How far can one "reduce" a load?

[jsn]

Hodgdon has had subsonic rifle load data for some time, H4895/H322/Benchmark are the non-pistol powders for some common cartridges.

The Lyman reloading manuals as referenced above can be found archived online with many more cartridges than the Hodgdon data.

OP, can you not use light bullets with minimum published loads to accomplish what you want?

 

[Paul's Black Rifles]

No one has mentioned 5744 or Trailboss yet. I understand Trailboss is not in stock with the distributor anymore.
But I have seen reduced loads for 5744. I thought there is a documented reduced load for 30-06 if that is what was requested, however I don't know if it would be a good idea in a M1 Grand.

Paul

 

[M-61]

Read your loading manual. It will list minimum loads.
Buy a different rifle like 22 rimfire if recoil is a major concern.
Parker Ackley experimented endlessly trying to duplicate the phenomenon of ‘detonation’
He never really concluded the precise cause but leaned towards large capacity cases with small amounts of powder.
There is a reason they publish ‘minimum’ loads. The fact that some small load works for someone (and it’s not published) does not mean it will work safely for your rifle.
What are you shooting?

 

[Homerange]

As yet the OP hasn't given us much to go on as there are several ways to skin this cat.
We need know what his requirements are other than reducing recoil....who the F*** doesn't want to do that !

 

[swd]

Reduce it until it blows up then add a little more..

In all seriousness I’d look at data and pick the slowest load with the fastest burning powder and lightest bullet.

 

[wright brothers]

At one time NRA magazine printed reduced loads for a bunch of calibers and powders.
I've tried finding it with no luck.
I used a few of them and many women and youngsters enjoyed shooting.
The groundhogs and deer that were shot got dead. It was a much simpler time.

 

[M-61]

The groundhogs and deer that were shot got dead. It was a much simpler time.

And a different NRA, maybe.

 

[1911nut]

I tried a reduced load of 60% of maximum for H4895 in a 7mm Mauser .

The powder fouling was extreme and it didn’t shoot very good.

 

[CJ6]

Something that needs to be addressed with reduced loading is the (possible) use of fillers to keep the powder against the base of the cases.

 

[dantiff2]

Something that needs to be addressed with reduced loading is the (possible) use of fillers to keep the powder against the base of the cases.

No fillers needed with Alliant Unique or Hodgdon Trail Boss. I’ve shot 6.5 of Unique in a 30-06 with 168 smk which is probably less than 20% case fill with good success. It’s not position sensitive but does like a standard primer best. It’s SUPER quiet suppressed. I also run 10.8 grains in my 450 bushmaster with 405 gn cast bullets. Great, quiet, accurate, low recoiling, fun load. No fillers, ever.
Dan

 

[Old Navy]

Something that needs to be addressed with reduced loading is the (possible) use of fillers to keep the powder against the base of the cases.

I did that years ago shooting my 06 with 180 grain lead bullets. Dacron was the filler back then.

 

[RED DIRT]

Unless it`s published tried an true data by the experts, don`t "FK" around experimenting.

Buy the right gun an ammo for the job. Or, just go ahead an be stupid.

 

[CJ6]

I did that years ago shooting my 06 with 180 grain lead bullets. Dacron was the filler back then.

That's what my old friend did with his big cased cartridges. He really loved shooting those big bore cartridges (505 Gibbs, 475 A&M, 460 Weatherby) He always said .."if you have a gun shoot it, otherwise what's the point in having it". They were a blast to shoot with his reduced loads.

 

[snert]

It's not sub-sonic but 6gr-9gr of green dot behind a 40gr - 50gr bullet will run around 2000 fps, sounds like a 22wmr, and shoots well under 1moa for me. I've used this load for years to dispatch coons and groundhogs in my back yard (edge of a small town), and I take it out west to shoot prairie dogs. Its more wind resistant than a 17hmr, and I can shoot as much of it as I want without worrying about getting my barrel too hot. Works well out to around 150 yds. At one point I was strongly considering buying a 22 Hornet, but decided not to because this load gets me everything I could want out of a Hornet while being cheaper and easier to reload (not to mention I already had the dies, brass, bullets, and powder).

in what cartridge?

 

[Rsadams]

Lighter bullets... Every action --- equal action....

 

[Homerange]

Lighter bullets... Every action --- equal action....

Yup, not rocket science. For game you only need make sure terminal performance is gunna be adequate.

 

[Lefty2506]

in what cartridge?

223/5.56. I normally shoot it from my bolt action, but before I had that, I shot it from my ARs. It won't cycle the action, but it was accurate and that's all I needed for coons and groundhogs.

 

[lurch1]

I contacted Hornady ballistians for powders for .308 190 GR Sub X and they sent me a list of powders and charge weights for them.
I won't be listing those as everyone should contact them themselves but the powder list was wider than 2 powders.
I can't speak to other bullet makers. These bullets are made for subsonic loads specifically

 

[Rsadams]

223/5.56. I normally shoot it from my bolt action, but before I had that, I shot it from my ARs. It won't cycle the action, but it was accurate and that's all I needed for coons and groundhogs.

Let me start this with this.... DO NOT USE LOAD DATA UNLESS ITS FROM A REPUTABLE POWDER COMPANY , EVER... There's plenty of data for subsonic loads in the AR platform published using powders you wouldn't normally dare use in a rifle... That will as far as I understand cycle the action etc.... normally used for subsonic and the use of a suppressor....I won't bother telling you anything about where to look because I don't know anything about you or your experience level.... Please don't take that in a bad way because it's not meant to be , it's all about safety.... If you fill up a rifle cartridge with these powders it will not be subsonic it will blow up like a hand grenade that you will be holding by your face.... But if done correctly it will be fine , I can't believe a powder company would publish anything dangerous...

I don't like these kind of loads because I don't have a suppressor for an AR because to me you have spent thousands to make a .22lr that is fairly silent using a heavy copper coated bullet instead of a lead bullet.... This can be done a lot cheaper just buying a suppressor for a .22lr , I understand it's two completely different applications.... For your coons etc if you can use a rimfire try the ELEY FORCE brand ammo it hits very hard...

 

[Rickhem]

As was mentioned here by others, H4895 is the go-to for reduced loads according to Hodgdon now. The problem is finding some. Same with some of the other powders listed like Trail Boss or 5744. (And as an aside, you can probably load everything there is with 5744, it may not be optimal, but it'll work)
I have a friend that bought a Savage Axis in .270, and that thing kicked and had a lot of muzzle blast. I loaded the 120SST bullet intended for the 6.8SPC for him using IMR4895, at about 2500FPS, and that is way less offensive to shoot, less blast and less recoil. We'll be hunting whitetails in the woods at less than 100 yards, so I thing this will serve him well.

There was a time when the two 4895s were considered the same. They're not. That said, with a little due diligence, you can find reduced loads for whatever cartridge you want to work on. The Lyman Cast Bullet manual is a fantastic place to start, and will open your eyes to lots of possibilities that you never even knew were possible. If you're hunting, keep in mind that different bullets are designed to work at different velocities, and try to stay within the design window if at all possible.