Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 308 light/reduced load

Too cute for words!

Using a few recoil calculators online, with the guns I have here, and the loads I would use, the 223 would have 5.2 lbs of recoil energy, the 308 would have 8.4 lbs, and the 410 she shoots turkeys with has 13. The 308 has a short barrel, and a reduced length of pull. It fits her better than any rifle here. Which is why I picked it. Fit will have an impact on how much recoil is felt as well. Which is why I picked it. I’ve done a good amount of research on it. I’m just looking for on game experience from those who’ve used the light or reduced loads in game.

Shooting off your hind legs with a 410 is not the same as at a bench with the 308... the "numbers" don't reveal that reality/difference.

I've been using the 308 for over 3 decades and have raised two kids shooting... make it fun, use a 223.

6 years old? Are you kidding?

You don't own an AR? Anyhow, the way to get what you're looking for is look up reduced load data for .308 and then search for that bullet used in .300 BO, .30/30, etc. From what I've seen you can expect .223 level performance on deer.

Back to the AR, one of the things that aren't obvious is the bolt carrier group in a 22lr AR running back and forth approximates .223 recoil well enough you don't necessarily need to practice with .223.

No, I’m not kidding. She’s already killed a turkey with the .410. And I own several ARs. They aren’t legal for hunting big game in PA. So that’s off the table.

.22s are still not legal everywhere, notably (for me) VA. Wanted a Howa Mini 6.5 Grendel for my grandson to use for a few years, but they were Unobtanium, so I went with the 7.62x39 Youth model, essentially duplicating the performance you want. He killed a spike with no trouble at something over 100 yards first time out; plenty of power and a pass-through with 123gr SSTs.

Incidently, that youth model is perfectly usable for adults. Even my 6'5" son (Dad) shoots it without issue. If you decide to look at a dedicated rifle for her later, they're worth a look, especially if they make good on their promise to start importing the ones with floorplates. Otherwise, an RAR would be fine, but maybe heavier.

Here are some 30-30 equivalent loads from Layne Simpson.

Reduced-Recoil .308 Winchester Loads
Bullet Powder (Type/ Grs.) Velocity (fps) Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) Recoil (ft-lbs)
Hornady 150-gr. JSP AA 5744 / 24.0 1835 1122 6.4
Hornady 150-gr. JSP IMR-4227 / 24.0 1997 1329 7.2
Hornady 150-gr. JSP SR 4759 / 22.0 1964 1285 6.7
Hornady 150-gr. JSP 2400 / 20.0 1784 1060 5.5
Hornady 150-gr. JSP IMR-4895 / 35.0 2020 1359 9.2

I have also used 12 grains Red Dot for plinking loads, but this may be better for cast bullets.

Thanks for all the info and ideas fellas. I’ll report back later this summer on which direction we are going.

my ex gf used the Hornady Custom Lite to get a nice doe. The recoil was maybe that of a 243 and accuracy was surprisingly good for a factory load. The doe was quartered away with the bullet entering towards the rear of the ribs and exiting opposite side brisket near the shoulder. The doe made it maybe 30 yards. I would definitely recommend this one to anybody who needs a lite load.

What Brad said ! E

I've had good luck with 125 NBT over both Re-10x and H-322. You don't have to push them too hard and very accurate.

The twinkle in her eyes and confident grin sez it all...well done.
Ron

I've posted these pics before, but these are my two girls, both around age 7, shooting a 7mm-08 and a 260 with Blue Dot and Trail Boss loads. Lighter bullets for plinking/practice and mid-weight bullets for killing. A 140gr 7mm NBT at 2,100-2,200 was a killer, considering our shots were inside 100yds. A 125-150gr .308 NBT would be much the same.

I will add that I ran the recoil calculators, and the powder-puff practice loads we shot were around 3lbs of recoil, same as a .223 sporter. These were 100gr Sierras in 7mm and I think 90's in 6.5mm. The hunting loads were a bit stouter charges of Blue Dot and the aforementioned Ballistic Tips.

6 is young, but if they can shoot and want to hunt, I say let them hunt. Rifle fit is a huge factor, and a cheapo stock pack might help cheek-weld, as it did for my youngest daughter (tie-dyed photos above). Hearing protection for practice and hunting are also important. Electro-muffs are cheap these days. Reactionary targets like jugs of colored water make it a game, and they barely even notice the blast or any recoil, as they are too busy having fun.

My oldest shot her Blue Dot loads until she was 11 or so, even trying the 120NBT with a bit more speed. It worked well also.

Way to get the kiddos involved in one of the best outdoor sports there is.

Take that .308 and fill it with Trail Boss, up the bottle neck. 13 grains. Top it with a SnS 115gr powder coated bullet.
Recoils light a .22LR, accurate and outstanding 100 yard deer / hog load.

But do NOT compress trail boss. Bad juju. 75 percent full is your max load.