What is a reduced load?

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  • Last Post 27 September 2016
JeffinNZ posted this 25 September 2016

So, this is something I have mulled over for ages. What is a reduced load?

Is it?:

1) A load producing less than factory velocity? 2) A load launching a much lighter bullet than would be considered 'standard'. 3) A load with a much smaller charge of powder than 'standard'. 4) A load using a full case of much slower powder than 'standard' producing much less pressure and/or velocity.

Case in point, I used to own a SKS in which, for target shooting, I loaded a 180gr .311 bullet over 23gr W748 for 1600fps. Now that is 'reduced' velocity with a much heavier than usual bullet but a full case of powder. I have seen it stated that ball powders don't do well on 'reduced' loads. Is that sub par pressure or sub par velocity or sub par load density?

There, the can of worms is open.

Cheers from New Zealand

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onondaga posted this 25 September 2016

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=80>JeffinNZ

The reasons shooters want reduced loads are specific and can be individual to the shooter for all the reasons you mention and likely more.

My favorite reduced load was designed to make a single shot Remington Spartan Deer rifle I have in 7.62X39 into a dual purpose rifle with a reduced load suitable for Squirrel hunting and have ammunition close to .22 rim-fire in power, velocity and extreme range. I didn't want missed shots at squirrel going any farther than .22s. The load I came up with kills a little better at hunting distances but drops to earth a lot sooner. I shoot a light for caliber 90 gr flat nose bevel base tumble lube bullet at 1160 fps. That is a squirrel load from a Deer rifle that has a pet Deer load with a 165 gr FNGC at 2050 fps. That is a big difference for a specific reason to make one comfortable rifle into two.

Both loads group under 1/2"@50 yards and I can click my scope to a preset turret mark to change ammo and hit.

Gary

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Mike H posted this 25 September 2016

My example of a reduced load would be a 32/20 factory load equivalent,fired out of a .308 Winchester rifle.A 30-30 load out of the same rifle would be a mid-range load.Ifyou had a 32 revolver load,I would call that a squib load.Mike.

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M3 Mitch posted this 26 September 2016

As for ball powders not working well in “reduced” loads, with a few exceptions, I think the issue is low loading density, so a “case full” of a slower ball powder is probably OK.

As to what is a “reduced load” - I guess any load that produces less than maximum power or velocity could be called “reduced". So if you come up with a 150g jacketed load for your 300 Magnum that's at 30-06 velocity (for whatever reason) I guess that's a “reduced load". Or as Mike says maybe that's more of a “midrange” load. For hunting purposes I think Onandaga has it - a reduced load is a load for a big game rifle that “tunes” it to small game as well.

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highstandard40 posted this 26 September 2016

My opinion only. If words mean anything, “reduced” means a load that is anything less than the normal range for a particular cartridge and bullet weight combination. It follows that “mid range” is in fact a reduced load. Bullet weights either lighter or heavier than what is the accepted norm for a cartridge would not be considered reduced. I would classify this second group of loads based on bullet weight as being either “light for cartridge” or “heavy for cartridge” and within this second group loads can also be further classified as “reduced” if they are loaded to a velocity below safe upper limits.

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Maven posted this 27 September 2016

Is it?:1) A load producing less than factory velocity?2) A load launching a much lighter bullet than would be considered 'standard'.3) A load with a much smaller charge of powder than 'standard'.4) A load using a full case of much slower powder than 'standard' producing much less pressure and/or velocity.

's 1, 3, and 4 certainly fit, but wouldn't Remington's saboted .30-06 round of the 1960's come under that classification?  It supposedly achieved 4k fps with a very light (100gr.?) jacketed bullet.. Btw, I've also tried 180gr. FMJ and Ly. #314299 in my Type 56 SKS with 14.0gr. Alliant 2400 as a “reduced” load since anything more than that gave clear signs of higher pressure than I was comfortable with.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 27 September 2016

i think ” reduced ” refers to less chamber pressure than safe maximum ...

if still in doubt, i will ask my wife ...

ken

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