.30-06 Ammo

[thebman80]

I recently purchased a Remington 7400 30-06. Yes, I know "Jam-Master". But for $100 (Divorced wife getting rid of things), I couldn't pass it up. The exterior of the rifle is fantastic. I broke it down and did a thorough clean and lube on everything, I clean my guns after every use regardless of whether it's been fired. The previous owner kept it in great shape. I contacted Remington regarding its background and discovered it is a 2nd run 1981 production model. Being as this is my first Rifle in this caliber for MN Whitetail, i'm searching for recommendations on ammo.

I currently shoot either a bolt .243 or a Win 94 .30-30 (Hornady LeveRevolutions) and I've tried just about every factory ammo out there. But I've heard that these Remington Semi-Autos are picky about their ammo and have jamming issues sometimes due to the wrong ammo being used. I'd like to avoid that situation.

So here's my question. I'm not into reloading so I strictly use factory ammunition. Does anybody have any history with this rifle and have any recommendations for ammo to use?

Thanks in advance

[doubledrop]

no history sorry, but Remington ammo may ba a good place to start.

[okiebuck]

I shoot an even older 742 model in .30-06 and use Remington Core-lokt 180 gr. ammo. If you keep that gun clean and feed it that ammo, you will never have a jam. Great buy on that gun!

[thebman80]

Thanks for the info. I just picked up some Core-lokts, Win Super X Power Point, Hornady's, and some Win Ballistic Silvertips. I'll post back with what performs the best. I got 150gr. 168gr. 180gr. The Hornady's and the Silvertips are some sweet looking shells.

[hunterbobb]

I have a 7400 in 270 and have never had a problem with it. I think the reputation as a gun that jams a lot came from the older model 742. I think Remington has fixed that problem with the 7400 and I'm pretty sure you shouldn't have any problems.

If it was me I would be using Remington core locts in 150 grs. IMO the 165gr and the 180gr bullets are bigger than what you need for whitetail deer.

You paid $100.00 for it???? Forget everything I just said. The gun is a piece of crap and I would unload it as fast as possible. Since I am such a nice guy I'll take it off your hands for $150.00 :yes:

:gun2:

[thebman80]

Shot it last night boys and she never jammed once using all the test shells above. Here's how they turned out:

All testing was at 100yds,

Win 150gr. Super X Power Point (7stars out of 10) - These felt really nice but the grouping varied from 2.5" - 3.5".

Win 180gr. Supreme Ballistic Silvertips (8-10stars) - Out of all the shells fired, these were by far the best feeling shells but at 100yds they were consistantly 2"higher than any other shell. I can work with this if it were the only ammo that I would ever fire but I'd hate to have to re-site my scope everytime I used a different ammo.

Remington 150gr. Core-lokts. (10-10) - These are great shells. They grouped at 1.25" to 1.5" which is decent for me. No complaints.

But the hands down winner is the Hornady Ballistic Tips. 165gr. The were .75 to 1.375" consistently through an entire box. 20 shells later I could but a foam coffee cup over the entire group.

My choice is Hornady's or the Core-lokts. They both were overly acceptable for my use.

Hope that clears up any questions you might have had.

I truelly don't think that the previous owner put many shells through this thing. I love it!

[jesse8953]

Back when I was 18,I had a 7400 in a 30-06 with the real glossy finish.Never jammed but kicked like a mule.I always shot remington shells out of it.Glad to hear you are having fun with it.

[mikewink]

I've got the same rifle and shoot the Remington Cor-loks out of it, and group fairly well. I tried several different Federal rounds (power lok, & fusion) out of it but couldn't get it to dial in. Not sure if they were a little hot for it or what.

[okiebuck]

Shot it last night boys and she never jammed once using all the test shells above. Here's how they turned out:

All testing was at 100yds,

Win 150gr. Super X Power Point (7stars out of 10) - These felt really nice but the grouping varied from 2.5" - 3.5".

Win 180gr. Supreme Ballistic Silvertips (8-10stars) - Out of all the shells fired, these were by far the best feeling shells but at 100yds they were consistantly 2"higher than any other shell. I can work with this if it were the only ammo that I would ever fire but I'd hate to have to re-site my scope everytime I used a different ammo.

Remington 150gr. Core-lokts. (10-10) - These are great shells. They grouped at 1.25" to 1.5" which is decent for me. No complaints.

But the hands down winner is the Hornady Ballistic Tips. 165gr. The were .75 to 1.375" consistently through an entire box. 20 shells later I could but a foam coffee cup over the entire group.

My choice is Hornady's or the Core-lokts. They both were overly acceptable for my use.

Hope that clears up any questions you might have had.

I truelly don't think that the previous owner put many shells through this thing. I love it!

Great review! I am glad you are enjoying the gun, they really are a well made firearm. I would have a hard time getting rid of my 742 for anything else!

[Mooresville Rocket]

The old Remington Game Master 760 was actually a very reliable and accurate rifle for it's time. It's free float barrel design was more accurate and more reliable per a caliber of manufacturer - then most bolt action rifles of it's time.

The 7600 - was a cheaply made, inferior reproduction of the old and reliable 760. The 7600 first came out as the Model 6, only hunters did not like the name Model 6 and refused to buy it, so Remington changed the name and it will be there until the company goes out of business.

The Semi Automatic rifle was a lesser model of the same gun with a semi automatic action - and poorer ballistics.

For the most part, most Semi Automatic rifles groups best when kept below maximum chamber pressures.

The 30 - 06 Govt, which was first designed in the early part of the 1900's and first adopted by the military in 1903, which was then improved in 1906 - hence the name thirty ought six, was first designed to shoot 220 grain bullets.

The people who were on the board for the military were often times veterans of the great Civil War and thought that bigger was better.

It was later found that the best accuracy was achieved using 150 grain bullets. Shooting a 180 grain bullet - heavy load, in a gun designed with a accuracy of about 3 to 4 inches for the pattern or group as you would call it - is like trying to hunt rabbits with snow balls. Unless you get really close, I wouldn't expect too much out of that gun and I do not believe that reloading will improve accuracy very much either.

Two things to remember is that when the first round is chambered by hand and not by firing, the gun will shoot the first round in a different place then all the other rounds which were fed by the action of the gun being shot.

The other thing to remember is that a clean barrel will not hit the target in the same place as a barrel that has the residue of several other rounds shot through it.

The outside temperature also plays a part in accuracy. A gun shoots differently at 70* then it does at 0* outside.

If I were you, I would find which round shot the best and then buy 10 or more boxes of shells - from the same manufacturer of the same lot. That way you would know what the gun was going to do for the next 10 years or so.

I would not buy one box per a year and try to sight it in from year to year, hoping that the manufacturer holds the same tolerances and standards from one year to the next.

[hunterbobb]

The old Remington Game Master 760 was actually a very reliable and accurate rifle for it's time. It's free float barrel design was more accurate and more reliable per a caliber of manufacturer - then most bolt action rifles of it's time.

The 7600 - was a cheaply made, inferior reproduction of the old and reliable 760. The 7600 first came out as the Model 6, only hunters did not like the name Model 6 and refused to buy it, so Remington changed the name and it will be there until the company goes out of business.

The Semi Automatic rifle was a lesser model of the same gun with a semi automatic action - and poorer ballistics.

For the most part, most Semi Automatic rifles groups best when kept below maximum chamber pressures.

The 30 - 06 Govt, which was first designed in the early part of the 1900's and first adopted by the military in 1903, which was then improved in 1906 - hence the name thirty ought six, was first designed to shoot 220 grain bullets.

The people who were on the board for the military were often times veterans of the great Civil War and thought that bigger was better.

It was later found that the best accuracy was achieved using 150 grain bullets. Shooting a 180 grain bullet - heavy load, in a gun designed with a accuracy of about 3 to 4 inches for the pattern or group as you would call it - is like trying to hunt rabbits with snow balls. Unless you get really close, I wouldn't expect too much out of that gun and I do not believe that reloading will improve accuracy very much either.

Two things to remember is that when the first round is chambered by hand and not by firing, the gun will shoot the first round in a different place then all the other rounds which were fed by the action of the gun being shot.

The other thing to remember is that a clean barrel will not hit the target in the same place as a barrel that has the residue of several other rounds shot through it.

The outside temperature also plays a part in accuracy. A gun shoots differently at 70* then it does at 0* outside.

If I were you, I would find which round shot the best and then buy 10 or more boxes of shells - from the same manufacturer of the same lot. That way you would know what the gun was going to do for the next 10 years or so.

I would not buy one box per a year and try to sight it in from year to year, hoping that the manufacturer holds the same tolerances and standards from one year to the next.

I'm surprised that someone who is obviously as knowledgeable as you, is only firing one box of ammo a year.

:gun2:

[Mooresville Rocket]

When you can hit a dime at 200 yards, you don't need to waste rounds shooting at a target.

All of my rifles with the exception of the Model 6 Remington 270 are tack drivers. The Model 6 has a Leupold 3 x 9 scope and is probably the worst scope ever made - I think they call it the Rifleman.

I am probably the only person you will ever meet that rebarreled a Remington Gamemaster 760.

The gun safe probably has 60 boxes of rifle ammo and there is several 50 caliber ammo cans full of .22 shells.

I do most of my fancy shooting with a Browning Gold Hunter or a Remington 870 Super Magnum, and I reload shotgun shells 10 boxes at a time.

If you hunt small game as much as I do and you use the same style of gun for both, after a while it just becomes second nature that you pull up the gun, cheek the stock, push the safety in and squeeze the trigger.

The Browning A Bolt Medallion that I have has a Bushnell Elite 3200 scope on it and can hit a 3 inch bullseye at 500 yards and I can put 5 rounds inside of a 50 cent piece at that range.

Anything further then 500 yards and it isn't hunting in my book it is just sniping.. I would need a good 45 power scope on my .300 Winchester Magnum to shoot further then 500 yards. My eye's are not as good as they were 20 years ago.

[jesse8953]

When you can hit a dime at 200 yards, you don't need to waste rounds shooting at a target.

All of my rifles with the exception of the Model 6 Remington 270 are tack drivers. The Model 6 has a Leupold 3 x 9 scope and is probably the worst scope ever made - I think they call it the Rifleman.

I am probably the only person you will ever meet that rebarreled a Remington Gamemaster 760.

The gun safe probably has 60 boxes of rifle ammo and there is several 50 caliber ammo cans full of .22 shells.

I do most of my fancy shooting with a Browning Gold Hunter or a Remington 870 Super Magnum, and I reload shotgun shells 10 boxes at a time.

If you hunt small game as much as I do and you use the same style of gun for both, after a while it just becomes second nature that you pull up the gun, cheek the stock, push the safety in and squeeze the trigger.

The Browning A Bolt Medallion that I have has a Bushnell Elite 3200 scope on it and can hit a 3 inch bullseye at 500 yards and I can put 5 rounds inside of a 50 cent piece at that range.

Anything further then 500 yards and it isn't hunting in my book it is just sniping.. I would need a good 45 power scope on my .300 Winchester Magnum to shoot further then 500 yards. My eye's are not as good as they were 20 years ago.

Again with the "ME,ME,ME and how great I am." No one cares!

[Mooresville Rocket]

Accuracy load for a Remington Gamemaster 30/06 is 58 grains of IMR 4350, Sierra or Hornady 150 gr. PSP Boattail bullets, CCI 200 primers and a light crimp. Full length resized and trimmed to minimum length. You should just see the cannelure when you seat your bullet.

Military brass holds less powder then does standard rifle casings so you have to watch your chamber pressures when you switch between the two.

.270 Winchester - shoots best with a 130 gr. Hornady, Winchester, or Sierra PSP Boattail, 55.5 gr. of IMR 4350 and CCI 200 primers and a light crimp. That should be a factory duplicate load.

All bullets of the same weight will hit the target in the same place with the same load of powder behind it at 100 yards.

I do have one Gamemaster 760 BDL Deluxe .270 Winchester, that is set up to shoot 140 gr Hornady / Sierra bullets and is sighted in to hit a 1 inch bulls-eye 5 times at 200 yards and has a group of .45 at that range. It will put the first two bullets in the same hole at 200 yards and the worst it ever shot was a figure 8 with the first two shots at that range.

I actually gave that gun to my dad a couple of years ago. He fell out of a tree-stand onto his rifle and bent the barrel on his .270 Gamemaster. When I showed him what it would do at 200 yards, he put my rifle back in the gun cabinet - because he refused to use 140 gr bullets to kill a deer. Not many rifles can sit in a gun cabinet for 5 years and be pulled out and still hit the same place they did 5 years before no matter if it is 70* outside or zero.

Factory ammo for the 30/06 is not as powerful as .270 ammo due to the fact that factory ammo has to be loaded below maximum pressure for the 30/06 due to the fact that the factory has to take into consideration the round has been around since 1906 and not all metals used in the manufacture of the guns that shoots caliber of rifle is strong enough to be able to handle a maximum amount of chamber pressure.

The .270 Winchester first came out in 1925 and all the rifles made since that time were of a high quality, and is strong enough to handle a maximum chamber pressure load.

Once you understand the basic's of ballistics's and rifle design and shoot thousands of rounds, as I have, you don't even have to think before you reach into your gun cabinet to choose which gun you are going to hunt with that day.

I already know what my guns are capable of doing and I can just grab a box of shells out of the cabinet that it is sighted in for and go hunting without having to worry if the gun will hit where I aim or not.

When people shoot's hundreds of rounds a year, all they are doing is wearing out the barrel.

Edited December 17, 2009 by Mooresville Rocket

[jesse8953]

:offtopic:again!You must stop stealing peoples threads!This thread is about a Remington 7400 and factory 30-06 shells!

[Mooresville Rocket]

The 7400 and the 7600 is basically the same rifle with the same barrel and almost the same ballistics.

Anyone that wants to develop a load that shoots better then those loads - can feel free to do so.

All I did was posted ballistics data necessary to understand what kind of accuracy can be expected with either round and either rifle.

The Model 740 / 742 Woodsmaster was never know as a jammaster and only a fool would not maintain their rifle, that's the only way you will have problems with it.

The 740 and 742 used a clip which was the same identical clip as was used in the 760 Gamemaster and the same clip that is used in the 7600.

[muzzy1]

great deal on that gun,i own one and have never had any problems jamming...

[Washi]

9 times out of 10 the cause of one of those jamming is magazine/clip related. Usually from the sides getting dented in or a lip getting bent by dropping or even sitting on the mag/clip. The older all metal mag/clips were made out of better metal and were much less likely to do this than the newer ones with the plastic bottom. The metal just seems too soft on the newer ones.

[redkneck]

My dad shot a 742 for years in the 30-06. A real reliable gun that never jammed on him that I know of. The first gun he bought my brother was the 7400 in the '06. It was definitely a jammer, but what we found was to just keep the thing clean and you'd rarely have that issue. You got a great deal on the gun, congrats.

Just make the first shot count and you won't need to worry about jamming.

[killabuck]

i to own a model 7400 and a model 742 remington nadI use remington core lokt 150 grains. I had jamming issues with both guns until i went to that ammo. Another thing I would check into would be another clip.

Edited December 26, 2009 by killabuck
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[Sweatty09]

30 06 Ammo

i have had good success with my nef tracker 2 slug gun i am thinking of going up to the ultra slug hunter which one would you guys prefer and what ammo should i use and any info on a good scope for it would be greatly appreciated , i like the tracker 2s i dropped 2 does from 123 yards with it a couple seasons ago but my eye sight isnt good enough to see the iron sights as good so im thinking of going up to the scoped model

[BrandonBowling21]

i only use .243 to deer hunt with but when i went elk hunting i used an 30-06 and used hornedy shell!