The Essential Centerfire Hunting Rifle Part 2

It is tough to watch the news these days and not feel the country slipping away. I am fortunate to have grown up in America 50 years ago, when there were role models that set good examples and high school students didn’t major in cynicism. People were a little more reserved and considered when they spoke, understanding that measured opinion was worth something and credibility was everything. Today, public airwaves are flooded with undeserving people whining about only having some things and not having everything, gods of their own invention and managers of public perception.

I’m pretty sure I can’t change the course of the world, but I can do the little things within my power to give myself peace of mind. I can cast a vote, I can speak up and not go quietly, I can create some handloads, and I can shoot this Winchester to the best of my ability and enjoy  what life offers me. So with Hank Williams’ Honkey Tonk Blues playing in the background…

Six bullets were selected for the handload portion of the project. Bullet weight ranges from 125 grains to 190 grains. The lightest weight is a good fit for small whitetail, pronghorn and coyote at a distance. The heaviest bullet carries a thick jacket and tough lead core, offering a deep penetration and controlled expansion on big, tough game. Table top to bottom, bullets and cartridges left to right.

 

Bullet Type B.C. Weight
Grains
Length COL
Hornady SST 3019 PTFB 0.305 125 1.040 3.230
Sierra GameKing 2145 SPBT 0.409 165 1.180 3.330
Berger VLD Hunting 30512 HPBT 0.518 175 1.290 3.330
Nosler Partition 16331 SPFB 0.474 180 1.270 3.330
Hornady Interlock 3085 SPBT 0.491 190 1.335 3.240

 

 

There is nothing I can add in the way of a handloading narrative that wouldn’t be just so much handloading 101. The cases were full length sized, large rifle primed and Lee Factory Crimp die, crimped including those without cannelure. Total headspace increase from a fully sized case to fired was typically only 0.004″ and should diameter only picked up 0.002″. The bolt easily closed on all loads, there was sufficient bullet to leade clearance and all rounds fed and extracted routinely. As an event to remember, I had one dud primer. First one in approximately 12 years.

 

Warning: Not for use in Trapdoor design rifles of any date of manufacturer and not for use in vintage firearms. Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different bullets of the same weight. Variations in bullet length will alter net case capacity,  pressure and velocity. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These are maximum loads in my firearms and may easily be excessive in others. All loads should be reduced by 5%,  and developed following safe handloading practices as represented in established reloading manuals produced by component manufacturers. Presentation of these loads does not constitute a solicitation for their use, nor a recommendation.
 

Cartridge: 30-06 Springfield

 Firearm: Winchester M70 Featherweight COL: Min 2.940″ / Max 3.340″
 Bullet Diameter: 0.308″  Primer: CCI 200
 Barrel: 22.0″  Reloading Dies: RCBS + Less Crimp
 Max case length: 2.494″ +0.000/-0.020″  Groups: 100 Yards 3 Shots
 

COL and Capacity   Load Data & Performance
Bullet Type Bullet
Weight
C.O.L.
Inches
Case
Grains
Water
  Powder Charge
Grains
Muzzle
Velocity
FPS
Muzzle
Energy Ft/Lbs
100 Yard
Group
Inches
Hornady SST 125 3.230 62.5   IMR 4064 56.0 3114 2692 0.8
Hornady SST 125 3.230 62.5   IMR 4895 57.5 3259 2949 1.1
Sierra Game King 165 3.330 62.3   Superformance 61.0 2907 3097 1.0
Sierra Game King 165 3.330 62.3   IMR 4350 59.0 2808 2890 0.9
Berger VLD 175 3.330 60.2   IMR 4350 57.0 2717 2869 1.2
Berger VLD 175 3.330 60.2   Win 760 58.0 2847 3150 0.8
Nosler Partition 180 3.330 60.2   Reloder 17 57.0 2815 3168 1.0
Nosler Partition 180 3.330 60.2   Reloder 19 60.0 2726 2971 1.1
Hornady Interlock 190 3.240 57.9   Reloder 17 55.0 2785 3273 1.1
Hornady Interlock 190 3.240 57.9   Norma URP 54.0 2658 2981 1.2
 

Of the powder types tried, these worked the best with the bullets selected and the results could be duplicated on a re-shoot. Most current firearms can out shoot owners, and the Winchester Model 70 is no exception. There were shot from a simple rest and shooting bags.

There was a time in my life when I could not see loading a 30-06 cartridge with a less than 180 grain bullet. But then Texas Instruments started shipping pocket calculators, I figured out how to operate one and things changed. Handloaders, me included, often spend too much time on a bullet weight/velocity paradigm and forget to look at BC and realistic shooting distances before selecting a bullet. Yes, paradigm is a word wealth selection for me and, no, it is not pronounced para-dig-em.

What might all of these look like…

 

125 Grain 302Yards Point Blank Range +3.0 Max Ordinate

Range

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Velocity – fps

3259

3093

2934

2780

2630

2486

2347

2212

2082

1957

1836

Energy – ft.-lbs.

2947

2655

2389

2144

1920

1715

1528

1358

1203

1063

936

Momentum – lbs-sec

1.80

1.71

1.62

1.54

1.45

1.38

1.30

1.22

1.15

1.08

1.02

Path – in.

-1.5

0.9

2.5

3.0

2.4

0.5

-2.8

-7.6

-14.3

-22.9

-33.8

 

The 30-06 Springfield is not without recoil. Changing off to a lightweight bullet will reduce recoil and still provide plenty of power for thin skinned medium size game, even at a distance. Recoil for the 125 grain load is 21 ft-lbs, recoil for the 190 grain load is 28 ft-lbs and the increase is exponential in effect.

 

165 Grain 283 Yards Point Blank Range +3.0″ Max Ordinate

Range

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Velocity – fps

2907

2791

2677

2567

2459

2354

2252

2152

2055

1961

1869

Energy – ft.-lbs.

3096

2853

2626

2413

2215

2029

1857

1696

1547

1408

1280

Momentum – lbs-sec

2.12

2.04

1.95

1.87

1.80

1.72

1.64

1.57

1.50

1.43

1.36

Path – in.

-1.5

1.1

2.6

3.0

1.9

-0.5

-4.5

-10.3

-17.9

-27.6

-39.5

 

A good 0.308″ bullet by BC and construction. Deer, elk and moose are all within the design and velocity of this projectile and it is flat shooting. No rise or fall greater than 3″ out to 283 yards.

 

175 Grain 285 Yards Point Blank Range +3.0″ Max Ordinate

Range

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Velocity – fps

2847

2757

2669

2583

2498

2415

2334

2254

2176

2100

2025

Energy – ft.-lbs.

3149

2954

2768

2592

2425

2266

2116

1974

1840

1713

1594

Momentum – lbs-sec

2.20

2.13

2.07

2.00

1.93

1.87

1.81

1.75

1.69

1.63

1.57

Path – in.

-1.5

1.1

2.7

3.0

1.9

-0.5

-4.4

-9.9

-17.1

-26.1

-37.1

 

Good ballistics, retained velocity and trajectory. Good accuracy. I am not sure I am sold on the bullet’s construction, although the 30-06 Springfield isn’t exactly a rocket that would blow off jackets.

 

180 Grain 216 Yard Point Blank Range +3.0″ Ordinate

Range

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Velocity – fps

2815

2718

2622

2529

2438

2348

2261

2176

2093

2011

1932

Energy – ft.-lbs.

3167

2951

2748

2556

2375

2204

2043

1892

1750

1616

1491

Momentum – lbs-sec

2.24

2.16

2.09

2.01

1.94

1.87

1.80

1.73

1.67

1.60

1.54

Path – in.

-1.5

0.6

1.5

1.1

-0.6

-3.8

-8.6

-15.1

-23.4

-33.6

-46.1

 

Partitions are tough, penetrating bullets. Accuracy is very good, they retain weight and the blunt ogive makes for a short COL that will cycle through anything. It has the shortest point blank range and it loses steam rather rapidly after 300 yards, which is ok because I don’t even like to walk that far. A good bullet for large, tough game.

 

190 Grain 277 Yard Point Blank Range +3.0″ Ordinate

Range

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Velocity – fps

2785

2692

2600

2510

2423

2337

2253

2171

2090

2012

1935

Energy – ft.-lbs.

3272

3056

2852

2658

2476

2303

2141

1987

1843

1707

1579

Momentum – lbs-sec

2.34

2.26

2.19

2.11

2.04

1.96

1.89

1.82

1.76

1.69

1.63

Path – in.

-1.5

1.2

2.7

2.9

1.8

-0.9

-5.1

-11.1

-18.9

-28.6

-40.6

This bullet is no longer in production, but I have enough to last a couple of decade or so. If I last that long I will be wearing Depends so I think I am all set. If I am cloned, I suspect I would replace this one with a Hornady 200 grain ELD-X™ or a Sierra 200 grain SBT.

The Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 30-06 Springfield…

Some folks accumulate firearms for their uniqueness rather than as a tool to facilitate hunting. Those folks might see this as one of many rifles they would like to own. For a hunter, however, where getting the job done is the priority, this Winchester could be a one firearm solution for medium to large North American game. The rifle’s fit and finish is quality, the action is slick and it remained so throughout a good deal of shooting. Between stock fit and trigger, it is an easy rifle to shoot accurately. It is a terrific all around big game rifle.

 

 

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