N 205

[KCSO]

I was recently given a quantity of Norma N205 powder. Does this have any application for cast bullets? I have never shot any.

[Paul5388]

N 205 was taken off the market because of pressure problems. However, when it was working right, it would give several hundred fps more velocity than anything else. This is especially true in 6mm Rem.

MRP took its place and is used in Speer #10 loads published in 1979. So, it's been off the market at least that long.

You don't want to use it with reduced loads. That's probably where the pressure problems showed up, but I don't know that for a fact.

I doubt it has an application with cast, but that doesn't mean throw it away! You just have to be careful with it and use loads that will probably only be found in Speer #8 and other manuals of like age.

52 gr with an 85 gr bullet is real nice in a 6mm! :mrgreen:

[felix]

Pressure problems? Need to find a chemistry sheet on it to see how much it would be SEE prone. Sounds problematic. If that is the situation, and we must assume so at present, load the powder up to full case in smaller cases like the 06 and see if shooting a 180-200 grainer goes too fast. If it does, then chose a smaller case and try again. The idea is to see what case size can use a "max" load that won't exceed a boolit velocity, say 2100-2400 fps. ... felix

[Paul5388]

54.0 gr of N205 in 7X57 with 175 gr jacketed bullet 2768 fps out of a 24" barrel with a CCI 200
54.0 gr N205 in .308 Win, with 200 gr jacketed bullet 2510 fps with CCI 200 and 22" barrel.
49.0 gr N205 in 6mm Rem ,105 gr jacketed bullet 3184 fps with CCI 200 and 22" barrel.
51.0 gr N205 in .243 Win, 90 gr jacketed bullet 3456 fps with CCI 200 and 26" barrel.
59.0 gr N205 in .30-06, 200 gr jacketed 2619 fps, CCI 200 with 24" barrel.

BTW, MRP was replaced (since you can't get it any more) by RL 22. If you look on a "can" of RL-22 it says "Made in Sweden".
Caliber of tested cartridge was .243 Winchester, bullet weight 80 grains, powder then-new NORMA MRP, and the charge... surprisingly... just 15 % less than a maximum (compressed !) load. It was STILL A REDUCED CHARGE DETONATION; not one caused by an excessive charge, because the charge could not be excessive with those components in use. Light bullet and slowly burning powder is not an advisable combination of loading components for .243 Win., known as a caliber prone to S.E. Effect. . .

P.S. That story about two broken .243 Win. test-barrels and purposeful courting of S.E.E. in Germany is told in the book "Handbuch für den Wiederlader" by K.D.MEYER, who was then a director of German DEVA Institute.

[felix]

It looks like we need a 48-50 grain case in 30 caliber. 300 Savage would be perfect? Also, 35 remington would be slightly small but OK, by being a larger bore plus being a 42-45 grainer case. By that bore size token, the the 358 winchester should be about perfect also. ... felix

[kywoodwrkr]

Speer #9
Third or last of three loads is in bold print in the manual. Maximum ??
30-06 170 Gr Boattail 57.0 Gr 2612 fps, 59.0 gr 2720 fps, 61.0 2817 fps
30-06 185 Gr Boattail 56.0 Gr 2532 fps, 58.0 Gr 2651 fps, 60.0 2740 fps
300 Savage no N205 loads.
300 H&H Mag it heads the chart for 150,165, 180,200,170 BT, 185 BT.
Too numerous to detail all but:
300 H&H Mag 185 Gr Boattail 67.0 Gr 2827 fps, 69.0 Gr 2931 fps, 71 Gr 3002 fps.
Listed under 300 Weatherby Mag as well
300 Weath Mag 180 Gr Mag Tip 78.0 2991 fps, 80.0 Gr 3054 fps, 82.0 Gr 3139 fps.
8x57 mm 225 Gr RN 49.0 Gr 2188, 51.0 Gr 2296 fps, 53.0 Gr 2379 fps.
Load listed for 338 Winchester MAg and 340 Weath Mag.

One burn rate charts lists it as number 149 with IMR4831 being 146, Brig 4831(Scot) 147, [N205 # 149], 3100 XMR(Accurate) 150, WMR Winchester 151 and H4831 as 152.
Another chart has MRP at same burn rate as Alliant Reloader 22 and Vihtavuori N 165.
FWIW
DaveP kywoodwrkr

[Pilgrim]

felix - Locally some 25 years ago, I know the powder was used in a Ruger #1 7X57 (22" barrel) w/ 140 Nosler and gave chronograph measured velocities more than 100 fps (200 fps?) greater than any other powder the guy tried. I rather suspect it was a "max." load and maybe beyond max. I suspect the powder has a nasty pressure response to both low and high pressures and is a good powder within a fairly narrow pressure range. FWIW...Pilgrim

[felix]

Pilgrim, I would have never thunk it. However, I hate to waste any powder, and will use it in the 358 full tilt until gone should I have such a gun. ... felix

[Paul5388]

In most of the loads I looked at, N205 will give an extra 100 fps over H4831.

Since the .358 has a slight amount of extra case capacity over a .308, a 250 gr bullet might be a better selection to slow it down to 2400 fps or less.

Of course, Speer #8 doesn't even list N205 in .358, so I think it would be a waste of a good powder.