Author Topic: 8mm reduced load with H4895? (Read 3229 times)

bluebayou · « **on:** September 18, 2007, 07:49:51 AM »

Has anyone ever made a youth/chick load for the 8mm? I have to use light rifle loads. I don't see why it couldn't be done like with other youth loads. I am thinking the 150 Hornady SP or a similar bullet. Hodgdon shows a pretty broad range from 44 grains to 51 grains.

Since the 170gr Remington CoreLokt load is so slow because of pre-98 rifles, would it be suitable? I have never fired an 8mm and am still looking for a Yugo or Turk, should get one around Christmas.

Cayoot · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2007, 03:36:23 PM »

My standard load with 175 grn cast bullets is 16 grains of 2400 or 10 grains of Unique. Good accuracy and penitration on 4x4 inch posts. I haven't tried them with jacketed boolits cuz I don't shoot jacketed in my milsurps.

It should (in my warped way of thinking), work just fine for your jacketed bullets. Might have to add a grain or two cuz the jacket causes more friction resistance then lead.

bluebayou · « **Reply #2 on:** September 21, 2007, 08:49:35 PM »

I am not familiar with Alliant 2400 powder but will take a closer look at it. Thanks for info. That Unique powder keeps coming up though. I will have to go back to the books.

Cayoot · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2007, 01:38:01 AM »

I would suggest that if you are interested in the lower loads, you might want to lurk around the Cast Boolits forum:

www.castboolits.gunloads.com

There are many of us who hunt deer with 30 & 32 cal milsurps with cast bullets and push them with loads like what I just mentioned. Alot of wisdom and experience to tap into there if you just ask them. Great folks just like here.

Bary

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2007, 02:29:11 AM »

bluebayou: I don't quite recall what Hodgedons says about reduced loads but I think they drop to a 60% load density for reductions - but I'm not sure. If that is the case, my older Lyman manual shows bullets of 125 and 150 gn weight for the 8mm which, with reduced loads should be easy to shoot.

However, you can always buy either Winchester or Remington factory loads and wind up with something in the 30-30 neighborhood.

My Speer Manual lists reduced loads with IMR4198: 150 gn bullet/26 gn of 4198 for 1955'/sec and 22 gn for 1663'/sec. With the 170 gn slug: 23 gn 4198 gets 1642'/sec and 27 gn gets 1914'/sec. With the 200 gn slug: 24 gn 4198 gets 1459'/sec and 28 gn gets 1726'/sec. Rifle used was a VZ-24. HTH. Mikey.

jgalar · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2007, 03:04:46 AM »

The 16 grain Load of 2400 comes from an old Ed Harris article I posted when someone else was looking for 8mm loads. I also posted an Ed Harris article about using Red Dot for reduced loads. The Red Dot load was checked with lead and jacketed bullets the 2400 load wasn't. Both articles are lengthy so I don't want to repost them. I sent you the Red Dot article through private message.

bja105 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2007, 04:35:46 PM »

I used BlueDot. I use it for reduced loads in all my rifles. If its a powder you have on hand,I can look up my loads.

saltydog · « **Reply #7 on:** September 26, 2007, 03:24:52 AM »

Varget is also good if you are expecting temperature extremes.

Dan Chamberlain · « **Reply #8 on:** September 26, 2007, 09:50:57 AM »

I don't know if any of ya'll read the latest Guns and Ammo Military Surplus Weapons edition, but I have an article concerning milsurps and cast lead bullets in it that runs the gamut of different weapons and a few different loads. After doing the research, 2400 is the powder for my reduced cast lead loads.

I use 2400 with a 170 grain gas check cast bullet in my 8mm. 16 grains was giving me some blowback, so I upped it to 17 grains and it's a great load. I get just under 1700 fps and with the crummy Mauser sights it will shoot 3" all day long.

2400 isn't position sensitive so you don't have to use fillers. This is NOT a jacketed bullet load. Only cast lead!

Plenty of blast and enough recoil to let you know you're having fun. It would be a dandy lite whitetail load and I'd bet the pigs would find it a killer as well.

Dan

bluebayou · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2007, 04:58:34 PM »

I was looking at 2400......it would be handy for some other calibers too.

Position sensitivity is a big concern of mine. I have had some good success with my handloading overall. I am pretty thorough going up and down the load tree. Full cases seem to make consistent loads with Varget and H4831. I don't see much difference with light loads of H4895. (this is all in other calibers, by the way, not 8mm).

Thanks for all ideas. I need to get some cash coming in. We are having a yard sale this week so maybe I will catch some slack.

Thanks for the article, jgalar.

Dan Chamberlain · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2007, 03:27:20 AM »

Blue

This load of 16 or 17 grains of 2400 is wonderful in a large number of surplus firearms, including the Swiss K-31, the Russian Nagant and others in the .30 to .32 caliber range. No position sensitivity at all. It doesn't matter which way the barrel is pointing (though pointing "downrange" is the preferred direction.)

2400 also works extremely well in SKS and AK firearms with cast bullets, though I don't load for them and can't recommend a load. I know they function and the gas system remains clean and doesn't lead up.

Gotta love 2400.

Dan

Robert357 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2007, 08:07:50 PM »

Yes, I have done the 16 grains of 2400 and it works great for target shooting. Ed recommended something a bit more powerful for hunting. I have used it a lot for cast bullet shooting. Ed has another load he recommends for reduced jacketed bullets.

I have also done the H4895 reduced load for cast bullet shooting in a number of calibers. What the factory advised me, when I emailed them was take their recommended full power load for a given caliber and bullet weight and then cut it no less than in half and it will be fine for target shooting. Never had any ignition problems and never needed any filler.

The H-4895 youth hunting load is 60%, if I remember correctly, but using a jacketed bullet designed to expand at a much lower velocity, usually a bullet designed for use in a Thompson Contender pistol.

So the recommendation sort of has to do with whether you target shoot with cast lead bullets or want jacketed bullets to use for hunting.

Dan Chamberlain · « **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2007, 02:52:57 AM »

I wouldn't ignore the use of "cast" bullets for hunting either. A good reasonably hard cast bullet, with a gas check can be driven to 2000 fps which is just about where the original 8mm jacketed bullet was traveling. Out to 200 yards, that would be a great hunting load for medium game in the whitetail class.

Dan

454Puma · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2008, 07:44:21 AM »

My reduced load for 8X57 is 35 gr Varget with a Lee Cast 175 gr GC bullet. Runs at 1860 fps noticeable recoil but not abusive! Also use Unique 11.5 gr same bullet for about 1450 fps makes shoot the milsurp like shooting a 22lr!

S.S. · « **Reply #14 on:** September 15, 2008, 01:07:22 PM »

American factory loads are already reduced loads!

towpro · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2008, 05:41:56 AM »

If you call Hodgdons, I have a feeling they will tell you you can take the max listed charge (on there website) of H4895 X .6 and use that as a starting point for reduced loads.

But call them with the caliber in question, they are more then helpful.
I hear they used to have a reduced load chart on the website but took it down.

yooper77 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2008, 06:13:29 AM »

Take a read at this hodgdon link. http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

You simply take maximum load data for the bullet weight using only H-4895 powder, and multiply it by 60% gives you a starting load for youth (reduced) loads.

150 grain H-4895 max load of 51.0 X by 60% = 30.6

170 grain H-4895 max load of 49.0 X by 60% = 29.4

yooper77

ted65 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2008, 07:57:07 AM »

The 170 gr. Rem. CoreLokt ammo would be perfect for a kids shoulder. It's accurate and powerful enough for whitetails. The only thing is that it's expensive.

cbxboy · « **Reply #18 on:** September 18, 2008, 12:02:53 PM »

My only powder on hand is H4895 and I have not loaded a 8mm yet, will do so soon........but my point is I have used Hogdons website info of a "starter load" .6 of maximum and found it a dream come true.

I load primarily 30.06 at 30.6 and have found that shooting the old milsurps is a real pleasure. I also enjoy the reduced load in a 30.06 Lone Eagle.....I can actually shoot a good grouping now!! I would not hesitate for a second to work up an 8mm at .6 of maximum listed on Hogdons site. Crossreference appropriately of course.

The kids really like the .308 reduced load with a 125 gr Hornady. A puff cake and still lethal.

bluebayou · « **Reply #19 on:** September 19, 2008, 05:50:24 PM »

MY THREAD RISES FROM THE DEAD!!!!
BOOO HAH HAH

Seriously, I used the 60% rule of thumb with H4895 and made some very light 308 loads the other day coincidentally.

Strangely enough, the LOWEST load was 36.0 of H4895 with Sierra 150 SP Prohunters. This load had higher recoil and less soot on the neck of the cases. I think that I made it so low that there was overpressure. 36.5 and up were less accurate until 39.0 grains (that's where I stopped).

thanks for the input