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selmerfan
03-28-2014, 08:19 PM
So as many of us are having a hard time finding the preferred powder for our favorite guns, I went downstairs to see where I'm at with powders that would be eligible for my .30-40 Krag and .260 Rem with cast boolits. Right now the preferred powder for both is 2400 - but I only have 1.5 lbs left and haven't seen it on a shelf in quite a while. I have the a good variety of powders, H 4350, I4831, couple pounds of Varget (which works well with my Krag and cast boolits), couple pounds of RL15, 3/4 lb. RL7, 6 lb. Unique, 1 lb. Red Dot, couple pounds of 700x, 1 lb. AA #9, 1 lb. 4756, 1 lb. AA1680, 1 lb. H110, 6 lbs. IMR 4350, 8 lbs. H380, 1 lb. 7828, 2 lb. N133, 2 lb. Blue Dot.

As I look at my list, what of these are suitable for moderate cast loads? Not looking to match jacketed velocity - 1400-1800 fps is the target with good accuracy. Currently 15 gr. 2400 and an NEI .264-130-GC yields sub-MOA in the .260 Rem at 100 and 17 gr. 2400 and 311299 GC yields sub-MOA in the Krag barrel for my Stevens 44 1/2. Both loads are running about 1600 fps and are great fun to shoot.

What suggestions would you make from my list of powders to try with the same cast boolits in the same guns for similar results?
I'll definitely try RL7 in the Krag and I've had success with a different .260 Rem using Blue Dot. Where would AA #9 and AA1680 fall into the mix? Is the N133 something worth trying - it's in the 4198 burn range or very close to it. 4350s, 4831, H380, H110 and 700x are likely not great candidates, as I use the first three for almost all of my jacketed reloading.

Thanks for your thoughts!
Selmerfan

Outpost75
03-28-2014, 08:36 PM
Of the powders you have, Unique is worth trying for low power cast loads in either the Krag or similar sized cases such as the .303 British or the .308 Win.

I would stay near the minimum starting loads in the 10-12 grain range with a bullet similar to #311299, which should work OK in most rifles.

Velocity will be in the range of 1300-1450 fps. With a plainbased bullet, loaded without the GC stay in the 8-10 grain range.

Have no experience with the .260 Rem., you will need to get somebody else to help you with that one.

runfiverun
03-28-2014, 11:42 PM
the 260 [6.5x51] could use 6.5x55 data.

madsenshooter
03-29-2014, 01:23 PM
20gr of Blue Dot under a 169gr cast bullet in my Krag gives me 2000fps with exceptional accuracy. There's a lot of loads in 2lb.