Ball powder for AR15 accuracy?
- Thread starter Grizzlypeg
- Start date
I'm shooting WC735 with measured charges, 68gr Hornady BTHP. Accuracy potential is sufficient to shoot service rifle possibles, best score to date is 50-8 at 300m. Have shot possibles at 200 and 500 as well. So, the accuracy is there. Statistically meaningless, but shot a 2 1/2" 3 shot group at 500m when zeroing. 1:8 barrel.
#1bcshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- North Of The DMZ (US border)
I use BLC2
I got a shipment of WC 735 from higginsons, I find it almost identical to W748, both meter like a dream. I have measured metered loads on an acculab scale, there is almost no variation from a good powder thrower.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Ball powder can be very accurate. I have used ALOT of H335. If you are going to use a progressive or powder measure, ball is THE way to go. Very small load variance as it meters so well.
Problem is that ball powder tends to be old tech formulations. Dirtier and much more temp sensitive then modern extruded like Hodgdon Extreme and some Re's. Also, they tend to be fast as they were designed to work with old gen lighter bullets- at least the stuff we would consider useable in 223's.
If you have a rifle that has a narrow sweet spot, you will need to adjust the powder amount as temps change to keep the barrel in tune. That can be very difficult when loading up for a match some time in the future.
Now if the rifle will at best shoot 1.5 to 2 MOA, I doubt you will see the variations I talk about.
Most ball powders are surplus meaning that it came from historic stores or more likely, from old ammo that has been taken apart as part of the US disposal program.
Ammo is past is 'due date' and is destroyed through these programs. The stuff we are seeing now most likely came from Vietnam war era pulldown. Everything newer has been put into service.
Powders like WCC735 presently offered through Higginson has a burn rate in the H322 range. That is going to be pretty fast for the 22 heavies. Useable, yes. Ideal or for competition, I would look elsewhere.
But if I was loading up to go attack a gopher field with 40 to 55gr Vmax, start the presses.
Jerry
Jerry
Problem is that ball powder tends to be old tech formulations. Dirtier and much more temp sensitive then modern extruded like Hodgdon Extreme and some Re's. Also, they tend to be fast as they were designed to work with old gen lighter bullets- at least the stuff we would consider useable in 223's.
If you have a rifle that has a narrow sweet spot, you will need to adjust the powder amount as temps change to keep the barrel in tune. That can be very difficult when loading up for a match some time in the future.
Now if the rifle will at best shoot 1.5 to 2 MOA, I doubt you will see the variations I talk about.
Most ball powders are surplus meaning that it came from historic stores or more likely, from old ammo that has been taken apart as part of the US disposal program.
Ammo is past is 'due date' and is destroyed through these programs. The stuff we are seeing now most likely came from Vietnam war era pulldown. Everything newer has been put into service.
Powders like WCC735 presently offered through Higginson has a burn rate in the H322 range. That is going to be pretty fast for the 22 heavies. Useable, yes. Ideal or for competition, I would look elsewhere.
But if I was loading up to go attack a gopher field with 40 to 55gr Vmax, start the presses.
Jerry
Jerry
