jdj calibers

[sageman]

i was wondering if there were any jdj calibers that were light kicking like a 35 rem and cheap to reload and well suted for ihmsa

[Jay HHI6818]

Probably the best JDJ for IHMSA would be the 6.5JDJ. I have shot IHMSA a few times with mine. It all depends on how much shooting you plan on doing. A cheaper way to go would be to buy a 7TCU. I'm loading 24 grains of H322 in my 7TCU and 35 grains of Reloader 15 in the 6.5 JDJ
Example: Load 500 rounds of 7TCU = 12,000 grains of powder.
              Load 500 rounds of 6.5JDJ= 17,500 grains of powder.
You would save 5,500 grains of powder by going with a 7TCU which would load another 229 rounds of 7TCU.

[Ladobe]

Very good points Jay (have never tried my 6.5JDJ on IHMSA though).   May I add also the cost savings to your 7TCU approach.   Barrel, dies and brass for the 6.5JDJ are a bunch higher than for the 7TCU.   And even the factory 7TCU's I've had shot very well - will easily get the job done on the silhouettes without going custom.

[Lone Star]

If you want the barrel to be dual-purpose to include some hunting, then the 7 T/CU is probably inadequate.  The 6.5 and 7mm JDJ would be better choices IMO.  But for IHMSA-only, it is difficult to beat the T/CU cartridges.  JDJ's base .225 brass may no longer be made, and it is costly regardless.  The T/CUs use much less powder than the JDJ cartridges;  other consumable costs are the same (primers, bullets).  As others stated, dies are another big differential.

If you just want an SSK barrel of SSK quality - they will chamber one for you in almost any safe cartridge.