light loads 308 (replicate 30-30)

vpsalin

vpsalin

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I'd like to load some light loads with some range brass that I've picked up for my 308. I'm interested in seeing how hand loads would perform when loaded to 30-30 power levels and speeds. I'm very interested in the Barnes 30-30 specific bullets, they seem to have a very aggressive hollow point. Barnes has already told me not to shoot them past 2400fps.

I only have Varget and some 4950 on hand. Is it worth buying different type of powder for something like this?

What powder and charge should I be looking at for this? I definitely want to load them right up to the limit of 2400fps.

Thanks

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I think you could do it with Varget...39-40gr, use mag primers and crimp.
If you don't have a crony, don't attempt it.
 
EDIT- Yomamma beat me to it.


HODGDON® H4895® REDUCED RIFLE LOADS
For Youth Hunting, Informal Target, and Plinking
__________________________________________________________________________
Hodgdon Powder Company has found that H4895 can be loaded to reduced levels. H4895 was chosen because it is the slowest burning propellant that ignites uniformly in reduced charges. To create reduced loads, the 60% formula is recommended.

Find the H4895 load in the Reloading Data Center for your caliber and bullet. Take the maximum H4895 charge listed and multiply by 60% (.6). The load may be adjusted up from there to achieve the desired velocity and accuracy. This works only where H4895 is listed. DO NOT use in a cartridge where H4895 is not shown.

Example: 30-06 cartridge with 125 gr. Sierra SP bullet. Max load shown in the Reloading Data Center with H4895 is 53.7 grains. 53.7 X .6 = 32.2 grains. The shooter begins with this load, and may work up from there to obtain the desired velocity and accuracy for his reduced load.

Call Hodgdon Powder Company if additional information is needed, 913-362-9455.

https://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf

I thought of trail boss but it will only get you to 1417 fps.
 
I had a typo earlier, my powder on hand is IMR 4895 not 4950. I was surprised to find out that it's different to H4895, how can they let two powders have such closely resembling names? Anyhow, one website says to use H4950 @36.4GR for 2417fps. Does that sound about right?
 
vpsalin said:
I had a typo earlier, my powder on hand is IMR 4895 not 4950. I was surprised to find out that it's different to H4895, how can they let two powders have such closely resembling names? Anyhow, one website says to use H4950 @36.4GR for 2417fps. Does that sound about right?
Click to expand...

Honestly, H4895 is the easy way to do what you want to do. I've messed with it in a 300wsm and it's crazy how easy it is to make light loads with that powder. Unless you have nothing to do with the varget and 4950, I would definitely buy a pound of h4895.
 
vpsalin said:
I was surprised to find out that it's different to H4895, how can they let two powders have such closely resembling names?
Click to expand...
There's also H4831 and IMR4831, and H4198 and IMR4198.

They're attempts to duplicate older (WW2 era?) military powders and the numbers the military gave them. 4895 was the powder used in the .30-06 cartridges in WW2 and 4831 was used in small cannon shells. Some of the same-number powders are quite close and some are different enough to be quite dangerous. I've used the two 4895's interchangeably with cast bullets but that's with low-pressure loads. Both would likely be safe at starting loads but working up a load would require a chronograph. 4831 on the other hand the two brands are quite different and a starting load with one is near max with the other.

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I used to use max load .30-30 load data with H4895 in .308 brass for reduced loads and it worked quite well. This was before I was aware of Hodgdon's 60% rule. I've also run max .30-30 and .308 loads using H4895 in .300WM brass with the same bullet weight and had nice clean burning, accurate loads with reduced velocity and recoil. POI change was less than 2" at 100yds too. Velocity was below what it would be in the smaller cartridge since the larger case capacity of the .300WM drops the pressure significantly but it worked quite well. The case-capacity difference is why I used published maximum loads instead of starting at start loads.

I've also used the 60% rule with IMR4895 and had it work out with nearly identical results in .308 and .30-06.
 
Search online for “Moderate Effective Loads” and you’ll find an old Hodgdon article with load data for 308 Win with the Barnes 30-30 bullet. Uses IMR 4198 and a couple others.
 
Had to look for it but found this in an old notebook from when I was testing reduced 308 loads for a kid's deer rifle.
.308win using WW cases, Sierra 150gr JSP, Fed LR primers in a 22" barrel:

33gr IMR4198 = 2430 fps.some low-pressure staining on the necks, so about 40K psi. About 80% fill. Clean powder burn.
34gr IMR4198 = 2510 fps. No staining on necks, Clean, most accurate

39gr IMR4895 = 2415 fps, necks sealed but mucho unburned powder fouling. About 85% fill.
 
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No shortage of recipes out there which would put you in velocity range you want. But, since every rifle is different, get a Chrony if you don’t already have one. For reduced loads, get a bulky powder to better fill the case. I presume you want to hunt (deer maybe) ... otherwise you’re wasting money on these expensive bullets. If you just just want to have fun at the range, cheaper bullets usually mean more shooting. You could try shooting cast bullets ... for 10 cents a pop (and you’ll never wear out yer gun).
 
COAL will be the same but you'll have a longer bullet for the same weight... longer copper bullet in the case means higher pressure than advertised. I can't wait to hear back from your experience...
 
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