High Vel#2

[9w1911]

Anyone have familiarity with this powder, I was gifted some by a member and I want to give it a try. I have one new pound and one opened. Loads for 30-30 lever and maybe my M44 Mosins.

Just curious what the board knows, I do have some data form Castpics and the old Ideal manual they have there for download. This was the only HiVel#2 data I have ever seen.

Thanks!

PS: Thanks BruceB, please Pm me I dont have your number and I work a block away from you!

[Skipper]

Anyone have familiarity with this powder, I was gifted some by a member and I want to give it a try. I have one new pound and one opened. Loads for 30-30 lever and maybe my M44 Mosins.

Just curious what the board knows, I do have some data form Castpics and the old Ideal manual they have there for download. This was the only HiVel#2 data I have ever seen.

Thanks!

PS: Thanks BruceB, please Pm me I dont have your number and I work a block away from you!

That powder was discontinued in 1964. Better give it the smell test.

[9w1911]

I did, it has been stored very well, and the open container smells and looks great.

I have not opened the sealed tin yet.

[Char-Gar]

I shot a couple of cans of it back in the early 60's. It had a burning rate similar to 3031 and 4895. I fired most of it in a Krag rifle. I followed the load data in the Lyman book.

Although it gave decent accuracy, it was not as good in the accuracy department as 3031 and 4895. I preferred 4895 as it worked better in the Hollywood measure. Finding no benefit to Hi-Vel No. 2 over other powders, I did not buy any more.

[Outpost75]

I used lots of HV2 back in the day, mostly in .30-'06 and 7.62x54R.

For cast loads in the '06 23 grains with #311299 is a good 200 yard target load, which in the '03 Springfield can be increased up to 30 grains maximum, with suitable lube and strong alloy.

With 174-grain Ball M1 or M72 Match bullets in the '06 a charge of 44 grains approximates the old Ball M1 or M72 Match ammo.

In the 7.62x54R with 200-grain Lapua D44 rebated boattail match bullet 37 grains was a popular load for 300 metre shooting.

Lacking specific data for HiVel #2 with current components I would CAUTIOUSLY use STARTING loads for IMR3031 as a guide.

This is a double-base powder and while chemically stable with good shelf life, it has a higher flame temperature and can be hard on barrels when used extensively in maximum loads.

I was using old stocks of HV2 well into the 1990s. If it smells normal with no interior rusting of the can and only a normal solvent odor, it should be OK.

[9w1911]

Thank you Outpost, I'll try and post pictures when I get off of work, and thank you for the 7.62x54r data. I will start with starting loads for 3031, as the Ideal book has two loads for 30-30: one is 30.0gr and the other is 30.9gr. That is all.

I think it would be very neat to shoot this powder.

[9w1911]

I did read about the high temps and some folks seemed to think this was a corrosive powder. Also I do not need full-house loads.

[Outpost75]

Thank you Outpost, I'll try and post pictures when I get off of work, and thank you for the 7.62x54r data. I will start with starting loads for 3031, as the Ideal book has two loads for 30-30: one is 30.0gr and the other is 30.9gr. That is all.

I think it would be very neat to shoot this powder.

In the .30-30 I would be inclined to stay on the low side, 24-26 grains as this has a much higher specific energy than single-base, and gets "peaky" as you approach bulk density. It actually likes about 10-15% of free airspace and you will go over-pressure really quickly if you try to fill the case!

[skeettx]

Hi-Vel #2 is in many of the older manuals,
It is very similar to 3031
Mike

[9w1911]

hm I have a few Hornady, Speer and Nosler manuals, not sure how old they are old maybe not pre 1964 , but I do have a bunch. Maybe I should look.

[Bent Ramrod]

I've used Hi-Vel #2 mostly in the .25-35, with full house jacketed loads. Always found it a good, accurate powder and have bought it up at gun shows whenever I found it cheap. It's in the same burn range as 3031. There's tons of data in the old loading books and manuals.

IIRC, Hercules tried a series of Hi-Vels, from #1 to #3. The first one disappeared off the market very quickly, and the third never materialized. They phased #2 out under considerable protest, and began the Reloder series of powders.

[swheeler]

Speer #6 has HV2 data for 30-30 with 150 gr speer flat point, 29-33 grs, 2223-2411 fps, cci200, win m 94 20" bbl

[fiberoptik]

I've got the Ideal Handbook #40, 1955. Has data. Let me know calibers & email, I'll send you pix of pages.

[9w1911]

Pm sent
and Speer 6 downloaded

[helice]

I have two older Lyman manuals ('55 & '57) both containing data for Hi-Vel. For your 30-30 max load is 29 grains using the 311291 and 311413.
This was a very respectable choice back when I was young and handsome and a 30-40 Krag was considered a great elk/moose gun.