Lighter .308 load

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Hello,
I am looking for some information on loading lighter .308 Catridges.
Currently, I am very satisfied with 49 gr. of 4831 with Nosler 165 gr. partition bullets. These have taken all my big game in B.C. Bear, Moose, Elk and Deer.
What I am looking for is a comparable too the Remington 125 gr. reduced recoil loads ( advertised as 1/2 the recoil) new on the market. It is my understanding I cannot use 4831 or 4350 powders as they are not fast enough and may cause the Bullet (undetermined what yet) to jam in the barrel then followed by an explosion causing possible injury. Is this true?
Any reccomendations on a lighter load for my Kids with a reduced recoil, they are a little leary of my regular loads.
Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
C/T
 
4831 is a bit of an unusual powder choice for a .308 - in the 165's you've gotta be running at least 110% density. Plenty of compression. When my girlfriend had her shoulder operation, and wanted to start shooting again, seems to me I loaded 150 Sierra BT's for her at around 2450 fps by using 39.7 grs of IMR4895. It was like shooting my .22 WMR.
Also came across a load calling for 28.0 grs of H4895 to launch a 100 gr Speer "plinker" bullet at about 2100 fps (CCI200 primer). Supposed to be the equivalent of a .30 Carbine, but I have not tried it. The 150 load above served the purpose just fine.
 
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Try Varget or 4895.
Think something like a 150gr. doing a wee tad over 30/30 speeds.
Wait a minute the Speer manual has just such a load and commentary .
 
I "accidentally" found a load when I was tinkering around for a load for a lady friend. I tried 130 grain soft points in my 308 with a start load of BCL2(can"t remenber the charge, it was in several manuals)
It seemd to me to be almost recoilless! What really shocked me was how flat and accurate it was. I took it to Scotland and shot a couple of Roe with it, and the meat damage was so fierce that I went back to 150"s.
I found it easier to load my 308 down to 130 grain bullets than to load up to 180"s. BLC2 or Varget would be a good way to go.
 
If you go to www.hodgdon.com and click on data there is a section for youth loads. They have numerous loads using H4895 where you can reduce the charge safely by 40%.

Note: H4895 is the ONLY powder that can do this. I am using it for a 300WSM, it works great, little recoil of the bench & still accurate.
 
These aren't for hunting large game, but I do use these subsonic loads for pests and small game.

180gr. Hornady RN
10.2 gr. Trailboss
COAL = 2.650"
1050fps.

They are nice loads for letting kids try the big gun because there isn't any kick. Its like a .22lr. They are also safe on pistol silhouette targets.

With any subsonic load, start high and work down! Recommend starting at 12gr. on this load.
 
A mild load for any .308 is 44.2 gr. IMR3031 with most any inexpensive 110 grain bullet. This is 1.2 grains up from the minimum start load from my 1970's #45 Lyman manual for a 110 gr bullet which showed a max at 48.0 gr. This mild load runs only about 38,000 CUP pressure.

Velocity was confirmed some 20 years later as 2880 fps Avg. from an 18.5 inch 788 Rem. .. and useing either 110gr. Hornady Spt. or 110 Sierra Hpt has grouped well under an inch with 3 different rifles...the 110 Speer spt at an inch consistantly was the runner up for accuracy. Bullets were seated ".308" inches deep for all three bullet types.

Recoil level is similar to a .243 and not punishing for anyone over 10-12 years of age.

Contrary to the concept frequently mentioned that Imr or H4895 is perhaps the only way to go for youth loads etc....Imr 4227 and Imr 4198 were used for very reduced loads and were detailed in some reloading manuals in the 1970's. ...and 30 + years later they still work great.

In .308... useing Imr 4227 in the 1600 to 1900 fps range with 110..150..and 180 grain bullets...excellent accuracy was available to 100 yds for paper punching.

........The previous reference to .308 and IMR Trailboss for very reduced loads in the 1000 fps and in my experience up to the 1400 fps range is quite valid and accuracy regardless of 110 to 180 gr weights was found between 10 and 12 grains of very bulky Tboss... this also proved true in the .243...7mm08..all at 55% to 68 % loading density and 6 other ctgs. at their respective 55 to 68% case capacities. I started low and worked up.

This Trailboss loading practice is however similar to using fast pistol powders in rifle cases and my belief is that... I am comfortable in reloading and shooting these subsonic to 1400fps type loads but would not recomend it for kids reduced loads.
 
I used to load the Sierra 125 and the Speer 130 as reduced loads for my kids to shoot. At age 6 to age 10 they had no problem with recoil. They used these to shoot out to 600 yards. Bullets did not do well beyond that range.

I used both 4198 and 3031. Could have used 4895. These powders work ok at reduced pressure. The ball powder suggested above (BLC2) does not work well at reduced pressure and I would suggest you stick to a faster extruded powder.

I also loaded the Sierra 125 at full speed and found it very accurate at 100 to 300 yards. About the same as match bullets costing twice as much.
 
Thanks for all the replies and advice every one, i also load the IMR 4831 with 165 Noslers at 47 gr. of powder, again a great combo.

I have found a difference in case area volume, some of the older IVI cases I have do have less room in them compared to the Federal case. I prefer the Federal and Winchester Brass though.

Thanks again everyone.
C/T
 
Sr4759

Hi

Does anyone ever try SR4759???

I do it for bolt action

308 Winchester - 150 grain Speer RN bullet, 25.0 grains of SR 4759 powder, CCI 200 primer, IMI case. COL 2.490". MV 1925 fps in 22" barrel. (Based on the Speer Reloading Manual No. 13.)
Click to expand...

or for use in semi I recommed 4895

110 Grs CMJ/40 Grs 4895/WLR

Sound & feel like an SKS in my 10 pounds Garand:)

Larry"Corporal"Marcotte
 
I just follow the Nosler book of ballistics and reloading.
I need to get up to date and look into other avenues that were not available when I bought the manual. Now with my daughters and wife interested in hunting BC's big game, I'm looking into lighter, yet productive loads with less recoil, like the new remington reduced recoil 125 gr. spitzer.
It's all about placement with lighter bullets, thanks every one.
C/T
PS still looking for a pump in .308 but am open to any style in .308 try me with your P/M this is for the daughters.
 
Get a 1000 .309" 195 gr cast bullets from MT Chambers and load them up with a load of 15 grs of SR-4759 or with 12 grs of Unique. The recoil and report are mild, accuracy is good, and kids really enjoy shooting the big rifle. Be careful though, you might get hooked and have no further need of a rimfire.
 
I have four published loads in Lee Modern REloading 2nd ed.

Starting loads:

110 grain jacketed
45.6 gr imr4895
vel 2928

110 gr jacketed
52.9(compressed) win748
vel 3269

125 grain jacketed
45 gr imr4895
vel 2897

and

125 gr jacketed
47.6 gr win748
vel 2942

Are any of these considered reduced recoil loads?
 
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