30-06 Reduced loads?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 30-06 Reduced loads?

Posted: 7/1/2015 6:40:20 PM EDT

I have a M1903 Springfield and the wife loves to shoot it as much as I do.

While she can handle the normal loadings I want to roll some reduced loads so she can enjoy shooting it more then 20 or so rounds at a time.
I do have a rubber butt pad cuff and that helps her out a bunch

Is it a wise idea or an invite to danger?

Been rolling my own for years but never ventured into reduced power rounds.

I would also use new brass for this so it could be told apart from the other rounds by HS's

What do you guys recommend

Thanks

Posted: 7/1/2015 7:08:42 PM EDT

[#1]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/290994_Reduced_Recoil_load_for_30_06.html

There's one starting point. I have loaded reduced loads in similar full-size centerfire cartridges using both Blue Dot and Trail Boss and they make excellent training loads with (depending on the specific load) virtually no recoil. POI is usually different than with your regular full-power loads.

Posted: 7/1/2015 8:12:19 PM EDT

[#2]

Trail boss is the way to go. It is next to impossible to get a load that is too hot and don't have to worry about powder position when shooting or use fillers.
I use trail boss in most of my rifles including my 50 bmg. With no issues. And yes the poi will change as it will with any different load.

Posted: 7/1/2015 8:17:13 PM EDT

[#3]

Hodgdon shows this: https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf

I have never done this, but I have an uncle who did this for my cousin when he was younger. He said it worked pretty well and was accurate too.

Posted: 7/1/2015 8:20:18 PM EDT

[#4]

Hodgdon "Youth Loads"

I have been debating trying this with IMR 4895 which is "close" but not the same.. For me, I want to run 308 Win for a rebarreled Chilean 1895 Mauser. I checked headspace.. All good, but I don't trust it.

Posted: 7/1/2015 8:21:11 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
Hodgdon shows this: https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf

I have never done this, but I have an uncle who did this for my cousin when he was younger. He said it worked pretty well and was accurate too.

View Quote

Dang.. beat me to it.

Posted: 7/1/2015 9:30:32 PM EDT

[#6]

150gr lead, 15-17gr H2400

See more on the CastBoolits website.

Posted: 7/2/2015 10:41:02 AM EDT

[#7]

There are few ways you can go.

1) Hodgdon lists reduced / youth loads for the 30-06. Without looking I'd say it's probably a 125 or 130 bullet loaded with H-4895 for a velocity of around 2500f/s.

2) You can also go with Hodgdon Trail Boss power and their data for it.

3) You can shoot cast bullets using cast bullet data. This could be your least expensive way to shoot but if you have to buy commercial cast bullets it may not be. Shooting cast bullets from rifles like your 06' is very popular. Typically you would be shooting a 150gr to 200gr bullet about 1800f/s. Personally I use a 160gr.

You can even go sub-sonic if you wanted. My boys and I compete against each other with M39 Finn Mosin Nagant with sub-sonic cast loads. The fun level is off the charts.

Motor

Posted: 7/2/2015 11:37:13 AM EDT

[#8]

I use 13-14 gn of IMR 4759 under a 150-170 cast bullet. It's a very pleasant load going about 1300 fps. It's POA = POI with the battle sight out of my M1903 at ~75 yds. This is a published load out of an older Speer or Lyman Manual.

Posted: 7/2/2015 12:04:00 PM EDT

[#9]

Are these using standard spitzer type bullets ?
Ive got some .30 carbine FMJ bullets that have
a funky olive (not USGI type) and I'd like to
work up a load..

Posted: 7/2/2015 1:35:47 PM EDT

[#10]

In my 03-A3, I have been shooting a lot of these with good accuracy and low recoil.

15gr of Trail Boss under the Lee 160gr RN with a gascheck. Don't really need the gascheck, but since it is a GC bullet, I use them.

Posted: 7/2/2015 5:12:42 PM EDT

[#11]

Cast bullets are the way to go. If you can't get cast, I've heard 110 FMJ are very soft shooting.

Posted: 7/2/2015 6:41:53 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Are these using standard spitzer type bullets ?
Ive got some .30 carbine FMJ bullets that have
a funky olive (not USGI type) and I'd like to
work up a load..

View Quote

As long as they are .308" you should be able to use them with Trail Boss. There used to be data for using 100gr short jacket bullets and Unique for 30-06 and .308 Win plinker loads.

I have used the 100gr short jacket in both with Unique with very good results.

Motor

Posted: 7/2/2015 8:20:04 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
In my 03-A3, I have been shooting a lot of these with good accuracy and low recoil.

15gr of Trail Boss under the Lee 160gr RN with a gascheck. Don't really need the gascheck, but since it is a GC bullet, I use them.

View Quote

Maybe in the 03, but in a Ruger American 30-06, you need a gascheck even at reduced loads, the lee 150 gc bullets without a gc were all over the map. like a 12inch group.
Maybe the twist? the RA is a 1 in 10 iirc.

Posted: 7/2/2015 9:39:40 PM EDT

[#14]

I've used 13 to 19 gr. of TrailBoss in my 30-06 700 with 150 gr JSP. Chronoed at 1300 to 1700 FPS, and grouped well at 100 yds, with the POI about 12" lower than normal zero.

Recoil was similar to a 22 mag.

Lots of fun.

Posted: 7/3/2015 7:56:04 PM EDT

[#15]

I've used 110gr Sierras with IMR 4064. Don't remember the load but it's a pretty soft shooter out of a Ruger 77.

Posted: 7/3/2015 8:43:03 PM EDT

[#16]

I researched this for someone a while back. The sweeds sorted this out long ago and coined it 30.30.06 I dont have my notes in front of me but its a 150gr flat nose 30-30 pill over 40gr h322. Said to be superb accuracy with recoil identical to a 30.30. Its proven safe and effective.

This load is wonderful for reduced 06. Sometimes the old loads are the best.

Posted: 7/4/2015 9:29:46 AM EDT

[#17]

I tried IMR 4895 with Hodgdon's youth load 60% method in 30-06 with 150 gr Sierra bullets. Worked great. Another load is Alliant 2400-24.0 gr with a Hornady 110 gr jacketed Spire Point bullet. Even less recoil. Both will shoot a little low at 100 yards .

Posted: 7/4/2015 1:19:13 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
I researched this for someone a while back. The sweeds sorted this out long ago and coined it 30.30.06 I dont have my notes in front of me but its a 150gr flat nose 30-30 pill over 40gr h322. Said to be superb accuracy with recoil identical to a 30.30. Its proven safe and effective.

This load is wonderful for reduced 06. Sometimes the old loads are the best.

View Quote

It seems like this would be a recipe for hang fires. But although 322 is pretty fine it's not a ball powder so maybe not.

Was there any mention of using a magnum primer?

Motor

Posted: 7/4/2015 5:25:12 PM EDT

[#19]

I've got some old pull down 4895 that I want to get rid of.

I'm going to try the youth loads in my 300 Win Mag. I've always wanted to plink with that rifle.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 30-06 Reduced loads?

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