Reduce Loads With Hodgdon H4895 by 60%

[Peakbagger46]

Yes, 130g .308 for a Remington model 7. MOA at 100y and wife has dropped several mule deer with it.

 

[Matt308]

I had tried the .308 loaded with the 130gr Speer JFP with 39.7grains of H4895 this year and it did work on a Louisiana whitetail. Hardly any recoil I am thinking of upping the powder charge though. It didn’t seem like the bullet did not expand much on a 60yd shot.

 

[Ifishsum]

I made some in 7mm-08 for my 11yo nephew who was a bit recoil shy at that age...they worked very well and were also very reasonably accurate. I think I settled at about 75% of what I usually load for that cartridge. He did not end up killing anything with those loads but more than anything it helped him build the confidence to learn to shoot a high powered rifle accurately, without flinching. He was busting milk jugs @100 yards almost every shot. Now at 15 he shoots standard loads in his own .30-06

 

[Matt308]

I’m working on the load and will test it before have her shoot game with them. But she did get the biggest 8pt of life this year with the managed recoil load in .308. Let’s just say with that light compact Ruger I feel recoil with a full house load. I think the Speer 130 grain JFN is allot tougher than the 125 SST and do prefer an exit wound in our thick areas.

 

[Toprudder]

I have used H4895 loaded down to as low as 60% max charge, in 30-30. I did this for using inexpensive plated bullets at an indoor 25 yard range. I did this to keep velocity below the recommended max 1500fps. I think I ended up around 75% of max.

 

[CptnAwesome]

I also worked up some light recoil 7mm-08 with H4895, 120gr Sierra Pro Hunters for my wife. I foind the sweet spot at 73%. She had taken one doe with it and it performed great.

 

[Scooter22]

Thanks for the thread. I'm glad I read it. I've used IMR-4895 since I started reloading (74). I have dropped it back about 20% with no issues in 30-30 with cast bullets but I think I'll stop that and get some H4895 for that and use the IMR for standard loads. I almost started with H4895 way back. It was a toss up between the two but the gunshop I got my components at carried IMR thats what I got.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just to be clear on the numbers because I see several posts that can be interpreted incorrectly. The reduced H4895 loads are 60% of the max charge, not a reduction of 60%. Both are very different.

Yes, I have also used reduced H4895 loads in the 30-06 and 30-30 and both worked very well. Remember, these loads have been tested by Hodgdon and are safe if used as intended.

 

[Jim Watson]

It sticks in my head that DuPont once said that it was ok to load IMR 4895 to 3/5 of the maximum. Hodgdon policy and Internet Lore don't remember that. Am I dreaming?

 

[Scooter22]

Just to be clear on the numbers because I see several posts that can be interpreted incorrectly. The reduced H4895 loads are 60% of the max charge, not a reduction of 60%. Both are very different.

Yes, I have also used reduced H4895 loads in the 30-06 and 30-30 and both worked very well. Remember, these loads have been tested by Hodgdon and are safe if used as intended.

Or if my math is correct a 40% reduction of the max charge. So if the max charge is 100 grains you can reduce down to 60 grains.