Ball C powder

[Jared]

I recently acquired several pounds of Ball C powder, it is Ball C lot 1 not BLC2.

Where can I find loading data or what burn rate should I use for working up loads. Is it comparable to BLC2?

Thanks.

[waksupi]

Check with the manufacturer.

[Jared]

It is military surplus powder, that I think is WWII surplus. I don't have a clue who the manufacture was. I have loading manuals dating back to the 60s and they don't have any data for it.

[geargnasher]

Ask Wiljen.

Gear

[dagunnut]

Here is what I was able to find hopefully this helps you out.

In the opening days of World War II, a chemist friend of Bruce E. Hodgdon was casually reminiscing about World War I. He mentioned the quantities of surplus smokeless powder the military had dumped at sea after the war; and speculated how useful that would have been to handloaders struggling through the Great Depression. He anticipated a similar surplus powder situation might occur after World War II. Hodgdon began investigating availability of surplus powder when the war ended; and sales to handloaders began in 1946. One of the first powders he found was 4895 used for loading .30-06 Springfield service ammunition. In 1947, he began acquisition of 80 tons of spherical powder salvaged from disassembled .303 British military rifle cartridges manufactured in the United States. By 1949, he was marketing the powder as BL type C. The C was to indicate the powder burned "cooler" than traditional Improved Military Rifle (IMR) powders.[1] In 1949, he began acquisition of powder salvaged from disassembled Oerlikon 20mm cannon cartridges. This powder resembled IMR 4350 in appearance, and with a slower burning rate, was initially marketed as "4350 Data", and later as 4831.[2]

Taken from a seperate post, not my data! Use at your own risk!

BLC powder data.
Spoke to Hogdon Tech Rep today. Apparently the BLC-2 is just the same as BLC-1. After the military contract for the powder ran out, Hogdon took the original formula and made it commerically available. Hence BLC-2. As usual they did say to reduce the powder charge by 10% and start from there.

I reloaded some 30-06 rounds for a Browning X bolt looking for that load that would match the gun. I used both IMR 4064 and Ball C powder. I loaded 15 rounds from each with powder weight between 46.7 grains and 48.7 grains. The bullets I used were Speer Spitzer BT and Sierra Spitzer in 180 gr.

Imr 4064 powder Speer Spitzer BT 180 Gr. bullet
3 rounds 46.7 gr. avg. velocity 2481
3 rounds 47.2 avg. velocity 2508
3 rounds 47.7 avg. vel. 2529
3 rounds 48.2 avg. vel. 2577
3 rounds 48.7 avg. vel. 2665

Ball C powder Speer Spitzer BT 180 gr. bullet
3 rounds 46.5 avg. vel 2421
3 rounds 47.0 avg. vel. 2465
3 rounds 47.5 avg. vel. 2501
3 rounds 48.0 avg. vel. 2512
3 rounds 48.5 avg. vel. 2553

Ball C powder Sierra spitzer 180 gr. bullet
3 rounds 46.6 didn't record vel.
3 rounds 47.0 avg. vel. 2463
3 rounds 47.5 avg. vel. 2514
3 rounds 48.0 avg. vel. 2565
3 rounds 48.5 avg. vel. 2542

Shot 1 round from load 1 then 1 from load 2 at different target then 1 from load 3 at different target ect. until all 15 loads were fired. waited between 2-3 minutes before each shot for barrel to cool. After 15 rounds cleaned barrel and went to next load. Cases were trimmed to 2.484 and COAL was 3.197. Did not get good groups on any load. At the end of day shot 3 factory loaded 165 grain core-loc and shot the best group. Want to load own because it is fun, cheaper and hopefully i can get better results.

[frnkeore]

Lymans (1964) 43 Edition reloading manual has Ball C loading data.

Frank

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

My copy of Lyman's "Handbook of cast bullets" #1 from 1958
lists Ball C loads for many midsize rifle calibers...cast boolit loads obviously.
Let me know what caliber you need and I can photograph and email you the page.
Jon

[Got-R-Did]

And again our Members step up and provide fascinating history and data. I still can't believe my good fortune to belong to this Forum. BL-C 2 is a favorite of mine for .223 Rem.
Got-R-Did.

[Shiloh]

Ask Wiljen.

Gear

Or Jeff from http://ww.gibrass.com/brass.html

He won't advise anything, but may be familiar enough to advise where you might find the info on the manufacturer or distributor.
Looks like previuos posts have it narrowed down.

SHiloh

[Jared]

Thanks for the info guys. I will see if I have any of those manuals when I get home.

[wiljen]

Hodgdon bought tons of ball powder from the 303 british loads during WW II and began marketing it in 1949 as Ball C. The C was to indicate it burned cooler than the IMR line.

When that surplus ran out, he contracted to produce more of the same. It was enough different to warrant calling it LOT 2 to differentiate it from the first lot. Starting charges of either are interchangeable, but expect differences in max charges across lots. Also understand that the original Ball-C was all produced for WW II and is thus at least 70 years old at this point. It will have lost considerable moisture over that period and I would expect its burn rate to have gotten proportionally faster over that same period so I would start low and watch for signs of pressure at mid-point loads from the original specs.