SHTF rounds : why do I need 25 grains ?

[Target]

I was thinking ( yeah I know, it did hurt) and since I can get 1200 rounds of pistol ammo from a pound of powder but only 280 rifle and in a SHTF situation I won't be shooting over 100 yds , most combat for that matter, can I reduce powder loads and still get good results ?

Why? to stretch that pound .
I have primers, I have lead , need more powder.

Can I use 12 gr , still cycle reliably, and take out Zombies in a typical firefight?

 

[MilesTeg]

The problem with reduced rifle loads is the potential to have a pressure spike. Whenever I've read about people using reduced loads in rifles, they have started with published data and worked their way down from there. If this is a concern of yours why not look into a pistol caliber carbine?

 

[Kent Goldings]

Hodgdon H4895 has specifications for a reduced powder load. If you follow those specifications you can reduce the charge to 15 gr.

One the other hand, you could cache a few thousand round of AE223 for those times.

 

[dsdmmat]

There is reduced load published data for almost every cartridge, most involve cast bullets and pistol powder though. most reduced loads will not cycle semi guns without some kind of gas system modification.

I had worked a reduced load for my 308 with Speer 165 grain PSPs the load was 26.5 graing of IMR4227 in a Remington case over a Winchester primer. It was pretty accurate at 100 meters out of my Rem 700 PSS, 0.168" (best load I ever shot) problem is beyond 100 meters you start getting rainbow trajectory and while it works on targets there is no guarantee it will expand to work on animals or 2 legged varmints.

 

[togmaster]

Buy more powder.

 

[Target]

A PCC is probably a good way to go.
Going to research this as to price, reliability, ease of maintenance and capability...and of course, that stupid legality thing.

As far as stockpiling more powder...I was thinking more along the lines of like 12 months ago where Varget was hard to get.
Ya gotta use what ya got.
Stores will probably be closed during a SHTF scenario.

 

[Sweetyzfd]

I think you're going to have cycling issues in a semi-auto rifle. You could change springs and buffers depending on the rifle but that can become a PITA trying to get it all to work

 

[Bananabandit]

I like PCCs, but nothing fun for NY.

 

[spat]

The powder isn't the majority of the cost, just stockpile more ?

 

[Target]

$800 ( cost of a Just Right ) will buy a lot of powder.

It was more of an availability thing as well.

I was watching TWD and it was a thought that popped into my head along with "Where did all those select fire rifles come from?" I didn't realize that they were so plentiful in GA/VA.
Must be the ones they got from the National Guard (?) at the county fairgrounds.