'06 180 grain Accubond loads

[Zombie Steve]

Decided to move up to a "premium" bullet for elk season this year.

Bought some 180 accubonds for my .30-06. Just worked up a batch with IMR-4350, and to my surprise, didn't find a good load. The best group was 2 moa (the rifle can do .5 moa with my target loads) at 2,650 fps (22" barrel). I can make this work, but I know I can do better.

Thinking of trying Reloader 22 next... I have some lying around and have had good luck with it in the past with heavy bullets.

FWIW, the Federal cartridge I'm trying to mimic clocks 2,780fps from my gun and shot sub moa. Tempted to just buy some more, but I just can't buy factory ammo. I just can't.

The goal for me is 2,700 fps and 1 moa. Anybody have a favorite load that works well on the top end and can save me some $$$ on load development (them's bullets are expensive!)? Obviously, I'll still work them up, just don't want to keep ...

One of the 4831's?

Your input is appreciated.

[jmg8550]

It might be that your rifle just doesn't like that bullet. I don't have a single rifle that will shoot Nosler projectiles worth a damn. So I stick to Hornady, Barnes, or Sierra.

[Zombie Steve]

I don't think that's the case. I had 6 factory loads with this bullet left over from yesteryear and they made a nice cloverleaf the other day.

[4gunfun]

Let me look when I get home. I'm thinking its reloader 15 or 19 with my old winchester silver tips. That might not help you with your accubonds though.

[XC700116]

I've had great luck with the Accubonds in other calibers and your evidence with the performance of a factory loaded AB should settle the bullet debate. Maybe H4831? or RL19.

[sellersm]

Nosler says that IMR4320 or VVN160 will get you close to 2700.

Here's the link

These guys like 4350 and RL22

I can't speak to this directly, however, my rifles are in Ruskie & Swede calibers!

[4gunfun]

My best load so far is 57 grains of Reloader 19. Running about 2640 out of my old Savage 110. Max load in my Lyman book is 58.3 grains and should do 2700 fps. Getting 1.5 inch groups with my cheap Savage.

[sabot_round]

I've got 1" groups with 55.5gr of IMR 4831 out of my 7400 remington using 180gr SST Hornady bullets. The max load on my Hornady book for it is 56.3gr @ 2700fps. I haven't gone that far up yet.

[Madusa]

Switch to Federal Mag primers and go up.

[Zombie Steve]

If anyone's interested, I went out again this morning and worked up to a nice accurate load with 60 grains of RE-22, Lake City 43 brass (not a typo... 1943 - I have a ton of this stuff). CCI large rifle primers and the aforementioned 180 grain accubond. .73" 7-shot group. Speeds weren't what I wanted, but they averaged 2,640fps. I'll call it 2,600 for hunting weather. I did get this load up to 2,700, but the groups were opening up quite a bit and it started showing pressure signs.

Anyway, it is slightly faster than the mag-tip loads I was using before (which worked), and a MUCH better bullet (bonded, .507 bc...). I'll re-check zero and I'm off to hunt some elk next month.

Thanks for everyone's input.