Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters More reduced loading questions

I've posted here recently my interest in reduced loads to save wear and tear on a couple of my rifles. I know the formula of using the maximum listed load with H-4895 and multiplying it by.6 to get your starting load. Here's the situation I'm in. I always like to cross reference my reloading. In other words when I want to work up a load I always refer to more than one reloading manual just to get an idea what is a middle of the road starting point. In this situation the only manual I have that lists H-4895 in the calibers I'm interested in loading for is the Hodgdon #26 manual. Other manuals list IMR-4895, but few list H-4895 and especially the smaller calibers. Anyone know where I can get loading data using H-4895 for the calibers I'm interested in loading for? They are: .220 Swift, .243 Winchester, 7x57 Mauser and the .30-06 Springfield and maybe the .25-06 Remington. Any suggestions or advice welcomed. Thanks. RRM

You might try logging onto Hodgdon's website and going to the reloading data. They list H4895 data for bullets from 35-63 grains in the .220 Swift, 55-107 in the .243, 80-120 in the the .25-06, 100-168 in the 7x57, and 110-208 in the .30-06.

Yes, Hodgdon's website.

Hodgdon's website and the Lee reloading manual.

Go to some “cast bullet “ shooting web-sites. They should be able to point you in a correct direction. Though generally, a fast powder with a filler is used for cast Bullets. I use IMR 4198 with filler, in our cast bullet loads, for the wife’s .338 WM and my .375 AI. Just guessing that similar could be done with jacketed bullets! memtb

Cross referencing is smart. You might have to accumulate a bunch of older manuals before you can cross-reference everything you want. As a rule, bullet makers have data with lots of different powders and powder makers have data with lots of different bullets.

In this case, I think you can relax that standard a bit. For one thing, Hodgdon figured out the reduced load thing a long time ago, so you can trust what they're telling you. You're also loading to reduce velocity, so you're in much safer territory than if you were trying to maximize it.


Okie John

Cast bullet data can be used, I would recommend using the fast rifle powders versus the pistol/shotgun powders when listed (i.e. 4198's, 4227's). I've used Hodgdon's 4895 60% recommendation with 4320, 3031, 4064, VARGET, and IMR 4895, their suggestion often leaves powder residue in the case and barrel of many calibers I've shot. A 70% load yields a more complete burn and usually better accuracy with jacketed bullets.

I shoot reduced loads at a ratio of about 20:1, entirely with cast bullets, and haven't used a filler in 30 years. Bullseye, Unique, 4759 (I have lifetime supply), Blue Dot, etc. Even though the 4895's are ok for midrange loads I feel there are better alternatives such as 2400, RL7, 4198, etc.

Too many chambers have been ringed from use of fillers, usually by guys who swear they know what they're doing for me to employ that technique for the miniscule advantage (if any) that it provides. I don't know of a single CBA competitor who uses fillers.

Guys, thank you very much for the recommended information. It is appreciated. RRM

You take the max load listed for H 4895. You can reduce it by as much as 60%. Velocity will reduce pretty close to the percentage you reduce. I’ve used it in 243, 270,and 25-06 for grandkids. Very accurate.

Never used 4895. I tried AA-5744 first and never looked back. I was wanting a load for 170 gr cast in a .307 Win 94 so my young'uns could shoot it all day. I talked with an AA ballistician as to how low could I go. He said I had to use enough powder to get the bullet outta the barrel. That was it. Spent that winter setting soup cans up in front of a snowbank for the kids to shoot at. In the spring, the snowbank melted...……...I gathered up a can full of bullets and loaded em again !!

C.E. Harris wrote an article called "The Load" with 13 grains of Red Dot that covers a lot of cartridges. Also, Ross Seyfried wrote about using 4198 at a 40% ratio of the black powder loading. It works well for some cartridges like the 38-55.

once again, this season, I am starting out with the old 243...

90 grain Sierra Game Changer to try out..

30 grains of IMR 4198... at least off the bench, accurate right out to 200yds... more than enough for
Bambi's invite to the dinner table...

kinda a woods hunting environment where I am hunting locally, so more than enough...

I'm sure the bullet is up to the task, as I know the load is...

MV is right at 2600 fps...

recoil no different than the 39 grains of IMR 4895 that I also tried and have loaded as backup in case I am going to hunting more open country ( which is also around)... which will be using a different rifle in 243 for that..

I used SR 4759 for reduced loads, when production ceased I switched to Unique. I only use it with cast bullets, 15gr. with 200-220gr. bullets in my .35 Whelen and 10gr. with 150gr. bullets in .30-06. I switched to Unique because I always have it on hand to use in .44 Magnum loads, in fact it is the only powder I use in .44 Magnum.

I am going to deer hunt with my 375 Ruger and powder coated cast gas checked powered to 2K fps by 5744.
Shoots 1 1/2" at 100 with 58 year old eyes and a 4X Conquest.
A 45-70 with better sectional density.

I used 4198 when my girls were smaller, mostly in .270 with jacketed bullets, no filler. 130 gr bullets over a bit under 30 grains of powder worked like a champ. Zero at 100 was 6” lower than standard loads.

Count me inas another 5744 fan. I’ve used it for accurate reduced loads in 308 Win, 270 Win, 270 WSM, 358 Win, and 375 H&H. I can’t speak too highly of it.

I've had good results using 5744, trailboss, and H4895 for various reduced loads. With some rounds ('06 comes to mind) I had wide velocity swings with 4895, but with other rounds it worked fine. 5744 and trailboss have been very consistent. My 11 year old uses 4895 and 250gr TTSXs at 2100 in his 9.3x62 for big game hunting until he gets big enough for full velocity loads. He's killed a brown bear and deer with it so far. Works great!

Please be aware that Hodgdon states, the 4895 load can be reduced to 60% of the max load listed. Not, By 60%. The Devil is in the details.

Reduced loads are very useful for a number of reasons but they do require paying close attention to details, as always.

Whoops, you are right, reduce to 60%, not by 60%.