Are H322 and Benchmark suitable CB powders in medium sized cases?

[andym79]

Hi guys do you H322 or Benchmark in medium sized cases for CB loads to produce moderate velocities?

e.g. 6.5x55, 30-30 or 375w.


Is there anything about these powders or situations that could make them behave odd in reduced loads? For example in the way H110 does.

[PAT303]

AR2219(H322) works very well in the 303,30grns getting 2050fps with Lymans 314291 and 1900fps with the 314299,I'm going to try 8202 as my next powder in both the 303 and 6.5x55. Pat

[Hickory]

At one time H322 was selling for under $50 per 8 lb. keg.
I aquired 72lb. And have since burn it up on praire dogs.
Never thought to use it for cast boolits.
The only thing about H322 is that it is heat sensitive, if you have a hot barrel from a lot of shooting, you don't want a round to set in the chamber (cooking) while waiting for another shot on a prairie dog.
You might want to look for loading data for the powders/calibers you mentioned, if no data is listed, there maybe a reason , and the reason might be it's not a good combination.

[andym79]

H322 is listed for jacketed in the 375W 27.0 1,603 fps, lower for cast 1400fps?

Found this on another forum "H322 in 30-30"

I got up this morning and loaded ten rounds with 15 grains of H-322 and 165 grain plain base cast bullets. I based this on Hodgdon's "cowboy" data for 4198 and 4895.

They shot to the exact point of impact as did my previous load of 8 grains of 2400. I got a five shot group at 50 yards of 1 1/4". Based on prior experience this is about as good as I can do with a peep sight and bead front sight.

Benchmark is listed in the 30-30 for jacketed, 20.5 1,764 fps, lower for cast 1400fps?

Neither are listed for the Swede, but then H4198 is listed as the slowest cast powder and H4895 is listed as the fastest for jacketed! H322 and benchmark are both in between!

[andym79]

Any more advice would really be appreciated. I am now looking to achieve an accurate 1900ish fps in my M96 6.5x55 I feel it is a much more realistic goal. As I have done okay with H4198 (lower than 1900) and H4895 (above 1900), H322 and Benchmark seem like an obvious choice.

I contacted the manufacture asking about reduced loads of these powders for cast bullets. I recieved however their standard reply to any question I have asked about reduced loads or cast.

"Unfortunately, we have no test data reduced loads using AR2219. We have several options for developing reduced loads using AR2206H or Trail Boss.
Reduced loads can be achieved for any cartridge with jacketed projectiles where AR2206H is a standard propellant. Refer to the loads for AR2206H and use 60% of the maximum listed charge weight to achieve reduced velocities of between 1500 and 2500ft/sec. Velocities will obviously vary for different projectile weights. This type of reloading should only be attempted using AR2206H, as it is the slowest powder that still provides uniform light up at reduced loads.
As an example, we have 27.5 gns of AR2206H listed as maximum for a 40gn jacketed projectile in the .223 Remington, so using 60% of this would mean a starting charge weight of 16.5 gns of AR2206H. You can then increase the charge weight until you find your desired velocity.
Please do not attempt to load below 60% of the listed maximum charge weight of AR2206H as light up problems may occur.
Trail Boss was designed primarily for reduced loads using cast lead projectiles in pistol cartridges. However, Trail Boss offers superb versatility in rifle and pistol cartridges producing reduced loads using cast lead or jacketed projectiles.
There is a general method for load development using Trail Boss propellant for any cartridge and projectile combination.
1. Find the charge weight of Trail Boss which would fill the case up to the base of the seated projectile. This is the maximum load. Pressures will be below the maximum average pressure limit for the cartridge.
2. Take 70% of the above maximum charge weight. This is the starting load.
3. Begin your load development from the starting load and work up until you find the best reduced load for your firearm."

I don't live in a 2 powder world. So if anyone knows more about these powders in medium sized cases any advice would be much appreciated.

Logic tells me that the worst either of these powders should do in any of the three cases I have listed is give bad accuracy. However they may have their own ODD traits.

I found this comment H322 discussed in the 30-06.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-194070.html

"322 has a very sensitive deterrent if the powder is anything like it was during the old days. Filler is advised. ... felix"

"H322 ignites extremely easily (a very specialized deterrent?) for the speed range it is designed, acting like a fast pistol powder. 4064 would be a much safer powder to use in that large case without a filler. The only SEE condition that shook my confidence in reloading was with H322 (in the 308W), the first release of that powder to the public via Thunderbird. ... felix"