light load for 308

[Larry Ross]

In the June American Rifleman on page 46 is a technical load data about using 8.0 gr of Hodgdon Clays with a 168 gr A-Max in a 308 for a plinking/light load. I remember years ago hearing about the dangers of light (or squib) loads. As I remember if you wanted to try them you needed to insert some Kapock (or something like that in the case) to keep from having to much void in the case. The danger was (as I remember) of a secondary "explosion" form to much air.

Does anyone know anything about all this??

lr New Mexico

 

[jonbearman]

I would consult lymans reloading manual as there are alot of super light loads available for many calibers.

 

[expiper]

Larry,,,,I like Universal Clays better because it is "fluffier" and fills the case more and eliminates the posibility of a double charge,,,,my all time fav for reduced loads is 2400 followed by N-110 (not H-110 which is a ball powder) and 4759 + lil' gun+ longshot,,,,all give good density loading and vel. between 1400-2000 fps with typical bullets in many cals,,,,,Jon gave good advice when the Lyman manual was recomended,,,it is full of such info,,,,,Roger

 

[fredhorace77]

One word.....Trailboss ....enough said

 

[markm87]

One word.....Trailboss ....enough said

Yep. We've shot a bunch of that for .308 subs with a silencer on a Rem 700. Never a problem.

 

[CJ6]

What Jon said ... Get a Lymans manual. Lots of reduced loads in a variety of calibers in that book, plus alot of odd (to some ) powders.

 

[KMart]

Hodgdon's online reloading data shows data for Clays and Titegroup for the 168 gr bullet

 

[Larry Ross]

Thanks guys for your input;

Here is something I want to share with you all, before I thought go here on this forum, I called the NRA offices and ask to talk to someone about that load and what my concerns were.. Guess what? Aaron Carter (Managing Editor at NRA and the guy that wrote the article) called me and spent 10 minutes or so telling me his experience with that load. I thought that was great for him to spend his time doing that.

lr New Mexico

 

[DRNewcomb]

Many years ago I bought a couple of cans of a DuPont powder (IMR 4759 I think). It was specifically developed for low-power loads in standard rifle cartridges. I've done very little with it and probably still have some. Not sure if they still sell it or not. The advantage of this powder was that they had published loads for it.

 

[bigedp51]

IMR-4759 and Trail Boss will give you much better loading density but you will use more powder than using pistol or shot gun powders. I switched to IMR-4759 and Trail Boss because it is impossible to double charge the case, they are not position sensitive and require no Dacron fillers to hold the powder near the primer.

As stated above the Hogdon's website has reduced loads for H4895 and Trail Boss and they both work very well.

http://www.hodgdon.com

I use IMR-4759 and Trail Boss loads to fire form my .303 British cases using 100 grain .312 pistol bullets. Also the older Speer manuals list IMR-4759 for reduced loads in many calibers.