I've been reloading shotshells for some time now, and have just gotten back into reloading metallic cartridges after close to 30 years.

My primary data sources are Hodgdon/IMR, Lee, Sierra, and Speer.

I have settled on IMR 4320, Sierra 150 grain Spitzer (#2130 SPT) and CCI primers (I plan to switch to Remington). The brass is Remington.

A typical range of IMR powder charges is 49-53 grains, and I started with 50 grains.

My question is this: All the sources that mention this powder/bullet weight combination differ significantly in their measured velocities. Do the primers make a significant difference in velocity? They seem to make a difference in shotshell loading.

At this point, I am trying to get reasonably close to the ballistics of the Remington Core-Lokt 150 grain cartridge (muzzle velocity 2910).

denis,

Welcome to the site! I am sure Bushy will offer up a stump and one of Vince's Aussie beers for you soon.

In my experince the primer selection can improve the consitency of a load( lower SD and ES) but does not significantly affect the velocities with a 30-06 case. I normally use IMR 4064 and IMR 4895 for the 150 grain bullets and get similar results with WLR and Federal primers.

Check the different manuals and see if they were fired in a test barrel or if they were actually fired from a rifle and what the barrel length was. That will have the greatest effect on final velocity. I would bet the slower listings are in a 22 inch barrelled rifle and the fastest are from a 26 inch test reciever.

I am sure others will be along soon to share the wealth of information that can be found here.

denis, welcome to HuntingNut,

The answer to your question is, yes they can.
Lot to lot consistancy can also be a problem. Be sure to buy enough primers of the same lot so that you do not have to rework your load evry couple hundred rounds.

dawgdad gave you pretty much what you need to know about the velocity.
I'll just add that some will use a caculated muzzle velocity while others will use a chronagragh set 10 to 15 feet away.
This will also create a difference, at the muzzle will be higher.

Welcome to the HuntingNut Dennis The fellers here can offer ya some good advice. I don't load for 06 so I'm not much help on it but there a few here that does.
Joe

Welcome to the Forum. I load for the .30-06 and have had great results with IMR4350 in my bolt guns and IMR4895 in the M1 Garand. Primers are a personal preference thing and I settled in Winchester or CCI. All the best...
Gil

Welcome to the nut hut. I don't shoot a 30-06 but I do load for a 8mm-06. I have used Rems, Winchester,Feds, but I like the Rems better,just my preference. I too made sure I picked up enough of 1 lot.I was lucky and got 5k of each.Rem9 1/2's and Rem 9 1/2M's. I too use RP brass.My loads are as close to oe as possible considerin the 8-06 is a wildcat. Hope this is of some help...Just me again..Dave

Muzzle velocity varies a great deal from one gun to another. Minute differences in the bore finish and size can raise pressure and slow the bullet down at the same time. A longer barrel can give the same velocity as a shorter barrel. The published data on factory ammunition is always 2-300 FPS higher than I have ever gotten from from my guns firing over a chronograph.

Good powders for use with a 150 grain bullet in a 30-06 are:
H 4350 or IMR 4350
H414 or ww760
H380
and Varget

These are the powders that will give you the highest velocities without going over pressure. I suggest you look into the load database here:
www.huntingnut.com/ind...ngDatabase
for the most commonly used powders. As always be sure to double check your data against your own manuals.

I have had instances where primers have made differences in velocity and group size but it is unusual that they make a signifigant differences.

Here's that stump and Vince will be along soon with the beer.

Yes primers will effect fps. With that said. The effect is very little to almost none. I use CCI primers and Winchester primers primarily in my .30-06 and .30-30. The difference in the two is around 15 to 25 fps credit to the WLR primers...I feel that is insignificant...

Welcome to this fine sight...

Thanks for all the good information. As I mentioned it has been many years since I reloaded metallic cartridges, so I am playing close to 30 years of catch-up.

Something that would really help would be for all companies to standardize on either CUP or PSI. I see both in use in the same loading table for the .30-06 and it makes it hard to know which are truly low-pressure loads.

You and me both...I've kinda gotten used to CUP and really hate the change, but if they are going to change...CHANGE!! And give us some kind of chart to determine if we are at or over maximum limits...

Columbia?!!? You, by any chance, a member of www.missouricarry.com ??

I just bought an M1 Garand a few weeks ago and loaded up some rounds for a military match. I used 47grns of IMR4895 and 168grn Sierra BTHP's. When I was done with the first round(ten shots)I noticed I had a few pierced primers. I used the load info from the CMP forums and was suprised that these seemed a little hot. I used CCI#34 primers.

Check to make sure your firing pin isn't chipped, burred or a bit sharp and in need of resurfacing...

I will do that. Thank you Sir!

GUTS wrote:

I just bought an M1 Garand a few weeks ago and loaded up some rounds for a military match. I used 47grns of IMR4895 and 168grn Sierra BTHP's. When I was done with the first round(ten shots)I noticed I had a few pierced primers. I used the load info from the CMP forums and was suprised that these seemed a little hot. I used CCI#34 primers.

While that load is cetrainly in the acceptable range I ususally back down a half to a full grain for the 168's to 46.0-46.5 and use the full 47gr. charge for the 147 -150gr FMJ ball load. I found that while I did not pierce the WLR primers I use it was slapping the op rod harder than it needed to.

GUTS wrote:

I used CCI#34 primers.

Remember the #34s and the #41s are made to match military primers and to be able to light older military ball powders well even at low temperatures they are really "magum" primers not regular large rifle primers.

Dimitri