30-06, 168gr amax and rl19. I loaded 55-57gr in 0.4 increments and shot them today. Maximum load is 58-61gr depending on your information source. #1 is 55gr, #2 is 55.4, etc. I'm pretty confident the flyers on 2 and 4 are from me. Neglecting those two rounds it turned out OK I think? I didn't have time to load more rounds and shoot them at 100yd. Next weekend I am going to investigate the #3 load and maybe around 59gr?
First question: if a 30 cal 168gr amax needs 47moa at 1000yds above a 100yd zero what is the muzzle velocity?
Second question: the loads were very light, lighter than the m72 garand ammo I often use(which is much lighter than modern 30-06 factory ammo). All the brass looked identical with no signs of pressure. If the whole 3% to the next node holds true around 59gr might also look good, would that be worth testing?
Third question: I loaded 5 more of the 55.8gr rounds and shot them at 1000yds, took 3 rounds to find the 47moa of elevation needed, couldn't hit the target with the last two(10x14 steel plate) but scared it good. 47moa seems like a lot of elevation for a modern round like an amax? This and the light recoil make me think I can up the load significantly. But is a light load necessarily bad? If it goes faster it will drift less and presumably be more accurate if it groups the same size right?
Last question: never shot past a couple hundred yards before, was hitting a mini-silouette steel plate at 600yds OK. Had 6 rounds left when we got to the 1000yd mark. Took two to get the elevation and just barely missed all of the last four rounds I had, but they were very close.
I'm debating shooting 1000yd more often(it's a 1.5hr drive unfortunately). Should I just switch to a 190smk now rather than later? Seems the BC improvement would be beneficial?
PS: I loaded the amax rounds with a lee loader and a hammer. The hornady match ammo(81170) groups around 1.25moa for me, #3 is well under 1moa. I am pleased with how the lee loader works. Any comments other than to get a press?
First question: if a 30 cal 168gr amax needs 47moa at 1000yds above a 100yd zero what is the muzzle velocity?
Second question: the loads were very light, lighter than the m72 garand ammo I often use(which is much lighter than modern 30-06 factory ammo). All the brass looked identical with no signs of pressure. If the whole 3% to the next node holds true around 59gr might also look good, would that be worth testing?
Third question: I loaded 5 more of the 55.8gr rounds and shot them at 1000yds, took 3 rounds to find the 47moa of elevation needed, couldn't hit the target with the last two(10x14 steel plate) but scared it good. 47moa seems like a lot of elevation for a modern round like an amax? This and the light recoil make me think I can up the load significantly. But is a light load necessarily bad? If it goes faster it will drift less and presumably be more accurate if it groups the same size right?
Last question: never shot past a couple hundred yards before, was hitting a mini-silouette steel plate at 600yds OK. Had 6 rounds left when we got to the 1000yd mark. Took two to get the elevation and just barely missed all of the last four rounds I had, but they were very close.
I'm debating shooting 1000yd more often(it's a 1.5hr drive unfortunately). Should I just switch to a 190smk now rather than later? Seems the BC improvement would be beneficial?
PS: I loaded the amax rounds with a lee loader and a hammer. The hornady match ammo(81170) groups around 1.25moa for me, #3 is well under 1moa. I am pleased with how the lee loader works. Any comments other than to get a press?
