I’ve been seeking a good low recoil deer round for my 9 yr old daughter. She’s a little thing and doesn’t like recoil. We used a 243 last year with the Hornady Lite ammo- it’s 87 gr SST and it did ok. She shot 2 & both ran with good shoulder shots- that’s my experience with a 243 even with full power loads. I know...the 243 guys are going to beat me up but I just honestly don’t like a 243.
Started reading a week ago on reduced 308 loads and there’s lots of good info out there. After a few tests I settled on 30.0 grains of H4198. That gave me 2246 fps (7.75 lbs recoil) out of an 18” Ruger Compact 308 (.75” group). I’m using the 120 gr Barnes Tac-TX designed for the BO. This should be a good load since they expand down to 1350 fps - max of 2600 fps I believe. Anyway, so yea- I down loaded a 308 to BO velocities. I’m sure 1000’s have done it but it just seems like the perfect youth load for deer.
I even had help with the project- teach them while they’re young!
Started reading a week ago on reduced 308 loads and there’s lots of good info out there. After a few tests I settled on 30.0 grains of H4198. That gave me 2246 fps (7.75 lbs recoil) out of an 18” Ruger Compact 308 (.75” group). I’m using the 120 gr Barnes Tac-TX designed for the BO. This should be a good load since they expand down to 1350 fps - max of 2600 fps I believe. Anyway, so yea- I down loaded a 308 to BO velocities. I’m sure 1000’s have done it but it just seems like the perfect youth load for deer.
I even had help with the project- teach them while they’re young!