Reduced rifle loads

by Fowler, Tuesday, September 03, 2013, 20:19 (4042 days ago)

Ok so in the past when I wanted reduced rifle loads I always just grabbed H4895 and ran 60 to 65% of the max load for a given bullet and shot happily. But I am out of it and who knows when it will be available again, I cant count on it anytime soon that is for sure.

So the question is this I have the latest Lyman Cast bullet manual #4 and there are a huge number of cast bullet loads with a variety of powders that I have or can get my hands on readily enough are these lead loads safe to run with jacketed bullets? I dont want a under charged detonation situation going on as we all know all manuals say not to reduce the min load recommendations on their charts but then here are cast loads doing just what I want for velocities so...

Specifically I am trying to find a load to run in the 270 that will push a 140 Ballistic Tip in the 2000-2200fps range for a buddy to start his wife and kids out that would be enough to hunt deer with this fall. I have about 800 of these bullets and at these slower velocities they should be the cats meow for them as the 223 they have been shooting is not legal in Colorado to hunt big game with. The manual lists Unique going up to 2100fps and IMR4198 going 2200fps, both are on the shelf. I would lean towards IMR4198 but I dont really know why other than it will fill more of the case.

Whats everyone's experiences here who has tried it? What should I watch for? So on and so forth...