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Light hunting loads

Mauser06

My girlfriend is talking about maybe hunting.


I don't really wanna buy her a rifle till I know she's going to actually hunt.


I have a Kimber Montana in 358win


I have a "custom" m700 I "built" in 450 Bushmaster.

Both rifles are LIGHT. The bushmaster is heaviest at 6.25lbs loaded.


I've never loaded anything but full power loads. And I actually shoots Barnes and Hammer coppers...so I know I can't reduce velocity from a performance standpoint.


This would be deer hunting timber. My average shot is maybe 40yds. 15-75yd type stuff.


Any recommendations on loads for either or both?? I'd like to load up both and see what one SHE likes.

I believe I can run 357mag bullets or 45 colt type hunting bullets? No idea where to start. She's not a shooter so I don't wanna pound her with my full throttle loads in lightweight rigs.


Thanx!
 
I do handload which is why I thought reduced loads would be a good option.

I'm at a point I don't really care to add rifles I don't need/want and don't wanna add more dies and powder and bullets and brass to my shelf. I can and will if needed. But right now, it's not. I rather buy her a crossbow to use in generally warmer weather when I think it'll be more enjoyable for her to hunt.
 
Another option....order an Encore barrel in whatever I want.


I have a pile of 6 5x47 Lapua brass....a 22 or 6x47 makes use of the brass and would be a fun range gun. Swap the bushing in my die and good to go. Or a 22 or 6 BRA Encore barrel. Run a good bullet fast and deer won't know what hit em.

Just kinda looking at options that suite what I have....or what I'd personally use for when she doesn't want anything to do with it. If she does get into it, I'd gladly buy her a nice rifle of her own that she likes in a chambering that she can handle.
 
You could load light recoil range loads for her to shoot and get used to… and develop a full power load for hunting. She would likely not notice the full power load if shot at game.
 
If you have H4895 you can use the Hodgdon reduced load method for it IF it’s listed by Hodgdon for either one of those cartridges, if it isn’t then don’t do it, link below. Hard powder to find if you don’t already have it.

Also, Trail boss is great for reduced loads if you have any on hand, it’s hard to find so if you don’t have any you probably won’t be able to find any.

You may also want to see if accurate has any data for either one of those cartridges and AA 5744, I use that powder a lot in multiple pistol and rifle cartridges for reduced loads, don’t use it if it’s not listed though.

It sounds like you own a TC, if that’s the case then it’s easy to buy a barrel, makes things simple.


Lastly, I think the idea of a Ruger American or Tikka in a cartridge that is mild is a good idea. Yeah, she may not like hunting or shooting and you’ll have to sell it at a small loss or find a good used rifle and lose little or nothing. Don’t be the guy that lets someone new to the sport shoot something that’s gonna sting her, there’s no better way for someone to say ”been there done that, no thank you”. I don’t know a lot about the 358 Winchester or the 450 bushmaster but that’s a few thoughts I have.

 
Thanx for the reply! Great info there! I'll dig into those powders and such. I do have H4895 but my 6BRA is eating it and I don't have an endless supply.


Another rifle or an Encore barrel may be the easy way to go just due to powder supply.

Definitely won't hand her one of my rigs and full loads. Both my 358win and 450 bushmaster are a handful...stout loads, heavy bullets and pretty light rifles.
 
An Encore opens a world of opportunity. Think old cartridge, lighter than usual bullet. Deer don't take a lot of killing.

I have taken a lot of deer with a Contender, 357 Herrett, not loaded to max. Frankly the 7-30 Waters smacks my hand a lot harder than the 357 Herrett.

My point is there are options in the TC line to make a mild shooting carbine that will not whack her, but will take game.
 
The sky is the limit with the Encore for sure. Could even load up the muzzleloader barrel with a lighter charge.

I have a 20ga turkey barrel for it with a red dot. Maybe I'll load it with some bird loads and see how it feels for her. If she likes that, grab used barrel that's suitable for deer hunting when I see one.
 
I am a huge fan of the 6mm ARC, Howa mini would be on my list. If you are stuck on Hammer id give the Absolute Hammer over IMR 8208 a try. If 8208 XBR is in short supply then H335 may be another consideration.
 
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Actually stumbled on a 6 Arc howa mini in a stockys CF stock which is what spawned this thread. It crossed my mind but then I thought about it a bit. Looks like there may be ways to download the 358win pretty easy. A 158 357mag jacketed bullet at 1800-2k might be doable and I don't think recoil would be much at all.

I just hate to buy a rig and she goes 1 morning and that's that. I'm the guy that buys stuff knowing I can sell it but u don't because of the hassle of selling it lol.



I actually have a 300sav 7600 I bought with intentions to rebore...I have no need for it and was gunna sell it. But I might grab some ammo or dies for that for the season. It's on the heavy side and I think she could manage it.


Lots of options. I need to talk to her and see how serious she is or isn't. A crossbow is probably the better investment. Better weather and I have way more time off in archery season as that's my focus.
 
I can attest to the effectiveness of a 158 Hornady XTP at 2000 FPS. It will put a hole the size of your fist out the far side of a deer ribcage and will still hit trees a hundred yards away. I used it briefly in the 357 Herrett. I got much better accuracy from a 180 SSP bullet (discontinued) so I went to that.
 
Google cast bullet loads for the 358 Win. Lotsa info out there for cast or pistol bullets.

358 Winchester with cast bullets_loads

I have a NULA Model 20 rifle in 358 Winchester I use as a primary game rifle. That means, deer, pigs, elk. I think of it as a 300+ yard rifle good for...
www.24hourcampfire.com www.24hourcampfire.com
 
Thanx Alf! I was finding cast bullet stuff. Just haven't figured out if it correlates to a jacketed bullet or not. I'm sure there are great cast bullets that'll work great. Just. It something I know anything about. A good jacketed pistol bullet a bit spicier than pistol velocity, should yield a heck of a little deer thumper that won't have much recoil.
 
No...
A cast bullet really doesn't correlate directly to a jacketed bullet.
Hence different load data for them.

And not all cast bullets are the same.

Missouri Bullets has a fairly decent article on the hardness of cast bullets on their website.

"She's not a shooter" would have me taking her to the range with a 22LR or 22 Mag and some reactive targets.
Nothing will change her mind faster than getting behind a thumper for her first time!!

If you can borrow a 223 Rem or 243 Win , she can experience how to handle some more recoil.

Then, get her a rifle that will FIT Her!!

Obviously, weman are built differently.
If the stock doesn't fit her, she'll still have a hard time with getting accurate & mitigating the recoil.

Let her handle a Savage Lady Hunter, Weatherby Camilla. Or get a Boyds AT-One stock for a rifle in the cartridge of her choosing.
 
std7mag said:
No...
A cast bullet really doesn't correlate directly to a jacketed bullet.
Hence different load data for them.

And not all cast bullets are the same.

Missouri Bullets has a fairly decent article on the hardness of cast bullets on their website.

"She's not a shooter" would have me taking her to the range with a 22LR or 22 Mag and some reactive targets.
Nothing will change her mind faster than getting behind a thumper for her first time!!

If you can borrow a 223 Rem or 243 Win , she can experience how to handle some more recoil.

Then, get her a rifle that will FIT Her!!

Obviously, weman are built differently.
If the stock doesn't fit her, she'll still have a hard time with getting accurate & mitigating the recoil.

Let her handle a Savage Lady Hunter, Weatherby Camilla. Or get a Boyds AT-One stock for a rifle in the cartridge of her choosing.
Click to expand...
Great advice Ken.
 
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