The Browning X Bolt Hunter in 30-06 Springfield proved to be a terrific combination. It shot well with factory ammunition, but handloads can sometimes tap into additional potential. In other circumstances, handloading is a path to bullet/powder combination not generally available over the counter. Five bullets were selected; a selection of differing bullet weights and bullet types.
The final list is comprised of bullets intended for hunting, from antelope to moose, so they may not have the slickest ballistic coefficient. Two VLD products were on the original list, however, there was not enough freebore in the Browning to avoid deep seating this type of bullet, so they were dropped from the list. Below, left to right –
#3020 Hornady 130 grain SP is a thin jacketed Varmint bullet. An alternative to sabot mounted 0.224″ bullets with greater accuracy and consistency of performance.
#WB30PP150 Winchester 150 Grain Power Point is designed to reliably expand fully on deer size game.
#2145 Sierra GameKing 165 grain boat tail soft point is designed for medium and large thin skinned game, the former near to long range, the latter below 3000 fps and inside 300 yards. In Maine, that is anything from deer to moose.
#51160 Nosler Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertip is a poly tipped bullet designed for impact velocity between 1800 fps and 3200 fps. Applications are the same as the Sierra GameKing.
#16331 Nosler Partition 180 grain soft point is a tough bullet. It has a threshold impact velocity of 1800 fps on the low end while being labeled “unlimited” on the high end. It is a bullet suitable for heavy game such as elk and moose.
There are heavier bullets for the 30-06 Springfield, some up to 240 grains, but 180 grains is enough for any of my purposes and I would not like to speculate beyond.
| Cartridge – 30-06 Springfield |
|
| Firearm | Browning X Bolt |
| Barrel Length | 22.00″ |
| Min – Max Case Length | 2.494″ +0.000″/-0.020″ |
| Min – Max COL | 2.940″ – 3.340″ |
| Primer | CCI 200 |
| Bullet Diameter | 0.3090″ +0.000″/-0.0030″ |
| Reloading Dies | Redding |
| Bullet Type | Bullet Weight Grains |
Net H2O Grains Capacity |
COL” | Powder Type | Powder Charge Grains |
Muzzle Velocity fps |
Muzzle Energy ft/lbs |
100 YD 3 Shot “ |
| Hornady SP | 130 | 63.5 | 3.170 | IMR 4064 | 55.0 | 3111 | 2793 | 0.9 |
| Hornady SP | 130 | 63.5 | 3.170 | IMR 4895 | 55.5 | 3120 | 2811 | 0.8 |
| Winchester SP | 150 | 61.6 | 3.195 | Re 16 | 58.5 | 3043 | 3085 | 0.6 |
| Winchester SP | 150 | 61.6 | 3.195 | Big Game | 59.0 | 3058 | 3115 | 0.9 |
| Sierra GameKing | 165 | 62.5 | 3.330 | Re 16 | 58.0 | 2943 | 3174 | 0.5 |
| Sierra GameKing | 165 | 62.5 | 3.330 | IMR 4350 | 60.0 | 2900 | 3082 | 0.7 |
| CT Silvertip |
168 | 59.4 | 3.320 | Re 16 | 56.0 | 2904 | 3147 | 0.8 |
| CT Silvertip | 168 | 59.4 | 3.320 | IMR 4350 | 57.0 | 2816 | 2959 | 0.8 |
| Nosler Partition | 180 | 59.8 | 3.310 | Re 16 | 56.0 | 2852 | 3252 | 0.7 |
| Nosler Partition | 180 | 59.8 | 3.310 | Re 17 | 57.5 | 2870 | 3293 | 0.9 |
Results
There are many alternative powders to those listed. However, in testing other popular choices I was not able to attain the velocity levels indicated and/or accuracy. Another rifle, another time could very well yield different results. The Browning is an easy to shoot firearm. The stock design and recoil pad do a good job of keeping the rifle’s muzzle down, protecting the cheek bone and softening the jolt to the shoulder.
| Best Zero : Range 0 – 300 yards 165 Grain Sierra |
||||||||
| Yards | 0 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 | |
| Velocity – fps | 3174 | 3051 | 2931 | 2815 | 2701 | 2589 | 2481 | |
| Energy – ft.-lbs. | 3690 | 3410 | 3148 | 2902 | 2671 | 2456 | 2255 | |
| Momentum – lbs-sec | 75 | 72 | 69 | 66 | 64 | 61 | 58 | |
| Path – in. | -1.50 | 0.96 | 2.48 | 2.99 | 2.41 | 0.63 | -2.45 | |
| Time Of Flight – sec. | 0.00 | 0.05 | 0.10 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | |
The 30-06 Springfield can deliver excellent accuracy way down range, but I live in Maine, the earth is flat, travel more than 300 yards in any direction and you will fall off the earth. Unless you are on one of the many hill and mountain tops, in which case the known universe spans to New Hampshire and those chalky white mountains those New Hamshire…ers go on and on about. My point is, if you can live with a bullet that never rises or falls more than 3″ above or below line of sight, you can aim dead on out to 300 yards and have a bullet arrive with convincing authority.
If you owned a Browning X Bolt chambered for the 30-06 Springfield, you could never arrive at a hunting camp inappropriately equipped. Hunting companions would never accuse you over overcompensating by showing up with a magnum you won’t be able to shoot well and they can’t really ding you for showing up with a pea shooter on a moose hunt. Of course, if you’re like me, you don’t really give a crap about what other people think, and you’d carry the Browning X Bolt chambered for the 30-06 Springfield because it is a great choice for a medium and big game hunting rifle. The Browning is accurate and rock solid reliable and you can find 30-06 Springfield ammunition and handloading components virtually anywhere those sorts of products are sold.
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