I've been handloading for 30-06 for over 20 years and your video taught me several things about loading for this round that I didn't know before. Awesome video, thanks!

I’ve been loading for fifty years and this man is spot on ,,right on the money ,,whatever he tells you ,,you can take it to the bank ,, however these days and times we must use whatever we can get and be glad we have it.

The king. Of cartridges that is. Not the first. But the best.

I stopped reloading 25 years ago after my best friend passed away too soon. He taught me everything I know and we shot a lot together. A lot of new powders since then. Thanks for the great info and thinking about starting up again.👍

I appreciate this video so much DD, thank you.

The -06 is the cartridge all my uncles and grandpa shot so naturally it was my first rifle. I just got a reloader and dye for my birthday a few weeks ago and I’m so glad I found this channel! I’m starting to feel like I’ve bit off more than I can chew and don’t know where to start.

Hey desert dog 🐕! You put out alot of great videos 📹 this one is the best! Cheers and thank you

I look forward to your videos as they are always informative, relevant, and spot on. Thanks for doing these videos and keep em coming. They are very much appreciated.

Hey buddy 👋 , I'm in BEAUTIFUL Henderson NV. and most folks here go go Arizona to buy ammo and powder, since it's scarce here and way 2 expensive, I have my stash of imr4831, green dot, 700x, Re7, Re15, Re2400, Universal, 5744, imr4198, a ton of titegroup, & a ton of red dot, started using 3031, and now that we got some rain 🌧 I play around loading trail boss 😌 for my 30-30 & 30-06

Fantastic detailing of powders for the 30-06. I've been reloading 165s and 168s for my 03a3 sporter for some 45 or so years, and for my loads, H4350 has no equal.

Thanks man, you just answered a whole heap of questions for me. I'll take your experience over others theories any day! Good work.

Excellent video for one of my favorite calibers. I’m sure I’ll view this video a few more times.

Thank you for a very informative video about real hunting ammo powder choices, I now have a great place to start reloading for my 30 06.... keep up the great work

Great video bruh 👍 Helps me a lot for loading for a Garand and 03A3 Springfield

Excellent information and answered a few precise questions I was considering. What a time and money saving presentation. THANK YOU!

Great information. I'm just getting in to reloading, and love my 30-06. This is why I want to reload. This will allow me to shoot a lot more, and will understand my 30-06 much better. Your wisdom is much appreciated.

Thank you for the very valuable information. As the number of powders continue to grow more and more, we need more caliber specific videos like this that point us in the right direction. Thank you for taking time and making these useful, great videos. The usefulness of this video convinced me to subscribe.

I didn’t know squat about powders, great info thanks🫡

Great concept for a video. I would enjoy a series of these with other popular cartridges.

Your videos are very original. Do not change a thing

Thank you for this video. I also have been loading for the 30-06 for a very long time. I was able to learn something more about powders. I find I do not keep up enough with the newer powders and there were a couple here I knew nothing of.

Great video, Thanks for posting. Lots of great info. I like the Hodgdon in 3006 reloads ( great accuracy) in 165gr and the Extreme Powders in other calibers due to very little temperature change.

Just one more reason to own the 30-06. Still the greatest North American game cartridge of all time. Baseball Apple pie and the 30-06. I couldn’t agree more the only powders I use on a consistent basis is Varget, IMR 4350 and 4895 all with great results.

Really enjoy your videos, Thank You

Very great vid! Thanks your knowledge regarding the 30'06 is spot on! Knowledge of your rifle, also practice strengthens your confidence to make clean accurate shots to fill your freezer!😁

Thanks for your opinions.

30-06....one cartridge to rule them all

Great video bud. I hunt Southern California and it's good to hear information that can help us out. Keep the videos coming buddy

I love my 30-06 thanks for another great video

Thank you Sir, for sharing your knowledge with us

Thanks for the awesome review, Desert Dog. Being new on the scene and wanting to handload, this really helps with making good choices for alternative powders during this time. Keep up the good work. 👍🏻 Greetings from SA 🇿🇦

Another great video man! I agree with you on alot of the Reloader series of powders and their awful temp stability. But I have to say reloader 16 has been phenomenal for me, hopefully you can try it soon. In my test on my 6.5 CM target rifle reloader 16 has outperformed H4350 on temp stability. But that is the only cartridge I've tried it in, so that may not be the case with other cartridges. As always great video man 👍

Powder is fine, now find me some primers! Good info, keep it coming

I use a variety of powders,I also cast bullets for .30-'06. Good times!

Great video. Good to learn from you. Thanks for information

Great video. I have always used IMR powders and have great luck with all of them. I personally load for the 22-250, 308 win, 300 win mag the most..

Great video and analysis! I've been reloading for the 30-06 now since the mid 1970's and I love myt Winchester Model 70 with Manlicher barrel. The barrel is short, so sometimes a slow burning powder makes this gun a flame thrower! I've used some of Jack O'Connor's favorite loads over the year, and yes IMR 4064 is my go to powder for 165 to 180 bullets!

H4350 & H4831SC are my go to’s for 243, 6.5 CR, 270 & 300 H&H. Never tried Varget, but the 6mm world seems to love it.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It’s pretty hard not to learn something from your videos.

I think you did a great job explaining the powders . I think I'll start with the H4350 like you said.

I’ve been shooting 30-06 for 30 years, but my dad has always loaded for me. Now that I’m loading for myself, I may try Varget with my 150g loads. I’ve been using it for my 30-30. Thanks for making such an informative video.

i have found out over 37 yrs reloading that you are so right . but my old remington 700 bdl from the mid 80's loves a lot of ball powders . the one it loves the best , 1/2 in at 100 yds is norms mrp powder . not giving the load out . but this just tells that each gun is different . my custom dumoulin [ mauser ] action with kreager barrel hates ball powders ! great video ! nice to see something on youtube that dosn't start with , reloading for 6.5 creedmoor . or reloading for 300 blackout !

I’m so glad you made this video and the timing was perfect. I’m just watching it now but a month ago I put my browning bar in 30-06 on layaway. I didn’t realize I need to have a faster powder to cycle the action.

I've watched your video more than once. Love it! I subscribed in case you ever make a similar vid for bullets or other caliber powders.

absolutely....my fav...raised on it...my best load is a 208gr eld and reloder19.....

I love the Superformance powder. Works great in several cartridges I load. I have had issues with one particular 30.06 load shooting sub MOA one day, with no pressure signs, then the next time out, it will blow a primer! For some reason it only does that with one particular weight/seating depth combo. H4350 is almost impossible to get, but I have found IMR4350 several times, and have come to really like it.

Excellent. Thank you.

thank you for you recipes I love my 3006

Own three and still considering a fourth. Great cartridge!

Before the shortage I've always used 4350. But now all I was able to find is superformance and staball 6.5. Hopefully they shoot well out of my 6.5 Creedmoor and 30-06. Running low on 4350.

Agreed. H4350 is "magic pixie dust" for the .30-'06.

Great video I was able to get my hands on as some staball 6.5. I was wondering what load you came up with for your 30-06? I have a bergara B14 30-06 and I love it.

Hi DD, I enjoyed this video. Thanks!

Great video..i have watched 3 times! Next, consider doing a video with your favorite bullet powder combinations for the 30-06!

Superformance in my mind is a specific 30-06 powder. Every 06 I've used loves it. 165s at over 2900 and 180s over 2800. I live where it's very cold most of the year, and don't shoot hunting loads in summer at all so the high temp pressure spikes don't affect me. I've tried it in 6.5 creed but it doesn't give any higher velocity than other powders. But it's like magic fairy dust for safely turning 30-06s into near 300 magnums.

As always, a great video! 30-06 is my favorite. 4350 and a 165gr projectile is my fave. Thanks for the info!

You commented about finding powder for the new Gucci cartridges, but not the primers. I was nearly sold on the 7mm PRC until I realized it needs *magnum* large rifle primers. I have enough trouble trying to find regular large rifle primers thank you very much.

100% agree on H4350 versatility.

I have been using StaBALL 6.5 and StaBALL Match. love them both.

I’ve been reloading for over 30 yrs. Personal preference and accuracy, the best powder for me is the old 4320 (hard to find anymore) (4350 is good, but not quite as accurate) with a 150 gr bullet. This load has all the knock down power I’ve ever needed, all the way up to and including elk.

Your choice of the #4350 powder also works well for a number of other firearms that use the .473 base.

🙏 Enjoyed this video bc I also found 4350 to work well is many cartridges. I started first the ez available IMR version but shifted to the temperature stable Hodgdon label. Please do one for the Necked down Connoisseur Hunting Cartridge, the 270 Winchester. Aloha!

I have 3 of your 4 HODGDON powders ,Will be getting the other one.

I just bought my first true "high powered" rifle in the form of a Springfield 1903 (Remington 03-A3 to be exact) that was sporterized at some point in its life. For 350.00 bucks, I thought it was a good deal. I really enjoy shooting it, though it just has iron sights. I've read that scopes can be added, but it hurts to think about having the rifle drilled into. Anyway, I never reloaded, but I'm starting to think it would be a good idea. The problem is trying to figure out how to get started from scratch. Buying the equipment, etc.. I have saved my brass from the rounds I've used at the range and now have about 150 empty cases, so now I just need to figure how and where to get started. I'm sure it would be worth it, considering I'm paying at least 2 dollars per shot currently. Thanks for your great content

Very informative, thank you

Great video! I have to say, I just love that Mcwoody stock you have.

Great vid! I also love the cartridge series vids, can we get one for the 416 Rigby.

You are right about h4350. It is the absolute best for 165-180 grain in the ol aught six. Every bullet I have tried works well with it. Berger VLDh, Hornady Sst, Nosler Partition, sierra gameking and matchking. Did I leave one out? Oh Barnes ttsx and the discontinued Fail Safe by CT (Nosler/Winchester).

When i started my shooting and handloading in 1987 Saskatchewan i met a WW 2 Canadian veteran who loved BRNO rifles one of which was 30-06. He shot open sites at 100 yds better than alot of club members shot scoped rifles. I close my eyes now and still see "Rigor Mortis Yates " with a burning cig in the corner of his mouth and the 06 aimed perfectly still at a bullseye. Puff of smoke ..puff of smoke .. and bang a bullseye. He took alot of game too

Excellent. I've got all your favorite powders. Would like more advice on how far down to download Superformance for a stable load.

Some good information, thanks.

Your timing for this video is perfect! I’m actually about to start loading 30.06 with the 168g TTSX Barnes bullets using IMR 4451. I had this powder for 6.5 Creedmoor loads and can’t find any of the better choices. You were the one who convinced me to try these. Haven’t absolutely decided what my starting load charge will be, but I’m leaning towards about 54 grains. Thanks for sharing your lifetime of knowledge with us!! Cheers from Texas!!!

I’ve got a pretty great load with IMR-4064 with the 168 gr TTSX.

I found this video very interesting and educational. As a novice loader (thanks to covid) your video Tought me more about powders than the last 500 videos I've watched. Thanks for that

Great video, DD. I love all those powders except Superformance. Never used it. I find IMR 4064 particularly useful in a wide range of applications. A semi-custom .22-250 came from the 'smith with a test target and load recipe featuring IMR 4064. Some loading manuals, such as Nosler, list the most accurate powder used in their trials. IMR 4064 is mentioned quite frequently. Love it!

About 25 years ago, using a 270 Winchester 130 grain bullet that was hot but safe, I left it in the car in July and shot it that afternoon. I blew primer pockets and primers fell out so I quit. I think it was AA 2700 but not sure. Yes it is true. Ball powders are heat sensitive.

Desert Dog, I've been always good with RL19 and IMR 4064 with my reloads with a 26" barrel. Hope this is useful to your audience. Take care brother and good hunting in 2021.

I reload for rest relaxation and mental health. The fact that it makes me able to shoot a lot more for the same amount of money I was shooting less before reloading is a benefit. I am saddened that there are certain calibers in my collection I am not able to load for anymore and what I can load for is dwindling. Loading rifle bullets is my favoriteThing to do. From brass prep to carefully trimming and cleaning primer pockets it makes me feel like each one of those rounds was 1000 yard round because of the time and precision that went into making those bullets. I haven’t found what works perfect in my rifle yet which is upsetting

I’m a Varmint hunter so I’m stingy with my Benchmark, Varget and H4895 but I do love my 4064 for the .30’s

learned something new about ball powder, even use 200sbt sierra w760 53.5gr vel2700fps

I have used H335 for 150 and under in my 06. But also used Stayball with 150s it works great. But hard to get away from. Imr4895 and IMR 4064. Mag primer helps the Staball fyi. I am trying to messing with a 35 Whelen now would love some help i am having my best luck with imr4895 but also know i am not at the speed of hornady factory superperformance

I don't shoot 30-06 very often, but used to shoot a friend's M1. I do load for both 308 and 6.5CM and find the IMR 8208XBR to be a very good ball powder, fairly close to Varget. The problem is that it is produced in Austrailia and difficult to get in the U.S, and when you can find it, it is a bit pricey. When Varget was difficult to get I bought a case of 8208XBR and still have about 5 lbs. left.

Great vid!!!! Thanks

YT just landed me here... I have been a 30-06 guy all my life, and I agree with pretty much everything you said here. I yoosta shoot 110 - 220, for just fun and serious hunting. However, I have settled on 180 gr Nosler partitions for all my hunting with the 30-06, as they are NO compromise! However, my powder of choice is N205. "use like 4831"... I have an Oehler 33 Chrono, also a Lab Radar, now too. 60 Gr of N205 gives me an honest 2730 f/s with great consistency and no pressure indications in 22" bbls, but sadly is no mo. But when I saw how good it was I bot all 5 cans they had, still have some, still good. You may find this odd as hell, but for 180 grainers both my 30-06's work better with N205 and 4831, while my 300 win mag is best with 4350, giving both higher velocities and less pressure sign for both 180 and 200 grain partitions. Much research has brought this down to case geometry and shoulder angle. While this is counter to "conventional wisdom", it is true. Keep youse powdah Dry!! Jerry

Knowing the Actual shelflife would be very handy to understand maximum reload power purchase, to compensate for any supply shortages with in reason of course.

Also talking about how much easier it is to reload 30-06 because of the different powders you can use. You can also use large magnum rifle primers relatively easily. One of my reloaders digests even reccomend them, but i havnt tried it myself yet. My best groups have been with irm4350 but next step i wanna do is try and find a load with h4350 because ive heard how much more temp stabke it is. From a cold bore tho ive had damn near 1/4 moa groups with irm4350 at 100yards at about 2850fps with 168gr eldm seeds

I've had great results with 51grs of W760 with 165gr Partitions in my Remington 700. But I'm looking forward to trying some of the other choices you shown in this video. Thanks!

Great video 👍🏻 , now if we can just get some primers in stock , I'm down to my last 5000 LR primers ! Thats not many , sometimes we go out to the farm and shoot the m-1 250 rds, in a weekend!

Always learn something from your videos.

As a long time fan of the 30-06 thanks for this great information.

I reload a lot of superformace for my 30-06 and 6.5 I also use a lot of H4350 and varget never have any issues with any of them.

as always desert dog you are dead on the money , great informative video !

My experience is that H4350 behind 165gr & 180gr bullets yields excellent results.

H or IMR4350 has always been my go to, but I’ve also dabbled with H414 and RL19. Tough not to find an acceptable recipe for the ‘06

Thanks for the informative video. I took a lot of notes. When you say, this section of the video is for bolt action rifles, are pump action 30-06 rifles included in this category? Thank you, Jacob P.S. - My Notes That I kept for this video: NOTE: additional questions that I would like to add to notes are: How long do single base and double base powders last, based on your experience (not based on the manufacturer, since they will want to give a shorter shelf life so a customer will think they have to toss out their old powder [safely] and buy new powder to increase the brand name companies profit margin)? What is your recommended method of storing powders, to keep them moisture free and to increase their shelf life? What is the method to test a powder to see if it's still powerful, after sitting on the shelf for a while and what is the decay rate of powders, per month, to help determine storage lifespan? How much humidity is safe and how much is too much? I hear myths on survival boards/groups about how you can't reload during or after a rainy day because the humidity is to high (which, I believe is pure fiction). Plus, I reload a lot, when I'm outdoors (in a tent or under a tarp/rain fly) using Classic Lee Loader kits and I've not had issues with humidity. But, then again, I've never really asked that question to someone with a vast knowledge of reloading? Does it matter which powder to use, if I'm reloading cases with bullets that are hand cast from lead, for hunting purposes? What's your favorite, all around 30-06 bullet caliber to use on any game in North America? Does this same list of powder types work for reloading 308 and 30-30? I ask this because a Lee Loader bullet mould for 30-06 casts a 30 caliber bullet which can be used in 30-06, 308, and 30-30 cartridges (I'm sure the grain amount in the cartridge will be different, but could I use the same recommended list of powders if I reloaded cartridges in 308 and 30-30)? Thank you in advance for any answers you can provide to my questions. I'll use the notes below when I'm recommending powders for 30-06. **Smokeless Powder (for 30-06) Fast Burning powder for lighter bullet Slow Burning powder for heavier bullet --SR 4759 --Hodgdon H4350 Semi Action Rifle Powders | Rounds are cycled through the barrel using a gas operating system (ie round fires every time trigger is pulled) | Fast burning powders are a must for Semi Auto Rifles --Hodgdon H4895 (Fast Burning & Best) --IMR 4895 (2nd Best) --IMR 4064 (Good for Heavier Bullets) Bolt Action Rifles, 120gr - 150gr bullets --VihtaVuori N135 --Hodgdon 4895 (bullets under 150gr) --RL12 Bolt Action Rifles, 150gr - 165gr bullets --IMR 4064 --RL15 (aka Alliant Reloader 15) --N140 --Hodgdon VARGET (Best for 150-165gr) Bolt Action Rifles, 165gr - 190gr bullets --N150 --Hodgdon H4350 (Best for 165-190gr) --IMR 4451 (2nd Best to H4350) --100V --RL17 ***H4350 is most versatile and temperature stabile powder for 30-06 ***165gr - 190gr bullets are most popular for hunters Bolt Action Rifles, 190gr - 220gr bullets --RL19 --N160 --H4831SC (Best for 190-220gr bullets) ***SC = Short Cut ***Any 4831 powder is good for 190gr - 220gr bullets. But, H4831SC is the best. ***These are slow burning powders Ball Powders For 30-06 | Double Base --Hodgdon H414 --Winchester W760 --Winchester StaBILL 6.5 (2nd to W760) --Hodgdon SF (SF = Superformance) SF - Double Base ball powder on the slower side of the burn spectrum with additives to make it a stronger powder. Acts like a medium speed powder that's similar to StaBILL 6.5. It's an erratic powder offering stabil rounds one day and over pressured loads the next day. Often, less grains of powder is needed to make stabil loads. Also, it's the same powder used in Hornady Superformance 30-06 rounds. ****Use Magnum Primers with ball powders for better consistency. Note 1: H414 and W760 are made in the same factory. Hodgdon has discontinued H414 and consolidated their powder into W760. Note 2: H414 and W760 are the most popular ball powders. Note 3: W760 is recommended for bullets 150gr and above. Note 4: Winchester StaBILL 6.5 works great using 168gr bullets in 30-06. Note 5: Winchester StaBILL 6.5 is the most temperature stable, cleanest and most consistent ball powder. Note 6: Winchester StaBILL 6.5 ball powder is an H4350 equivalent. **Double Base Powders have Half The Shelf Life of a Single Base powder. Pros: --Packs Densely in cartridges/cases Cons: --Inconsistency and Temperature Spikes with Loads (especially faster loads) --Added Nitro Glycerin --Increased Chance of Erosion in Rifles due to their burn characteristics --Ball powders run dirtier in rifles than extruded powders do. Lastly, competition shooters never use ball powders. Conclusion: Top Four Powders for Reloading Any 30-06 Hunting Round Cartridge: **H4895 **Hodgson Varget **H4350 **H4831SC Top Two Powders for 30-06 rounds: **Hodgson Varget **H4350 If only one powder could be chosen, then Hodgson H4350 is the best choice due to it being extremely versatile in all 30-06 cartridge sizes. Powder Knowledge Sources: KZfaq Channel "Desert Dog Outdoors" and video: "My Favorite Powders for 30-06"

In my gun 30-06 I use 165 grain nosler partition bullets and 180 grain nobler bullets the load I use for 165 is 54 grain of the 4350 180 is 55 grain of 4350 my loads are perfect to my gun . Can alway count on them to hit where I aim.

thanks for the info. useful

I've had good results with Varget, IMR 4064, RL-15 & H4895. I want to try some IMR 8208 XBR with a 200gr Accubond.... May I add, I'm referring to the 35 Whelen AI. Very similar brass, I mostly use resized 06 brass... Nosler when I can find it & Hornady when I'm on the cheap. I feel there's a Ton of crossover.

Excellent video

You can sometimes get 180 grain bullets to go 2,800 ft/s out of the 30-06, depending on the powder load and barrel length.