300WM Reduced load
- Thread starter Katana
- Start date
Hodgdon only published the 60% rule for H4895 but I've done it myself and talked to many people who also have and it worked fine. No unburnt powder, no pressure oddities.
Some of my most accurate and most successful reduced loads for .300WM are actually just max loads using .308 Win data. I use data for the same bullet and just dump the max powder charge for a .308 into a .300WM case, seat, and shoot. Made several MoA or slightly sub-MoA loads this way.
Never used any filler, never had hangfires or any other problems. The loads will fill the cases about 60-70%. I didn't test any shooting downhill, just on level ground, so maybe powder position could change things. There was negligible change to PoA/PoI up to 100yds away; less than 1/2" at 100 usually.
Some of my most accurate and most successful reduced loads for .300WM are actually just max loads using .308 Win data. I use data for the same bullet and just dump the max powder charge for a .308 into a .300WM case, seat, and shoot. Made several MoA or slightly sub-MoA loads this way.
Never used any filler, never had hangfires or any other problems. The loads will fill the cases about 60-70%. I didn't test any shooting downhill, just on level ground, so maybe powder position could change things. There was negligible change to PoA/PoI up to 100yds away; less than 1/2" at 100 usually.
Whoops, missed a point in my previous post.
What I meant was that myself and many I've talked to have used the 60% rule with IMR4895 and it seems to work great. No unburnt powder or wonky pressures.
Hodgdon only publishes the document on the 60% rule mentioning H4895 but all indications point to it also working with IMR4895. Some say this is complete heresy and I'm going to cause a thermo-nuclear detonation that will blow up half the city, but so far Ottawa is still here
Even with that, I always found my method of max .308 loads in a .300WM case to be more accurate than a 60% charge of either 4895 of .300WM data. I had great results with H4895, IMR4895, Varget, and IMR4064. The larger case capacity reduces pressure so you end up with a velocity in the lower-end of .308 or somewhere between a .30-30 and .308. Still more than enough for deer-sized game at short to moderate distances.
What I meant was that myself and many I've talked to have used the 60% rule with IMR4895 and it seems to work great. No unburnt powder or wonky pressures.
Hodgdon only publishes the document on the 60% rule mentioning H4895 but all indications point to it also working with IMR4895. Some say this is complete heresy and I'm going to cause a thermo-nuclear detonation that will blow up half the city, but so far Ottawa is still here
Even with that, I always found my method of max .308 loads in a .300WM case to be more accurate than a 60% charge of either 4895 of .300WM data. I had great results with H4895, IMR4895, Varget, and IMR4064. The larger case capacity reduces pressure so you end up with a velocity in the lower-end of .308 or somewhere between a .30-30 and .308. Still more than enough for deer-sized game at short to moderate distances.
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How reduced do you want to go? in Ken Waters Pet Loads he has .300WM data for anywhere power wise from 30-40 Krag to 30-06 level? Only 150 gr and 180 gr.You can use 180gr data with your lighter bullet though.Let me know if you want it....Harold
