reduced power loads

[jimbiggunboys]

For all you reloaders out there. I've been reloading and collecting guns for years and have quite a few older military rifles in my collection. I often make up reduced power plinking loads for them and some of my other rifles. For those interested in reduced power loads, check out Richard Lee's reloading manual "Modern Reloading". He has a great chapter on reduced power loads. I use a charge of Varget reduced 30% from maximum and a 150 grain FMJ for 30-06. It kicks about like a .223. I also do similar loads for 8mm Mauser, .303 British and .308. It really makes shooting the old military rifles lots of fun. Does anyone else out there have any suggestions for reduced power plinking loads?
Jim

[buckshot]

I have not done many, but many of my friends who are C&R collectors shoot what we call Bumpless (after one of the guys who came up with some of them) Loads.

Often loaded with Unique, sometimes 2400 and sometimes with a powder out of Swedish 6.5 X 55 blanks that emulated Unique and cast bullets.

Usually have to run the sight up to 300 or 400 yds. to get a 100 yd. hit they are easy on the shoulder and the pocket book.

One of the things that caused the development of these is the 8 X 56R Aust.-Hung. cartridge. At the time, cases had not been released yet, substitute cases made out of 7.62 X 54r were 2 - 4 mm short and EXPENSIVE, no Winchester or other cases available it was Normal or Lapua ONLY.

Anyway, after firing a factory load (evil thumper of the shoulder with the 204 gr. bullet and full load out of one of those carbines) the base of the Berdan case (no Berdan primers available in that size when you could find Berdan primers for sale) was modified to take a 209 shotshell primer and the case was reloaded with 8 - 10 gr. of Unique under a cast bullet preferably of 0.330 - 0.332" diameter (the bores on these rifles are oversize and measure out 0.329" instead of 0.323" on the normal 8 mm).

These are WAY lower powered than what you were speaking of. One of the guys, maybe C. E. Harris, wrote them up in the American Rifleman and it took off from there.

Buckshot

[leper]

I haven't got into rifle yet, have the equipment and components, just haven't done the research required due to time limitations. I do have a nice 9mm load for IDPA, or for an introduction load for new shooters. I use Zero 115g JHP with 3.5g of titegroup, in a 1.10 oal. Titegroup is a poppy powder, but it is the most economical due to the ability to light load it. 7000g in a pound makes the 3.5 load many rounds.I have ran as low as 3.3g, but it won't cycle a normal pistol without a lighter recoil spring. Sometimes the 3.3 doesn't make power factor.

[buckshot]

Dec 18, 2011 15:40:45 GMT -6 leper said:

I haven't got into rifle yet, have the equipment and components, just haven't done the research required due to time limitations. I do have a nice 9mm load for IDPA, or for an introduction load for new shooters. I use Zero 115g JHP with 3.5g of titegroup, in a 1.10 oal. Titegroup is a poppy powder, but it is the most economical due to the ability to light load it. 7000g in a pound makes the 3.5 load many rounds.I have ran as low as 3.3g, but it won't cycle a normal pistol without a lighter recoil spring. Sometimes the 3.3 doesn't make power factor.

Leper,

Have to ask, what is a "poppy" powder?

I use Bullseye for small powder loads in many cases, from 9 mm and .38 Spec. on up to .45 ACP in some cases.

Some people claim all kinds of problems, I have never had any. Most of what most people have, I think, if you could check it independently, is DOUBLE CHARGES of the small amounts of powder.

I avoid this by using my turret press as a hand advanced progressive, which give me the ability to check and double check EACH LOAD.

Buckshot

[rbj]

I use 10 grains of trailboss with a 180 grain cast gc bullet in my old 303. Its sound like like .22lr and fun to shoot. Cost about $.05 a round and my brass last forever.