Bulk Surplus Powder questions

[jh45gun]

OK guys I know I am asking a lot here but can you give me a idea on what surplus powders out there that they are selling cheap you know the 8 pounds for 60 bucks stuff may work for the following: 308, 30/30. 7.5x55 Swiss and 6.5 Swede. Maybe 45/70? I am talking cast and jacketed here guys. Whatever works. I would like to get some of this cheap powder if it works for several applications I really do not want to get 8 pounds if it works for one application or limited use. Jim

[Leftoverdj]

The WC 820 works well as a cast bullet powder pretty much across the range you mention using 2400 data as a guide. It's too fast for jacketed in most rifle cartridges.

Any of the H 335 or Bl-C(2) clones should be useful for jacketed loads and some cast work.

None of this will be "plug in a recipe and go". Burn rates on surplus vary widely. You've have to establish for yourself the burning rate of the powder you recieve. I do this by checking chronied results against published results until I have matched my surplus to a known powder, but this is not foolproof.

[buck1]

Well most likely no 1 powder will work for all your needs. You may concider AA2230C??
I used some in the .308 a wile back. http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/
....Buck

[felix]

AA223C is another H335, WC844 variant. Powder Valley's Data73 is two grains faster in a 35 grain case (30-30) than AA223C. ... felix

[jh45gun]

Thanks guys. Since I do not have a Crony and cannot afford one at this time I guess I will stick with powders that have published info to be on the safe side.

[felix]

JH45gun, what rounds do you load? What do you shoot the most? ... felix

[jh45gun]

I do not know about what I shoot the most I try to shoot every thing I have equally. :) My 308 is in a Encore pistol. 30/30 is a 1964 vintage mod 94 Win. My K31 7.5x55 that I just bought and my 6.5x 55 Swede. last but not least my 45/70 Rolling block built out of a origional smokeless powder frame 1902 model 5. Got a 7x57 93 mauser I would like to play with but have to get brass and dies for it yet. So it looks like if I could find something that fuels the 30 calibers well that would take care of 3 guns anyway.

[felix]

The H335 variants is your powder of choice. AA2230C, WC844 are sure bets. ... felix

[jh45gun]

Thanks Felix is there published info on these powders?

[BlueMoon]

jh45gun,

I have a 8lb jug of the AA2230-C and AA says to use their data for regular 2230 to AA2460. There is not much difference in those two powders data anyway. I had'nt heard about the H335 closeness and will pay more attention to that. I've got the H335 but have never used much of it for cast.

Bill

[sundog]

Jim, you will find some surp load data here:

http://www.castpics.net/RandD/load_data/load_data.htm

Recently been experimenting with 2230-C in .308. Latest load was 31.0 + tuft of dacron and the Lee 312-155-2R (kinda why I need one of the 6-bangers I missed out on).

One of the very recent threads from Maven is about WC820 and the Swede. sundog

[Buckshot]

............I just bought 32 lbs of surplus Nobel powder from Graf & Sons. It's called Tubal 2000 and was $61/8 lbs. I call it 'T2K'. It's an extruded short grain powder and acts very much like 4198. I tried it in several rifle cartridges with known 4198 data and it was VERY close. Differences for the most part could be like lot to lot variations with canister 4198. I posted the results here a coupl eweeks ago. Search Tubal 2000, or maybe T2K.

4198 would be an excellent powder speed in any one of the cartidges you mentioned, for cast. BTW, the T2K burned nice and clean.

Another powder, which is WAY cheaper is IMR7383 at like $28/7lbs. I've only had a pound to work with but it did very well in the 35 Rem, 30-40 and the 6.5x55 Swede with cast.

.............Buckshot

[RayinNH]

Buckshot, would you care to share some load data for the 30-40 with IMR 7383 powder. I don't have any at the moment but have been looking at that selling price for at least 6 months now. I would be shooting a Model 1898 rifle.Bullets available at the moment are Lee 312-155-2R, 312-185-2R and 311299, as well as some 150 grain FLGC...Ray

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/3632D35A89B52A1/standard.jpg
If you can't read the load data in the photo, starting with the 4 loads with the 311291, upper left and working down is 43, 44, 45, 46. This boolit did not engrave in my Krag.

The 311407 data, upper Left is 35.0grs loose, upper right 35.0 + Grex
Lower left is 37.0 loose and lower right is 37.0 + Grex.

I don't have the velocity info here at work with me. The testing I did with the one pound of IMR 7383 in the 3 rifles is termed 'Shotgunning' I think :-). Extrapolating data and loading was merely to check pressure apperances, velocity, burning (clean-dirty), and very basic accuracy results. Such as did the boolit go through straight and did they even TRY to group.

No further testing was able to be done due to the limited supply of the powder I had on hand.

http://www.fototime.com/FDDFA1CACB59CF8/standard.jpg
As noted, the 6.5 Swede. Upper and lower left was the Lyman 268645 @ 152 grs and the bottom target IS 5 rounds. Gotta have that dang flyer. The target on the right was the Lyman 268445, 122gr HP and these were the culled boolits rejected for the high velocity test done for another purpose.

I can't find the 35 Rem Targets, but as you can see in these 2 rifles, some instances show there are glimmers of very good results. Testing with different boolit temper, lube, seating depths, crimp-no crimp and etc could make a large difference in performance. What it proved to me is that IMR7383 is a powder worthy of checking out.

Several others around have put more time into it and have been rewarded with some really fine results.

...............Buckshot

[RayinNH]

Buckshot,thanks for the reply. I'm assuming those were 100 yard targets? Hi-Tech and Pat's both list this at $24.00 for 7 pounds, but neither gives a reference as to burn speed. When I saw your post I thought I would ask. At the moment I have about 50# of WC872, 860, SR4759 and WC820 on hand so can't really say I'm in need of powder but if I have a weak moment, WC7383 will definately be on the list...Ray

[Luna Park]

I was shooting the other day and I loaded some rounds using 4064 data and 7383 powder. I was shooting my K-31 with 42g of IMR 4895. That is the load I always shoot with my K-31. When I fired 42g of 7383, I blew a primer out of a case, and I flattened a few others. I will try 39g tomorrow and work up to 41g. I was shooting 40g through my MAS-36 and the 7383 was real nice. I just bought 14lbs of the 7383 and I just thought I would share my first experience with all of you. I have been reading your postings on this powder.

:Fire: