First .30-06 reloads

I had heard good things about the Barnes TSX bullet effects on game animals, so I decided to start there. I settled on the 168 grain TSX bullet for no real reason other than I can probably use it on just about anything and everything that walks on North America. (I think I'm going to move down to 150 grain though, too much recoil for no real benefit.)

I downloaded the load data for the bullet off Barnes' website, and after a long wait got all my components together last week.

The load was:
Barnes 168 gr TSX bullet
51, 52, and 53 grains of Big Game powder (trying out different weights, max is 55.5 grains)
Federal 210 primer
PMC brass (I had some on hand)
3.248" COL

Rifle:
Remington 760

I determined the COL by seating the bullets long and then slowly working shorter until they would chamber. Then I got the matches out and blackened the bullet and worked the length shorter until no marks showed on the bullet. Evidently I got it right since I didn't blow up today. ;)-~

Everything looked good with no signs of overpressure.

It's interesting to see how much difference the powder made in the point of impact. At 51 grains they hit 6" high at 100 yards, 52 grains was 1" low and 53 grains was 1" high (which is where I want it). I would have thought that 52 would have been between 51 and 53. I need to get a chronograph, as it could mean I have more velocity at 52.

Anyway, all 3 loads kicked pretty damned good. The factory 147 grain stuff felt weak after shooting these.