Who here uses it & what is your experience like? I just ordered one for my Encore & am looking forward to it.

After talking with the folks at Barnes I was thinking of trying their 130 gr TSX to start with. Anybody have any good loads they would like to share?

Joe,
First Welcome to HH!
You are several hours south of me but still relatively close.
What animals are you looking to hunt with your new barrel and what distances would you like to be able to shoot them at consistently?

Ernie,
I will be going for deer, antelope, & elk. I figure about 250 yards tops but I would like to get to under 200. My last elk was taken @ about 125. The older I get the closer I like to get.

Some people might say the 130 TSX is light for elk but my first one was taken with a Speer 150 gr out of my .300 mag. I talked to the technicians @ Barnes and they seem to think it is OK.

I used to live in Gillette. I was a mechanic at Barth-Hanna Motors. Like your signature line.

I would start with H-4350 myself.
At those distances, it will do a great job on all of animals mentioned. You will have performance similar to what a 308 Winchester does in a rifle.
I don't have a problem with a 130 grain tripleshock for elk.
The main thing with the TSX is if your barrel likes them or not.
If not, the Accubond or Partition (heavier weight) would work great too.
It has been snowing most of the day here.
Using your pack as a rest will get you nice and steady for those distances. If you do all of your shooting from field positions once you get your load developed, you will have no problems.
What kind of optic are you considering?

I have the 30-06 JDJ in the Encore, which is a bit faster than the 30-06. From personal experience, I like a heavier weight and heavier built bullet for elk and if my memory serves me correctly, I have killed about a half-dozen elk with the Nosler 165 partitions, and quite a few deer.

As stated, I like the same bullet OR an Accubond for deer. The 150 Ballistic Tip is also a good bullet but tends to be more explosive, I would use it on deer but not elk.

I have no experience with the Barnes 130 TSX, and understand that they are tough bullets. But again, I like a heavier bullet.

I use Re-15 with the 165's.

Ernie
I have a Simmons ProHunter 4X32 setting here ready to go. All I have to do is get the barrel & mount it.

Gregg
I have been thinking of using RL-15 for starters. My .375 really likes it.

Welcome, I have a 30-06 encore that I picked up used last summer. My load for deer is 47 gr. imr 4895, rem. brass, win. L.R. primer and a hornady 130 gr. sp #3020. This load works great on our N.Y. deer.

I have a .30/06 barrel for my TC as well. Its pretty fun to shoot and you definitely know you have shot something when it goes off. I shoot 150gr bullets over 46 gr of IMR-4895. Nothing like a .30/06 pistol, thats for sure. Got a Bushnell Scope on it, has worked ok to date.

I am using a 150SST and a "max" load of Varget in my two 30-06's. They should give you 2700fps. FWIW

Thanks folks. This gives me some good places to start.

While I haven't owned a pistol barrel in an Encore, I did have a 24" rifle bbl, and it shot great with H4831.

I have had excellent results with H4350 in a 30-06JDJ and a 30-06AI. Both have shot great with this powder. I've also have great results in the 30-06 JDJ with IMR4064, Varget, and H4831.

My 30-06AI bbl has shown a liking to H4350 so far, with RL17 acceptable.

My bullets have primarily been Nosler 168's/165's Ballistic Tips and Hornady 165 SST's, with the occasional Nosler 150 Ballistic Tip.

I did hunt during the 2010 Fall hunting season, and killed a buck, with the Berger 168 VLD using the 30-06AI barrel. Worked real well.

You will like the 30-06 bbl. Should work great. One of my favorite cartridges.

Regards,

Rog

Are you talking about rifle barrels or pistols?

Welcome to HHM!

I should have mentioned they were/are 15" pistol barrels in 30-06 JDJ ( rechambered 308) and the 30-06AI is a 15" MGM bbl (currently back at MGM to become a 30-280AI).

I've also had great results in the JDJ version with RL22.

Rog
(thanks for the welcome, though I've been a member for a long time- don't know why my post count is so low...)

OK! Now please share what is the main difference(s) between the 30-06 JDJ and 30-06 AI.

Thanks!

Main difference is case capacity. Volume is in favor of JDJ. Of course others will say dies are cheaper for the AI but I contend that has nothing to do with the cartridge itself. I have the JDJ version in a 15" barrel and use the 165 AB with H414/W760 for a velocity of 2750fps. Hope this helps.

I like those balistics, Care to share the powder charge. Down the road I might have my barrel rechambered if it will do that good.

The AI version is a 40 degree shoulder, with minimal case taper (0.454" at the shoulder based on Sierra's and Nosler's loading manuals). The neck length of the AI version is quite long (don't remember the exact measurement off the top of my head...).

One advantage of the 30-06 AI version is that standard factory 30-06 Spr. ammo can be fired in the AI chamber.

The JDJ version is a minimal case taper, short 0.250" neck and 60 degree shoulder. Holds more powder (in fact JD's load data puts it right there, in terms of case capacity, with the 300RSAUM...).

Velocity wise, the Ackley version, at least in my experience is right there with the JDJ version. I've been able to virtually duplicate the ballistics I got from my older 30-06 JDJ rechambered T/C bbl from my MGM 30-06AI bbl. Some of that can be attributed to the older style rifling in use by T/C at that time (created more pressure...). JD's bbls reportedly get a bit more velocity than the older T/C bbls (ones with equal lands/grooves).

From the JDJ version, I was able to push 168 Nosler BT's at 2715 FPS using IMR4064. H4350 with the same Nosler 168 BT's would chrono slower at around 2625fps. 150's at 2850 FPS (one load chrono'd 2915 fps but was too hot...), and I stopped at 2550 FPS on 180's even though I wasn't at max. Couldn't keep my scope from shifting with the 180's, even with the T'SOB.

My 30-06AI will do a solid 2728 fps with Nosler 168's and H4831sc. Using H4350 and the same Nosler 168 BT bullet, I can get 2691 FPS, while the exact same load of H4350 and the Hornady 165 SST bullet chrono'd 2650 FPS. Neither of these two loads are at Max charge wt. Using RL17 at a load that shows absolutely no pressure signs did 2650 FPS with the Berger 168 VLD. I hunted with this load last fall. I've not shot any other bullet weight from the 30-06AI.

I am having MGM (as I mentioned in an earlier post) modify my existing 30-06 AI bbl to become a 30-280AI. This will allow me to use the excellent Nosler 280AI brass, simply necked up to 30 cal, with no fireforming. It will hold a bit more powder, and "could" see a slight increase in velocity over the 30-06AI chambering... Main reason I'm doing it is to eliminate fireforming. I can't wait to get the barrel back...

The 30-06 would be a great round, and handloaded, should be able to beat the 308 Win by ~100 fps or so in 15" bbls.

Regarding reloading dies, my 30-06 JDJ dies (Hornady) were $68 from SSK. My 30-06 AI dies (Redding) were $65 or $68 (can't remember the exact cost...) from, I think, Midsouth Shooters Supply or Natchez (I getting CRS ... cant remember stuff... :))

Regards,

Rog

Buttermilk,
That is the kind of facts I like to see. Did you ever do and 150 gr bullets out of your JDJ? I am curious as to what the 150 Nosler Partition would do.

150's at 2850 FPS (one load chrono'd 2915 fps but was too hot...),

The above was what I got from the JDJ. Never did much with the 150's as I wanted to shoot the 165/168 bullets.

Rog

That is pretty good numbers and good info to boot.
I used to have a XP chambered in 7.82 Patriot 15.75" barrel (Not safe for an Encore), and it would run the 150 NBT's at 3001 fps.
Talk about a K-Smacko on big game

That is gettin up in .308 Win rifle territory!

That Patriot is smoking those 150 pills out pretty quick

(used to be a fellow in Claremore, OK that built a few of the Lazzeroni chambered rifles).

In terms of maximum velocity, it would probably be hard to be the JDJ line of cartridges on the Encore, although other rounds could duplicate their muzzle velocity, or get really close.

My 15" 280AI would do 140 Nosler AB's @ 2750 fps accurately and with IMR4831 would do 2850fps but not accurately. JD's 280JDJ is rated to do 2850FPS with 140's.

Regards,
Rog

R-15, IMR4895/H4895, IMR3031 and IMR4064. All Top Performers for 130 TSX. If I was to pick a starting place for the 30-06 and the 130 TSX it would be R-15 or H4895. I use 4064 and the 165 TSX.

You will be better served with a faster burn rate on that shorter barrel with the standard 30-06. R-15 should be excellent for this.

Bob

I tried some loads with a 150 gr. Sierra over 51 gr. or IMR 4064 because that is the components I had on hand.

The wind was to heavy to get a group.

I am looking forward to trying the 130 TSX's.

If you have some H4350 on hand, I'd certainly try that, or any of the other 4350's.

In my guns I've had the slower powders work just as good as the faster ones for both accuracy and velocity.

Regards
Rog

Also, I have Always gotten good accuracy from All my T/C bbls with Nosler BT or AB's. May want to try those as well.

I have never found a handload that out shoot plain 150Gr Rem. core-lokts in my 30.06 T/C

Joe,

Try 59.0 gr of IMR 4350 with 150gr or 130gr bullets, it always works very well for me.

Adam

I have some loads right now that I need to test. If they don't pan out I might give that load a whirl.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 165 Nosler Balistic or Hornady tip in from of the traditional IMR powders. Heck, rem CoreLokts work well too.

I have an 06 barrel I rechambered to 300win but in both calibers the Nosler Accubond has worked great for me. I've used it and the BT in calibers from.223 to 375 and they have always been accurate. In fact I've always ended up going with the first load I tried because there was no reason to try more. I hit an elk at 250 yds with that 180gr accubond and although I blew the shot it kept him from going in where fast as I bruised his spine. I hit the back of the hump about an inch above the spine and it penetrated about 12" of solid muscle and was in the off side of the hide. The bullet retained 160gr and did massive damage unfortunately to the backstrap.

Gerry has a good point about bullets. Premium bullets are nice, but "standard" bullets work just as good and countless animals have been killed with them. My favorite 30-06 load is a 180gr Sierra Gameking over 56.0gr of IMR 4350. I won't keep a rifle if it doesn't shoot that load accurately. Three years ago, I had a Barnes 180gr TSX that failed to open on impact at 154 yards, and that deer ended up getting away from me.

I too have seen barnes bullets fail to open up. Some were picture
perfect mushroom's and others looked like you could load and fire them again.

Shortgun

X3 on the "old style" bullets. I tried the new design Winchester Power Max bonded 150 gr. ammo in my 30/06. They were extremely accurate, and worked great on deer. Good price at Wal Mart too. I had some 30+ year old Remington 150 gr. Bronze Point ammo that I decided to compare. It was interesting that the old R-P BP ammo shot to exactly the same point of aim as the new WW ammo, and registered only 4 fps less on the chronograph! God Bless GI Ammo cans!