

Posted: 11/26/2021 11:32:51 PM EST
Looking to my 11yo deer hunting with a 7mm-08 Encore.
I’m having a problem finding load info for reduced loads. I have found the 60% rule for the H 4895 but of course can’t find any of that powder. I do have Imr 4895 but assume the same rule doesn’t apply. Any good place for reduced loads with other powders? |
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[#1]
It has been many years since I loaded for the 7-08. Take a look at the load data for the 120 Barnes bullets. They were very soft shooting and very accurate.
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[#2]
Originally Posted By SpeyRod: It has been many years since I loaded for the 7-08. Take a look at the load data for the 120 Barnes bullets. They were very soft shooting and very accurate. View Quote Thanks I have a few of the older Nosler books but they just list starter loads not “reduced loads”. |
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[Last Edit: Reorx]
[#3]
Reduced loads using Trail Boss and Reduced loads using H4895 - both have 7mm-08 data.
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[#4]
I would suggest that if the kid is not up to the recoil from standard 7-08 loads, he/she is not old enough to use the gun.
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[#5]
Most of the mass involved is in the bullet. Cut down to 120gr pills and you'll cut the recoil to extremely mild levels. Be like a pillow fight.
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[#6]
Remember... when you're on target and pull the trigger... do you really sense the recoil?
IMO you're looking to solve a non-existing problem. Otherwise, just load light bullets. |
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Signal-0 Productions Firearms Training check it out at Signal-0.com
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[#7]
For factory loads try hornaday reduced recoil loads.
I use them in my 7mm08 due to bad arthritis in my neck. Recoil causes real pain. With this load it is like shooting 243 in my heavy savage model 99. |
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[#8]
Originally Posted By Bowhntr6pt: Remember... when you're on target and pull the trigger... do you really sense the recoil? IMO you're looking to solve a non-existing problem. Otherwise, just load light bullets. View Quote Yes an 11yo petite girl will be able to tell the difference. She will do a lot of practicing. There is no benefit of full power loads at the ranges she will be shooting at for hunting. |
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[#9]
I had to fudge the initial (primer) pressure by 800psi less to get the Optimal Barrel Time function to work.
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"Technique isn't something that can be taught. It's something you find on your own." - Bunta Fujiwara
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[#10]
Originally Posted By 2009lockedOUT: Yes an 11yo petite girl will be able to tell the difference. She will do a lot of practicing. There is no benefit of full power loads at the ranges she will be shooting at for hunting. View Quote I wonder how much velocity you'd need to get a 100gr Sierra Varminter to open up reliably. If you can make it mushroom in a carton of water you'd probably have a light recoiling hunting round for deer sized game. |
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[Last Edit: Reorx]
[#11]
Originally Posted By 2009lockedOUT: ...I have found the 60% rule for the H 4895 but of course can’t find any of that powder. I do have Imr 4895 but assume the same rule doesn’t apply. Any good place for reduced loads with other powders? View Quote Cheers! ![]() |
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[Last Edit: Lost-Drive-In]
[#12]
I load 120 grain soft points just over the starting charge of varget for a handi rifle. That has been a first gun for at least 6 kids and has taken over a dozen deer. Light recoil and good accuracy.
An update now that I'm home from hunting (not posting from my phone). I went to the reloading bench and checked my load. 38 Gr. Varget and a 120 grain Sierra Pro-hunter. Good accuracy from my Encore, A handi-rifle and a Savage. I figure it's about equal to a 30-30. |
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Father of a US Marine
Team Ranstad Tennessee Squire Non Illegitimus Carborundum Tibi |
[#13]
My youth 7mm-08 load is 36.2gr of imr4064 under a hornady 139gr interlock boat tail spire point. This roughly replicates 30-30 ballistics and when I was 14 it helped me get over a flinch. The exact charge and the case overall length can get played around with for maximum accuracy. My savage 111 shoots this load under an inch.
When you're small of stature and high power rifles are new to you it's important to start out with good habits and training. It's also hard to remember being small and how much recoil was different to you as a youth. If it takes a reduced power load to get your kid started out right then there's no shame in that. If your kid is in good shape another trick is to put some birdshot in any hollowed out places in the stock that you can totally fill. Adding a pound or two to the rifle can also help out a bunch. |
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[#14]
Birdshot added to the stock as mentioned above
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Bullet Sponge
Proud Member of Team Ranstad...The Fantastic Bastards Call sign - Frag Da Mrs - Dollart13 |
[#15]
Trailboss is my go to low velocity powder for pistol and rifle. The muzzle report is usually low with it also.
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[Last Edit: stewfish]
[#16]
Some light reading of pertinent information.
In the article, it also suggests referencing the Lyman cast bullet handbook for reduced load data with various other powders. Your IMR4895 is in both the article and Lymans. |
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[Last Edit: SteelonSteel]
[#17]
Originally Posted By 2009lockedOUT: Looking to my 11yo deer hunting with a 7mm-08 Encore. I’m having a problem finding load info for reduced loads. I have found the 60% rule for the H 4895 but of course can’t find any of that powder. I do have Imr 4895 but assume the same rule doesn’t apply. Any good place for reduced loads with other powders? View Quote I had to circle back to this question unlike the ginger in Washington I did come back to it. Because I was momentarily confused. The 60% thing was always IMR 4895 not H4895. I had to do some reading. I know H4895 was originally a twin to IMR but standards split when Bruce Hodgdon starting having his made. Anyhow they’re both linearly scalable to the 60% of max charge with predictable results. Ie a 10% powder reduction gives you a 10% velocity reduction. Hodgdon recommends using the H version for the reduction, said it worked a little better that low. Odd I never heard of reduced H loads until Hodgdon bought out IMR. I am a troglodyte though. So you can, as my old fart brain was yelling at me, use the IMR at the 60% of max charge reduction. |
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[#18]
Probably going to have to experiment. You could buy some reduce loads and try to replicate. R15 should be gtg. Varget for full power and accuracy… I used to load 120 nosler BTs to 3150fps with varget in a 22” savage. Never should have sold the silly academy special rifle. It would put 5 shots in a dime at 100yds no lie….it was just such an ugly rifle. But for your uses i would use a 120 Nosler or Barnes and load to 2700ish fps for the faint of heart. Heck I’m gonna load that for myself this season with then R15 I have on hand. Probably looking at 39-40grs RL 15 with a 120
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[#19]
120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips are a great choice to reduce recoil. They open up and penetrate well. I put them over 48.4gr of H4350 for just under 2900 FPS. Single digit S-D’s and .45 MOA in my particular rifle. I’ve now killed 3 deer easily with that load. You can also pump up the charge to 3100 FPS when your kiddos grow up.
Also as another post suggested, Hornady Custom Lite loads are really great! Killed two deer with them and that SST is soft enough to open up at even those velocities. Advertised as 2675 FPS from a 24” barrel. I don’t ever remember seeing 120 SST available as a reloading component, though. |
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"If Walmart had a house band- it WOULD be Nickleback- F*ck them" - Sarahjane
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[#20]
My go-to in 7-08 is Nosler Ballistic Tip over 45.5 IMR4350. I shoot it out of Rem Model 7 lightweight rifle and the recoil is very mild.
I let a very petite woman friend use it last month to take her first hog and she ended up buying her own (and guess who loads her ammo ![]() |
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[#21]
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[#22]
IIRC Sierra has data using 4064 and their 120s
4895 really is the reduced load powder for the 7-08. |
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[#23]
This is not going to be much help, but I had a 120 gr nosler ballistic tip load I used in a Remington Model 7 load when my son was 10 or so. I think it was around 22-2300 fps and very accurate. He killed several deer with it.
He’s 30 now, and I can’t locate the box of ammo quickly, I’ll keep looking. |
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Ellen; Clark, I think it'd be best if everyone went home... before things get worse.
Clark; WORSE? How could things get any worse? Take a look around here, Ellen. We're at the threshold of hell. |
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