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Thread: Old powder question

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
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    Old powder question

    I have an unopened canister of HiVel #2 powder made by Hercules. What would a starting load for 30-06 be, assuming it is still good?



    It sounds like it is still good when I shake the can.


  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy

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    I had to back to Sharpe's book on handloading to get this. Send me a PM with a snail mail address and I'll copy the complete info on the 30-06

    150 grain bullet 32 to 48.6 grains of Hi-Vel #2 with the pressure on the lower end not listed and on the top a velocity of 2980 and pressure of 51,500 cup - this is the old measure and probably equates to higher PSI as used today.

  3. #3
    Boolit Bub
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    So another question: how about Du Pont Pistol Powder #6? I am not sure what I can load with this. 45 ACP? 38?


  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

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    If it weren't for the hazmat charges, you could profit from selling those. Don't throw away the empty cans, they are Vintage on EBay.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    A good cast bullet load in the '06 with #311299 or similar is 23-24 grains.

    A jacketed match load with 175-190 grain bullet for 300 meter ISU shooting is 37 grs. HiVel No.2.

    The old Ball M1 174-gr. FMJ at 2640 fps in the Springfield, is approximated with 44 grs. of HiVel No.2.

    This powder is double base and chemicallt very stable. If stored properly it should be just fine. The empty canisters will vring $35-50 each to collectors.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    From P.O. Ackley's handbook for shooters and reloaders, vol 2:

    .357 mag: 146 gr bullet 4gr #6 powder 1085 fps


    38 special: 150 gr bullet 2.5gr #6 powder 750fps
    " " 3.8gr 900fps



    44 mag: 180gr bullet 6gr #6 800fps
    " " 8gr #6 1100fps
    205gr 6gr #6 800fps
    8gr #6 1090fps
    235gr 6gr 760fps
    8gr 1030fps
    250gr 5gr 720fps
    5.5gr 1000fps


    45 colt 235gr 5.5 760fps
    7.2 915fps
    250gr 5.5 710fps
    7gr 840fps



    The 45 colt i think is long colt, not ACP

    You are COMPLETELY ON YOUR OWN with this data. this is how it's listed in the book, but I've never seen or used that powder. I can't say if that sounds right or safe. Use at your own risk.

    be safe.
    NRA life member

    LB

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
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    Honest to Pete, I'd put those on Gunbroker with a starting price of $100, and see if anybody bites. Especially if that can of Hi-Vel is unopened. The money you'll make could buy you 8 lbs. of a modern powder.
    Cognitive Dissident

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    The Speer # 6 has Hi vel #2 listed from the .22 cal rifles up through 375 H&H Magnum...

  9. #9
    Boolit Bub
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    Still have not decided whether or not to load this or sell it.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master WILCO's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by millerwb View Post
    Still have not decided whether or not to load this or sell it.
    Yeah, that's a tough choice. Great pictures though.
    Dying to know the background story on this classic dump of powders.
    "Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face!" - Mike Tyson

    "Don't let my fears become yours." - Me, talking to my children

    That look on your face, when you shift into 6th gear, but it's not there.

  11. #11
    Boolit Bub
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    Still have not decided whether or not to load this or sell it.

  12. #12
    Boolit Bub
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    My great uncle was a competitive shooter. When he passed a few years ago, I was given some of his reloading equipment, along with his bullet casting equipment and as much lead as I wanted. He had over 10K pounds of unprocessed lead. I only kept a couple thousand pounds and sold the rest. Tiger was a Master Caster along with 8 mould sets and two smaller bottom pour pots and various moulds. Two Lyman Sizers, one heated. He had several Dillon presses but, alas, I was not given those. Still that is what started my reloading career.

    The two vintage powders were in the boxes. There was also vintage Bullseye powder but I have used some of it as I could easily find loads for it.


  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    the bullseye can is not so old, it's from the 1980's
    NRA life member

    LB

  14. #14
    Boolit Bub
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    Glad to know that it is not too old on the BE. It still goes bang when I use it so that is all that matters I guess.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master



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    Old is relative, you know. His relative, older had it, so to him it is old. I've got unique and herco cans in my stock that look like that. To me, that is middle age. Old is from before my time.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by mikeym1a View Post
    Old is relative, you know. His relative, older had it, so to him it is old. I've got unique and herco cans in my stock that look like that. To me, that is middle age. Old is from before my time.
    Yep age is a relative thing. These are old but not as old as the original posters. I think the steel HerculesT cans are from the 60s and the WW powder cans are from the 70s .... Ive been at it a year or two. But It was happening a long time before me and Lord willing will be happening a long time after me. Thanks to the OP for a trip down memory lane LOL.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master



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    Quote Originally Posted by Reload3006 View Post
    Yep age is a relative thing. These are old but not as old as the original posters. I think the steel HerculesT cans are from the 60s and the WW powder cans are from the 70s .... Ive been at it a year or two. But It was happening a long time before me and Lord willing will be happening a long time after me. Thanks to the OP for a trip down memory lane LOL.
    Nice Photo!!! I envy your stock. Bottom right: I have a can just like that, except when I got it it was filled with .32S&WL, with dents in the primers. It wasn't quite full. My son and I have shot up 204, by my count. I counted another 276 still in the can. Of all these pre-struck cartridges, only 3 have failed to fire in our guns. Somebody must have had a very poor pistol. My Gain!!!

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy oldgeezershooter's Avatar
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    You might want to read up on the stability of old powders first.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    I actually just happened upon a good size lot of the old Dupont Pistol #6 powder.. It all smells just fine.. so I'm going to give it a go in 38 spl..

  20. #20
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    I use old powders frequently. I don't load max charges anyway and it beats using it as fertilizer. I have some IMR 4198 that lets out red dust and smells like cat pee but it makes good plinkers in many rifles.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check