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Thread: So what do you do when ?

  1. #21
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wolfdog91 View Post
    can't find the powder the book says to use for a load ?
    I'd check a few other books.

    Something else I've found is powders listed in a old book that they loved so much, they'd about write songs about them--
    aren't even listed in the new edition of the same book.
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  2. #22
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    What do I do? I avoid calibers that use a narrow range of powder, I avoid powder with narrow applications. I collect data for the calibers I’m interested in. I also collect manuals that might offer insight.

    But let’s say I had a caliber that needed x powder and I had non. What would I do? I’d make do with powder that is similar. I research my caliber and powder and see if anyone has used it. Make a page or two in my research notebook and record the info as I come across it while searching. Including powder and amount and any measurements and poster and forum they are on. If they seem nuts in other posts I disregard it. If they seem to be a safe and sane loader, I note that. I try my best to corroborate data from a published source. And I find old handloader with my caliber in it of available. Not to mention asking for help from those that have quickloads if I cannot find a solution on my own. That’s how I approach it.
    Last edited by Bazoo; 08-09-2022 at 11:40 PM.

  3. #23
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    It really depends on what I'm loading. In most bottleneck rifles, I just choose a similar powder. Data for those isn't set in stone anyway. In a handgun, I don't think I've ever had the problem. Sometimes I have to use data for a bullet that is 10-20 grains heavier or lighter, but there's usually a lot of data for handguns.

    Shotguns is where the question really lies. There's plenty of times you can go through 6 manuals and not find a load you want that you can also get the hull, primer, powder, and wad to all match. It's even more true now that a lot of times things are discontinued. 16 gauge especially, good luck with that. In shotguns I'm about all fed up with that. I bought myself a Pressure Trace II system, and I use that to test substitutions. It's no replacement for a load manual, but I feel plenty safe using it to adjust loads to work for me.

  4. #24
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    I just switch to a different powder of similar burn rate. I have powders in a wide spectrum of burn rates but If I didn't have anything close, I would probably use a slower powder with a booster charge of faster powder. If none of that worked I would just use a slightly different cartridge. I have calibers in most sizes from 22H to 416 Rem in rifle and 32 auto to 454 Casull in pistol.

  5. #25
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    I often consult burn rate charts. There are lots available on the internet. Some formats are easier to read than others.

  6. #26
    Boolit Master WRideout's Avatar
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    Sometimes data can be found in really old loading manuals that is not available anywhere else. I have several old Lyman and and Hornady books that are falling apart, but they have data for oddball cartridges, like 6.5 Japanese. If you are needing a page from an older book, post a request here, and someone will probably be able to send you a PDF file of it.

    Also, I will sometimes use data for jacketed bullets, and start low.

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  7. #27
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    Collect data - loading manuals will give you lots of options for most calibers/cartridges - until you get into the unusual or obsolete ones. Then I ask someone here who has Quickload for some data for specific boolit/powder combinations, and have been provided with such data each time. I also have a 25 Krag AI which has a water capacity two grains greater than the 257 Roberts AI and two grains less than the 25-06. My Serria manuals give me data for both, so I have a number of options to play with safely.
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  8. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by megasupermagnum View Post
    It really depends on what I'm loading. In most bottleneck rifles, I just choose a similar powder. Data for those isn't set in stone anyway. In a handgun, I don't think I've ever had the problem. Sometimes I have to use data for a bullet that is 10-20 grains heavier or lighter, but there's usually a lot of data for handguns.

    Shotguns is where the question really lies. There's plenty of times you can go through 6 manuals and not find a load you want that you can also get the hull, primer, powder, and wad to all match. It's even more true now that a lot of times things are discontinued. 16 gauge especially, good luck with that. In shotguns I'm about all fed up with that. I bought myself a Pressure Trace II system, and I use that to test substitutions. It's no replacement for a load manual, but I feel plenty safe using it to adjust loads to work for me.
    True that... shotgun reloading has the least powders and most restrictive cookbooks.

  9. #29
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    I haven't seen anyone post it yet but check Hodgdon's reloading center for data. Since they acquired western powder they have even more data available free online.
    https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center

    Most other manufactures have at least some data available online.

    Another option is to contact the powder manufacture and ask for guidance. The one time I have done it they were helpful. The worst they can do is say they don't have data or that it is a bad idea.
    quando omni flunkus moritati

  10. #30
    Boolit Buddy tmanbuckhunter's Avatar
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    Consult the manufacturer of the powder. Accurate 5744 is a great example of a powder that has an extremely wide array of uses, but you may not always find data for your given combination and need a starting place. I've contacted Accurate numerous times and gotten extrapolated data to work with. One thing you can do to, but this is a FAR more advanced technique, is compare case capacity with a similar case, for example 303 Brit/30USA and start on the lower end of the spectrum. A lot of ways to skin this cat if you can't get what you need, but you're pretty sure what you have will work, especially if there is data for it in another cartridge that is very similar.

  11. #31
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    Well, I guess the first thing I would do is consult my powder burn rate chart and see where my preferred powder stacks up. Then try to find a substitute close to the preferred. When you find one, then go to a manual and any published load source and find what you need/want. My favorite is Ken Waters Pet Loads, the complete version. If we still haven't found something, then I can't help you. Notice I said published loads.
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  12. #32
    Boolit Master ACC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wolfdog91 View Post
    So what do YOU ( as I you individually) do when can't find the powder the book says to use for a load ?
    Look for another on the list in the hand loading manual of your choice.

    ACC

  13. #33
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    I once contacted Vihtavuori and asked for data for a cast 6.5 Swede. They said they didn’t have information for any cast boolits.

  14. #34
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    I have been reloading for about 60 years and have a bunch of old and several new manuals. By exploring the internet I have found about 30 full reloading manuals in digital form. There are also many of the old tables from the manufacturers.
    This place, Handloads.com, closed a couple of years ago, but nothing ever totally dies on the net, so it is now at this address.

    https://web.archive.org/web/20180801...a/loadlist.asp

    I have used much of their data, but be sure to verify it by other sources.
    There are many powders that will work good that are not listed but will work well.
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  15. #35
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    I spent the last 2 years of Obummer and pretty much all of Trump’s term loading up on powder and primers. If I don’t have a specific powder, I look for one close in burn rate that I do have on hand.
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  16. #36
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    I read this thread that was posted back in January https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...heir-own-loads

    WWJMBD?

    In the Land of Oz, we cast with wheel weight and 2% Tin, Man.

  17. #37
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bigslug View Post
    I read this thread that was posted back in January https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...heir-own-loads

    Yeah, I did too...and also thought about my posts there as I posted here.

    I think Wolf is looking for some secret sauce, but the problem is it doesn't exist. We are surely in tough times for newbie boolit casters. Many of the old powders that work great for cast boolits have been discontinued and the ones that haven't...like any of the supplies we need, just aren't staying on the shelf long enough for a newbie to find them. The newest branded powders out there are mostly unknown to boolit casters, because not much has been written about them, other than what the powder companies have put out as advertising for the specific use they were designed for...and no one designs a powder for cast boolits. Most of us old timers who have done some experimenting in the past, have a large stash of the older powders for use, so we don't really have any incentive or desire to buy the newest powders to experiment with...especially at the current inflated prices. So that leaves the newbie with the conundrum of trying to do the experimenting with little to no experience...or just put it off until the times start changing. So what to do in the mean time? Start discussions like this.
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check