30.06 recipe?
 

I'm having trouble getting good groups from my Remington 700 in 30.06

56 grains of 4350 and 180 gr Nosler is a standard load, but it doesn't shoot worth a darn in this gun. Have tried going up and down on powder charge, but no improvement. Anyone care to share their can't fail load?

Thanks

You didn’t say what you were using it for , however I’ve always thought 180 grainers heavy for use in a 300 WIN or Weatherby . Anyway in an 06 or 308 I actually prefer 150’s for deer and or black bear , although I will use 165’s in a pinch . Anyway here are five loads that work very nicely in my old early 60’s Mannlicher Schoenauer Carbine 20” all five shoot virtually the same POA at 50 and 100 yards . All are lit with CCI 200 Large Rifle primers . First the Hornady 150 SST pushed by 46.7 grains of IMR3031 , second the Nosler 150 BT pushed 46.7 grains of IMR3031 , third the Nosler 150 AccuBond pushed by 57.5 grains of IMR4064 , fourth the Nosler 165 BT pushed by 47 grains of IMR3031 and lastly the Hornady 165 SST pushed by 57.5 grains of IMR4064 . Before I rebarreled my old early 700BDL to 6.5-06 and it still had the 30-06 barrel I used the Hornady 150 SP pushed by 59 grains of IMR4350 . All of these loads have done well on paper for ME in the guns fired from and all six loads have taken deer . However it goes without saying approach with caution as they may not do the same in your gun , so I’d suggest starting 3 or 4 grains less and work up .

How does your gun shoot with various factory loads? That may be a starting point in blaming your reload recipe or the rifle. It would be step one for me. Good luck from a 30-06 shooter.

There’s a lot to be said for seating the projectile out further in the case to get better accuracy , however if the cartridge doesn’t fit well in the magazine box it’s pretty much useless to me . As to seating depth I go as far as I can but still slide up and down in the magazine box without sticking or bridging .

I would suggest changing bullets first, before changing powder or charge weights. I have a pre-64 M70 FWT that shoots factory everything in less than an inch. But I have a new TC Compass rifle that shoots Hornady 180 Light Mags(a 20 year old factory load they dont make anymore) in less than an inch, but wont get the Federal Premium Nosler 180 P's into less than 2". I then worked up a load for the Compass with Hornady 165 gr Interlock BTSP using Reloader 17 (because I'm out of 4350 and I found a 5lb jug of RL 17) starting at 50 grains and working up to 56.5. The last load tightened the group up to less than an inch, and printed 2875 fps, so I stopped there. Good enough for me. I prefer the 180's for elk, but the 165's were available and I think they will do the job if I do mine. I'm using CCI 200 Large Rifle primers in once fired R-P cases. I will save my 180 NP's for the Winchester rifle. Good luck.

every once in a while you find a rem 700 that just won't shoot well. I had one, i returned it to Remington and they agreed and sent me a new rifle.

My Son's Rem 700 30-06 shoots sub MOA with Nosler 150gr Accubonds, and 57gr of IMR4350. Never used the 180's since all he's hunted with it are whitetails.

Tom - Doubt that returning it will work. My Dad ordered in in about 1973. I may try reducing bullet weight if I can find bullets

What's the twist rate of your barrel?

Dunno. Sorry. Whatever the factory specified in 1973