Reduced .308 Win loads

[tacotime]

Anyone having luck with reduced .308 loads for 150gr or 125gr?
 
Maybe the H4895 or SR4759 reductions?
 
I had a chance to try a reduced load of SR4759 with a 150 RN and the only two shots tested were in a half inch at 50 yds.  No chrono but I am guessing maybe 1,600fps.  Certainly mild.  Seems like a nice plinking round, or maybe the occasional surprise run-in with a coyote or small hog.

[goodconcretecolor]

I have had good luck with 4759 and 4198 in my 30-06. 19 gr. 4759 behind a 110 grain gives 30 carbine ballistics and has proven an accurate, pleasant to shoot practice and small game load. When my hunting load is sighted in at 3" high at 100yds., this load is dead on at the same range.

[kynardsj]

I've had excellent results with 125 gr bullets over Red Dot and Unique. Both very accurate. Shot them all the time in my 15" 308 Encore. Recoil was about on the 38 Special range.

[muznut 54]

I have used the Berrys 150gr 30/30 bullets and 8 to 10.5 grains of Titegroup in my CVA Apex, its very accurate.

[woodchukhntr]

I've used Ed Harris' "The Load" of 13.0 gr. of Red Dot with great success in the .308, .30-06, .303 British, 7.5 Swiss, and even the .45-70.  Check out these links:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,224744.0.html
http://curioandrelicfirearmsforum.yuku.com/topic/2704
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=2751

[tacotime]

I like how that sounds and will be trying some reduced loads.  Since I don't have Red Dot at the moment, is there an equivalent load for .308 using Unique perhaps?  For 125 or 150 gr jacketed.

[kynardsj]

My load was 15.0 gr of Unique behind 125 jacketed bullet. I usually loaded the HP bullets designed for use in a 30-30. I'm thinking maybe Speer makes them. This load in my Encore was more accurate than I am. Not sure of the FPS as I don't have a chrony but can tell you that they'll shoot thru a buck at 75 yards. My local shooting range only has a 100 yard distance and it really got boring shooting small targets against the clay backstop behind the targets. My wife, which is a so-so pistol shot, could bust clay pigeons on the backstop every shot.

[zoner]

i can speak for the 4759. I shoot it in a reduced power cast bullet load for a Winchester 32 Special. 15 grs 4759 and a 170 gr PBFN cast bullet gives me 1600 fps and it wants to shoot em in the same hole. Recoil i don't even notice. I also used Unique but stopped cuz it uses so little case volume.....I was afraid I might double charge a case. A double charge of fast pistol powder in a 32 Special or 308 is barely noticeable to the eye. A double charge of the 4759 won't even FIT in my 32 special case......safer

[LanceR]

Hodgdon clearly states that the do not recommend any powder other than H4895 for reduced loads.  In any cartridge listed for H4895 you can use down to60% of the maximum listed powder charge and get uniform ignition and velocities.  They also clearly state not to try reduced loads with any other powders or cartridges not listed for H4895.

The issue is that H4895 is the only Hodgdon marketed powder tested by them across the spectrum of cartridges.  There may be others that have worked or folks but that would be up to you to decide what you are comfortable with since there are a lot of recipes out there.

My experience with H4895 as a reduced load powder is that velocities change in a pretty linear fashion with powder charge changes but your mileage may vary.

On the Hodgdon home page there is a link to reduced loads and most of them are proven deer getters out to 200 yards.  Using H4895 I've loaded 150 grain Barnes TTSX, Remington 125 grain PSP and 125 grain Sierra Pro Hunter bullets for reduced .308 and 30-06 deer loads for folks with very good results.

Remington claims a 50% reduction in recoil for their managed recoil .308 125 grain load but I think they are comparing them to 150 grain loads.

Lance

[Larry L]

Not sure where you got the info about H4895 being the only recommended powder for reduced loads but apparently it's wrong. From their website under SR4759
This bulky powder really shines as a reduced load propellant for rifle cartridges. Its large grain size gives good loading density for reduced loads, enhancing velocity uniformity.
[/size]
[/size]Here's the web page:
[/size]http://www.imrpowder.com/shotpist.html


I've probably shot as much SR4759 as any other. I came across a deal a few years back where I ended up with several cases of half pound cans. I just bought another case last year but now it comes in 1 lb bottles. It's fabulous clean burning powder for reduced loads. I teach the local Boy Scouts about shooting and reloading and this is a favorite for the guys. They get to shoot the 03A3's I have and not get beat to death. They load their own ammo too which makes it more fun. 19.0 grs in a 3006 case with most any 150gr bullet will shoot well under an inch at 100 yds using the sights set at 300 yds. I've also hunted with this load and it's ptomaine on coyotes to about 150 yds with a Remington Core Lok. I've yet to work up a load for the 308 rifles but it worked extremely good out of a 308 Contender and works best out of my 30-30 Contenders. Love the clean burning of it. You can shoot all day and the barrel looks like you just cleaned it.

[tacotime]

Thanks. 
 
I loaded an 80% H4895 load and an SR4759 load right in the middle of the published range, but the winds prevented any testing last weekend.  Try again next.
 
I also read about Blue Dot and 2400 apparently being "established" reduced load powders for .308. 

[LanceR]

Larry, I know what the verbiage reads as under SR 4759 as do the tech folks at Hodgdon but if you look at the most recent load data from Hodgdon they list no reduced loads for anything other that H4895.  Since the advent of modern reloading all makers of all components have clearly  offered strict advice to use only the latest available published data so I won't recommend any data not currently published in an open forum.

My statement in my original reply was then and remains now accurate as written.  None of this changes the fact that an awful lot of folks have used SR4759 (including me) as a reduced load powder but I also feel that we should be sure to very specific as to whether what we are recommending is a currently published load.

When I wrote an article a few years ago on reduced loads I asked the technical folks at Hodgdon why the SR4759 description still listed it as a reduced load and the response was to the effect that they didn't control that part of the company but did control the publishing of safe tested data and that SR4759 has never been tested as a reduced load in ALL the cartridges for which it was once listed.  Hence the de-listing of SR4759 reduced load data.  I'm didn't say such loads were unsafe I simply stated that Hodgdon no longer recommends it for such use.  Call 913-362-9455 if you want to hear it from their lips.

Lance

[Larry L]

Lance, I sent them an email so I can hopefully copy and paste their answer so we all have a clue. I guess we'll find out what the answer this week, next week may be different. I find their data kinda confusing though. They don't show H4895 for reduced loads either. They show Trail Boss. Obviously I didn't look at all cartridges. It might also be a marketing ploy if they are making more $$$ off of Trail Boss and not SR 4759 or H4895. I'm assuming they get Trail Boss and H4895 from ADI which would definitely give those powders a cost advantage over SR 4759. Since they took over the IMR line of powders I've noticed they don't push them near as much as the H series powders, same goes for the Winchester powders. But I'll post their answer as soon as I get one.


Don't suppose you have a link to the article you wrote?

[geezerbiker]

I've used 7 to 10 gains of Red Dot behind a 150 grain cast bullet in the .308 for plinking.  It s a cheap and fun way to add more shooting time to my favorite hunting rifle.

Tony

[PowPow]

For 30-06 & 30-30, I weigh a case full of powder, then use 60-80% of that weight for a reduced load, wherever the accuracy is.
I use the lightest cast bullet I can find.
Last time it was Mangus 110 gr RNs.
500 didn't last long.

[LanceR]

Larry, your correct that sometimes things are about as clear as mud.  On the Hodgdon homepage under the "DATA" pull down menu there is a link to H4895 reduced loads.  On that page is where it discusses using 60% of the max charge for any H4895 listed cartridge.

http://hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf

I forgot about Trailboss.  They show how to determine what the maximum uncompressed charge is.  That is the maximum charge by weight.  70% of that is the starting load.

http://hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail%20Boss%20Reduced%20Loads%20R&P.pdf

Lance

[RevGeo]

Larry, I know what the verbiage reads as under SR 4759 as do the tech folks at Hodgdon but if you look at the most recent load data from Hodgdon they list no reduced loads for anything other that H4895.  Since the advent of modern reloading all makers of all components have clearly  offered strict advice to use only the latest available published data so I won't recommend any data not currently published in an open forum.

My statement in my original reply was then and remains now accurate as written.  None of this changes the fact that an awful lot of folks have used SR4759 (including me) as a reduced load powder but I also feel that we should be sure to very specific as to whether what we are recommending is a currently published load.

When I wrote an article a few years ago on reduced loads I asked the technical folks at Hodgdon why the SR4759 description still listed it as a reduced load and the response was to the effect that they didn't control that part of the company but did control the publishing of safe tested data and that SR4759 has never been tested as a reduced load in ALL the cartridges for which it was once listed.  Hence the de-listing of SR4759 reduced load data.  I'm didn't say such loads were unsafe I simply stated that Hodgdon no longer recommends it for such use.  Call 913-362-9455 if you want to hear it from their lips.

Lance

When, exactly, was 'the advent of modern reloading'? I've been reloading for almost 50 years now and I don't recall getting the memo.

[jhalcott]

 I know i'll raise a few hackles here BUT. I do not look for reduced loads WITH JACKETED BULLETS! I will drop down to a 30-30 rather than chance any accidents. I DO shoot some cat sneeze loads with CAST bullets though.