Spherical Ball Rifle Powders?

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I'm looking for an excellent metering rifle powder.

I used to use Accurate Arms stuff in my pistols and they were near perfect. Those little BB shapes just seems to have no trouble metering at all.

Problem is, not sure where to start. I have experience with Varget (love it for shootability) and H335 (don't like it -- had some problems with it clumping in conditions that the Varget laughed at).

Varget is extruded and H335 is flattened something-or-other. Didn't check to see if it was flattened ball or flake.

If I could stick with Hodgdon that would be great. I don't have to order those; I can run down to the hardware store and buy pretty much what I want there.

Looking at pictures on the 'net, it looks like BL-C(2) might be spherical ball and it's something I can drive down and get. It takes more to work up the same velocities as Varget, but it may be worth it.

What are the best metering rifle powders, and what are the advantages to the different shapes with regard to shootability?

Thanks,

Josh

[Hickory]

No mention of caliber.
A good metering powder for small
to medium cases would be H-380.

[buck1]

Blc-2 meters very well, as does win 760.

[Dark Helmet]

Ramshot Tac, Biggame, Hunter and Magnum.

[Moondawg]

for smaller and medium sized cases Hodgen BallC2, and H380 work well. For larger 30-06 size cases H-414, works with many loads.

[warf73]

Interesting on your experience with H-335 as it is a spherical powder. A little quote from Hodgdon since you can get it so easy.


Hodgdon spherical powders are great all-round propellants for a variety of rifles. You'll not only enjoy consistently high performance, you'll also appreciate the consistent charge weights that Hodgon spherical powders give you.

CFE 223

Introduced in January 2012, this versatile spherical rifle propellant incorporates in its formula CFE, Copper Fouling Eraser. This ingredient, originally used in military propellant, greatly deters copper fouling. It contributes to longer periods of top accuracy with less barrel cleaning time. Being a spherical powder, metering is superbly accurate. CFE 223 yields top velocities in many cartridges such as the 204 Ruger, 223 Remington/5.56mm NATO, 22-250 Remington and the 308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO, plus many, many more. Match, Varmint and AR shooters will love this one!

H335®

Originated as a military powder, used for the 5.56 NATO, or 223 Remington as handloaders know it. Obviously, it sees endless use in the 222 Remington, 223 Remington and other small cartridges. In particular, prairie dog shooters will find this a favorite, as J.B. Hodgdon has for years! Available in 1 lb. & 8 lb. containers.

BL-C(2)®

A spherical powder that began as a military powder used in the 7.62 NATO, commonly known as the 308 Winchester. When it was first introduced to the handloader, benchrest shooters and other target shooters made it an instant success. BL-C(2) works extremely well in the 204 Ruger, 223 Remington, 17 Remington, 22 PPC and of course, the 308 Winchester, plus many more. Available in 1 lb. & 8 lb. containers.

LEVERevolution®

Hodgdon® Powder Company and Hornady® Manufacturing have teamed together to answer the frequently asked reloading question; "Can I buy the powder used in Hornady LEVERevolution factory ammunition?" Yes, this is the same spherical propellant used in Hornady's innovative and award winning high performance factory ammunition. This fabulous propellant meters flawlessly and makes lever action cartridges like the 30-30 Winchester yield velocities in excess of 100 fps over any published handloads, with even greater gains over factory ammunition. Other cartridges include the 35 Remington, 308 Marlin Express, 338 Marlin Express and the 25-35 Winchester. The list of cartridges and bullets is limited with this highly specialized powder, but where it works, it really works!

H380®

This was an unnamed spherical rifle propellant when the late Bruce Hodgdon first used it. When a 38.0 grain charge behind a 52 grain bullet gave one hole groups from his 22 caliber wildcat (now called the 22-250), he appropriately named the powder H380. H380 is also a superb performer in the 220 Swift, 243, 257 Roberts and other fine varmint cartridges. Available in 1 lb. & 8 lb. containers.

H414®

This spherical powder has an extremely wide range of use. From the 22-250 Remington to the 375 H & H, it will give excellent results. It is simply ideal in the 30/06. As with all of our spherical powders, it delivers incredibly consistent charge weights through nearly any type of powder measure. H414 yields similar results to H4350 in most cartridges, although charge weights will vary. Available in 1 lb. & 8 lb. containers.

US 869®

Hodgdon Powder Company leads the way again by developing an outstanding 50 BMG propellant that offers significant advantages in many magnum rifle applications! US869 is a true magnum Spherical rifle powder that is superb with heavy bullets in big, overbore rifle cartridges. US869 is a dense propellant that allows the shooter to use enough powder to create maximum velocities in cartridges such as the 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum, 300 Remington Ultra Magnum, 30-378 Weatherby Magnum and others. US869 is superior in the 50 Caliber BMG where it yields high velocity and great accuracy with 750 to 800 grain projectiles. This is a fine 1000-yard match propellant! In addition, US869 is effected minimally by varying temperatures, a key feature for top competition and hunting accuracy.

HYBRID 100V

This powder is the result of combining the technologies of spherical powders and extruded propellants. The chemistry of a spherical powder is combined with the geometry of an extruded propellant, creating a smooth-metering, super short granule extruded shaped propellant with high energy. HYBRID 100V has a burn speed between H4350 and H4831, yeilding superb performance in such popular calibers as 270 Winchester, 243 Winchester Super Short Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 300 Winchester Magnum and dozens more.

SUPERFORMANCE®

This is another of the spherical powders Hodgdon® Powder Company and Hornady® Manufacturing introduced to answer the frequently asked reloading question: "Can I buy the powder used in the Hornady Superformance factory ammunition?" Superformance delivers striking velocities in cartridges like the 22-250 Remington, 243 Winchester and 300 Winchester Short Magnum. Velocities well in excess of 100 fps over the best published handloads and even larger gains over factory ammunition! Because this propellant is tailored for specific applications, the number of cartridges and bullets is limited, but where it works, it really works!

That should cover all you needs for spherical powders with the Hodgdon name attached to the label.

[zomby woof]

Aa2460

[Josh Smith]

Hi Folks,

Thank you.

I am loading for 7.62x54R Russian and 7.92x57JS.

The latter is for use in an 1892 Gew88 Commission Rifle that has a 0.323" neck conversion but retains the 0.318" bore. Safe, but using 150 grain bullets with short driving bands. Current military loads are hard on the action and max pressure should be around 40,000psi; in other words, SAAMI or just a bit over, not the European standards.

The Mosin-Nagant can take all sorts of pressures with that massive safety lug, but I don't look to load to max at all. Even mild loads are more than a .30-30 and it's just not needed.

Thanks!

Josh

[Reload3006]

check out hodgdon H414 meters very well and is similar to 4350 in burn characteristics.

[edler7]

AA2520 for 308, 30-06 ect...

meters like a dream.

[Loki610]

Ive had great luck with H414 in my .270win with the 130 grain and heavier bullets.

[MtGun44]

W748 and W760, too.

Bill

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I was looking at loading data for W748 and W760 as it's been mentioned on many posts I've read here and other boards, but I am not finding much, if any, load data for it with regards to the 7.62x54R and 7.92x57JS.

It's a shame as it's something I'd like to try.

Regards,

Josh

[fredj338]

I settled on AA2520 for my 223 & 308 service rifle stuff. It is basically a ball version of Varget, at least say some of the bench rest guys. It works for me. AA2460 would be a slightly faster choice as would TAC & W748. All good performers in 223/308.

[kweidner]

I use AA 2700 in my .220 swift it meters very well. Also a fan of H335 and H380

[Forrest r]

BL-C2 & H414 both are round ball powders that I use that meter extremely well. Started using the H414 back in the late 80's in the 30-06 & still use it to this day as my goto powder for that caliber.

Both powders will work in the 7.62x54r, the Bl-c2 for light bullets & the H414 for heavy bullets. Not sure about the other caliber, 7.92x57js or the winchester powders.

[9.3X62AL]

Sorry to hear of your "bad times" with H-335. It has always been a VERY nicely-metering spherical powder for me.

[o6Patient]

I started using H414 in the early 90's in my 30-06 AI and it meters very good.
Still using it.

[r1kk1]

You can email any powder company and they might send you data if they have it. Accurate arms has never let me down in this respect. Alliant didn't have what I needed. Hodgdon did.

Email them.

Take care

r1kk1

[Shiloh]

BL(C)-2, AA 2230, WW 748, H-335, WC 844, WC 846 and others are a place to start.

Shiloh

[1hole]

It's difficult to find any ball powders that aren't spherical these days! :-D

[r1kk1]

It's difficult to find any ball powders that aren't spherical these days! :-D

+1

lol

r1kk1

[farmallcrew]

Year old post comming back to life. I use h335 and h380.

[o6Patient]

I've been using 414 in my 30o6 imp since the mid '90s.