Where to find data for squib loads?

[huntsman]

I have heard mention of reduced loads called squib loads. Where can I find data for these loads?

[PA-Joe]

Check the powder makers sites. They usually list them. One says it's ok to reduce to 60%. In some cases you can also use the lead (Pb) bullet loads.

[Graycg]

The old NRA reloading guides have a bit of squib load data for rifles, mostly using Unique as a powder.

regards,
 graycg

[Robert]

for very light loads, I havent found many medium size cases that 4.0 grs of Red Dot didn't work well. 5.0 would probably be safer to start..to make sure you dont stick one in the bore.  Clean and lube the bore first.  Also...soft cast bullets are excellent idea for these type of experiments.  If you DO stick one in the bore, it isn't so hard to tap out with a cleaning rod.  Hard Cast and/or jacketed bullets are a nightmare if you get one stuck.

[BruceP]

One says it's ok to reduce to 60%.

The one referred to is Hodgdon and that only applies to Hodgdon 4895 powder. Please do not try this with just any powder. It could be dangerous with some powders. Especially the slower burning ones.
BruceP

[Dand]

I always interpreted a "squib" load to mean an undesireably light load (usually accidental) that could cause problems - versus "reduced" or "light" loads to mean intentional loads that still had good performance.  Maybe semantic nit picking but ......

As for help - for rifle cartridges-  the Speer Manuals usually offer up some loads with one powder type for reduced loads for a given cartridge. And like others say there is the cast bullet loads - you might start with the Lyman manuals for suggestions.

[Robert]

Most references to 'Squib' loads are referring to a 'failed' load, either not enough powder or bad primer, and a bullet gets stuck in the bore.  I have heard other people use the term for ligh loads though.  
  Besides Hogdgon and Speer that were already mentioned...I prefer Accurate Powders manual...Excellent reduced load data...mostly with XMP5744...an excellent powder and very safe with light loads.  I have used it with 300 Ultra-Mag all the way down to 1600 fps....and that is totally amazing....there were no signs of wxcessive pressure.

[jbtazgrabber]

what cal. are you wanting to shoot???

[Flash]

Use the formula in Lee's Modern Reloading on page 91. I've used it many times for bottle necked rounds.

[Graycg]

Actually there was a bullet designer named Squibb who used to have Ideal (now Lyman) cut his designs into thier mould blocks, they were mostly designed for short range practise and plinking.  The term Squibb load has degenerated from a parlor load to a bad regular load in common terminology.

regards,
 graycg

[huntsman]

8x57 JS mauser, with 125 grain bullet in the 1800 fps to 2000 fps range and 150 grain bullet in the 1600 to 1800 fps range.

[Leftoverdj]

You don't need any data for squib loads. You need light for caliber lead bullets and fast pistol powder. Don't try it with jacketed. Don't try it with anything slower than Unique. Three grains of Bullseye or five grains of Unique with the lightest common lead bullet will do as starting point for anything from the .25-35 to the .35 Whelen. Buckshot that will thumbpress into a fired case neck will work as the bullet when you don't want to buy a mould. You can run the next larger size of buck through a sizer for a little better results or for hard to match calibers. I've even used .490 RBs sized .459 in a .45-70, but that took a little more powder.

Elevating the muzzle to vertical just before firing helps accuracy if you don't want to use fiber filler.

[jbtazgrabber]

i have not loaded for the 8 mm   butyears ago i loaded for 30 30.   i substituted the 150 gr jacked bullet for a 190 gr. gas checked bullet same charge of 30.31 lmr  shot great cost a lot less. then used 5 gr. red dot with same 190 gr. bullet.shot good enough to kill squirrels with it. 30 yds was about max range. i load 762X39 with 7 gr. red dot out of sks good plinker i use 135 gr lead wheelweight bullets with gas check.  ive had a 765.arg. rifle it seamed most military riffles shot heaver bullets better than light ones .still used 7gr red dot.i used squib loads to kill tree rats turkeys,only draw back is its hard to explain squirrel hunting with a 30 30 .

[Leftoverdj]

Forgot to mention something. Hornady (I think) offers a bulk pack of very nice swaged .314 SWCs. Shoot them as is for squib loads in all the fat .30s and size them to .311 and lube with Liquid Alox for the true .30s.