Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Hodgdon H4895 and Reduced Loads

I am interested in making reduced loads.

I've seen a Hodgdon .pdf file on "Reduced/Youth" loads that states you can created reduced loads by taking 60% of the max load (or 40% below the max load) of any bullet and/or caliber that uses H4895. Two questions

1) Does that mean I can use anything between 60%-100% of max load of H4895 (e.g., can I start a load at 75% of max load)?

2) If the answer is "YES" to question above one, why do you think Hodgdon data list minimum loads well above 60% (e.g., 10% below the maximum loading)- is it to stay within the velocities typical for the given caliber (e.g., 2400-2700 ft/s for .308) that the load data is describing? Just interested in other's thoughts on this one.

1)It means exactly that.

2)I believe that the 10% below max starting figure is used for standardization and to not confuse the nimrods that may think its acceptable to use 60% of a max charge of one of their slower powders for a starter.

SOME powders (but not 4895) should not be reduced more than 10% from max loads . The 10 % is a rule of thumb that keeps you out of trouble across a broad spectrum of powders .

in 308 I have used as little as 32 grains of H4895 in LAKE CITY BRASS witha 170 gr FP sierra as a reduced load in a ruger RSI.
recoil is unnoticable and velocity was around 1900.

I've had better results in reduced loads with Red Dot (really reduced), Blue Dot (middle way), and my favorite 4198 (middle to not much reduction).

4895 can be finicky if you go down to 60% or sometimes even 70%. But if you're already using it, then go ahead and find a load with it.

I don't know why Hodgdon keeps recommending H 4895 as an answer all... I find its accuracy eratic and elusive...

they keep pushing their 4895, when IMR's 4895, IMR 4198 and H 4198 will give much more consistent accuracy and less muzzle blast on top of it..

you'll also notice they do not experience the wide variations in MV that you get with reduced H 4895 loads...

Hodgdon sells all of these powders...so why they push H 4895 is beyond me.. it has nothing to do with logic or consistency of their results...

Thought I would add this seperate from above...

in a newly put together 7/08 on a Savage action with a new ER Shaw barrel, I was testing some loads today at the range with it..

a reduced load with H 4895 and a 120 grain Sierra SP bullet, gave me a 5 shot group that was about a 4 inch group at 100 yds,
this was with a chronographed MV of 2550 fps...

Then using the same bullet, with a load of H 4198 instead that gave the same MV of 2550 fps, the 5 shot group from this load gave me one 30 caliber hole with ONE 7mm hole touching it to the left....at 100 yds.. so well under a half inch group...

same bullet, same primer, same brass, same rifle, same barrel.. same MV... only difference was the powder.. both by the same company...both reduced loads..

the manufacturer pushes the powder than gave me the 4 inch group, while do not push or even mention the other powder for those type of applications...

I am sure the reason why, is that they have taken the time to test H 4895 and haven't take the time and expense to test anything else...

however with the AMMO factories selling "managed recoil" loads at higher than normal ammo prices, and selling well.... you know the market and needs exists for this among shooters...

seems to me, Hodgdon would put its best foot forward vs just pushing a powder that yields poor results in that application...

I have found the same thing with the reduced loads for H4895 but tried it with full power loads and it works great.

I've learned a couple of things about reduced loads. One, if you are using anything in the medium burn range, like IMR 3031, the 4895's, etc. use a magnum primer. They shoot better, more accurately.
Second, just like full power loads, some shoot really well, and some don't impress much. Try adjusting the load up and down for better results. Has often worked for me.
The other thing is that the faster the powder, the less the recoil and blast. But they can only go so far. I'd be very careful using some of the faster ones. That's anything faster than 4198. E