Questionable reduced loads with slow rifle powder. Should I be concerned?

[Swagman00]

So I was talking to an old friend that is thinking of trying his first 20 round batch of reloaded 7.62x54R. At first he thought he was OK, but now has second thoughts after not using specified reload data. I told him to hang on for a bit until I could find out myself.

His loads are 180 gr gas checked pan lubed hard cast RNL .303 British that have already been bore slugged. They're .001 over so he's good in that department. He's also using unloaded unfired steel milsurp berdan primed cases with 32 grains of Varget (roughly a 70% load) and TP as a buffer rather then dacron or kapok. I know Vargant is a rather slow powder and have read several articles about the dangers under-loading slow burning rifle cartridges. The idea he has is to get them down to the 2000 FPS zone to prevent leading, but maintain stability.

No laughing, hazing, heckling or damnation please. I'm just looking out for him.

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