220gr Sierra HPBT in .30-06

I need some data with IMR4064 and this bullet.

I've found 220gr data, but it's all for round nose bullets.

I plan to start at 40grs and work up to a good load, but can't find an accurate overall length. I've found variances from 3.1-3.450

I seated the first 3 at 3.25, but I can fix that easy, figure I should stop there until I get a definitive answer. I checked all the manuals I have and online and can't find information on this bullet for the .30-06.

3.45 sounds like the max or close to it for SAAMI specs. That is also about where to look for functioning through the mag for the 30-06, which for lots of bullets I let functioning mag length dictate OAL the 220gr HPBT is not that depth sensitive of a bullet as far as distance to lands as say a Berger VLD design.

There is lots of data for the 220gr round nose that and those bullets have been loaded for years in the 30-06 and work well for shorter ranges on game. One thing with their bullet profile they are shorter than the Sierra 220gr HPBT bullets at 1.489 TTor something like that.

If both bullets are seated to the same OAL the longer bullet will takeup 2 to 3 grains of case capacity than the RN bullets. That is being figured with 3.45 inch OAL. So adjust your powder charge accordingly. Starting at 40gr of IMR4064 it sounds like you have thought about that. Work up carefully from there.

Just curious why 4064 when there are slower burning powders that will easily yield more velocity unless you have a bunch of 4064 already but that leaves some performance on the table.

Good luck, start low and work up following pressure signs and let the gun tell you what it likes. Stay safe.

Remember advice is worth what you pay for it.

I have a couple boxes of the 220's, and a pound of 4064 that was setting on the shelf, leftover from some .30-30 loads a couple of years ago. I've since moved to a 4895 load for .30-30 that shoots better than I do.

Figure I'd run the 220's out with the 4064 so it has a purpose other than being used as a paperweight. No real use for the 220's, they were a sub-sonic .308 project that a buddy of mine was messing with and I ended up with a couple of boxes when he bought them.

Just seat the bullet close to the lands, or wherever fits in the chamber and feeds in your magazine. If you seat it out close to the lands, it will help it shoot better and get you more case capacity for powder, if 4064 is giving you a compressed load. Use the 220 RN data, and work up to a max load, or just over max while looking for pressure signs. Data shows a 1:11" twist or faster is needed. If you have a 1:12", you will want to push it as fast as possible to help with stability.