Author Topic: need some light recoil loads for youth (Read 1673 times)

bart74 · « **on:** May 04, 2008, 05:30:17 PM »

i have a standard contour 308 and i am looking for some light recoil loads for my 8yr old to deer hunt with any help would be nice

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2008, 02:48:55 AM »

Try C.E. Harris' load of 13.0 gr. of Red Dot with one of the lighter constructed bullets since the velocity will be below 2000 fps. Take a look at http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=56618.0;wap2 for more information. It also covers Hodgdon's info on youth loads.

I have used the 13.0 RD load in .308, .30-06, and .303 British guns with success. It is very versatile.

Couger · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2008, 08:47:15 AM »

Quote from: bart74 on May 04, 2008, 05:30:17 PM

i have a standard contour 308 and i am looking for some light recoil loads for my 8yr old to deer hunt with any help would be nice

Do you reload? Can your son or daughter handle a .30-30?

If you reload, go to the Speer manual and look to see what loads for the .308 are listed with SR4759 powder (150grn loads at around 2000fps are listed for that powder).

Or look to see if Remington offers one of their 'Manged Recoil' loads in the .308.

bart74 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2008, 11:09:09 AM »

no i dont reload but my neighbor does and i have the gun and some once fired brass from it and though some of these handi people might have some pet low recoil loads for handies in 308 and yes 30-30 equivalent would be great

canon6 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2008, 11:43:38 AM »

Federal ammo loads Low Recoil ammo for 308.They are the power levels of a light 30-30 and the recoil is very very low. I have a very bad right shoulder and I can even stand them.hth Doug

BBF · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2008, 07:18:38 AM »

you can download H-4895 to 60% of their max loads shown. I don't know if you can do the same with the IMR stuff. There are several SSP bullets available that would work well with the reduced velocity.

MTGlass · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2008, 07:45:03 AM »

What 47-70 wrote.

Hodgdon used to have youth loads listed on their web site, but I can't find it there now. IIRC, it was 60% of max in any loading where data for H4895 is listed. I loaded 70% when starting my daughter out on her 7mm-08. These printed 12"-18" lower than standard loads at 100yds.

I bought a pound of H4895 just for this application.

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2008, 09:20:22 AM »

BE CAREFUL WITH REDUCED LOADS!!!!!!
Just a friendly warning I read a few stories of where reduced loads actually generated higher pressures and had a pretty severe failure of the firearm.....

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2008, 10:48:29 AM »

I just called Hodgdon on their 60% H4895 youth load data, it's still recommended, just not on their new website yet.

Hodgdon Powder Company has developed the following reduced loads for youth and beginning shooters for use on deer and similarly sized game animals. The bullets chosen were originally designed for single shot pistols and their lower velocities. These loads have been developed to closely approximate those pistol velocities in rifles, and therefore, similar performance on game animals. This provides our young and beginning shooters with loads effective to 200 yards with minimal recoil.

For all cartridges we chose H4895 because it is the slowest burning propellant that ignites uniformly at reduced charges. For years, H4895 has been the top choice by cast bullet shooters. For this type shooting, loads are reduced even more than the hunting loads listed herein. To create loads of this type for target and plinking, we recommend our 60% rule with H4895. By taking the maximum charges listed in our Annual Manual with any given cartridge and multiplying it by 60%, the shooter can create a 1500 to 2100 fps load, depending on the bullet weight shown. This works only where H4895 is listed. Do not use H4895 in a cartridge where it has not been shown.

Chuck Hawks has a couple 308W reduced loads listed too.

Tim

http://www.chuckhawks.com/reduced_recoil_reloads.htm

petemi · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2008, 10:54:00 AM »

My Marlin 336 straight stocked lever gun kicks the crap out me with 170 gr. loads. My .308 with 168 gr. loads shoots like a Red Ryder BB gun. Yes, I understand you don't want a kid flinching from recoil, but you don't want his or her first hunting experience to be a disaster loosing a wounded deer. Personally, I would try the kid out with the lightest bullet I could get in .308 (not load). Bullet weight, to my way of thinking, has more to do with recoil than how much powder is behind it. I would think a factory 130 gr. PSP would be mild if something like that is available. I was curious as to what State allows 8 year olds to hunt deer with centerfire rifles?

bart74 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2008, 11:23:33 AM »

thanks for the replies. this will be a good place to start. you can hunt here in Tennessee at any age when accompanied by an adult

james25889 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2008, 03:28:16 PM »

Alabama either

BBF · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2008, 02:53:35 AM »

that is what I call progressive States. When they are old enough to get up on their hind legs and can hold up a rifle they are good to go

swissfan · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2008, 04:03:25 AM »

Kentucky also, no age limit just have to have an adult within arms reach. Also new this year, anyone under the age of 12 isn't required to even have a hunting license or permit. BTW, my 9 year old son used a Handi Rifle in 30-30. He's small framed and handles the 30-30 with no problems, I just had to put the youth stock on it.

krod47nw · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2008, 07:23:42 AM »

IMR SR 4759 powder. It is the king of powders for reduced loads. It is sometimes hard to find, as is loading data for it, but would be worth the search. I once loaded some 223 target loads with it. accuracy was excellent and recoil was not even noticeable.

If you Google IMR 4759, it comes up with many listings on reduced loads.

Kevin

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2008, 07:30:31 AM »

SR 4759 data for 150gr bullets is shown in the Chuck Hawks link I posted earlier.

Tim

krod47nw · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2008, 07:32:39 AM »

Yes it is Tim. Sorry for repeating the link. I'll delete the link.
Kevin

Smoke Wagon · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2008, 04:50:20 PM »

Florida also as long as your within arms reach of an adult. My son 10/31/06 with his first deer taken with a .243

OR-E-Gun Bill · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2008, 06:23:01 PM »

Hodgdon has their reduced youth load data on a .pdf format now.

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

Bill

BBF · « **Reply #19 on:** May 19, 2008, 08:44:37 AM »

I had a look at the website and read "do not reduce more then a further 10% or something to that effect. Does that mean you can go down to 50 % of a max load?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** May 19, 2008, 08:58:26 AM »

Their exact wording..

Call Hodgdon Powder Company if additional information is needed. Loads may be adjusted up or down to achieve best accuracy. Do not reduce by more than an additional 10%.

If in doubt, give em a call.

Tim

http://www.hodgdon.com/contactus.html