Which surplus powder is right for me?

[DanWalker]

Hi guys,
I need some advice. I was looking at the hitech website and he's got some really good prices on his powders. I currently shoot and cast for the following calibers: 7mmtcu,7mm-08,30-30,45LC, and 38 special.
Which of his surplus powders would work best for the majority of these calibers?
I'm primarily looking for a powder to use in the 7mm's.
I'm just trying to find the powder that I can use for my plinking and target loads. I like to shoot as cheaply as I can.
Thanks in advance guys.
Dan

[Buckshot]

WC820 - (Cross reference loading data H110) $59
IMR 4895 - (Same as Commercial 4895) $78
WC680 - (Cross reference loading data WIN 680 or AA1680) $59
5010 - (for 50 cal and other large capacity cases) (Loading Data Available for Mag Rifle) $28
WC 860 - (for 50 cal) This is a ball power $36
WC 872 - (This is 20 mm powder) (New Production, not Pull Down) $36
IMR 7383 (From 50 Cal. Spotter/Tracer Power) (Can be used in other calibers)

...........Dan, I have zero experience with the 7 Magnum or the 7mm-08. There isn't really anything there suitable for the 2 pistol cartridges you mentioned, other then WC820. This has been used in greatly reduced charges in rifle cartridges, but I don't think it'd work well in way reduced charges for those 2 rounds you mentioned.

I love it in a 357 mag, or my 38 Super. I tried some reduced loads in the super and it was the pits. Incomplete combustion which just filled the pistol up with unburned powder.

I don't know what you want to accomplish with those 2 rifle cartridges, or what you might be willing to put up with. Maven has used and posted about using WC820 in several standard type rifle cartridges with great results, so there is that one to begin with.

Both your 7mm's may just do fine with WC860, WC872 or 5010. I've used WC872 in the 7x57, and 60.0grs launched a 175gr slug to design balistics (2450 fps) was very accurate and burned just as nice and clean as anything. In the 7x57 you can go to about 43.0grs + dacron (I list dacron because I used it) and get the same slug to about 1700 fps. Not as clean as a full caseload, but not bad.

The 4895 would be the powder of choice for the 7-08 for me, of all those listed. I have very limited experience with IMR7383 so won't comment on it's suitability.

You should be able to utilize one of these in your 7 Mag. I have heard of folks shooting cast from a 7 Mag, and also using surplus powders in it too. I just don't recall to post here exactly what it was. Sorry.

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

[lar45]

I've shot 820 and 680 in the 30-30 with the 165 Lazer Cast. I didn't write all the notes in my range book, but it seems like they both performed about the same and went around 1580 with 14.5gns 820 before I started to get ironed out primers and verticle stringing of about 3", but all within about 1/2" in windage..

I shot some 852 also, 35.5gns gave 1720ish but 5" groups at 50yds.

I didn't shoot a large number of rounds as I was trying to see what they would do first and never got back to it.

[Maven]

Dan, I've been using WC 820 in rifle cartridges (with CB's only!) as small as the .243Win. and as large as the 8 x 57mm and in the .357mag. (I wouldn't recommend it for the .38Spl. though.) It burns efficiently (low ES's & SD's) and produces excellent accuracy, but there is a danger of double-charging a cartridge. As for the others, let me list the pro's & cons below:

IMR 7383 It's cheap, but more appropriate to full house loads with jacketed bullets. Moreover, it shows pressure spikes if you use too much of it or compress it heavily. Burning rate is somewhere between IMR 4064/H 380 and IMR 4350 in some cartridges, e.g., the .243Win & .30-06 (with jacketed bullets). Doesn't require mag. primers.

IMR 5010 Also cheap, but you need almost a full case of it (doubles the cost)+ heavy CB's, a filler poly/grex or powdered bran) and mag. primers to maximize its efficiency; but it still leaves copious amounts of unburned powder in the bbl. ($$ wasted). Then too, it doesn't flow through powder measures easily so you'll have to use a dipper of some sort, e.g., Lee's dipper set.

WC 860 I've used a lot of this one and used to like it until I discovered WC 820. 860's burn rate is very close to that of 5010 so you'll be using almost full-case loads and mag. primers, but not fillers.* It measures easily and tolerates heavier CB's in many cartridges very well. However, it hasn't worked well for me in the .243Win. or the 6.5 Swede (but WC 820 does!). It works very well in the .30-06 family of cartridges (except the 6.5 Swede), including the 7.65 x 53 Arg. Mau. the 7.5 Swiss, and the 8mm Mau.

Accuracy I can't lay the blame for poor accuracy on the above milsurp powders: They are excellent for target shooting and maybe more.

*Fillers Generally there's nothing to be gained using poly/grex with WC 860 with the exception of the 7.65 x 53 Arg. Mau. There a filler does make a difference (with a heavy CB), boosting efficiency substantially. Then too, you save a bit since you reduce the powder charge by at least one grain with a filler.

[StarMetal]

Paul,

That may be your experience with surplus 5010 but not mine. I shoot it in alot of rounds...243, 260, 7x57, 8x57, 7.7 Jap, 7.65 Argentine, 8x56R Steyr, 30-40 Krag, and 30-06. My Belding & Mull powder measure cuts it out pretty close to settings, I don't have to use Grex, I don't use mag primers, but I do get some unburned powder....definately not the amount that alot of posters have stated here. Sometimes I'll use a booster powder to get it burning better but most often not. I disagree with that you have to use double the amount thus it's not a savings. Would you say that if you were able to get it for $35 for 8 lbs? ....that's what I get it for from Wideners.

It's not one of my favorite powders, but for the price it's very usuable.

Joe

[Maven]

Joe, At $35/8lb. I'd say it's a bargain, but what about Hazmat fees? Also, the powders I like best, XMP 5744, H/IMR 4198 and WC 820, require no more than 27gr. in any of the cartridges I load (and frequently a good deal less) v. 47-48gr. 5010. If you factor out Hazmat charges, that's still ~ 1/2 the cost of 5010. Moreover, most of us don't own B & M measures so how we charge a case can present a minor problem, an inconvenience really. Having said that, I confess to using an Ohaus Duo-Measure to throw 5010, but a Lee Dipper is just as fast and accurate. 5010's OK, but there are better choices available.

[StarMetal]

Paul,

I live 30 mins from Wideners so no hazard fee for me. My last powder buy there was 4895 surplus. Wished I had more money when I bought that 8 lbs as 4895 is good powder and not always available.

True not everyone has a Belding & Mull, just the savy ones..hahaha...just kidding, but Carpetman might think so, cause he has one. Those Lee dippers would work well as you stated and most of us have those and a set is relatively inexpensive.

Joe

[45nut]

I just got lucky {again} and picked up a B&M for $25.00 Cool beans and the vintage is about right for a match with my old lyman all-american and my first lyman 55.