Quickload request for my new to me Cooper

[caribouhunter]

I just stumbled on what i think is a good deal.
Found a pristine condition Cooper custom classic model 56 left hand in 300 win mag. (paid 2700$ Can, or 1950$us)
first group i tried when i got it on paper with factory trophy bonded tip was right at 0.51moa for 3 shots.
Don’t really like the recoil though and would like to build a reduce load around 30-06 velocities for most of my hunting, and keep the factory for more important hunting trip for moose and the like.

I tried 5 shot with 69gr of imr4831 behind 180 NBT, 3.340" Remington 9-1/2M primer. It shot in 0.875" velocities around 2875-2900.
I see 69gr as the minimum in many books, But Hodgdon list 1 load at 67.6gr with a different 180gr bullet.

Can someone run a quick load and see what’s the minimum load that turns out? Case capacity is 92gr h2o in Sierra stamped brass
Thanks
C.H.

 

[Slimfinn]

Beautiful rifle!

 

[sako2]

Yes a beautiful rifle that shoot's. Congrats.

 

[jimbires]

use the Hodgdon H4895 reduced load formula . you can up the powder charge to where the recoil is acceptable . the 60% reduced minimum loads , are usually very very mild .


https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads-2.pdf

 

[NYDAN]

Wow, that is a beautiful rifle. Being left-handed, that would have really tempted me. Good thing you saw it first.

 

[JD338]

Beautiful rifle, congrats.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Beautiful rifle. I’d suggest looking at faster powders rather than reducing slow burning powders.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Congratulations on your beautiful rifle. Not sure how it will be in felt recoil for you but maybe try going to lesser weight bullet such as 150 or 165 grain. Know some that use those weights in the 300 Win Mag.

 

[caribouhunter]

Beautiful rifle. I’d suggest looking at faster powders rather than reducing slow burning powders.

Thanks
i also have H4350, H4831sc at hand

 

[caribouhunter]

use the Hodgdon H4895 reduced load formula . you can up the powder charge to where the recoil is acceptable . the 60% reduced minimum loads , are usually very very mild .


https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads-2.pdf

Thanks. their site doesn’t list H4895 with 180gr bullets.
And i’m pretty comfortable with the 69gr load. I was wondering if i can try lighter loads in 0.3gr increments to find the moat accurate load.
if not i’ll just go up from there. I have a few pounds of IMR4831 i’d like to use

 

[Ralt71]

If you are after a more tame shot, drop to a 150 (Partition or AccuBond) and try the faster powders. @jimbires got me into using this H4895 for reduced loads and I know it will work well here. I would go straight to that and start working on building a load there. I suspect your recoil would be less than your typical 30/06 round

 

[RL338]

Thanks. their site doesn’t list H4895 with 180gr bullets.
And i’m pretty comfortable with the 69gr load. I was wondering if i can try lighter loads in 0.3gr increments to find the moat accurate load.
if not i’ll just go up from there. I have a few pounds of IMR4831 i’d like to use

I’ve not used IMR 4831 but one thing to keep in mind is milder loads of slow burning powder tend to run dirty until acceptable pressures are met.

 

[jimbires]

If you have the bullets you want to use , and the powder you want to use , about all you can do for less recoil is go to the min starting loads of powder . the most common way to lower recoil is lighter bullets , and going to a reduced load of powder . faster powders will lower recoil too . how much , or what faster powder to use , I don't know . my computer keeps messing with my quickload program , it won't even run now , or I could try to run some numbers .

I see what your saying about the 67.?? powder charges listed for some bullets . you could try loading down , as you said , in 0.3 increments . just watch for goofy stuff . low PSI loads are just as dangerous as high PSI loads . maybe more so , as there is nothing much to watch for until it's too low . especially watch for smoked case necks , backed out primers . both of these are signs of low pressure .

on the H4895 reduced loads , you don't have to load at the 60% reduction , that's the minimum . I've used the H4895 that was only about 1 grain under the book minimum starting load . a chrony would help watching velocity , as you work up the reduced load .

 

[Hunter26]

What a beautiful rifle and a shooter at that! Like others have said, try either H4895 and/or going lighter in bullet weight if your starting 180gr handload is still too much recoil. I would be very cautious going lower on IMR4831 than what the book suggests. Hang fires and large velocity swings can result. H4895 and a select few other powders are ok to use at reduced rates with some research. You'll have to search for the reduced load data for H4895, it won't be under the normal data on their website.

You could also check a few load manuals and just see what powders are giving the lowest velocities and try there if you have access to that powder.