Hodgdon Low Recoil with slow powders

C

canadianshooter

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
69   0   0
Location
Northern BC
I just noticed the “Low Recoil” tab on the Hodgdon website and checked the data. For 308 and 30-06 I see they have some traditional low recoil with smaller charges of fast powder (eg ~30 grains 5744). However they also have data with powders slow for Caliber and bullet weight (like Hunter in 308) which produce low velocity and low pressures. I thought that low recoil loads usually used small charges to reduce total charge weight and lower velocity. Anyone have any experience with these slow powder low recoil loads? Better than my usual 4198 low recoil loads for both 30-06 and 308?
 
Just checked the reduced recoil loads now. Kind of surprised, because I was always under the impression that reduced loads of slow burning powders were dangerous.
 
Interesting, I just had a look and 150gn 30-06 H4831sc just under 2500fps sounds pretty good to me if they are accurate!
I have that powder and some 150gn bullets I need to try that!!
 
hunters home said:
Just checked the reduced recoil loads now. Kind of surprised, because I was always under the impression that reduced loads of slow burning powders were dangerous.
Click to expand...

Are they actually "reduced loads of slow powder" meaning nowhere near full load density, or are they "reduced loads" meaning full or near full powder wise, but the burn rate is substantially slower, resulting in less recoil and less velocity.

It's my understanding that smaller charges of slow powder is a no-no, and full or near full cases of slow for cartridge powder is safe, relatively speaking. There will always be some powders that just don't behave normally (BLC-2/H-110 etc) though, so again, speaking in relative terms.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
saskgunowner101 said:
Are they actually "reduced loads of slow powder" meaning nowhere near full load density, or are they "reduced loads" meaning full or near full powder wise, but the burn rate is substantially slower, resulting in less recoil and less velocity.

It's my understanding that smaller charges of slow powder is a no-no, and full or near full cases of slow for cartridge powder is safe, relatively speaking. There will always be some powders that just don't behave normally (BLC-2/H-110 etc) though, so again, speaking in relative terms.
Click to expand...
Well the powders they use are very slow burners, ie H-1000, Retumbo etc. The charges are below starting loads which in the past was a no no with these powders. I just asked Hogdon about this and got this answer


"These loads were tested in our lab and are not to be fluctuated from the fixed reduced load. They are safe and will work if you want a reduced load for one of those cartridges"



Thank You for using our powders and have a blessed day!
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
hunters home said:
Well the powders they use are very slow burners, ie H-1000, Retumbo etc. The charges are below starting loads which in the past was a no no with these powders. I just asked Hogdon about this and got this answer
Click to expand...
So, they are

A/
Using slow burning powders (lower # on powder burn rate chart, but normal for 30-06)

or
B/
Slow for 30-06 (meaning lower than the normal range of slow burn rate powders)

And then, are they using less than a full charge of A or B? maybe I need a coffee, but I don't understand lol
 
What they are doing is using loads that are way below starting loads with very slow burning powders in , for example the 300 Win mag, that hand loaders were told not to do in years past. With large cases like the 300 WM with powders such as H-1000, Retumbo, etc the practice was not to go below starting loads. Just google Secondary explosion effect for smokeless powders. For some reason this thinking is now out the window, at least according to Hodgdon it would seem.

https://sportingshooter.com.au/ask-uncle-nick/secondary-explosion-effect/
 
Post #13 is incorrect, as I had to go make sense of it when I couldn't get an answer. At least in the case of the reduced velocity/recoil 30-06 loads, they are using powders that are a fair bit slower than the normal slow powders used, and NOT in reduced amounts. If you check the VMD of various powders to compare, any of the powders used are easily within a percent or two of say IMR-4350, which is a compressed load at 57.5 grains. This tells you that these reduced velocity loads are in fact fairly full cases, most likely 2-4 grains from being compressed loads.

This is not a case of super slow powders and half full cases defying logic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
I would assume that Hodgdon did there homework and that it is safe to use the way they say it is! I will load up a few rounds of 150gn bullets and shoot them, if they are accurate it will get used this fall for caribou and moose for my niece!
 
I had the same impression going through the 308 and 30-06 loads, that fill level was fairly high with slower powders than typical reduced recoil loads.

Usually reduced recoil loads use low charge weights of fast powder (check Speer data) to keep the ejected mass lower as a way to reduce recoil. I see the velocity of these slow powder loads is low which obviously reduces recoil but is offset by the charge weight which is part of the recoil calculation. I do see that pressures are low in the the 30k PSI range. I wonder if the low PSI contributes to lower muzzle blast which would make the loads seem mild and that’s some of the reasoning behind these loads.
 
Last edited:
For low recoil management, unique and us a very good lowder for that aspect .
I have a friend whose son has killed several moose and deer with Unique and cast bullets in a 375 H&H Ruger#1
It is likely one of the most universal powders out there for cast bullet shooting along with 4759( sadly no longer made)
Cat
 
30k psi is redu
canadianshooter said:
I had the same impression going through the 308 and 30-06 loads, that fill level was fairly high with slower powders than typical reduced recoil loads.

Usually reduced recoil loads use low charge weights of fast powder (check Speer data) to keep the ejected mass lower as a way to reduce recoil. I see the velocity of these slow powder loads is low which obviously reduces recoil but is offset by the charge weight which is part of the recoil calculation. I do see that pressures are low in the the 30k PSI range. I wonder if the low PSI contributes to lower muzzle blast which would make the loads seem mild and that’s some of the reasoning behind these loads.
Click to expand...
30k psi is obviously a reduced load, and by itself a major contributing factor for producing lowered recoil.
 
Last edited:
thanks for pointing this out, more than one way to get reduced recoil loads

canadianshooter said:
I had the same impression going through the 308 and 30-06 loads, that fill level was fairly high with slower powders than typical reduced recoil loads.

Usually reduced recoil loads use low charge weights of fast powder (check Speer data) to keep the ejected mass lower as a way to reduce recoil. I see the velocity of these slow powder loads is low which obviously reduces recoil but is offset by the charge weight which is part of the recoil calculation. I do see that pressures are low in the the 30k PSI range. I wonder if the low PSI contributes to lower muzzle blast which would make the loads seem mild and that’s some of the reasoning behind these loads.
Click to expand...
wonder if they burn clean with no increase muzzle flame or unburnt powder
on with the trials!
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
Post 13 is not incorrect. I said Hodgdon is using reduced loads with slow burning powder that is quite a bit below starting loads. On the Hodgdon web site the starting load for IMR 7828 ( which is a slow burning powder) with a 150 bullet is 75 grs in a 300 Win mag where as their reduced load is 60.2 grs. If you don't consider that quite a bit below starting, I do.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom