Anyone ever use Noble 69 powder?

[P.E. Islander]

About twelve years ago I bought a couple of pounds of Noble 69 powder from at Ammomart but never got around to using any of it. This powder was manufactured by Nobel of Scotland.

I recalled that this powder was touted as a magnum shotgun powder that was also usefull in .357 Mag, .44 Mag. Of course I could not find any load data so I emailed Higginson powder (formerly Ammomart) and asked if they had any data. They gave me a couple of loads for the .357 and .44 mag which is a start.

Anyone out there ever use any of this stuff? If so please share load data, results, etc.

Thanks.

 

[Andy]

I use it in cast bullet loads. It seems to be at about the HS-7 burn rate.

It is all gone - Higginsons has sold the last of it.

 

[Hi-Standard]

About twelve years ago I bought a couple of pounds of Noble 69 powder from at Ammomart but never got around to using any of it. This powder was manufactured by Nobel of Scotland.

I recalled that this powder was touted as a magnum shotgun powder that was also usefull in .357 Mag, .44 Mag. Of course I could not find any load data so I emailed Higginson powder (formerly Ammomart) and asked if they had any data. They gave me a couple of loads for the .357 and .44 mag which is a start.

Anyone out there ever use any of this stuff? If so please share load data, results, etc.

Thanks.

Yes P.E. Islander, I bought some about 6 months ago. N-69 is supposed to be an 8 gauge shotgun powder. Burns similar to 2400. I was given a max. load of 18 gr. with a 240 gr. cast bullet, in 44 Mag. I very wisely reduced the load by 10%. I own a Smith & Wesson model 29 with an 8 3/8" barrel. I was using a Lee cast bullet, 240 gr. LSWC that I cast myself and crimped on a gas check. With Winchester brass, and Winchester large pistol primers(for magnum and standard loads) and 16.2 gr. of N-69 powder, I chronyed them at 1270 fps. At about 859 Ft/Lbs. That's all the velocity you want from a Smith & Wesson. I've since reduced down to 16 gr. Haven't chronyed those yet but I suspect about 1250 fps. That's a nice firm 44 Mag. load and about 100 fps. faster than Winchester factory. I'd suspect that with a 6" barrel you would probably get about 1200 fps. But I would not try 18 gr. in a Smitty. Maybe a Ruger SAA. As for .357, I've reduced that load as well, although I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. An excellent powder though. Hope this info helps you.

 

[P.E. Islander]

I use it in cast bullet loads. It seems to be at about the HS-7 burn rate.

It is all gone - Higginsons has sold the last of it.

Do you use it in pistol caliber cast loads only or have you worked up any reduced rifle loads wit it? Judging by the loads that I was given by Higginson powders I figured it was slower burning than blue dot and faster than 2400, so that would put it in the ball park of HS-7 / Win 571.

I loaded up a few test .357 Mag rounds using the Higginson data as a guide. If the weather is decent perhaps I'll be able to ger to the range tomorrow to try them out.

 

[P.E. Islander]

Yes P.E. Islander, I bought some about 6 months ago. N-69 is supposed to be an 8 gauge shotgun powder.

Thanks for sharing your experiences loading/shooting this powder. I expect I'll use mine mostly in .357 Mag. I was thinking it ought to be suitable for use in .410 shotgun as well.

I did'nt think there would have been any of this stuff still for sale as recently as six months ago as I don't think I've seen it listed at Ammomart/Higginson for years.

Do you remember where it was that you heard that Nobel 69 was supposed to be an 8 gauge powder?

 

[Hi-Standard]

Do you use it in pistol caliber cast loads only or have you worked up any reduced rifle loads wit it? Judging by the loads that I was given by Higginson powders I figured it was slower burning than blue dot and faster than 2400, so that would put it in the ball park of HS-7 / Win 571.

I loaded up a few test .357 Mag rounds using the Higginson data as a guide. If the weather is decent perhaps I'll be able to ger to the range tomorrow to try them out.

I have some hand written load data from Andrew Higginsons brother I think his name is Tom. The loads that were given were 10 gr. with 158 grain bullet for 357, and 16 gr. with 240 gr. for 44 Mag. on the bottom of the page it states that only the 44 mag may be safely increased by 1 or 2 grains. That would give you a maximum of 18 gr. for 44. Nothing about increasing 357. Still for all the current data is for 12 and 18 grains respectivly. With the velocities I got for 44 mag. I would diffinately suggest reducing by at least 10% for .357 mag. I have some loaded at 10 gr. with 158 gr. LSWC. I'm not going above 10 gr. until I try them out first with the chrony.