Henry Rifle Forums

20 Years ago, I got a deal on a left-handed Ruger 300-win mag. It had sat in the store for over a year, and they had finally marked it down so low that I couldn't resist. Over the years the recoil was stout enough that I didn't enjoy shooting it anymore. So, it has sat neglected in my safe. BUT not anymore!
I decided to try and handload some low recoil rounds using H4895. According to Hodgdon's website H4895 can be reduced from the max listed load by a factor of .6. In Lee's reloading manual 4895 with a 150 grain bullet has a listed max of 61 grains for a velocity of 3124. Take that max load of 61 times .6 and you can reduce it (According to Hodgdon) down to 36.6 grains.
So, I put together two loads. The first load is within that .6 factor with a charge of 53 grains of H4895 with a standard large rifle primer and a 150 grain SST bullet. The second load was at the minimum listed load in the Lee manual at 57 grains with the same primer and bullet.

I was able to make it to the range today and put four of each round on paper at 100 yards and saved the remaining bullets for ringing steel at 200 yards. First, there was no noticeable recoil from either round. These would be very pleasant loads for the range, or for a youth hunter. Second, while accuracy was not stellar, (2.5" groups, about 3" high of my point of aim) it was just fine for a beginning, and my shoulder did not hurt at all (and I was wearing a T shirt). I think that I will stick with the 57 grain load and work it up a little from there.

Well if it gets to that miserable point again one can slip a limb saver or something like it over the butt. It does make a difference. Shooting big boomers off the bench is one of those things that makes you go hmmm

Don't forget the Past strap on pad to diminish the recoil. My good friend used it to shoot his two bore rifle.

I enjoy the challenge of shooting bigger stuff well off the bench and load development but not the recoil.
With the 375H&H I resorted to a 1" think sandbag between the butt and my shoulder.
Takes some real work to squeeze the trigger each shot when you are getting thumped but when you see a 1" group very satisfying.

I found a 150 Grain load that's a real shooter. Powder is 73 grains H4831SC, standard rifle primer, Hornady 150 grain SST.
This is the minimum load in the Lyman 50th addition. Recoil isn't bad and it rings steel all day long at 200 yards. Here is my group at 100 yards

Is that a 3 shot group then Im guessing Greyhawk

BigAl52 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 10:59 pm

Is that a 3 shot group then Im guessing Greyhawk

yep

When I glanced at your post title I thought I read “300 win mag pheasant loads”. That caused me some pause.