Reduced Loads for the 308 ?

two-dogs

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where do I find these? How much do they reduce the recoil/muzzle blast? What is best for whitetail hunting or is there a limited selection? They are for a new female shooter for this yr's hunting expedition. Only got about 3 weeks left to practise. If there are non available around here, what's the best bet next choice ammo for her?
 
Don't you have a 7-08?

yes, but this is for a new shooter gal that shoots left hand, and I have just worked out a rifle swap that will see a LH Medallion come this way next week:) We don't want to see her ruined with muzzle blast and recoil from a lighter weight 308 rifle!
 
Just my personal take, but I think we underestimate the ladies here...... they do go through that whole childbirth thing after all.....

If you have a twenty gauge shotgun handy, let her shoot that a couple of times (my 12 year old can handle one in a compact)...then let her shoot the .308..... a .308 is no big kicker.....

I am not a fan of reduced recoil loads......

Heck, a .243 is a better choice..... or an ambidextrous gun like a ruger #1.....

Mkstblefti s can shoot a right handed bolt gun as well......
 
how come not a fan of the reduced loads? Just curious!

I'm a lefty, but shoot right hand, have done so since day one back in about 1958. I did buy myself a treat a few yr ago, a brand new LH X-bolt, but I just couldn't shoot it, didn't feel proper and besides my eyes said "you shoot right hand, boy"!

We did let her shoot a 20 ga youth pump shotgun, she said she expected more of whatever it was she was expecting!

I sort of think a 308 with say 150's will be more than a 20 ga. I have a Micro Medallion in 308 and it has some muzzle jump/blast, although I may have had 165's in it.

I guess 150's are about the lesser of attention getting and are still great for whitetail, or is there something a little milder, yet?
 
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how come not a fan of the reduced loads? Just curious!

I'm a lefty, but shoot right hand, have done so since day one back in about 1958. I did buy myself a treat a few yr ago, a brand new LH X-bolt, but I just couldn't shoot it, didn't feel proper and besides my eyes said "you shoot right hand, boy"!

We did let her shoot a 20 ga youth pump shotgun, she said she expected more of whatever it was she was expecting!

I sort of think a 308 with say 150's will be more than a 20 ga. I have a Micro Medallion in 308 and it has some muzzle jump/blast, although I may have had 160's in it.

I guess 150's are about the lesser of attention getting and are still great for whitetail, or is there something a little milder, yet?

It's a personal thing....... I guess reduced recoil loads would work..... but I am a big fan of "horses for courses".....

Just a personal philosophy I guess, but I don't see the point of loading down a .308 to 30-30 velocity tonavoid recoil when you can buy, or already own a 30-30 .... and I know you own lots of rifles, hence my suggestion.....
 
get a buddy to load up some tsx 130 grain 30 cal at recommended starting load for the 308.. They shoot good and are very effective make the gun much nicer to shoot.
 
uhm, try the Min load data for Varget and a 150gr Core lokt SP, you could even drop the charge by 2gr or so and I think you may be suprised with the recoil..

I think with the Ladies it is more about the initial 'training' , some guys just give their GF the big gun an say do this an do that put it there an pull that... Bang the thing near jumps out of their hand.

however if you take the extra 5 minutes to place the butt in her armpit, tell her to lay her cheek down here, hold this arm here like this and do that... breathe an squeeze.
with a 22!!!! for even the 177 Sluggy..
then when it comes time to shoot the 308 on a Deer hunt, she has already shot the 223 around a hundred times in relaxed controlled environment, and hopefully atleast 10 shots with her new-to-her 308.


that's kind of the path im on with my Young Son, hes just began shooting the 177 correctly, has a problem of Left eye dominant, but was holding Right Handed... so I swapped him over to be Like Dad and Chute em on the Left shoulder..

One thing I am pretty pumped about is, that when he grows a bit ill have to get a LEFT Hand Bolt Gun set up for him, so he isn't shooting RH guns like me.

anywho, load er down if ya must
 
I shoot .308 and lots of it.
I do not use reduced loads, not sure how they perform.
Instead of changing your regular load, an option you could try, is pick up a Slip-On Limbsaver Recoil Pad for you rifle to get her started.
 
If you hand load, use 150 gr bullets and reduce the powder charge by 4 gr. That is still more powerful than a 30-30 and will kick much less.


If you don't handload, buy 150 gr 308 ammo.

Do you know a handloader who could pull the bullets from factory ammo and pull 4 grins from each rounds for you?

Or send my your mailing address and I will send you some ammo.
 
I'm a lot closer than Ganderite, and I can load up some 308 for Two-dogs as well. Even have a range right off the deck to check accuracy if he's so inclined.

Tricky bit is catching me at home, but it is doable...
 
130gr TTSXs turn a .308 into an awkward .270 pretender that sure doesn't kick much and kills anything. If you want lighter than standard loads google H4895's reducing rules.

My philosophy agrees with the first part of this statement...... if she can't shoot the cartridge as is, lower the bullet weight to reduce recoil..... a 130 gr bullet in a .308 is essentially a "wide 7-08", one is the parent to the other after all......
 
My philosophy agrees with the first part of this statement...... if she can't shoot the cartridge as is, lower the bullet weight to reduce recoil..... a 130 gr bullet in a .308 is essentially a "wide 7-08", one is the parent to the other after all......

will look for some 130's and see what they are like.
 
The best part of using reduced loads on a new shooter, is the ability to gradually increase those loads until they can handle the recoil of the full load.
This is only truly feasible if you reload of course, but you can still start out with commercial reduced loads and work on the full loads as time goes on.

On the other hand, you could start with a 30-30, it's far more capable than most realize. This method means you need to buy another rifle, or invest in a switch barrel to move up in power, but what gunnut minds buying a new rifle?
 
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