Reduced .308 loads

[robctwo]

My friend just happened into a Handy Rifle with a .308 barrel. He has a 12 year old son just getting into shooting. I was looking at some reduced loads and tried the 13 gr Red Dot and the 19 gr SR4759 loads I've been reading about on the net.

Put together some 150 gr Winchester Power Point, 110 gr Hornady Spire Point and 110 gr Speer hollow point Varminter in each powder. I've got the Savage 10FP and BAR Stalker in .308. Doubt that these loads will cycle the semi. Should be fun.

The H&R came with two .270 barrels, one blue and one stainless as well as some elephant caliber. He's sending it in to the factory to get a .223 barrel fitted as well. I have some reduced .270 loads I fixed up with H4895 a few years ago to get a friend of mine into high power shooting without the flinch factor.

 

[Ditchtiger]

I use 10gr. red dot and a 170gr. lead bullet for a mild plinker.

 

[D. Manley]

Hodgdpm list some reduced loads on their website, HERE.

 

[robctwo]

Right, I've looked at Hodgdon, and my Speer #13 has some as well.

The guy I buy my cast pistol bullets from has some 160 gr 30 caliber. I think I'll get some of those and try that Red Dot in 10 to 12 grains as well. Thanks.

 

[joneb]

I've had good results with Nos 125 BT with 16gr of Blue Dot Fed 210 w/a COL 2.80" This load shoots .75" @ 100 yds from a Howa 1500 22" 1:12 twist barrel.

 

[robctwo]

Thanks, I think the lighter loads will be easier on my arthritic shoulder as well. What got you using Blue Dot?

 

[joneb]

What got you using Blue Dot?

BD was to erratic for me in .357 mag. so I began to search for another use for it, I found data for BD with with other cartridges such as 30-30 Win. and 35 Rem. and a few others, so I extrapolated a bit . My main concern with using a fast powder in the .308 Win. was high start pressure and barrel throat erosion so far I've had no signs of either with this load, I've shot about 250 rnds so far, but it's a light load with a light bullet. I would not have tried BD with SAY the 243 Win. I think there is a limit for BD in bottle necked cases, and maybe I'm pushing it ?
I have used AA 5744 with good results, but I would think SR 4759 would be a good choice for a reduced .308 win load.

 

[41 Mag]

I have had great results with my grandson shooting the Hodgdon loads. The good thing about them is that you can start with the Youth loads and work right up to the max standard loads with the same powder as they get older or more recoil tolerant.

My grandson started out with the .308 - 125gr load a little before his 5th birthday and took his first hog with it. Since he has moved up to the Barnes 130 gr TTSX, and 42gr which runs just over 2600fps from the little Ruger Compact's 16.5" barrel. This load shoots under 1" at 100yds and is good for deer out to his limit of 150 yds easily. He turned 6 this past Thanksgiving and it's getting hard to keep him in ammo.

All of these loads have easily been the most accurate I have assembled from this particular rifle, and he has learned to use them well. I highly suggest at least giving them a look.

 

[robctwo]

Right. I have the Youth loads pdf in my loading data folder, and have used it for the .308 and the .270 with great success. Ran across the posts on red dot, SR 4759 and Unique and decided to give them a try. Looks like they will get down to even lower velocities than the Hodgdon youth loads.

 

[tkcomer]

You might look at this: http://www.reloadingroom.com/index_files/Universal 30.htm

 

[robctwo]

Thanks, I did see that. Noticed that i have just a bit of Unique left in a bottle, will load some 10 grainers up. I think the varmint bullet is about the same as the plinker. I loaded some plinkers a couple years ago.

 

[Uncle Jaque]

Just the Ticket!

Thanks for that link, tkcomer; that's just what I've been looking for!

I have a box of those Speer 100gr. half jacket "Plinkers" and Unique is my favorite pistol powder for cast bullets especially, so that load that "Rocky" uses is perfect.

There was some concern about the phenomenon of "Detonation" that has been known to happen with reduced loads in high capacity cases, but if Rocky has been shooting these "for decades" without a problem, then I guess I needn't worry about them. I'll pop right down to the Laboratory and load up a batch!

 

[lgbloader]

The Load.

LGB

 

[Uncle Jaque]

So Far, So Good!

I just loaded up a 15-round batch and can't wait for the range to thaw out a little (or till I can horse my snow blower up there to hog it out from under 3 ft. of snow) to try them out!

I have a couple of 7.62 NATO Mausers that I want to run them through.

Maybe tomorrow I'll take some pictures of the completed rounds and post 'em.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would highly suggest you using the link in Post #3. You will be very happy with those reduced loads using H4895.

 

[Uncle Jaque]

Thanks!

Thanks 4 that tip, AA; I was going to go back there, but got off on a tangent when I found "Rocky's" data on Unique.

I'll have to rummage around in my late Dad's magazine box of powder and see if we can come up with any 4895. I don't even remember what we've got out there.
It's getting old though and I ought to be using it up for something besides fertilizing the garden.

 

[Uncle Jaque]

Does anyone have experience with the .223 bullet in the .30 plastic sabot for .308?

They used to market such a round as the "Accelerator", but I don't know how well (or poorly) they worked. Real snappy in the velocity department, but how about accuracy?

If they have potential, I have some of 'em. Any load data out there?

 

[NCsmitty]

I tried the 224/30 sabots in 30-30 and 7.62x39 with mixed results. The biggest problem is that the sabot does not grip the bullet well and you need to center the bullet with v-block and a dial indicator because they are no where near center.
I still have a partial bag of sabots left from the experiment. This was several years ago and have no record of the loads but I think that I used Rel-7.

NCsmitty