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taming .308 for kid

earlwellman
I plan to get a model seven in .308 and wonder how best to load it down for my daghter to use when she is 12 for whitetail. I know a .243 or 7mm08 would be better for her, but I have my heart set on a .308. I will be the primary shooter of the gun.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Earl
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Comments

17 comments

Date Votes
  • Permanently deleted user
    the .308 should be plenty tame for a 12 y/o...my daughter was shooting a .243 at 7 years old.
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  • Tailgunner1954
    Try a 125gr Nosler Ballistic tip, over 46.0gr of AA3100 for approx 2350fps (this is a starting load BTW, Max with that powder is 50.0gr for 2650).

    A friend had great results in his 308 using that bullet over 51.5gr of W748 (max load), but at 3200fps it might be a little snappy for your daughter.
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  • earlwellman
    Exactly what I needed fellas. Thanx a bunch.
    Earl
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  • Zinderbloc
    Check your reloading manual under .30-30. Duplicate a .30-30 load for your daughter. Thirty-thirty: Killing deer since 1895.

    For that matter, you could buy a box of .30-30 ammo and pull the components apart and reload them into a .308 case.
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  • Tailgunner1954
    quote:Originally posted by Zinderbloc
    Check your reloading manual under .30-30. Duplicate a .30-30 load for your daughter. Thirty-thirty: Killing deer since 1895.

    For that matter, you could buy a box of .30-30 ammo and pull the components apart and reload them into a .308 case.


    Except that the 30-30 case holds approx 14gr less water than the 308 does, you could find yourself facing a "overpressure event" due to a underloaded round. It's not a real common event, but it can happen.
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  • iceracerx
    buy her a rifle with a Muzzle Brake!

    I had a REM 700 BDL in 308 that was a shoulder popper

    Latest rifle has a nice Muzzle brake on it and the felt recoil is much less.
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  • nononsense
    earlwellman,

    Check any copy of the Speer reloading manual. They contain reduced loads for most cartridges. Also look at the Hodgdon website for a section about youth loads and H-4895 powder. You can do a search for:

    SR 4759 (IMR)

    This bulky handgun powder works great in the magnums, but really shines as a reduced load propellant for rifle cartridges. It's large grain size gives good loading density for reduced loads, enhancing velocity uniformity.

    Best.
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  • B17-P51
    Tailgunner- you must be Psychic!! That load is exactly what my kids started with. Be careful cranking it up to max though. Nothing wrong with the pressure or anything, but on a really close shot (25 to 50 yds) with a maxload, some premature bullet fragmentation is evident.In open country at 2 or 300 yds it is perfect.
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  • Hawk Carse
    Hodgdon lists Youth Loads. Most are with H4895 powder which they say is safe and consistent down to 60% of maximum.
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  • Mike Fink
    I used reduced loads but made sure they were still accurate, for both my wife and daughter. I backed off 3 grains and made it enjoyable for them to range fire. The recoil effect is of course not noticable under hunting conditions in most .308 loads. The Speer book gets a second from me. I use IMR 3031 for my rifles and have for 45 yrs. Regards, Mike
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  • Ray Boone
    I use a Rem 700 Adl 308 for the live fire portion of the hunter education classes that I give. Kids of all sizes down to about 9 years of age and about 50 pounds in weight hadnle it just fine- I load it with 170 grain Oregon Trail bullets and either sr4759 or 4198, for velocities about 2000 fps, or very close to 30-30, but with a much better shape for recoil. I'd probably go with a 150 gr jacketed bullet loaded to about 2200 for deer.
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  • fairlanegt390
    the 308 is a great gun, i have a mdl 70 winchester ultralight it is great. the fit and how she hold it will change alot of the recoil of the gun. if she has long enough arms put a 2 inch packmire decelarator on it. or have the gun shortend on a cheep replacment stock with a pad then when she gets older replace the origanal stock with it. i just bought a 700 sps and it comes with a good pad already on it it is avalable in 308 and works great. i have a son who will start shooting it soon he is 9.
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  • kd5kuf
    I loaded 150 gr roundnose .30-30 bullets into .308 at about 2400 fps using 4064, to get my son started at 12. The round bullets are made to perform well at this reduced velocity. The next year he wanted full power loads so went with 150 spbt and never looked back.
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  • earlwellman
    I am now looking at the Savage youth model that I can later add an adult stock to. The length of pull (12.5 vs 14) is better for a kid and the Accutrigger is a plus. Saving a couple hundred aint bad either.[:D]
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  • 11b6r
    Ditto on the 4759 powder. 20-21 grains with a 150 gr bullet- will give you about 1800 fps. Besides reduced loads, seriously consider a recoil pad. Have a very light Winchester in .308- the stock design will bring tears to your eyes with heavy loads- but a pad tames it down nicely.
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  • joes
    Here is a link which you can get info to load off of- it is link through Hodgon's and it is specific to reduced loads ( in this case a .308) good luck.
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  • gravley
    Modern Reloading by Richard Lee has a chapter on reduced charges which lists powders to be avoided for reduced charges, how to select the right powder and how to calculate a reduced load. I highly recommend this book as it has tons of reloading data for the new and even the experienced reloader. I was surprised no one else mention it.
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