Loading down a 30-06 to 30-30 level

[jpuke]

I've got a great spot of private land to hunt on and have had success with my 45-70 for the last two seasons but I also have a 30-06 that I turned into a "scout" rifle and I'd like to use that rifle next year.  The trouble is that the landowner sees the 30-06 as a terribly powerful cartridge.  He has a 30-30 and is familiar and OK with it so I'd like to load down my 30-06 to 30-30 levels and use it next year. 

I'm a fairly seasoned handloader and cautious with every load but I've never loaded down before, most manuals encourage caution when working UP a load, nothing is mentioned about going down.  I've been looking at my Lyman manual at the loads meant for a 170 grain FP cast bullet and I'm wondering if I can use that data - but start 10% below what they say.  It looks like if I load around 40 grains of H4895 I'll get close to the 2200 fps with a 170 grain FP jacketed bullet.  Does anyone think this will be troublesome or dangerous for the rifle? 

[Reverend Recoil]

It will work just fine.  150 or 170 flat-nosed 30-30 bullets will provide reliable expansion at reduced speed.  You may also consider 30-06 youth reduced recoil loads as well.  My favorite powder for 30-06 reduced loads is Alliant, Reloader No. 7.

[jlchucker]

Check out data for the 170 grain cast bullets and AA5744 powder.  That combination can give you modest velocities and low recoil.  Don't feel undergunned with cast bullets.  Hunters were using them way back in the day before jacketed bullets took over, and nothing seemed to bounce off game back then.  You can get lots of info on using cast bullets in everything imaginable on the "cast boolets" website.  A great bunch of guys over there that have used cast bullets in everything, and on every kind of game imaginable. 170 grain cast bullets in an 06 is actually a pretty common combination, and has proven to be very accurate.   

[jpuke]

If I had a 170 grain mold I'd be casting them of pure lead and paper patching like I do with my 45-70.  I have some Hornady 170 grainers that I want to use up before I think about buying another mold.  Too many of them already and they aren't getting cheaper.

[R.W.Dale]

A start load of RE7 under a 125grn nosler ballistic tip makes a sweetheart 2700fps no recoiling load that still will get em out at 300yds. What suprises me is in spite of the low load density it shoots EXTREMELY well

[victorcharlie]

I loaded a very accurate load using 51.5 grains of win 760 and a sierra 150.  It shot less than an inch and chrono'ed at 2450 to 2550, not far from the 150 in a 3030.....