Thread: Anyone looking for reduced load suitable powder?

Originally Posted by Jhon

In general with similar powders, Blue Dot, Red Dot, AP70N, ICI Nobel Shotgun Powder No78, AS30 etc, I start with 10gn in a 30 Cal with a cast bullet in the 150gn to 220gn range. I use in 30-30 (158gn), 303B (200+gn), 308 (158gn), and 7x57mm (150gn). With 10gn powder I'm looking for around 1200fps. At 12-13gn powder I feel I'm approaching Max load territory and getting velocity in 1600-1800fps range. I've had heavy bolt lift in 303B above that. I'm only using Cast Gas checked bullets either lubed or powder coated. I have found good accuracy in the range of 1400fps to 1600fps. Irrespective of calibre I've found groups become chaotic above 1600fps..my max range target is 120m with max 4in group. Anything I hunt can be got at that distance and level of accuracy. I've tried going down as low as 7.5gn for subsonic but worry about bullets stuck in bore. I never got good groups at sub velocities and given how quiet a suppressd reduced load is at 1400fps i don't really see the point of going sub. A decent chunk of cast doing 1400fps at 50-80m is pretty decisive on any NZ game.

I don't use fillers, at all. I use standard LR Primers. I use a moderate to full (30-30Lever) crimp.

Others here will probably have more experience than me.

I have to say I got into it with the Nobel 78. The only info I could find was for Red Dot Ed Harris's "The Load" of 13gn

https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharri...The%20Load.htm

I found out from an old NZ Shotgun components supplier that Nobel 78 is very close, slightly faster, than AS30 which ADI post as equivalent to Red Dot. However I fired my first few 303B loads by pulling a piece of string lol.

Biggest caution is don't double charge! If done, would be very easy to miss with just an eyeball check. Not a happy ending to be had. So scrupulous loading practice recommended.

The 10-12 grains of unique is a universal load with cast bullets. Be careful/wary of using faster powders like red dot with reduced loads. Ap70 is similar to unique so should be ok. However I understand ADI are not making that either