Few if any rifle cartridges can boast of a wider range of available loads or bullet weights than the 30-06. It is possible to buy ammunition loaded with everything from a sabot containing a 55 grain jacketed hollow point bullet for varmint hunting to a heavy 220 grain round nose soft point for moose or elk.
For the reloader, there is a large variety of published loading data that has been developed over the years for both jacketed and cast bullet weights from 110 grains up to 250 grains.
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Jacketed Bullet Diameter (Inches) | 0.308 |
| Rim Diameter (Inches) | 0.473 |
| Base Diameter (Inches) | 0.470 |
| Max Case Length (Inches) | 2.49 |
| Max OAL Cartridge Length (Inches) | 3.34 |
Some things to note about the reloading data on this page;
- I am only relating my personal experience with the firearms and equipment that I own and that I am not making any loading recommendations.
If you use the loading data here, you do so at your own risk. - Unless stated otherwise, muzzle velocities listed on this page are from my own test data.
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 147 grain Full Metal Jacket Boattail FN-FAL M80 |
| Powder | 50.0 grains IMR 4895 |
| Primer | CCI #34 |
| Brass | Winchester |
| Firearm | M1 Garand |
| Barrel Length | 20.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 2834 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 40.5 feet per second |
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 152 grain Full Metal Jacket M2 type Yugoslavia |
| Powder | 48.0 grains Hodgdon 335 |
| Primer | Winchester LR |
| Brass | Various |
| Firearm | M1 Garand |
| Barrel Length | 20.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 2732 feet per second |
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 175 grain Full Metal Jacket Boattail |
| Powder | 53.0 grains IMR 4350 |
| Primer | CCI #34 |
| Brass | Korean PS and KA headstamps |
| Firearm | Remington M 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 2607 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 8.6 feet per second |
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 175 grain Full Metal Jacket Boattail |
| Powder | 47.0 grains IMR 4895 |
| Primer | CCI 250 |
| Brass | Remington |
| Cartridge OAL | 3.295 inches |
| Firearm | Remington M 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 2532 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 12.8 feet per second |
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 190 grain Jacketed Hollow Point Boattail |
| Powder | 53.5 grains Alliant Reloader 19 |
| Primer | CCI 250 |
| Brass | Remington |
| Cartridge OAL | 3.290 inches |
| Firearm | Remington Model 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 2389 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 22.4 feet per second |
30-06 Cast Bullet Loads
Other cast bullet loads for 30-006 and other common highpower rifle cartridges that I have used can be found on this page of reduced power rifle loads.
| 30-06 Springfield | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 212 grain Lead Round Nose with Gas Check |
| Powder | 37.0 grains Accurate 2460 |
| Primer | CCI 250 |
| Cartridge Case | Remington |
| Firearm | M1 Garand |
| Barrel Length | 20.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 2003 feet per second |
This relatively low power load will operate the Garand Action properly.
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 198 grain Lead Truncated Cone with gas check, Saeco # 301 |
| Powder | 35.5 grains Hodgdon H380 |
| Primer | CCI 250 |
| Brass | HXP 70 |
| Ctg OAL (inches) | 3.19 |
| Firearm | Remington Model 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 1887 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 21.0 feet per second |
This load will cycle in my M1 Garand
| 30-06 Springfield | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 212 grain Lead Round Nose with Gas Check |
| Powder | 24.5 grains IMR 4227 |
| Primer | CCI #34 |
| Cartridge Case | Remington |
| Firearm | M1 Garand |
| Barrel Length | 20.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 1767 feet per second |
The action must be manually operated with this load in the M1 Garand.
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 222 grain Lead Round nose Plain base |
| Powder | 14.5 grains Alliant 2400 |
| Primer | Alcan Maxfire Large Rifle |
| Brass | Remington |
| Ctg OAL (inches) | 3.20 |
| Firearm | Remington Model 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 1382 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 10.5 feet per second |
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 198 grain Lead Truncated Cone with gas check, Saeco # 301 |
| Powder | 22.5 grains SR4759 |
| Primer | CCI 250 |
| Brass | HXP 70 |
| Ctg OAL (inches) | 3.19 |
| Firearm | Remington Model 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 1703 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 40.5 feet per second |
This load will cycle in my M1 Garand
Gallery Practice Cartridges
In the first half of the 20th century, U.S. National Guard, Reserve and other military units would often have to make do with whatever facilities were available for marksmanship training. Often this would be in areas where full power military ammunition1 posed an unacceptable safety hazard and firing distances were 100 yards or less. To fill this need, inexpensive low power training ammunition or gallery loads were developed which utilized a small charge of fast burning pistol or shotgun powder.
Some of these gallery loads were also issued to military soldiers for riot control or to guard armories and industrial plants where again the chance of civilian casualties was too great with the use of full power ammunition.
The following 30-06 cartridges were developed for use in the Springfield 1903 Rifle.
Cartridge, Guard, Caliber .30 Model of 1906
The 1906 Guard cartridge used a 150 grain full metal jacket bullet with a reduced propellant charge. According to the U.S. War Department's 1919 Ordnance Data Handbook, this load used factory second bullets and cases, with a 9.1 grain charge of "Bull's-eye smokeless powder, or it's equivalent"(Wade 349). The average muzzle velocity of the Model 1906 Guard cartridge was about 1200 feet per second.
The 1906 Guard cartridge was superceded by the 1919 Gallery Practice load, which used a less expensive lead alloy bullet.
Cartridge, Gallery Practice, caliber .30, Model 1919
The 1919 Gallery Practice cartridge generated a muzzle velocity of 1200 feet per second with a plain base 140 grain lead round nose bullet. (Johnson & Haven 110). This loading was also known as " Cartridge, Guard, Caliber .30 M1"
Cartridge, Gallery Practice Model of 1906
The 1919 War Department Ordnance Data Handbook lists the Model 1906 gallery-practice cartridge as being used by the U.S. Navy in "limited quantities"(Wade 350). This load used a 107 grain lead bullet with a 3.1 grain charge of "Bull's-eye smokeless powder, or equivalent"(Wade 350)
30-06 Gallery Loads
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 154 grain Lead Flat Nose Plain base, Lee C309-150-F |
| Powder | 9.0 grains Hercules Unique |
| Primer | CCI 200 |
| Brass | FA 61 Match |
| Ctg OAL (inches) | 3.19 |
| Firearm | Remington Model 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 1313 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 27.3 feet per second |
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 154 grain Lead Flat Nose Plain base, Lee C309-150-F |
| Powder | 8.5 grains Hercules Unique |
| Primer | CCI 200 |
| Brass | FA 61 Match |
| Ctg OAL (inches) | 3.19 |
| Firearm | Remington Model 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 1261 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 23.2 feet per second |
| 30-06 | |
|---|---|
| Bullet | 194 grain Lead Truncated Cone plain base, Saeco # 301 |
| Powder | 10.0 grains Hercules Unique |
| Primer | CCI 200 |
| Brass | FA 61 Match |
| Ctg OAL (inches) | 3.19 |
| Firearm | Remington Model 700 |
| Barrel Length | 24.0 inches |
| Avg Muzzle Velocity | 1231 feet per second |
| Standard Dev MV | 7.2 feet per second |
1. The standard 30-06 Springfield military load at the time was a 150 grain full metal jacket spitzer bullet with a muzzle velocity of approximately 2700 feet per second.
Johnson, Melvin Maynard, Haven, Charles Tower "Ammunition: its history, development and use"
W. Morrow, 1943 p. 110 Google Books
Wade, Herbert T., U.S. Army Captain
"Ordnance Data No. 1861, Handbook of " U.S. War Department 1919 p. 349-350 Google Books