Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 308 Win IMR 4064 Question

I’m loading some 150 gr Nosler BTs over IMR 4064 in my 308 Win for my 10 year old daughter. I want to keep recoil down, so I am planning on using a starting load.

Sierra lists 39.1 grains as a starting load with 150s, but Nosler and Hodgdon list 44.0 and 43.0 as starting loads, respectively.

Is there any danger in starting at 39.0 grains, or should I start higher?

Win Nickle Brass, CCI 200s…

I believe Sierra's loads use Federal brass which is lower capacity than Hodgdon's Winchester brass. I'm not sure where current issue Nosler brass fits in this picture.

I did some figuring and found Hodgdon's 4064 data extrapolates down to 2459 fps for 39 grains.

A momentum balance, neglecting propellant mass, shows (2459x150)/125 = 2951

Reduced recoil loads for the 308 using 125 grain bullets go about 2600 fps, so we're looking at the possibility of 350 fps worth of recoil beyond that.

I'm not sure that's good for a young and inexperienced shooter.

Having a 10 year old daughter is a perfectly good reason to go buy a .243

I’ll pull them and bump to 43.0. I’m more worried about it being safe than velocity. Max shot would be 200 yards.

This is her third season and she’s shot a bunch with her sister’s 7mm-08 and 120 gr NBTs. But sister won’t share. So I cut down my 308 to 20” and had it threaded for suppressor.

She typically uses “her” Tikka 223, but I want her to shoot a bigger diameter bullet this year.

Why do you think 39 grains of IMR 4064 would be dangerous?

Starting loads are not minimum loads.

Starting loads at set far enough below maximum that variations in brass and rifle chamber should pose no dangerous conditions.

I thought they could be, not that they are, really. I remember reading about reducing rifle loads to a certain point that it caused high pressure spikes. I just couldn't remember what the conditions were that can cause that, and if reducing the charges to 39.0 grains would be getting into dangerous territory.

Those cautions you read were probably discussing overbore cartridges, large case small bullet diameter, which use slow burning powders.


IMR 4064 and IMR 4895 are often loaded down to 30-30 level loads in 30-06 and .308 cartridges.

Thank you! That seems to jog some memories.

I run a lot of 4064 in 308 based cases.... but for what you are looking for...

next time, skip 4064 and go with 4198, Either IMRs or Hodgdon's. RL 7 is also a good powder choice...

25 to 30 grains of 4198 and a 150 grainer out of a 308, would be easily a 200 yd load, and would have the recoil of a 243

I work a lot with scouts, so these are well proven loads for 12 to 16 yr old boys.

Too many wives tales floating out there on the internet. They are not going to produce pressure spikes...

between 4064 and IMR 4895 for reduced loads, 4895 ( IMR's ) is the better choice...

3031 is even better, next best choice after 4198 I mention above...

If it makes it any easier, you can use 30/30 data in a 308, and it'll behave pretty much like a 30/30.. both with the recoil or lack of it...
and using spitzer bullets it'll be flatter shooting...

or you can also use 300 Savage load data, get a little faster velocity of the 30/30, and it'll give you 300 Savage velocity out of the 308.

Thanks Seafire. Will try that next time.

Great suggestion.

Petro my 91 years young father has been loading 30-06 and 308 win at 30-30 velocities for years. Yes he's still reloading. Not sure how low he's gone but he loves IMR 4064. I'll ask and try to post later.

FWIW Steve's pages starts at 37.9 for 150-156gr in 308 win. As has been suggested there are better choices for reduced loads.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all

Thanks Kat.

My oldest shot a doe tonight with her 7mm-08. 39.0 gr IMR 4064 and a 130 NBT. 135 yards and dropped in her tracks. Very good shot.

Now to get middle daughter one with “her” 308.

?

I had worked up some load data based on the Lee 2nd ed. reduced load pressure and velocity factor. Didn't get around to testing them yet, but looks like I could get a 168 TTSX down to about 2,160fps with IMR4895 or IMR3031 in a 18" barrel, which would be effective out to a little over 400yds to keep above 1,500fps with a recoil a bit less than a 30-30. For the person that rifle is used by, that's plenty.

edit: Also was thinking a 270 or a 7mm-08 with a reduced 129gr/139 LRX would work out pretty light on the recoil.

This.

So like the 4198 idea.