Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Ashes in reloads?

I had a friend pass away a couple years ago. At the time his wife went to someone and they out some of his ashes in 308 reloads (if i remember never actually got the full details). Well somehow one of my friends brothers didn't get any of the ash rounds. I have been asked if I could load up some 270 for the brother that missed out on them so he could hunt with his brother. From what I have read shotgun shells seem to be the round of choice when doing this. Anyone done this before? I figure if I only had a small "pinch" and say a couple grains from MAX load it shouldn't effect anything. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, would like to help them out if is safe.

I don't think I ever pondered this one! Perhaps try a couple test loads first, constructed as you mentioned but with a pinch of wood fire ash as a substitute? The stuff is inert so I don't see an issue, but I would cut the charge back a couple grains like you said.

Keep us posted. I might have to make a change in my will!

I did take part in a similar exercise at our trap club, with 12 gauge shotshells. Some ashes were added by sprinkling them in around the BB's before crimping, not unlike the Grex filler used in some non-toxic shot loads. We broke a few clays with him and then retired to the Trap Shack and hoisted some whiskey in his honor.

Decreasing projectile weight without changing charge weight would be a good compensation for the additional ejecta.

I know of a few that have loaded ashes in shotgun shells but this is the first I have heard of rifle rounds being loaded.

Really all you are doing is adding to the weight of the bullet. So, a few grains is not really going to spike pressure in a 270.

The father of a friend of mine took his last trip out of a 1911. They just backed the load off a bit.

I've done it with shells... just a pinch and no difference.

Just a thought. I have handled human ashes a couple times. They were very gritty.

Not in my rifle.

Our son has instructions to do exactly this after I pass on. Load a little bit of my ashes into my favorite rifle and take me hunting one more time. He is instructed to wait on a nice buck, not the first little ol doe that comes by. Told him if he misses, I’m coming back for a little talk…

I've been putting a hunting buddies ashes in all my hunting rounds since he passed. 270, 30-06, 300 RUM, 375 H&H, 264 WM. Only put a small amount on the tip of a small screwdriver and don't change the load at all. So far he has gotten a Kodiak Brown Bear, Muskox, Dall Sheep, a couple deer and one coyote. I usually spread about the same amount of ashes while I'm out in these spots hunting.