Loading softer shooting cartridges

[BruinGuy]

Hey y'all,

I'm hoping to load some 7.62x54R and 8mm Mauser in some softer shooting loads.

These would be for bolt-action rifles, so no concerns about cycling.

Anyone load up something not quite "powder puff" but milder than what's in the manuals? I've tried the minimum load for x54R with a 150gr bullet, and it was still pretty stout.

I'll be shooting these at 100 yards max, so they don't need a lot of power behind them, but I still want them to be relatively accurate (and to clear the barrel, naturally!). Would like recipes (bullet, powder, any special treatment, etc.)

[mark501w]

Light bullets starting loads.

['ol shooter]

Here's a link to Trail Boss reduced loads, and a calculator that you can use with any caliber to get you started.

http://hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail%20Boss%20Reduced%20Loads%20R&P.pdf

[SmokeWagon]

2nd on the Trail Boss powder for just pure fun plinking ammo in rifle cartridges. At 100 yards you'll have a blast, literally and figuratively speaking. The only problem is it is damn near impossible to get a hold of because it is so popular with the (SASS,CAS) crowd as it was designed for that sport.

[OpenSightsOnly]

I have tried Sierra's 150 gr, and I used 46 gr of 8208XBR, Fed 210, and once-fired Prvi brass.

Come to think about it, for 8mm, I don't think you can get any lighter than 150 gr.

Caveat - this load worked for my 98k, don't know about yours, you know the drill

Only tried this once since I was looking for a light load that is good for 200 yards - Garand match.

Did not pursue the matter any further since cost and time are not worth it. I figured that shooting 8mm is all about the pleasure of experiencing that recoil

[19K]

I take a shell, pour out about half of the powder, and reseat and crimp the bullet, shot them just for fun

[emptybottle151]

[Whiterabbit]

First, cheapest bullets you can find. No point in shooting barnes bullets to 1000 fps.

Two powder suggestions.

#1 full case of trailboss. Actually, the accuracy node for me is a couple grains shy of a full case. feel free to experiment. you can put powder right up the neck if you want. Only rule is don't compress. You'll probably find that your accuracy node is an 8th of an inch or so down from the base of the bullet too. You'll be somewhere in the 1200-1500 fps area, probably. By going down even farther you can make it subsonic. it's REALLY quiet at that point.

#2 reduced loads of H4895. Lots of data to be found here for most cartridges. Very accepted powder for stronger than gallery but VERY reduced loads.

I shoot a 130 grain cast lead bullet in my 7x57 with H4895 to 2000 fps and it feels like a 22 rimfire mag. The groups open up a bit at 100 yards, maybe 2moa or a smidge over, but very acceptable to me. At 50 yards the holes easily touch. Standing offhand, no 8" steel at 100 yards is safe. And no ar500 needed.

[meaty-btz]

Trailboss is the new king, reddot was the old king of reduced lead rifle loads.

If you really want a reduced load, put a recoil pad on and fire starter loads of H4895 with a lighter bullet. I can hit out to 500M with that load. The recoil pad is the real comfort giver. To be honest I love the BOOMPF of 8x57IS.

[hermosabeach]

Ignore this

I take a shell, pour out about half of the powder, and reseat and crimp the bullet, shot them just for fun

There is an event called flashover that will KB a gun.

Joking is good in off topic... But not here...

[CGT80]

I don't have experience with those two cartridges, but I have loaded up reduced loads for 30-30 and 30-06 in a lever action and bolt action.

Trail boss is extremely mild and I hit steel plates at 100 yards with the 30-06 150 grain jacketed bullets and had a velocity of 1200 fps or less.

For the 30-06 I used "the load" which is 13.0 grains of red dot and a 150 bullet. It was moving at 1400 fps and is my preferred light load for jacketed. I am going to try some cast lead bullets with Herco shotgun powder. Many shooters like that combo. I also use 6.0 grains of red dot in the 30-30 with a 159 cast bullet.

I have used a 30-06 load that was 60% of a max load for IMR 4895 and a 150 grain jacketed bullet. The 60% load is listed by Hogdon as being safe and it still feels like a big rifle, but it takes the edge off the recoil. The red dot and trail boss are like shooting a 223 or even a 22lr.

I use Accurate 5744 for my medium 460 mag revolver loads. It is listed for reduced rifle loads.

I have also used SR 4759 for reduced 30-06 loads. They are similar to the 60% 4895 loads.

I follow the books for the most part. I have some old manuals as well that listed reduced loads.

I hope this gives you a rough idea of how the powders compare. I know it isn't specific data for your rifle.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Question on the '06 reduced loads - can that reach 200 yards? thanks!

I don't have experience with those two cartridges, but I have loaded up reduced loads for 30-30 and 30-06 in a lever action and bolt action.

Trail boss is extremely mild and I hit steel plates at 100 yards with the 30-06 150 grain jacketed bullets and had a velocity of 1200 fps or less.

For the 30-06 I used "the load" which is 13.0 grains of red dot and a 150 bullet. It was moving at 1400 fps and is my preferred light load for jacketed. I am going to try some cast lead bullets with Herco shotgun powder. Many shooters like that combo. I also use 6.0 grains of red dot in the 30-30 with a 159 cast bullet.

I have used a 30-06 load that was 60% of a max load for IMR 4895 and a 150 grain jacketed bullet. The 60% load is listed by Hogdon as being safe and it still feels like a big rifle, but it takes the edge off the recoil. The red dot and trail boss are like shooting a 223 or even a 22lr.

I use Accurate 5744 for my medium 460 mag revolver loads. It is listed for reduced rifle loads.

I have also used SR 4759 for reduced 30-06 loads. They are similar to the 60% 4895 loads.

I follow the books for the most part. I have some old manuals as well that listed reduced loads.

I hope this gives you a rough idea of how the powders compare. I know it isn't specific data for your rifle.

[CGT80]

Question on the '06 reduced loads - can that reach 200 yards? thanks!

The 60% 4895 loads were hitting steel at 160 yards. I have a winchester 54 from 1926 with peephole sights and I am no pro at rifle shooting. 160 yards was challenging. I think the load would definately make it out to 200 and be able to hit decent sized steel. I don't know how the groupings would be. I haven't tried them on paper.

The red dot loads definitely traveled far enough to reach the 160 yard plate, and I think I hit the plate fairly often.

I have an old weaver 29s scope that goes on the rifle. I think it is 2x magnification. I want to try it to do some groups at 100 yards and to try and hit the 160 and 230 yard plates at my range. I have the loads with herco and cast boolits waiting for this.

From what I have gathered from the castboolits forum, the 30-06 and similar cartridges pack so much power that 200 yards is no big deal even with reduced loads. A full power load should group decent beyond 400 yards. I have talked to people that shoot steel plates at 600 yards with a 223/5.56 AR15 and can hit consistently. It seems that the heavier bullets used in the 30-06 are quite stable compared to lighter bullets such as the 223, so 200 yards is not a big deal.


My guns are far ahead of my skill. The castboolits forum has specific sections for reloading for military and commercial firearms. Downloading is popular over there, especially since most people there cast boolits (some cast bullets fly better at lower velocities-it just depends on the profile).

What type of shooting or accuracy do you need, OpenSights?

[OpenSightsOnly]

When I saw your comment on the red dot gallery load for '06, I had the impression that the '06 load is for a Garand. Well, after reading again, hindsight, it seems that is not the case.

For my case, I plan to do some reduced loads for the M1. Have read about the H4895 but I can't get my hands on that. However, I do have 8208XBR and I think that it shouldnt be an issue since H4895 and 8208XBR are in the similar range in terms of burn rate. So I can make something that's good for 200 yards.

The 60% 4895 loads were hitting steel at 160 yards. I have a winchester 54 from 1926 with peephole sights and I am no pro at rifle shooting. 160 yards was challenging. I think the load would definately make it out to 200 and be able to hit decent sized steel. I don't know how the groupings would be. I haven't tried them on paper.

The red dot loads definitely traveled far enough to reach the 160 yard plate, and I think I hit the plate fairly often.

I have an old weaver 29s scope that goes on the rifle. I think it is 2x magnification. I want to try it to do some groups at 100 yards and to try and hit the 160 and 230 yard plates at my range. I have the loads with herco and cast boolits waiting for this.

From what I have gathered from the castboolits forum, the 30-06 and similar cartridges pack so much power that 200 yards is no big deal even with reduced loads. A full power load should group decent beyond 400 yards. I have talked to people that shoot steel plates at 600 yards with a 223/5.56 AR15 and can hit consistently. It seems that the heavier bullets used in the 30-06 are quite stable compared to lighter bullets such as the 223, so 200 yards is not a big deal.


My guns are far ahead of my skill. The castboolits forum has specific sections for reloading for military and commercial firearms. Downloading is popular over there, especially since most people there cast boolits (some cast bullets fly better at lower velocities-it just depends on the profile).

What type of shooting or accuracy do you need, OpenSights?

[tiller]

Shoot the heaviest bullet you can find... With minimum charge