30-06 lightweight "training loads"

[opos]

I know there have been many threads about popgun loads in military rifles but I'd like to be a little more specific...first because of highly advanced COPD and only one lung I'm not allowed to cast..so that is out. I have a 1917 Winchester Enfield 30-06 that is in great shape and shoots "standard" loads of jacketed ammo really well. I shoot at an indoor rifle range with 50 and 100 yard lanes and the air exchange is super so works great for my lungs.

I'd like to down load (significant download) either Jwords (I've got quite a supply of 150 and 180 projectiles) or to find a ready cast commercial lead boolit that would shoot well with reduced loads...I do not hunt..only shoot paper.

I have plenty of Unique, 2400, Universal, Bullseye, W231/Hp38, Trail Boss, and most "standard" rifle powders (4831, 4350, Varget, etc)....My interest is just gallery types loads for the 50 and 100 yard ranges...I normally load with Lee Collet neck sizing dies and have great results..Probably looking for something around 1000 fps or so that won't bust my arthritic shoulders and that my Grand Daughter can shoot..she is a big girl but not a "toughie".

Many thanks for any thoughts and especially if you know of a good pre cast lead or coated lead commercial bullet that might work..I shoot a lot of Missouri Bullet handgun hi tek coated stuff but don't find much rifle ammo unless I'm missing something..

[Mr Peabody]

Try a 150gr bullet and Trail Boss.

[Jniedbalski]

Try 7 grains of bullseye with a 100 grain lead pistole bullet or lee 150 /160 grain bullet made for the sks. It shoots good out of my 308 axis . Also shoots the noe 130?grain good also. For a lighter load 3.2 grains of bullseye with the 100 grain lead pistole boolet sized 310 shoots great out of my axis also

[Ithaca Gunner]

Ken Waters did a very good article in November 1991 in Handloader, (I think) called Supplemental Chambers and Gallery Loads. It's also in his book, Pet Loads starting on page 842. I've tried a few in .30/06 using the LEE 100gr. .32 S&W long rn boolit. They're pretty accurate out to about 30yds when accuracy begins to fall off.

Here's Ken's loads for .30/06.

90gr. Hornady semi wad cutter, (factory swaged for the .32 S&W long).

3.5gr. Red Dot-874fp.-2.85" OACL-note, best accuracy in .30/06.

4.0gr. AAC-2-906fps

5.0gr Unique-1020fps.

5.5gr Unique-1098fps.

100 factory Rem swaged.

3.5gr. red Dot-860fps-2.90" OACL

I think the Hornady 90gr. LSWC comes .314", you may have to size down to .310 to load them in .30/06.

Years ago, I tried 10gr. Unique with a Speer 100gr. Plinker half jacket bullet in a Remington 1917 Enfield and had good accuracy at 50yds. I don't recall shooting them any farther though.

[725]

Older Speer manuals list reduced recoil loads. Unfortunately they mostly use SR 4759 (which is hard to get now), until you get to 180 gr & 200 gr bullets. Here's a couple for the '-06.

180gr. -- IMR 4198:
30.0 grs - 2000 fps
28.0 grs - 1876 fps
26.0 grs - 1723 fps

200 gr. -- IMR 4198
31.0 grs. - 1988 fps
29.0 grs. - 1866 fps
27.0 grs. - 1721 fps

I've used the reduced loads from Speer and have found them to be very enjoyable. Still enough umpph for small game but easy on the shoulder.

[wcp4570]

My 06 likes the lyman 311041 over Unique. I've shot loads from 8.0 to 16.0gr Unique over this boolit. My best accuracy seems to be on the high end, 14.0gr Unique yields average velocity of 1602. Recently shot this load at 50 yards for 10 shots that went into 1.1 inch group. Unique is go to powder for the old work horse. Makes for fun time at the shooting bench.


wcp4570

[Outpost75]

The M1909 Guard cartridge for the Springfield was a 150-grain M1906 FMJ Ball bullet with 9 grains of Bullseye.

I have successfully loaded jacketed bullets from 110-174 grain military pulls with 8 grains of Bullseye, TiteGroup, 700-X or similar fast-burning pistol or shotgun powder in the .30-'06 with good results for junior training ammunition out to about 100 yards. No filler is needed. You can go up to 13 grains of Red Dot or 700X or 16 grains of Unique or Universal with a jacketed or gaschecked cast bullet.

[opos]

Thanks to all that replied...appreciate it.

[kawasakifreak77]

The M1909 Guard cartridge for the Springfield was a 150-grain M1906 FMJ Ball bullet with 9 grains of Bullseye.

I have successfully loaded jacketed bullets from 110-174 grain military pulls with 8 grains of Bullseye, TiteGroup, 700-X or similar fast-burning pistol or shotgun powder in the .30-'06 with good results for junior training ammunition out to about 100 yards. No filler is needed. You can go up to 13 grains of Red Dot or 700X or 16 grains of Unique or Universal with a jacketed or gaschecked cast bullet.

I always thought the guard load was neat. Where'd you come across the data?

I'd like to load up some pointy bullets over some pistol powders for short range plinking / small game in my K31 which seems to have about the same capacity of '06

[7br]

Here is a 4 shot group at 100yards with my nephew's Rem. 700. Data is on the image. I am not sure why only 4 shots, but I was happy with it.

[Pumpkinheaver]

The Hodgdon website has reduced load data.

[country gent]

Given the parameters of what you want to accomplish here. I would look for something in the line of 90-100 grn bullets either cast or jacketed. Maybe look to laser casts 32 cal pistol bullets ( might need sized down to 310 to chamber) or laser cast may have a 100 grn round nose for the 30 carbine that would be right on the money. Then simply work up an accurate load with the powders of choice. Indoor shooting I would look to be in the 850-1100 fps range if possible. In a full sized rifle this would be very soft shooting on the shoulder and easy on the back stops. The round nosed carbine bullets should feed good thru the action also. A friend and I worked up a 125 grn load for High Power juniors at the club to use in Garands and M1As at 200 yds to cut recoil down for them during offhand and rapid sitting but these still had to function the rifle. These actually did pretty darn good accuracy wise.

[Outpost75]

I always thought the guard load was neat. Where'd you come across the data?

From Woodin's book, off the ammo box.

[Three44s]

I recalled that Larry Gibson had chimed in about light loads using either RB or the .32 pistol lead boolit.

Could it be that someone might cast up some for you in the case of RB's?

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/arch.../t-227321.html

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/arch...p/t-22998.html

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/arch.../t-152431.html

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthr...2406266/page/1

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthr..._like_BLUE_DOT

Best regards and good luck in your endeavor!

Three 44s

[samari46]

While this load doesn't use a cast bullet it can be very accurate. 125 grain sierra spitzer flat base, 38-40 grains max of 4895 (IMR 4895) never tried it with the H4895. Any '06 case and standard large rifle primer. Back when I first started shooting I wrote the NRA about a reduced load in the '06. The above is a 300 meter load as they described it to me. Shoots great in my 1903A3 springfield but have not tried it in a Garand. Frank

[Eddie2002]

I've been using a Lee 100 grain .311 cast bollit over 5-6 grains of Bullseye or BE86 as a fun 50 yd plinker for my 30-06. It gives a flyer now and then but is still a lot of fun. Started to shoot the load when .22 ammo went up to 12 cents a round if you could find it. I'm using the Lee .3 cc measure for powder dumping and loading the bollit as dropped with no sizing.

[justashooter]

Unique in 8.0 to 10.5 grain range gives 900-1200 fps under 150-170 grain castings, just a bit slower under jacketed same weight. whatever you do, do not go below 500 fps with cast, or 600 with jacketed. too much risk of a stuck bullet. as for filler over small loads, I use Dacron pillow stuffing from the fabric store. it's cheap, easy to use, and no weight, so it does not affect velocities if variable.

Unique was designed as a low volume replacement for semi-smokeless Kings in straight walled formerly black powder rifle cartridges in the 1300-1600 fps range. It also happens to work well in standard and +p pistol cartridges.

[mac1911]

Trailboss is very good for light loads out to 50 yards....been using it in 06,8mm,54r,303 7.7 jap I been using the 147 grain pulls I bought several years ago and also cast bullets.
I also use H4895 reduced loads per instructions in Hodgdons web sight.
Also this guy has a good selection of cast and coated bullets
Until Norm's prices become unreasonable, why bother casting?
npurcella56@gmail.com (575) 625-2825
Quality Cast Bullets
3001 N. Garden Ave.
Roswell, NM 88201-7758

[leeggen]

Opos,

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/arch.../t-227321.html

I use this in my 1917 for a fun load. Just follow Larry's directions and you will have a days worth of shooting and no pain to deal with. I also have bad shoulders and back problems. Works great for me. I broke out a box of these one weekend when the son-n-law was over with freinds to shoot. They left all the normal loads set but shot up all the mouse loads.
CD

[Wolfer]

Any 100ish gr pistol bullet and 5 gr of bullseye will probably put a smile on your face. My personal recipe is the 311008 and 5 gr of clays. Boolit weighs 117 gr and burn rate of clays is real close to bullseye.

Velocity in an 06 should run about 1000 fps or a little above.

With my rifles lined up at 100 yds with hunting loads these loads usually hit pretty close to POA at small game ranges. They are certainly a hoot to shoot. Since I recycle my lead they cost considerably less than 22s