Practice without punishment

[lcq]

Call me a wimp but I despise getting the snot kicked out of me while practicing. I recently discovered Hodgdon trailboss loads and they make shooting any rifle seem like a pellet gun. https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-Reduced-Loads R_P.pdf

No range fatigue, bench bruises and you can concentrate on form before migrating to full house loads. Hell I would shoot a 375 or 458 if it were loaded with trailboss. Best of all there are one hell of a lot of loads in one 9 oz can. The standard 1lb can is absolutely full to the brim to yield 9 oz

 

[buffybr]

I'd never call you a wimp for shooting reduced loads. In my book, that's simply smart practicing.

I've been shooting reduced loads with cast lead bullets in many of my rifles (including my .300 Weatherby and .375 RUM) for many years.

When I started shooting registered Trap, I shot 12 gauge 3 dram 1 1/8 ounce loads at everything. After several years of competing, I found that I didn't need the punishment of those loads for singles and first shot of doubles events so I started using 2 3/4 dram 1 ounce loads for those events and still broke just as many targets. Similarly, when I started shooting registered Skeet, I shot those reduced 12 gauge 1 ounce loads for all 12 gauge events. I later reduced my 12 gauge loads to 7/8 ounces of shot, and about a year ago I reduced my 12 gauge loads further to 3/4 ounces -- basically a 28 gauge load. I still break just as many targets as I used to with the heavier loads.

Thanks for posting the link to the Trail Boss Reduced Loads. I'll try to find a can of it.

 

[lcq]

I'd never call you a wimp for shooting reduced loads. In my book, that's simply smart practicing.

I've been shooting reduced loads with cast lead bullets in many of my rifles (including my .300 Weatherby and .375 RUM) for many years.

When I started shooting registered Trap, I shot 12 gauge 3 dram 1 1/8 ounce loads at everything. After several years of competing, I found that I didn't need the punishment of those loads for singles and first shot of doubles events so I started using 2 3/4 dram 1 ounce loads for those events and still broke just as many targets. Similarly, when I started shooting registered Skeet, I shot those reduced 12 gauge 1 ounce loads for all 12 gauge events. I later reduced my 12 gauge loads to 7/8 ounces of shot, and about a year ago I reduced my 12 gauge loads further to 3/4 ounces -- basically a 28 gauge load. I still break just as many targets as I used to with the heavier loads.

Thanks for posting the link to the Trail Boss Reduced Loads. I'll try to find a can of it.

The most interesting aspect is that you don't need to use listed data. Mark where the base of a seated bullet is on case, fill the case to the line and weigh. That is your very safe max load. I was getting groups approaching 1/2" with my 300 wsm and 155 amax and about 3/4" with 110 speer in my 7mm mag

 

[zephyr]

Been shooting Trail Boss in all of my big bores just put together some Trail Boss loads for a friend's 500 Jeff...
Start and end my big bore range work with a half a dozen Trail bows loads they establish then re-establish gun muscle memory and shooting skills after shooting a big boomer. Use to end my shooting sessions with a .22 rifle, now I shoot Trail Boss loads, Same gun, trigger and sight picture. Loads usually shoot a few inches low if I use my 200yrd leaf on my doubles the gun shoots pretty much to point of aim....
NEVER!!!!!! compress Trail Boss

 

[matt85]

id love to try trail boss but ive never seen it available locally.

-matt

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I've been playing with reduced loads myself. I loaded some 150g Hornady round nose soft points over 27g of 5744 for my wife for her 30-06 and she loves it. It feels like shooting a 22, but in reality it is ballistically a 30-30. Perfect for the under 50 yard deer shooting we get around here.

I've got a reducing die so I can make .423 bullets for my 404 out of 44 magnum bullets. 300g XTP over 40g of 5744 is not nearly the standard 400g full house load, but it isn't exactly a 243. But it sure is cheap to shoot. Handgun bullets are a real bargain compared to rifle bullets.

 

[ve7poi]

Been shooting Trail Boss in all of my big bores just put together some Trail Boss loads for a friend's 500 Jeff...
Start and end my big bore range work with a half a dozen Trail bows loads they establish then re-establish gun muscle memory and shooting skills after shooting a big boomer. Use to end my shooting sessions with a .22 rifle, now I shoot Trail Boss loads, Same gun, trigger and sight picture. Loads usually shoot a few inches low if I use my 200yrd leaf on my doubles the gun shoots pretty much to point of aim....
NEVER!!!!!! compress Trail Boss

May I ask what bullet and powder weight used if you would be so kind.
Rod

 

[DM Shooting]

Just a thought could these reduced loads be used say in my 375 h&h or 404 Jeffery for smaller game so I can practise more on fallow deer etc.

 

[zephyr]

Sorry to have taken so long in responding. You can find additional info on Trail Boss on the IMR website here is what they say .
Mark where the base of the bullet would be when seated on the side of the cartridge case, then fill with Trail Boss to that mark, weigh, this will be your max load... multiply by .7 and this will be your starting load. For example you fill your case to the mark you made and the weight equals 50grns x .70 = 35grs .
35grns will be your starting load. This load will change with make and weight of the bullet you choose.
NEVER COMPRESS TRAIL BOSS......
You can also use this same formula with IMR 5744 as was written in the Feb issue of Handloader just multiply by .40 for your starting load.

 

[ve7poi]

Thank you
Will give it a try

 

[elmerfudd555]

Take a look at Hodgdon Powders web site. In addition to the trail boss loads you are talking about here, they also have a reduced load formula for H4895 that works with virtually any center fire caliber. If you can't find it I will dig out my pdf and post. I loaded a couple hundred practice rounds for my 375 H&H with 250 gr Sierras and they shot like a dream. No recoil, great accuracy. I'm sure they would be more than adequate for deer as well.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Just a thought could these reduced loads be used say in my 375 h&h or 404 Jeffery for smaller game so I can practise more on fallow deer etc.

A reduced 404 load shooting a cast lead bullet is pretty close to a black powder 45-70 load so it should do the trick on deer. Or you can use a re-sized .429 handgun bullet like I do and turn that 404 into one hell of a stout 44 magnum- also plenty adequate on deer. Just mind the trajectory of these loads as they will have more drop than a standard load.