Hodgodon 60% rule

BBB

BBB

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I want to make some low-velocity plinking rounds for my .270 WSM. Hodgdon says to take the maximum load for H4895 and multiply by 60% to achieve a velocity between 1500 and 2000 FPS.

I've got some 100 grn Hornady soft-points, and Hodgdon lists the max loads for H4895 and 100 grainers at 54.5 grains. So that would give me 32.7 grains of H4895.

Anybody have any experience with these loads? What was accuracy like? Did it take much fiddling?

I don't need MOA or anything from them -- I'm more looking for a cheap and fun load to practice offhand shooting at pie plates, and stuff like that.

edited to add: Damnit, where'd that "o" come from? Anybody know how to edit the thread title?
 
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I use 4895 with cast bullets a great deal. Either IMR or Hodgdons as available. It is a good powder for mid-range loads usually giving very good accuracy for me. I haven't tried the load you are suggesting but think you might be happy with the powder with a bit of tinkering.
 
check castboolits.com When loading cast the pressure can not exceed the strength of the bullet so people who shoot cast have lots of experience with reduced power loads. Good luck.
 
"...32.7 grains of H4895..." That's well under the minimum for that bullet weight and powder. Below minimum loads can cause pressure issues just like over max loads can.
 
The load you stated at 32.7 is correct in that it is 60% of the Hodgon load for that bullet in your cartridge.

To achieve best accuracy, your load could be reduced a further 10% or increased an extrra 10%.

Many people are ignorant about the H4895 60% rule, of course.





Hodgdon Powder Company has developed the following reduced loads for youth and beginning shooters for use on deer and similarly sized game animals. The bullets chosen were originally designed for single shot pistols and their lower velocities. These loads have been developed to closely approximate those pistol velocities in rifles, and therefore, similar performance on game animals. This provides our young and beginning shooters with loads effective to 200 yards with minimal recoil.

For all cartridges we chose H4895 because it is the slowest burning propellant that ignites uniformly at reduced charges. For years, H4895 has been the top choice by cast bullet shooters. For this type shooting, loads are reduced even more than the hunting loads listed herein. To create loads of this type for target and plinking, we recommend our 60% rule with H4895. By taking the maximum charges listed in our Annual Manual with any given cartridge and multiplying it by 60%, the shooter can create a 1500 to 2100 fps load, depending on the bullet weight shown. This works only where H4895 is listed. Do not use H4895 in a cartridge where it has not been shown.

Call Hodgdon Powder Company if additional information is needed. Loads may be adjusted up or down to achieve best accuracy. Do not reduce by more than an additional 10%.
 
kodiak1 said:
BBB it works well have used it for cast bullet also use 5744 for cast bullets and like it also.
Ken.
Click to expand...

Do you use fillers in the case when you're using the light loads, or do you just go as is?
 
BBB ....just use H4895 and the 60% rule without fillers and you'll be fine...no sense in making things complicated....I usually start out a few grains above min. (from the 60% low) then load 3 rounds at every "even" charge weight until I get to min. book load....as you are testing you can see what the recoil and accuracy is like as you go up in charge wt.....very very simple...:)

5744... going to Accurate Powders loading Manual #2 and their website you'll see that they give no load data for the .270WSM using 5744 powder...
~~As a side note Accurate Powder also states that 5744 was designed to be used without fillers.....
 
sunray said:
"...32.7 grains of H4895..." That's well under the minimum for that bullet weight and powder. Below minimum loads can cause pressure issues just like over max loads can.
Click to expand...

Not with medium burning rate powders like 4895.

Pressure excursions can occur with drastically reduced loads of slow burning powders like 4831, Re22 and 25, H1000 etc.

Ted
 
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