Peregrine 165 gr 30-06 Load Development

[Edge]

DO NOT USE THE BELOW LOADS IN YOUR GUN, START LOW AND WORK UP. USE AT YOUR OWN PERIL!

Started load development for the 30-06 and did some initial velocity testing to determine maximum with the 165 gr Peregrine VRG-5. I removed the expander ball from the FL die to ensure adequate neck tension.

All the below shots were fired with a Magnetospeed hanging off the end of the barrel.

Loaded 3 shells as fouling/sighters as I started with a squeaky clean bore. Two shots were with new Lapua brass and one was previously fired 1x. Not too bad starting off, less than an inch.

Next up was a sequence to determine max velocity.

Load G was too hot, will focus next round of loads around 50 grains. Before I started loading I ran my loads through Quickload and the analysis/velocities were very close.

Observations:
- The rifles recoil was surprisingly light for 165gr @ 2850 fps
- The barrel did not heat up like I thought it would. I don't have temp data but it sure seemed cooler than other loads I have shot out of that rifle. I shot a couple of 130TTSX after this and the barrel was hot! I wonder if the Peregrine bore rider design eliminates some of the heating friction.

Edge

 

[Milehighshooter]

Like the TSX, you can likely tighten up those groups by playing with the bullet jump a bit.

I prefer 165's in my 30's. Best group I ever shot was in the high .2's using a Colt Light Rifle and Nosler FailSafe 165gr. I've killed a few elk with that same bullet in factory 300wsm and handloaded 300 Wby. I've got a few hundred left, but bought some 168 TTSX to try in my M70 featherweight 30-06.

 

[Guy M]

The 30-06 is a true, lifelong favorite of mine. Years ago I settled on a 165 grain bullet over 58 grains of H4350 as my general purpose load. Two years ago, I bumped that load up to 59 grains, using a Nosler Ballistic Tip. Accuracy remained very good, and I was impressed to see an average of 2970 fps from the 24" Remington 700 CDL. I zeroed the rifle at 200 yards and took it hunting in the fall of 2016.

Bear at 325 yards - one shot, bear went about 10 yards and died.
Pronghorn at 245 yards - one shot, pronghorn dropped on the spot.
Mule deer, facing me, at 140 yards - dropped at the shot, but required a finishing shot
Elk at 338 yards - one shot, went about 20 yards with one broken shoulder and both lungs destroyed

That's what I've come to expect from this grand old cartridge and a good 165 grain bullet moving smartly. My son uses the 58 grain version, with 165 grain Nosler Partitions in his rifle. He's had excellent success on whitetail, mule deer and black bear with it.

I'm using Nosler brass, CCI large rifle primers and am full-length resizing on RCBS dies. The load is max, according to Hodgdon, but over Nosler's specified max for 4350.

Regards, Guy

 

[Edge]

@Milehighshooter

This is also a Colt Light Rifle that has been back to Melvin Forbes for his lighter and stiffer Kevlar stock, trigger and firing pin.

The rifle is a hammer with 165gr Nosler Partitions and H4350 as well as the 130TTSX with H4895 @ 3300+ (will need to back it down a grain).

@Guy M

Depending on the bullet/case, 58-59 gr of H4350 is also my go-to load. These peregrines are very long and doubt I can get enough H4350 in the case without major compression issues. H4895 with the Peregrine 165 is giving me the velocity I'm targeting, will see how it shoots as I loaded up 4 rounds each of 49, 49.5 and 50gr H4895. Just need to find some time to hit the range!

Edge

 

[Edge]

Here'a a thread I started as I was going through my stash of 30 cal bullets. You can see how long the Peregrines are compared to other bullets.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/30-cal-bullet-quiz.41840/

 

[Ridgewalker]

I really like the 30-06 especially with the 165 Sierra Game King HPBT. Taken several white tails, mule deer and elk. But the newer monolithic bullets seem to do a bit better in dark timber. Haven’t tried the Peregines in it, so I’ll be following you in this.
Thanks for the info!

 

[leslie hetrick]

I use the nosler 165 gr BT with 55 gr imr 4350 in a Remington 7600 pump carbine and it,s one my favorite deer rifles.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I use the nosler 165 gr BT with 55 gr imr 4350 in a Remington 7600 pump carbine and it,s one my favorite deer rifles.

I also have a Rem 7600 in 30-06, but I use either 180 or 200 Nosler Partitions for dark timber elk. Easy carry, fast handling with a Leupold VX-II 2-7x.

Edge, I have a Magnetospeed chrono as well, but it seems to change the point of impact on all my spindly barrels, ie Kimbers, Tikka Lites, etc. have you noticed that?

 

[Milehighshooter]

Edge,

Fantastic! I had always thought about doing that with my CLR but, someone wanted to pay me more then I paid for it, so I obliged haha.

The first load I used was the 130 TSX (TTSX were not to be found when I was working up, so settled for TSX) in front of IMR4064. Groups were ok, hovering right around the 1" mark. It did its job on an early rifle mule deer hunt, and I got my velvet antlers. I switched over to the 165 for elk season, also using 4064. That rifle REALLY liked 4064. Great guns. Kind of wish I still had it, but at the same time I have finally switched all my hunting rifles over to Model 70's (and a few 98's) and with MPI stocks I'm just a wee bit over the CLR weight. I'm sure your Melvinized rifle is quite a bit lighter.

 

[Edge]

I also have a Rem 7600 in 30-06, but I use either 180 or 200 Nosler Partitions for dark timber elk. Easy carry, fast handling with a Leupold VX-II 2-7x.

Edge, I have a Magnetospeed chrono as well, but it seems to change the point of impact on all my spindly barrels, ie Kimbers, Tikka Lites, etc. have you noticed that?

Have noticed the Magnetospeed will change the POI and groups may not be indicative of groups without. I will usually do a velocity ladder like I did above to find max pressure load in that rifle and back off a grain. From there I'll shoot groups to find a node and not worry about the velocity unless it's way off from where I want to be velocity wise. This rifle almost always shoots everything well pushed hard. Once I have a good node I'll shoot 5 for an average velocity and use it as a guide for ballistics and verify at range.

The magnetospeed is easier than a traditional chronograph but it still has same safety requiring attention as the fastening will loosen after a few shots. Starting to think hard about Labradar.

http://www.mylabradar.com/

 

[Edge]

Edge,

Fantastic! I had always thought about doing that with my CLR but, someone wanted to pay me more then I paid for it, so I obliged haha.

The first load I used was the 130 TSX (TTSX were not to be found when I was working up, so settled for TSX) in front of IMR4064. Groups were ok, hovering right around the 1" mark. It did its job on an early rifle mule deer hunt, and I got my velvet antlers. I switched over to the 165 for elk season, also using 4064. That rifle REALLY liked 4064. Great guns. Kind of wish I still had it, but at the same time I have finally switched all my hunting rifles over to Model 70's (and a few 98's) and with MPI stocks I'm just a wee bit over the CLR weight. I'm sure your Melvinized rifle is quite a bit lighter.

I believe the stock change shed around 6 ounces or so but I added it back in with a Zeiss FL 2.5-10x50 with illuminated # 60 reticle replacing a 3-9x40 Leupold. Basically have one rifle that I can use for stalking as well as sitting over a green field at night and be able to count points on a deer rack at last light. Wife and I will be using it in Africa this summer.

 

[Edge]

After a few weeks on the road taking up all my time, was finally able to shoot a few groups at the range:

165gr Peregrine
Lapua brass
CCI BR2
H4895
OAL 3.300

3 loads, 4 shots each

Load #1 (Shot #2 may have been the rear post of my rest sliding off the end of the bench)

Load #2 - slight increase in powder charge

Load #3, slight increase in charge again, 50 grains H4895

Group opening up on load #3. To me, load #1 or #2 is perfectly acceptable for hunting. I’ll probably load up some rounds and vary the seating depth to see if it will tighten up. I still have a few months to work out a load before the Zimbabwe Safari in July.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Edge, I have never used H4895 except for reduced loads, but yours are looking good. I had always used H4350 with my 243 and 30-06 until the 6.5 Creedmore came out. Everyone buys it up quickly. So I have been experimenting with H414. It is a little faster and about $4/lb cheaper. It drops much more accurately than H4350. So far I am having pretty good results.

 

[Edge]

View attachment 221970 View attachment 221971 View attachment 221972 Edge, I have never used H4895 except for reduced loads, but yours are looking good. I had always used H4350 with my 243 and 30-06 until the 6.5 Creedmore came out. Everyone buys it up quickly. So I have been experimenting with H414. It is a little faster and about $4/lb cheaper. It drops much more accurately than H4350. So far I am having pretty good results.

I try and stick to the “Temp Insensitve” powders as much as possible. I’ve heard good things about H414/Win760. I do my load development in Florida and don’t want to worry about re-sighting when I go hunting in Alabama (where it can be below freezing one day and the next afternoon be in the 70’s) NODAK, or PA...or Africa!

Nice groups!

 

[Edge]

Had a chance to hit the range over the weekend, of course the only time available and it was intermittent rain showers.

Loaded the 165 peregrines at the same powder charge but started at 3.300” and increased by .10 until I reached 3.330”.

Since it was beginning to sprinkle I took 2 shots to catch the velocity with the magnerospeed. I was interested in seeing how the longest OAL shot so I began the shooting with load #4 and worked my way in to load #1. It was raining pretty good for the last two loads, those being #2 and #1. Load #1 should have been much tighter as this was very close to the best group I shot last time out, but I was out of time and had to head home.

Not sure what I’m going to try next if anything, maybe swap primers to Federal or Winchester and see if the loads tighten up. I could go shorter than 3.300” and see if there is a change.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I think loads 3 and 4 are telling you to seat them a bit long. I think I'd build up 3 or 4 rounds in each exactly as you did for this go around. Not suggesting you don't tinker with primers too, but I'd see if those groups will repeat, they're not bad and the one shot in #4 touching the red dot may be the result of the guy pulling the trigger.

 

[Nosler guy]

Most of the 30-06's I've worked with like the 165 gr. bullets better than 180's and 4350IMR is just about always the top choice for both accuracy and velocity

 

[Edge]

I think loads 3 and 4 are telling you to seat them a bit long. I think I'd build up 3 or 4 rounds in each exactly as you did for this go around. Not suggesting you don't tinker with primers too, but I'd see if those groups will repeat, they're not bad and the one shot in #4 touching the red dot may be the result of the guy pulling the trigger.

Agree, will repeat 3.320 and 3.330 loads. Looking back at the other veleoicty groups, seems to be a pattern of one shot lower than the others...trigger puller needs to be more consistent or possibly neck tension differences.

 

[Edge]

Most of the 30-06's I've worked with like the 165 gr. bullets better than 180's and 4350IMR is just about always the top choice for both accuracy and velocity

I prefer the “H” variety of 4350 and agree it gives good velocity and groups. I may see how much I can squeeze in the case with these long bullets. Peregrine recommends using a slightly faster powder with their bullets.

 

[Edge]

Back to the range this morning, and very interesting results:

H4895 @ 49.7gr for all loads.

Load 1: 3.330 repeat with BR2
Load 2: 3.320 repeat with BR2

Changed to a new box of 165 Peregrines from a different lot. The OAL was 3.325 with me touching the die from Load 2 above. Peregrine needs to do a better job on lot to lot consistency!

Load 3: 3.325 with Fed210M
Load 4: 3.325 with WLR

Primers make a big difference. I’m now convinced the CCI BR2’s are an issue. If you go back and look at precious groups I have posted, many times there is a shot or two that comes in an inch low. I was convinced it was the shooter causing the low shots, I’m not convinced now!

The WLRs shot great, will load another 5 rounds and repeat.