Low power .308 deer loads?

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  • Taylor22

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    Looking to see if anyone has some insight on making some 308 low power/light recoil loads that could be used on deer out to 100yrds.
    will be shot out of a Ruger American Compact with a 18” barrel.

    Ordered some custom lite rounds from Hornady but looking for something maybe more custom?
     

    Nazgul

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    I reload so 308 loads with a 30-30 bullet works. Took a really nice doe last year with this. Went 30 yards and died.

    IMR4895 can be loaded light without problems. Look at the Lee reloading manual to figure the powder charge.

    Don
     

    Bobby

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    Looking to see if anyone has some insight on making some 308 low power/light recoil loads that could be used on deer out to 100yrds.
    will be shot out of a Ruger American Compact with a 18” barrel.

    Ordered some custom lite rounds from Hornady but looking for something maybe more custom?


    By coincidence, I am planning to experiment with this myself in the next few days. I am planning to load up some 308 Win loads with Trail Boss and possibly moving on to reduced charges of H4895. Those are the only two powders that I know of that you can use to produce reduced-recoil rifle rounds. I will be working on improving my rifle skills and possibly use "lighter" 308 Win to take deer out to 250 yards.
     

    Bobby

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    I reload so 308 loads with a 30-30 bullet works. Took a really nice doe last year with this. Went 30 yards and died.

    IMR4895 can be loaded light without problems. Look at the Lee reloading manual to figure the powder charge.

    Don

    From what I understand, Hodgdon publishes a formula to produce reduced loads with H4895. IMR4895 is NOT interchangeable with H4895. I would not recommend swapping out and using other powders unless there is clear load data from the powder manufacturer.
    https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf

    Btw, Don, what 30-30 bullets do you use in 308 Win rifle rounds? What is the grain weight? What cartridge length are you using? I have thought about trying it but am uncertain about what length I should use due to the different bullet profile of the 30-30 bullets vs. 308 Win.
     

    Taylor22

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    Appreciate the responses! I don’t have a reloader currently but will probably get a lee hand press kit and a powder scale to build some loads I reckon. Was hoping for “factory” loads. :dunno:
     

    Nazgul

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    They are Remington [I think] 150 gr round nose 30-30 bullets. Crimped in the groove. Loaded to about 2100/2200 fps.

    They are accurate in my Ruger Scout rifle.

    Don
     

    DadSmith

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    Looking to see if anyone has some insight on making some 308 low power/light recoil loads that could be used on deer out to 100yrds.
    will be shot out of a Ruger American Compact with a 18” barrel.

    Ordered some custom lite rounds from Hornady but looking for something maybe more custom?

    150 Hornady SP
    27.4gr H4895
    CCI Magnum LRP
    COL: 2.800
    Mixed brass
    I have a 24" barrel and get around 2,000 fps. Very low recoil load. Avg around 1.5" groups at 100yds.

    With an 18" barrel I'd guess you would see around 1800 fps.

    This is for bolt action only. I doubt it will cycle in a semi-automatic rifle.

    I'd test everything and be very careful.

    I'm thinking of testing out the 265 grain DS Special from Acme bullet company for a low recoil hard hitting load in my 308 Winchester.
     

    NKBJ

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    The 7.62x51 is designed to cause a lot of damage; not the best thing to be hunting food with.
     

    two70

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    Those Trail Boss loads in the first link are too light for hunting anything the size of deer. I doubt the bullet will expand properly at velocities that low and may not even penetrate predictably, especially at 100 yards.

    IMO, it would be better to reduce the bullet weight, use premium bullets(bonded would probably be the best choice for this application) and stick with starting charges if the goal is to produce a light recoiling but still effective deer hunting load.

    The 7.62x51 is designed to cause a lot of damage; not the best thing to be hunting food with.

    Did you forget the purple?
     

    Taylor22

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    Those Trail Boss loads in the first link are too light for hunting anything the size of deer. I doubt the bullet will expand properly at velocities that low and may not even penetrate predictably, especially at 100 yards.

    IMO, it would be better to reduce the bullet weight, use premium bullets(bonded would probably be the best choice for this application) and stick with starting charges if the goal is to produce a light recoiling but still effective deer hunting load.

    Appreciate it, so 100-125gr behind some starting charges of h4895?
     

    two70

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    Appreciate it, so 100-125gr behind some starting charges of h4895?

    To my knowledge most if not all of the 100 grain .308 bullets are varmint style bullets not really suitable for deer hunting so I would suggest making the minimum bullet weight 110 grains. I know you can find some more suitably constructed bullets at that weight, Barnes specifically. The 125-130 grain bullets are probably your best bet though and again I would suggest a bonded bullet.
     

    Nazgul

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    The 150 gr load I mentioned at 2100 FPS does not do any unusual damage to the meat. Standard "boiler room" shot puts them down efficiently and without trouble.

    Don
     

    bigedp51

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    Looking to see if anyone has some insight on making some 308 low power/light recoil loads that could be used on deer out to 100yrds.
    will be shot out of a Ruger American Compact with a 18” barrel.

    Ordered some custom lite rounds from Hornady but looking for something maybe more custom?

    You could try some Hornady 150 grain round nose bullets made for the 30-30 and load to 2000-2200 fps. If that is too much recoil then drop down to 130 grain bullets at starting load velocities.


    308 lite hunting loads.
    308 lite hunting loads. | Shooters' Forum

    H4895 Reduced Rifle Loads.
    http://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf
     
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    NKBJ

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    Ruger gave that model 10" instead of the 12" twist. That's a good thing.
    About low recoil loads for deer hunting, deer are easy to kill but something to keep in mind is that the lower the bullet weight the less that penetration should be relied upon. But all that means is a fella picks his shots accordingly. With that faster twist you have a better chance of finding the very accurate reduced load for hunting, even loading heavier bullets with greater ballistic coefficients.
     

    avboiler11

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    Nearly any .308 diameter bullet fired at ~2000fps muzzle velocity will easily kill any whitetail on four hooves inside 100yd.

    My personal preference would be the 168gr ELD-M over a reduced H4895 charge, with the 155gr ELD-M coming in second, but any ole soft point will also work.

    Hornady makes Custom Lite reduced recoil ammunition that uses the 125gr SST, and Remington makes Managed Recoil ammunition using the 125gr Core-Lokt.
     

    Taylor22

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    Nearly any .308 diameter bullet fired at ~2000fps muzzle velocity will easily kill any whitetail on four hooves inside 100yd.

    My personal preference would be the 168gr ELD-M over a reduced H4895 charge, with the 155gr ELD-M coming in second, but any ole soft point will also work.

    Hornady makes Custom Lite reduced recoil ammunition that uses the 125gr SST, and Remington makes Managed Recoil ammunition using the 125gr Core-Lokt.
    Remington told me they discontinued their managed recoil in .308. We tried some custom lite yesterday and she was pretty happy with that. I may just leave it with that for this season.
     
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