeasJ]

@@luvtahandload7692 thanks for the tip. I've only tested one powder so far and it was relatively slow. I tried 5 different charges and they didn't seem like they were anywhere near max, despite what my book said. Thankfully I have 3 more powder to try, each one faster than the last

[@kylevanwinkle2081]

Of you have to reload to get 1moa the rifle, I have no need for that rifle.

[@HarrisonCountyStudio]

I mostly agree ... I’ve purchased rifles that were better than 3 MOA right out of the box. Just like any mass manufactured products, some times you get a Lemmon.

[@kylevanwinkle2081]

@@HarrisonCountyStudio every rifle I've ever purchased has been sub moa out the box. If not It goes back to the maker or gets sold. If a rifle cannot out shoot me my experience with that rifle has no value in improving my marksmanship.

[@roddecker1900]

Wanted to get into your mechanics Then the minutia have low patience level.

[@zeuso.1947]

3 MOA is almost useless.

[@buckaroobonsi555]

What is the owner hunting and at what range? Anything better than 1.5 inch at 100 yards is fine for 99% of hunters! What I want to know is how the load performs on the game? Is he hunting Deer at under 150 yards or Elk at 500 yards? Your incessant need to stick with WWII like 30-06 bullet weights is maddening. If you were shooting M1 Garand I could see it or a Machine gun in 7,62 NATO. I know you Southern Boys have tiny Samsonite Deer but the rest of modern world that reloads and hunts shoots heavier bullets than 150gr. from the 30-06. This is not a Bench Rest Rifle! In F-Class no one shooting a 30 Cal would even consider anything lighter than 185 Juggernauts even in T/R limited to .308 Win or 7,62 NATO. I actual know guys shooting 30-06AI in F-Class Unlimited I know why? Point is none of them are shooting 150gr. bullets. Likewise I do not know many that shoot things larger than Deer that shoot 150gr. in 30-06 it is a waste of powder capcity you might as well shoot .308 Win or 142gr. 6.5CM.

[@larrywalden626]

Ive never heard so much talking and zero tutorial/instructional.

[@buckaroobonsi555]

You could have used a 308 Win to push a 150gr. bullet just as well as a 30-06. A 150gr. bullet in 30-06 is 1930's/1940's technology and thinking. 6.5mm cartridges are getting close to 150gr. so why duplicate similar performance on game with multiple cartridges. How many "deer" specific loads do you need in different cartridges? Didn't you do a 300WM also with 150gr. bullets? Well I am sure the owner will benefit from your load development but let us hope he is not shooting anything larger than a deer. You do everything absolutely best practices which is fantastic but you make the worst projectile choices for hunting rifles. 30-06 is a great cartridges with 172gr. and heavier projectiles when not being loaded like a varmint cartridge or BR gun. I am surprised you did not try 123gr. .308 projectiles! The world has moved on and outside of factory ammo for plinking almost no one that hunts and reloads still uses 150gr. projectiles in a 30-06 for hunting if they are under the age of 60. I load 155gr. projectiles 30-06 for Silhouette when I feel like doing a hunting rifle. It is my only rifle that meets the requirements for hunting rifle. So I know it well. I also load 155gr. and 150gr. projectiles for 308 Win for plinking. Will a quality 150gr. bullet work to drop a deer in a 30-06 or 300WM? Yes! Is it time tested? Yes! Is it best practice given what we have learned and the technological advances in bullet design and powders sine WWII up through about the 1980's? No! The ballistic coefficient and retained energy down range is terrible with 150gr. bullets in .308 compared to what we have to choose from today. It is silly to burn that much powder in that specific cartridge to push a 150gr. bullet to kill a Deer or Elk at close range. On a positive note with the right powders you can get 165gr. projectile up into 2980fps range in a standard 30-06SPRG. Clearly you are a very very intelligent man, you are precision oriented, you document things meticulously so I have to ask why do you handicap such large powder capacity 30cal cartridges with such light weight bullets? It is drives me crazy! LOL Just like the guy loading 110gr. projectiles into his 30-06 to go hunt ground hogs! LOL Love your video's! Thanks for sharing!

[@ToadleyBrowne]

Real nice load for deer inside 300 yards. That MOA accuracy with low recoil. Recoil goes up with projectile weight. Since there are millions of 30-06 out there the light bullets and Varget combination are a welcome suggestion. The video was a fine demonstration of combining a light bullet with a fairly fast powder and getting an accurate low recoil load.

[@hazcat640]

@@ToadleyBrowne That round is carrying 1545 me at 500 yards. Can't kill a deer with that? As long as the bullet doesn't grenade before getting enough penetration that would drop an elk at 500.

[@ToadleyBrowne]

@@hazcat640 I get what you are saying. A little humor here:) Elmer Keith used to say, "I like to do all my hunting before I shoot" 500 is a long shot.

[@luvtahandload7692]

buckaroobonis555. Hahaha

[@hazcat640]

@Superdude70 I wasn't bad mouthing them. Just didn't know how well they worked.

[@steveharvey7712]

would you do a 220 gr. 30-06 loads for dangerous game?