Worrying about the max velocity of a bullet and ignoring basic reloading safety is a mistake of the worst kind.
Others have mentioned the IMR 4895 vs. H4895. For reduced loads you can use H4895 or Trail Boss. Stop using the IMR 4895 for this.
So for a 150 grain bullet the .308 minimum 'reduced load' should be 60% of the listed max of 45.5 grains (0.6 X 45.5 = 27.3) assuming a Nosler BT bullet. Other bullets could have a slightly higher max (I have edited this to reflect the lower max). Some of your reduced loads were way below this.
Going below the listed minimums is likely to create a variety of safety problems, one of which could be deadly.
First, below minimum loads that burn 'normally' are unlikely to generate enough pressure to seal the case against the chamber. The gas will escape around the bolt and probably at your face. If you are not wearing eye protection, this could be a life changing oops.
The second problem is a most serious one, and just because you got away with it once or many times doesn't mean that it won't happen eventually. Cartridge powders are 'propellants' that will burn at a given controlled rate (deflagration). Under normal safe conditions they do not explode (detonate). However, if loaded under the minimum there is significant potential for the ignited powder to reach Deflagration to Detonation Transition. In other words, it will detonate / explode. Your rifle chamber is not designed to contain an explosion which will essentially blow it up. You could shoot dozens of loads like this and falsely conclude they are safe- until one detonates. This could be a life ending oops.
Wish you listed your general location because NFW would I ever want to be on the same firing line as you and those loads. Failing to follow basic reloading instructions and apply second grade-level math could get you or someone nearby killed. If you do not have a bullet puller buy one now and pull every bullet you have loaded and dump the powder. When you go back to the reloading press, NEVER load below the H4895 minimum reduced charge.
Others have mentioned the IMR 4895 vs. H4895. For reduced loads you can use H4895 or Trail Boss. Stop using the IMR 4895 for this.
So for a 150 grain bullet the .308 minimum 'reduced load' should be 60% of the listed max of 45.5 grains (0.6 X 45.5 = 27.3) assuming a Nosler BT bullet. Other bullets could have a slightly higher max (I have edited this to reflect the lower max). Some of your reduced loads were way below this.
Going below the listed minimums is likely to create a variety of safety problems, one of which could be deadly.
First, below minimum loads that burn 'normally' are unlikely to generate enough pressure to seal the case against the chamber. The gas will escape around the bolt and probably at your face. If you are not wearing eye protection, this could be a life changing oops.
The second problem is a most serious one, and just because you got away with it once or many times doesn't mean that it won't happen eventually. Cartridge powders are 'propellants' that will burn at a given controlled rate (deflagration). Under normal safe conditions they do not explode (detonate). However, if loaded under the minimum there is significant potential for the ignited powder to reach Deflagration to Detonation Transition. In other words, it will detonate / explode. Your rifle chamber is not designed to contain an explosion which will essentially blow it up. You could shoot dozens of loads like this and falsely conclude they are safe- until one detonates. This could be a life ending oops.
Wish you listed your general location because NFW would I ever want to be on the same firing line as you and those loads. Failing to follow basic reloading instructions and apply second grade-level math could get you or someone nearby killed. If you do not have a bullet puller buy one now and pull every bullet you have loaded and dump the powder. When you go back to the reloading press, NEVER load below the H4895 minimum reduced charge.
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