Blc 1

[50calshooter]

Hello ended up with cans of powder they have hand writen BLC-1 not 2 on them I got alot of books and can't find anything about this powder. The other powders I got in this deal have less than $2.00 on them.(4831) Thanks ahead of time for the help.

[madsenshooter]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=52041&highlight=blc I can remember when the changed it, but can't recall whether the (2) is faster or slower. The link goes to some info I found and I'm sure others will chime in.

[BerdanIII]

From Handloader's Digest, First Ed. 1962:

"BL-C (lot1)
The following loads apply only to BL-C powder sold before Jan., 1962. BL-C sold after that date is designated as lot 2, and load recommendations will be available from Hodgdon.

Caliber - Bullet - Charge - Velocity
.218 Bee - 50 - 18.0 - 2544
.222 Rem - 50 - 26.0 - 3408
.250 Sav - 87 - 33.0 - 2844
7 x 57 - 139 - 42.0 - 2609
.30-30 - 170 - 32.0 - 1997
.308 - 110 - 51.0 - 3193
.308 - 150 - 47.0 - 2772
.30-40 - 150 - 37.0 - 2238
.30-06 - 180 - 45.0 - 2468
8 x 57 - 170 - 52.0 - 2583
.38-40 - 180 - 35.0 - 1640"

From Speer No. 3, 1959, "BL-C"

.218 Bee - 50 - 17.0 to 18.5 - 2605 to 2787
.218 Bee - 52 - 17.0 to 18.5 - 2622 to 2785
.222 Rem - 50 - 22.0 to 24.0 - 3049 to 3247
.222 Rem - 55 - 22.0 to 24.0 - 2954 to 3138
.250 Sav - No loads listed
7 x 57 - No loads listed
.30-30 - 150 - 30.0 to 34.0 - 2070 to 2279
.30-30 - 170 - No loads listed
.308 - 110 - 46.0 to 50.0 - 3037 to 3228
.308 - 150 - 39.0 to 43.0 - 2372 to 2618
.30-40 - 150 - 37.0 to 41.0 - 2345 to 2535
.30-06 - 150 - 47.0 to 51.0 - 2598 to 2765
.30-06 - 180 - No loads listed
8 x 57 - 170 - 45.0 to 49.0 - 2444 to 2621
.38-40 - No loads listed

Note: Speer #6, 1964 lists the same charge weights and velocities with the exception that the .30-'06 150-gr. loads have been dropped.

From Lyman Manual, number unknown, covers missing (Cast bullets only, one section is all user's favorite loads and comments. If you know the number, sing out):

"Cast Bullet Loads for Hodgdon Powders ("BL-C")"

.22-250 - 225415 - 20.0 - 1959
.30-30 - 311466 - 32.0 - 2205
.30-40 - 311413 - 33.0 - 1849
.32 Special - 323470 - 34.0 - 2132
8mm - 323470 - 34.0 - 1757
Manual has other cast bullet loads for BL-C under the individual calibers.

From Lyman #43, 1964, "BL-C":

.218 Bee - 50 - 16.0 to 18.0 - 2510 to 2710
.222 Rem - 50 - 21.5 to 24.0 - 2891 to 3049
.222 Rem - 55 - 21.0 to 23.5 - 2703 to 3130
.250 Sav - 87 - 34.0 to 38.0 - 2739 to 3160
7 x 57 - 140 - 39.0 to 43.0 - 2616 to 2878
.30-30 - 150 - 30.0 to 33.0 - 2066 to 2381
.30-30 - 170 - 29.0 to - 31.0 - 1996 to 2192
.308 - 110 - 45.0 to 48.0 - 2849 to 3161
.308 -150 - 39.0 to 43.0 - 2401 to 2631
.30-40 - No loads listed
.30-'06 - 150 - 48.0 to 52.0 - 2696 to 2899
.30-'06 - 180 - 44.0 to 48.0 - 2365 to 2577
8 x 57 - No loads listed
.38-40 - No loads listed

From: Lyman #45, 1970, BLC-2:

.218 Bee - No loads listed
.222 Rem - 50 - 23.0 to 26.3 - 2865 to 3257 (26.3 grs compressed charge)
.222 Rem - 55 - 22.0 to 25.0 - 2680 to 3086
.250 Sav - 87 - 34.0 to 38.0 - 2906 to 3154
7 x 57 - 139 - 39.0 to 43.0 - 2427 to 2695
.30-30 - 150 - 28.0 to 31.5 - 1989 to 2268
.30-30 -170 - 27.0 to 30.5 - 1869 to 2128
.308 - 110 - 47.0 to 53.0 - 3003 to 3311
.308 -150 - 45.0 to 49.0 - 2717 to 2915
.30-40 - No loads listed
.30-'06 - 150 - 46.0 to 51.0 - 2770 to 2932
.30-'06 - 180 - 42.0 to 47.5 - 2336 - 2631
8 x 57 - No loads listed
.38-40 - No loads listed

Let me know if there are other cartridges you are interested in.

[50calshooter]

My thanks to you, I got alot of 150 cast lead bullets so I will try to see what happens Friday when I go to the range. I am shooting a old Stevens 30-30 bolt action. I loves the gun so much I bought a second one. My thanks again. One powder left to find out about got 2.5 pounds of Alcan 101 I know it's a shotgun powder for mag loads. My thanks again and happy shooting David In NeKansas

[BerdanIII]

Well, it's the following Tuesday. What hoppen?

[Jeff.L]

Thanks for the loading infomation on the BLC-1 I also had a pound I didn't have a use for until now... Thanks Jeff

[50calshooter]

Last Friday the world almost ended my oldest coudn't find her birth certificate so no DL. Had to go to Topeka. Loaded some 170 gr gas check don't know the lube it was on the soft side. Had to seat bullet deaply as it was touching the lands hard. Used 27 grains acording to the older Lyman book. The powder on the can says BLC (1) the other cans that came with it have Hogdon's label and say BLC on them. After firing what felt like a full power load with jacket bullets. The first shot low the other two were right next to each other. Now I go back to cut the load to about 20 grains, so I don't have more of the nice gray bore in my rifle. I will get this right.

[BerdanIII]

I'm often amazed (and so are many other shooters I talk to) at the loads and velocities Lyman puts out for cast bullets. I thought 32.0 grains list for the Lyman 311466 was more than a little stiff, but it's a rifle powder so I thought that maybe it wouldn't lead, the way E. Harrison says it won't.

Below is some data on ALCAN AL-101. I included some contemporary loads with other powders so you could compare apples to apples.

From Handloader's Digest, First Ed., 1962:

Alcan Shotshell Reloader's Manual No. X

"Alcan AL-101
Powder is a natural color, round flake, smokeless powder especially designed for use with the PC57 and PC209 replacement cups, for a perfectly balanced 12 gauge 1⅛ ounce Trap, Skeet or Light Hunting load. This fast burning powder also works perfectly with primers number 645P. It is not necessary to use expensive and powerful primers as the MAX-FIRE 209, Type 220, or G57, however, these may be used if you so desire. AL-101 Powder is moisture proof, finely cut, ignites with ease, burns clean and gives very uniform velocity - pressure results with high pattern percentages, it is a dense powder taking up little space in the shell. The small weight of powder required results in it being economical to use."

"Use only with Alcan "MAX-FIRE" primers or PC209 and PC57 primer cups"

12 Gauge, 2¾", 3 Dram equivalent, Winchester Ranger, Western Xpert target and field shells, Remington and Peters 12 gauge target shells only.
1⅛ oz. shot, 20 grs. AL-101, 60 lbs. pressure, 1 -0.200" nitro, 1 -½" Feltan-Bluestreak
1⅛ oz. shot, 19 grs. AL-101, 40 lbs. pressure, 1 -Air Wedge, 1 -⅜" F.B.S.
1⅛ oz. shot, 19 grs. AL-101, 40 lbs. pressure, 1 -Plastic Gas Seal, 1 -0.070" nitro, 1 -½" F.B.S.

Same hulls with RED DOT:
1⅛ oz. shot, 23 grs. RED DOT, 50 lbs. pressure, 1 -0.135" nitro, 1 -½" F.B.S.
1⅛ oz. shot, 21 grs. RED DOT, 40 lbs. pressure, 1 -Air Wedge, 1 -⅜" F.B.S or 1 -5/16" F.B.S
⅛ oz. shot, 21 grs. RED DOT, 40 lbs. pressure, 1 -P.G.S., 1 -0.070" nitro, 1 -½" F.B.S.

12 Gauge, 2¾", 3 Dram equivalent, Winchester Super-Speed, Western Super-X, Remington and Peters field and high velocity, Federal, J.C. Higgins, Red Head and Revelation shells. (Super-X and Super Speed use ¼" less wad than shown.)
1⅛ oz. shot, 20 grs. AL-101, 60 lbs. pressure, 1 -0.200" nitro, 1 -⅜" F.B.S., 1 -½" F.B.S.
1⅛ oz. shot, 19 grs. AL-101, 40 lbs. pressure, 1 -Air Wedge, 1 -⅜" F.B.S., 1 -¼" F.B.S.
1⅛ oz. shot, 19 grs. AL-101, 40 lbs. pressure, 1 -Plastic Gas Seal, 1 -⅜" F.B.S., 1 -½" F.B.S.

Same hulls with RED DOT:
1⅛ oz. shot, 23 grs. RED DOT, 50 lbs. pressure, 1 -0.135" nitro, 2 -⅜" F.B.S.
1⅛ oz. shot, 21 grs. RED DOT, 40 lbs. pressure, 1 -Air Wedge, 1 -0.070" nitro, 1 -½" F.B.S.
⅛ oz. shot, 21 grs. RED DOT, 40 lbs. pressure, 1 -P.G.S., 2 -⅜" F.B.S.

From Lyman #42:

"Alcan AL-101 - This is a dense powder requiring little space in the case but small weight for efficient loading. It is designed for loading Skeet, Trap and light game loads, and when used with the special Alcan 241 primer enables the handloader to make shells quite economically. Can be used with other standard primers also. This powder is fast burning and easy to ignite, making it particularly good for use with replacement primer caps."

12 gauge, 2¾", 3 Dram equivalent, Remington and Peters new style target case - length 2¾", high inner base wad, aver. case depth 2⅛", crimp style, folded. Winchester and Western target and field load case (description as above), Winchester and Western Hi Speed & short magnum cases (description as above).
1⅛ oz. shot, 19 grs. AL-101, 25 lbs. pressure, 1 -0.135 nitro, 2 -⅜" filler. Alcan 241 primer for W-W, Rem. 57 for R-P.

1⅛ oz. shot, 23 grs. UNIQUE, 50 lbs. pressure, 1 -0.200" nitro, 1 -½" filler, any 109 or 209 primer for W-W, any 57 or 157 primer for R-P.

1⅛ oz. shot, 23 grs. RED DOT, 50 lbs. pressure, 1 -0.200" nitro, 1 -½" filler, any 109 or 209 primer for W-W, any 57 or 157 primer for R-P.

I have no idea how you would handle this powder with modern one-piece wads.

I could not find any handgun or light rifle data for this powder. It does not seem to have been available in the U.S. for more than a few years over 40 years ago. It appears to be much faster than Red Dot and if I was tempted to use it in pistol cartridges, I'd begin with Bullseye starting loads (probably less) and train the cat to pull the trigger on the first round.

[50calshooter]

BerdanIII
thanks you for the info. I wish I would of asked about Alcan three months ago. I loaded 4800rds 45Acp rounds. Loading 38 spl right now sounds like a good time to try the Alcan I'll load to Buyseye loads for 38 and shoot in my 357 should be safe. Was only going to load 3000 and try and use up some of my lead, to make my gun room neater. Wish me luck. David

[swheeler]

David; if you reduce the ball c load down to 20 grains I would use a filler of some sort. I use dacron with several surplus ball powders to get consistant ignition, psb too, but dacron works better for me. I load 30 grains of surplus 846(similar speed of your ball c but different additives for flash and flame temp) lee 170 Gc cast plus 1/2 gr dacron gives 2000+fps and reasonable hunting accuracy/2-3moa out of m840 30/30. If you have some LLA it might be worth giving those bullets a light tumble lubing and let them dry good before loading, then try a ten shot group, if accuracy holds I wouldn't worry about muzzle color. If you are looking for light recoiling loads for the kids to shoot there are better powders than ball c, unique comes to mind and 10 grs should give you about 1600, fun to shoot and cheap to load. .02 Scot