Reduced loads in 308 for youth

[Rustystud]

I bought some Nosler 125 Balistic tips and want to load some reduced recoil loads in a 308 Winchester. I have looked at 35-38 grains of H4895 (2500-2600fps). But was looking for something even lighter in the 2200 fps range. They will be fired in a bolt gun so ejection is not and issue. Reduced loads come with ignition issues and having to use case fillers.

Got any suggestions

Nat Lambeth

[Loner]

5744

Should get you down to 1800 or so if you desire. Made for what you are doing, not
a patch product.

[BountyHunter]

call nosler or sierra and talk to the tech reps. they have tested reduced loads that will go down to where you want and are proven to not be dangerous.

They can tell what powders, what MV range and what bullets to use safely.

BH

[Kevin Thomas]

Nat,

Hasn't been mentioned yet, but I'd also consider going to 30-30 bullets for this combination, as they're more likely to give decent expansion at the velocities you're wanting to load. After all, you're essentially duplicating 30-30 performance.

Dittos on the recommendation for SR 4759 or 5744. They're going o be the optimum choices for such loads, without the hassle of using fillers or other potential troublemakers in the mix.

Kevin Thomas
Lapua USA

[BobbyL]

Sorry wasnt thinking....

[BountyHunter]

Originally Posted by BobbyL

You try using a slow powder like retumbo? A 308 with a large rifle primer should let you load a low velocity load with retumbo or bmg powder and not have hang fire problems.

Unfortunately that is the most dangerous way to do this!

The practice of slow powders in reduced loads is specifically not recommended because it has been known to blow up guns and people. It is called the Secondary Explosion Effect (SEE).

If you look at any reloading manual, they always give a must minimum load for each powder. The SEE is the reason why.

Just picking a powder an reducing it, particularily a slow powder is a recipe for disaster.

That is also why I recommended you talk to the experts who have worked out safe reduced loads and will give you accurate and safe information. I have done this numerous times for different caliblers and would only use a load that comes from guys who know what works and not.

Read the articles and discussions below.

Light Loads can Explode Page


http://members.shaw.ca/cronhelm/DevelopSubsonic.html

BH

[Kevin Thomas]

Dittos with Bounty Hunter here, he's absolutely correct! DO NOT try reducing slow burning powders like the ones listed! Reduced loads call for lighter charges of substantially FASTER burning powders than those normally used in standard load for a given chambering.

With the 125 grain bullet you mentioned, try 25.0-29.0 grains of IMR4198 for a reduced load. Velocities should go from about 1970 fps at the start to a max of about 2185 fps at the top load. This is from page #454 of the current (14th Edition) Speer manual. Lyman isalso pretty good about listing reduced loads, but steer clear of slow powders.

KevinThomas
Lapua USA