New Reloader - Questions about Dominion brand smokeless powder

Majo.Dump

Majo.Dump

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Hey all, I'm a relatively new reloader, just finishing up a 1lb cannister of IMR and ready to buy more. I recently discovered the Dominion brand of powders, but there seems to not be a whole lot of data around them.

For example, this product:
https://www.canadaammo.com/product/detail/dominion-d4064ssc-smokeless-propellant-5lbs/

Use IMR4064 data less 10% and work up the load.
These are OEM, not canister grade, so you need to work up the load with each lot number.
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If I understand the instructions correctly, I should treat this product as an IMR4064, but reduce all loads by 10%. However, what does it mean when they say "Work up the load"?

Additionally, is Dominion a good brand? The price seems great to me, but I want to make sure I'm not missing any crucial details.
 
Reloading manuals are guides, that's all. Reduce your D4064 by 10% and then increase your charges slowly, testing as you go. When you see signs of excessive pressure or your velocity seems too high. Stop. Figure out why, and back the load down accordingly. Its good powder, im currently working my way through 5 pounds. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
Reloading manuals are guides, that's all. Reduce your D4064 by 10% and then increase your charges slowly, testing as you go. When you see signs of excessive pressure or your velocity seems too high. Stop. Figure out why, and back the load down accordingly. Its good powder, im currently working my way through 5 pounds. - dan
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Okay so "Work up" means that I should increase my loads to find the maximum? I'd prefer not to. There's nothing wrong with making my loads "average" is there? (The midpoint between starting load amount and max load amount)
 
Majo.Dump said:
Okay so "Work up" means that I should increase my loads to find the maximum? I'd prefer not to. There's nothing wrong with making my loads "average" is there? (The midpoint between starting load amount and max load amount)
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No, but you may find a rifle that shoots better with "warm" loads than "mid range" loads.
 
Majo.Dump said:
Okay so "Work up" means that I should increase my loads to find the maximum? I'd prefer not to. There's nothing wrong with making my loads "average" is there? (The midpoint between starting load amount and max load amount)
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No harm in loading a Midpoint load. BUT, you have to work up to it. There can be a big difference in rifles. A Start load in your rifle might already be quite hot.

Start with the START load, work up in 0.3 gr increments, looking for the load that seems to group well, and then stick with that.
 
jparent said:
No, but you may find a rifle that shoots better with "warm" loads than "mid range" loads.
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This. One of the big reasons to reload is to tune ammo to your rifle. This usually means finding the right amount of gun powder for YOUR rifle. Your rifle might be quite happy with starting loads. Alternatively it might not, and you might find you have to go all the way to book max before you find the load your rifle really likes.

Ganderite said:
No harm in loading a Midpoint load. BUT, you have to work up to it. There can be a big difference in rifles. A Start load in your rifle might already be quite hot.

Start with the START load, work up in 0.3 gr increments, looking for the load that seems to group well, and then stick with that.
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The Dominion Powders say to reduce by 10%, so you'd want to start 10% below book starting values for the same IMR-number powder just to be safe. (I know you know this, but I'm just making sure the OP is clear on it)
 
You could very likely use the same imr 4064 load for the d4064, but you need to be very observant of overpressure signs and not ignore them. If you get higher velocity, bolt stick, or brass/case head signs stop and rework the load lower. We have no idea what your pressure was on your previous loads, it may be very safe and have lots of leeway. Or it could be over already and changing to the d4064 could be dangerous. What cartridge are you using it for?

The canada ammo powder deal is imo the best thing that has ever happened to the Canadian powder market. It is excellent stuff.
 
data powder is imr. just not canister grade hence the reduce 10%. it maybe a littler hotter than the canister version. i use it and its good for the price.
 
imho, it's good powder.

OP, this powder seems to have inconsistent burn rates between lots, from my experience. You should be purchasing the five pound keg, so that you aren't wasting time and money working up new loads between cans, when you purchase one pound at a time.

It would help to know the make and type of rifle you're loading for.

This powder is as good as any other of it's type out there. it will do its intended job well, if you do your part.

If you're loading for a milsurp, err on the side of caution and reduce your starting load by 10%. Especially if it's a semi auto.

If it is a semi auto, the start load may not be stout enough to cycle the action.

One old trick we used back in the day, when there were lots of different surplus powders available, was to look up the suggested load data and check it against a burn rate chart. Then use the data for the next FASTER BURNING POWDER.
 
North of 7 said:
Is this powder temp sensitive? I have had such good results with h4350 and varget i am reluctant to switch.

North
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Then don't. It's a powder made to older style recipes. No more temp sensitive than H4350, which is made to similar standards
 
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I’m fairly new to reloading (currently working on pistol with Titegroup). Can someone explain what is meant by it being “OEM, not canister grade”? What “grade” is it, and why is there such variation between lot numbers that would require working up loads again?
 
.30/06 FTW said:
I’m fairly new to reloading (currently working on pistol with Titegroup). Can someone explain what is meant by it being “OEM, not canister grade”? What “grade” is it, and why is there such variation between lot numbers that would require working up loads again?
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The second question is why its OEM grade.

Basically canister grade is what you'd normally buy as a reloader, and they must meet a specific standard to ensure reloaders are getting a consistent product and know what to expect. OEM grade is more like a lot that didn't meet those exacting standards and so it's sold in large quantity at a cheaper rate, often to manufacturers who will develop a load with that powder than make thousands of rounds.

At least that's my understanding. Ganderite will surely correct anything I got wrong in that.
 
I've found that it is perfectly good powder. I went through a couple 5lbs 4064 and had no issues with it whatsoever. My loaded ammo worked as good as any factory match loads.
 
Suther said:
The second question is why its OEM grade.

Basically canister grade is what you'd normally buy as a reloader, and they must meet a specific standard to ensure reloaders are getting a consistent product and know what to expect. OEM grade is more like a lot that didn't meet those exacting standards and so it's sold in large quantity at a cheaper rate, often to manufacturers who will develop a load with that powder than make thousands of rounds.

At least that's my understanding. Ganderite will surely correct anything I got wrong in that.
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Thank you for that explanation. So yeah, I guess now the question is why is it OEM grade. Although I guess it doesn’t really matter as long as I buy enough of it from the same lot. A couple 5 lb jugs of D4895 would make several times more ammo than I’ve put through my Garand so far and I would need to do the same load development anyways.
 
Suther said:
I want to say the h4350 is more temp stable than the IMR variety?
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IMHO, that seems to depend on individual lots.

I still have a bit of 4350 surplus powder, salvaged by Hodgdon back in the 1950s. It's burn rate is close to 4831 and gives very consistent results under all conditions.

Late manufacture IMR350 is just as consistent within individual lots, but faster burning
 
as a veteran reloader, I would recommend using canister grade powders until you're comfortable controlling and evaluating pressure.

Bulk powder puts the onus on the reloader to develop a safe load. There is no published data. You must be able to evaluate pressure and velocity in the field.

It's definitely not a massive jump, because as the instructions from CanadaAmmo state, you can use published data of comparable powders and work up. If you have the tools to measure velocity and can identify pressure, go for it.
 
JaredP said:
as a veteran reloader, I would recommend using canister grade powders until you're comfortable controlling and evaluating pressure.

Bulk powder puts the onus on the reloader to develop a safe load. There is no published data. You must be able to evaluate pressure and velocity in the field.

It's definitely not a massive jump, because as the instructions from CanadaAmmo state, you can use published data of comparable powders and work up. If you have the tools to measure velocity and can identify pressure, go for it.
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I totally disagree. Regardless of the powder, the onus to develop a safe load is ALWAYS on the reloader.

Relying on published data and ignoring whats actually happening in YOUR gun is a recipe for disaster whether you use canister grade or not. If you have a rifle with a saami minimum spec chamber, and the book data was developed using a rifle with a more generous chamber (not over spec, just more generous than your minimum spec chamber) you can run into high pressures before you hit book max - hell I've heard stories from some of the veterans around here that have had overpressure from a MIN load before. This is the whole reason of working up a load - the book tells you what the results were in THEIR rifle, not yours.
 
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