how many guys deliberately down load larger cartridges
 

I've never seen the logic in trying to hand load any given cartridge to produce its maximum possible performance,
by running it up to its max potential pressure, or in some cases pushing hard on those stated max pressure levels.
yes I might be in the minority, but Ive never felt getting that extra potential, last 75 fps-150 fps you might have gained,
got you much more than increased recoil and stress on the gun.
I've generally just looked into the options and selected and purchased a slightly more potentially powerful cartridge,
or a similar cartridge and firearm designed to operate at higher pressures,
and then selected an accurate load at or marginally below factory pressure levels,
its generally safer and far less stress on the firearm,
an example
several of my friends back in the 1970s purchased siamese Mausers that were converted to 45/70 ,
that were then commonly available rather cheaply, (under $170 ) back then,
and then loaded those rifles to pressure levels that made me cringe,
yeah, it worked and no one I know of blew-up the converted Mausers.
but they were using loads of imr 3031 under cast 360-385 grain bullets,
that were a few grains over the suggested max listed in the manuals posted at the time and getting 2100 fps or a bit more.
yeah, it can be done but it results in a fairly light rifle that has significant recoil and for what?
the power far exceeds the need for even hunting thick timber elk!
but for about 20 years this was hardly a rare occurrence among the guys I hunted with.
personally I figured I valued my safety a bit more and I was willing to spend a bit more cash and carry a bit heavier rifle,
so I looked around and purchased a Ruger #1 in 458 win,
but even with that rifle I hand loaded 420-grain gas check bullets to about 1900 fps, as that's where I found the best accuracy.
and you certainly did not need more power,
another, common fad at the time was to purchase a Ruger single-action revolver in 45 colt and try to hand load it to over 1000 fps,
with 19 grains of 2400 under a 250-grain cast bullet, and yes again I've seen it done but it makes me a bit nervous,
I just stuck to a 44 mag and 20 grains of h110 under a 300 grain cast gas check bullet
how many guys deliberately download larger cartridges?

I handload a 150 in my wife's 30-06 down to just over 2,500 FPS.

yeah this si something a lot of folks do,
and many don't realize a under loaded case can build more and higher, into dangerous pressures, pending what all they do

best to stick to what the reloading manuals says when going low on charges IMO

if you do the research required and don,t just guess,
theres a great deal of reduced velocity load data for cast bullets available,
especially for the cartridges like 458 win , 45/70, 35 rem , and 22 hornet ,etc.
and even for jacketed bullets thats proven to be both safe and accurate

I have reduced loads for .222 Rem that are near 22 velocity for small game. I have also made reduced loads with lighter bullets in the 30-30 for taking snow shoe hares when the opportunity presents itself while deer hunting.

Use this for safe reduced rifle reloads:

https://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/u...ifle-loads.pdf

I never shoot reduced loads. But that being said I rarely shoot maximum loads either. But what I consider maximum a lot of times differs from the maximum listed in many reloading manuals. My rifle will let me know when I'm approaching its maximum safe load.
The reason I rarely load for maximum is that most times my accuracy is better somewhere below max. I've only had one or two rifles that shot well in the upper limits. And I say I never shoot reduced loads. Why should I? If I want to shoot a milder round I'll choose a lighter caliber from my gun safe.

again, this is why I said, refer to reloading manuals

I wouldn;t ever want to WAIT till my rifle tells me I went too FAR or too low
damages can be from mild to deadly!

and not bashing just saying,,
NOT following a manual and just READING a rifle, is not the best way to go, all the more so to any NEW shooter/reloader!

as when a OOPS happens, in things that explode, them opp's can be life changing if things go bad!

as for reasons to shoot lighter loads
I can find many
from teaching a new shooter , to shoot "X" rifle and then upp-ing things as they grow in size or ability to handle recoil and not having to have more than one rifle!
I like having more rifles in many calibers too, but not everyone can afford this option!

I also find most of my best most accurate loads are never at the max or min, but typically in the middle some where!

I don't load for maximum performance. I load for accuracy. "You can't miss 'em fast enough to kill 'em". I have found that very seldom does a maximum or near maximum load turn out to be the most accurate. That takes care of the issue.

First, I never said I don't read a manual. Secondly, I've been at this game for a long time, reloading for about 55 years now and I have manuals from way back then. Maximum charges using the same components back then were quite a bit higher than they are now. I'm assuming for liability issues. You have to remember manuals are not written in stone. They are for reference. And I would urge beginners to always follow their respective reloading manuals until they obtain the knowledge that come with experience.
My load development process for a new rifle begins at 10% below a listed maximum or the recommended starting load. From there I move up in increments of .5 or 1.0 gr up to normally 2.0 grains above the listed maximum loading 3 to 5 rounds. I usually don't care about accuracy at this point but I shoot through a chronograph and examine all cases for signs of pressure. (sticky bolt, flattened primer, marks on case head, etc). All velocities are recorded and then plotted. Where I find a plateau close to the maximum charge I know I have found the load that is fairly stable. I then load 3 loads in that range in .3 gr increments again plotting the velocities looking where I have the least change in velocity. Now I have found my load. It likely won't be the most accurate load in the rifle but sometimes it is. What it is though is a load that will perform equally under more varied conditions.