Howa 30-06 and Berger VLD?????

[GMAC7949]

Hey Guys
I have a Howa 30-06 26" barrel 1-10 twist.
I'm starting to reload and I use this gun for Hunting and wanted to load VLD's thinking of 180 grain not sure on components to go along with? I have serched around but not much on VLD's and 30-06
Thanks GMAC

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Howa 30-06 and Berger VLD?????

Don't know of any .308" 180gr VLDs.

Berger makes 168, 175, 185, 190, 210. JLK makes 175, 190, 210.

The 190 and 210 work well in the 30-06 with about 60gr RL22 (work up). Fed 210 and CCI 200 are the primers I use.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Howa 30-06 and Berger VLD?????

You might also be interested in the Hornady 178gr, and 208gr AMax.

 

[GMAC7949]

Re: Howa 30-06 and Berger VLD?????

The A-max are no good for hunting!!
I stand corrected 185 VLD.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Howa 30-06 and Berger VLD?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gmac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The A-max are no good for hunting!!</div></div>
You're smokin' crack. They are a great hunting bullet! I've taken deer sized game and smaller with the A-max. It penetrates good, and provides good expansion, without explosive exits. The VLD will be like a bomb going off in the animal. If you are shooting large game or want to eat what you are shooting, I wouldn't recommend the VLD. But they shoot well, when you find the sweet spot.

 

[bohem]

Re: Howa 30-06 and Berger VLD?????

JLK makes a 180 Long Boat Tail VLD. I've shot some, they're good stuff.

The 178 Amax is a very good bullet also, I've shot a LOT of them. I just started shooting 208's with RL-22 on MontanaMarine's advice. For the 208's I'd start a little lighter on the charge, 60 grains ends up being a max in my rifle with nekkid bullets, 60.5 blows out primers and ruins the brass. I'm using CCI 250 primers so that could be part of the difference we see.