Newby Question - Surplus Powder

rkaine

rkaine

CGN Regular
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Location
Hamilton, Ontario
Hi - Another question - I have a military surplus powder (WC735 from Higginsons) which they tell me is similiar to WC 845, with greater energy. They indicate that WC 845 is 1/2 grain faster than H-335.

I want to load 303 british with this, what exactly is meant by 1/2 grain faster - H335 has two loads for 303 british, but I am a little nervous. Higginsons had loads for .223, but I don't shoot that.

Any advice?
 
1/2 grain faster means you need 1/2 grain less to achieve the same velocity or pressure.
As with any unknown powder or reloading component, start 10% below max. and work up slowly.
 
So, if I found a 303 load for H335 using the the bullets I have, and reduced the max load by 1/2 grain, then reduced that by 10% to start development, I should be ok?

Thanks

Ron
 
rkaine said:
Hi - Another question - I have a military surplus powder (WC735 from Higginsons) which they tell me is similiar to WC 845, with greater energy. They indicate that WC 845 is 1/2 grain faster than H-335.

I want to load 303 british with this, what exactly is meant by 1/2 grain faster - H335 has two loads for 303 british, but I am a little nervous. Higginsons had loads for .223, but I don't shoot that.

Any advice?
Click to expand...

And this is kinda like that so you start here and burn a pile of powder to maybe get there,and so on and so on.....Surplus,my buddy gets into that we have it dont have it surplus garb every time one comes along and I keep plunkin away with factory standards 4350 4198 etc and when the cost and aggravatrion are added up we're equal or I'm ahead
 
blindside said:
And this is kinda like that so you start here and burn a pile of powder to maybe get there,and so on and so on.....Surplus,my buddy gets into that we have it dont have it surplus garb every time one comes along and I keep plunkin away with factory standards 4350 4198 etc and when the cost and aggravatrion are added up we're equal or I'm ahead
Click to expand...
Well, each person who reloads has to make their own decision as to the viability of using surplus powders, but for me, I have been way ahead in terms of cost effective reloading by the use of surplus powders. The key to economy is to develop loads with the powder of choice and then lay in a good supply of the same lot number of that surplus powder. I have benefitted by paying attention to some specific offerings, and came out smiling every time. Several years ago Higginsons [then Ammomart] marketed some Bofors RP-3. A bit of research revealed this to be none other than Norma 203, one of the best medium burning powders available at that time. I laid in about 40 lbs [$6.00/lb] and used it up over a decade or so. At the time, Norma 203 was retailing for $17.95/lb. More recently Higginson advertised a quantity of RP-5, you guessed it-Norma MRP/205, a powder every bit as versatile as RL22. My cost on a large quantity was around $14.95/lb when Norma MRP/RL22 were selling for more than $30.00/lb. I have had similar experiences with AMS 47 SB [lot 10][W760 Equivalent] and WC852 [H450 Equivalent] and 47N [Slightly faster than IMR 4350 and much finer grained] I also use many standard numbers, but I shoot a lot more because of the deals in surplus powders, and that is what I like to do....Shoot a LOT!!:) :) Regards, Eagleye.
 
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