BR-5 WAS Available at Bartlets, Uses Unique Load Data

[Yodogsandman]

http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html

Propellant Description
Name

BR-5 Recently acquired. Brand new, current production. This is a double-based ball
type powder, originally intended for 9x19mm ammo. Meters very consistently.
Burning rate is similar to Hercules Unique, which data can be used. Additional
data available on request. Clean burning with consistent results.
This is new powder, not pulldown.
$100/6# jug

[pworley1]

Thanks for the heads up.

[9w1911]

I love Bartlett and what he does, and I am intrigued about the powder and would purchase if I had the extra funds, but if I wanted Unique I would just wait for it to become available, this price is similar.

[Ed in North Texas]

I love Bartlett and what he does, and I am intrigued about the powder and would purchase if I had the extra funds, but if I wanted Unique I would just wait for it to become available, this price is similar.

About the only advantage I can see would be for those who have problems with metering Unique through drop type dispensers. As a ball powder that particular problem should be eliminated. Personally I've not noticed any particular problem using Lee Auto-Disk and Unique, but others state they have. Other manufacturer's ball powders would also be an answer (when again available, like the Accurate products).

[BaconStrips]

I have seen this too but am flush with Unique at the moment.

I have always heard that flake powder has a tendency to ignite easier than ball powder. Would this powder be more likely to be position sensitive than unique?

[SOFMatchstaff]

Well, we gonna find out, got a batch on the way. Bruce says its a Serbian manuf. and it comes with load data for rounds other than the 9mm it was primarily made for. I hope it is going to replace the flakey stuff that meters poorly.

[Shuz]

Well, we gonna find out, got a batch on the way. Bruce says its a Serbian manuf. and it comes with load data for rounds other than the 9mm it was primarily made for. I hope it is going to replace the flakey stuff that meters poorly.
Are you planning on trying both std and mag primers with BR-5? Since it is a ball powder, mag primers might work better with respect to ignition.

[Shiloh]

Prices for Surplus powder sure aren't what they used to be. I've been able to find Unique locally. Getting heads up from fellow shooters.

Shiloh

[cajts]

has anyone used this for reduced charges for rifle using cast boolits

[Schrag4]

I haven't seen the load data, but just going from what I've read in this thread, I don't take "Uses Unique Load Data" to mean the same as "gives the same accuracy/velocity as Unique." Doesn't that just mean that you'd use the same OAL, the same min/max charges? If it really gave the same results as Unique, I'd be all over it, because I love how Unique shoots, I just hate how it meters.

[Lloyd Smale]

heres the problem in my opinion. It isn't all that much cheaper and a guy would have to buy a pile of it. Nothing more frustrating then working up loads for a couple guns using a powder and then not being able to ever get it again. Back when surplus was a 1/3 to a 1/2 the cost of commercial powders it was worth it. A guy could buy 50lbs of it and go for a good long time. If im only saving 20-30 bucks on a jug its hardly worth it to me. At that price your going to pay about a 130 bucks for 8lbs, then add shipping and hazmat and you could probably go to the local gunshop and buy a jug of unique.

[abqcaster]

heres the problem in my opinion. It isn't all that much cheaper and a guy would have to buy a pile of it. Nothing more frustrating then working up loads for a couple guns using a powder and then not being able to ever get it again. Back when surplus was a 1/3 to a 1/2 the cost of commercial powders it was worth it. A guy could buy 50lbs of it and go for a good long time. If im only saving 20-30 bucks on a jug its hardly worth it to me. At that price your going to pay about a 130 bucks for 8lbs, then add shipping and hazmat and you could probably go to the local gunshop and buy a jug of unique.

That's how I saw it! Looks like availability, at reasonable prices, is normalizing again. I have enough now to be able wait for a good deal (Thanks Powder valley!). At current surplus/canister prices, I can get a proven powder with published data.

[mannyCA]

I think Jeff has been doing this long enough that I take his word on similar powder burn rates. A few years ago I got a case of IPP from him which was stated to be similar to unique and having shot thousands of rounds over a chrony of the stuff through everything from .380 to reduced charges in the .30-06 and even 12 gauge loads can say it is very similar. The difference between the 2 was negligible.
YRMV though.

[fastdadio]

Bumpity-bump a six year old thread.
Times have changed and I was darn glad to recently pick up a 6lb jug of BR-5 from Bartletts.
http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html.

Anybody else shooting this stuff? I compared the supplied data to some known Unique data and it is different. Here is the limited data supplied with the powder form Bartlett;
BR-5
Pistol Powder

Caliber Bullet Charge Velocity

380 ACP 90gr FMJ 3.8 – 4.1 gr. 875 – 950 fps
380 ACP 100gr FMJ 3.7 – 3.9 gr. 825 – 900 fps

38 Super 100gr FMJ 5.9 – 6.6 gr. 1250 – 1375 fps
38 Super 115gr FMJ 5.8 – 6.3 gr. 1100 – 1190 fps
38 Super 124gr FMJ 5.6 – 6.1 gr. 1080 – 1180 fps
38 Super 147gr XTP 5.4 – 5.6 gr. 850 – 1120 fps

9x19 115gr FMJ 4.6 – 5.6 gr. 1010 – 1150 fps
9x19 124gr FMJ 4.7 – 5.4 gr. 960 – 1080 fps
9x19 147gr XTP 4.4 – 4.8 gr. 840 – 890 fps

38 Spl 125gr JHP 5.6 – 6.2 gr. 1009 – 1109 fps
38 Spl 158gr LSWC 5.0 – 5.6 gr. 941 - 1046 fps
38 Spl 158gr XTP 5.0 – 5.6 gr. 877 – 973 fps
38 Spl+P 124gr XTP 5.7 – 6.7 gr. 1029 – 1180 fps

40 S&W 155gr XTP 6.8 – 7.3 gr. 1088 – 1165 fps
40 S&W 170gr FMJ 6.1 – 6.6 gr. 1005 - 1080 fps
40 S&W 200gr XTP 4.7 – 5.5 gr. 805 - 920 fps

10mm Auto 155gr XTP 7.5 – 7.8 gr 1210 – 1250 fps
10mm Auto 200gr XTP 6.8 – 7.8 gr. 1020 - 1110 fps

44 Spl 200gr XTP 7.2 – 8.0 gr. 860 – 950 fps

45ACP 185gr XTP 8.9 – 9.9 gr. 1037 - 1152 fps
45ACP 200gr FMJ 7.6 – 8.4 gr. 935 – 1040 fps
45ACP 230gr FMJ 6.5 – 7.5 gr. 805 – 870 fps
45ACP 250gr FP 5.7 – 6.7 gr. 745 - 820 fps
Not a whole lot to go with, and no reduced rifle loads, which I was really hoping for. Anyone else have any experience with this stuff?

[jaysouth]

BR-5 sold out according to the web site

[Burnt Fingers]

BR-5 sold out according to the web site

Well considering it's a SIX year old thread...what did ya expect?

[FLINTNFIRE]

Old prices for fresh powder of course , and no haz mat and that is just the beginning , I would buy some then , well maybe .

Zombie threads back from the dead , Unique in its own way .

[fastdadio]

Well considering it's a SIX year old thread...what did ya expect?

The thread is old. I just got the powder last week.

[daengmei]

Well considering it's a SIX year old thread...what did ya expect?

That powder had been available for some time, I bought some 2 months ago and he told me he was then nearly out.

[Castaway]

It’s Not like Unique, although Unique data won’t get you in trouble. In December and February, I did a write up on BR-5 in a Win 92 and Black Hawk (45 Colt) respectively with velocity and extreme spreads for various loads. Works well in 45 Colt and in the few 9 mm’s I loaded. Hopefully Jeff gets more

[PhilC]

The thread is old. I just got the powder last week.
Yep, I bought some a few months ago haven't had time to play with it - yet.

[Multra]

It's a lovex powder, d036.07 I believe. https://explosia.cz/app/uploads/2019/07/EXPLOSIA_reloading2019_en_new.pdf if you want the br-2 or 5 data.

[jim147]

I was going to buy some a couple of months ago but had something come up. Went to look Saturday and it was out of stock.

I did find a pound of unique inthe powder cabinet so I can go for a while longer since I don't shoot trap anymore.

[fastdadio]

Yep, I bought some a few months ago haven't had time to play with it - yet.

Same story here. It's time to play. I have basic stocks of the other powders I use, but replacing them is hit and miss. I should be able to use this across the bench from all my pistols to light rifle loads for 30-06 and 30-30. I'm just looking to see what others have done with it.

[HP9MM]

It was $150/six pounds and it has sold out. Been available for months, now no more.

[YippyKiYay]

There is still some 7383, like my buddy said..."It's all the same stuff, you don't need that many kinds of powder." Thankfully he didn't reload.

[mvintx]

I'm gonna try to breathe a little life to this thread...having picked up 7# from Jeff Bartlett. Multra, you think it is Lovex 36.07? I've compared Bartlett's data to both the Shooter's World and Lovex guides and they don't match. Anyone else have experience with this powder?

[HP9MM]

I use it in 44 Magnum. Loaded 8.5 grains of Unique behind a 429431 Lyman bullet then ran out of Unique and replaced it with 9.5 grains of BR-5. Can't tell any difference in the loads. Have not used it in 9MM as I still have plenty of TightGroup.

[mvintx]

I use it in 44 Magnum. Loaded 8.5 grains of Unique behind a 429431 Lyman bullet then ran out of Unique and replaced it with 9.5 grains of BR-5. Can't tell any difference in the loads. Have not used it in 9MM as I still have plenty of TightGroup.

I'm gonna start working up some loads based on what I've found from others who have posted and the data provided by Jeff Bartlett. I'll start with 9mm first and move on to .40 and .45. I appreciate your comment.