I have a stock of 125 gr Sierra Pro Hunters and a stock pile of IMR 4895. Originally I planned on using these for yotes at long range. Lately though I have been wandering if I can keep the velocity low enough for deer hunting. The minimum load according to Hodgdon has this combination booking it at nearly 3,000 fps. I do not think I would want to shoulder shot a whitetail (some are quite large in my neck of the woods) at these speeds.
I looked at Sierra's load data and it is much more conservative and lists the minimum load moving along at 2700 fps. This is a big difference but I have been told in the past that IMR 4895 can be reduced quite a bit while still remaining safe to shoot. I know that Sierra does not make powder and Hodgon does.
Question - Is it safe to assume Sierra's conservative load data can be used to work up a decent whitetail load? Say 27-2800 fps max? I do load the yote rounds to max load and they are zipping along right around 3,200 fps but I imagine this would explode on a whitetail and I may never find it or if I did, it would be mangled and meat would not be salvageable.
I have other bullets which are more suited to whitetail but I am always experimenting and trying new things. Also I imagine the 125 gr bullet with Sierra's more conservative load data may be easier on the shoulder.
Thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea?
I looked at Sierra's load data and it is much more conservative and lists the minimum load moving along at 2700 fps. This is a big difference but I have been told in the past that IMR 4895 can be reduced quite a bit while still remaining safe to shoot. I know that Sierra does not make powder and Hodgon does.
Question - Is it safe to assume Sierra's conservative load data can be used to work up a decent whitetail load? Say 27-2800 fps max? I do load the yote rounds to max load and they are zipping along right around 3,200 fps but I imagine this would explode on a whitetail and I may never find it or if I did, it would be mangled and meat would not be salvageable.
I have other bullets which are more suited to whitetail but I am always experimenting and trying new things. Also I imagine the 125 gr bullet with Sierra's more conservative load data may be easier on the shoulder.
Thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea?
