NobleSport Vectan BA6-1/2 powder review

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dirtybarry

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After many thousands of rounds of IMR4227 and H110, the recent sale at Western Metal saw a 500gr (1.1 lb) container of Vectan BA6-1/2 powder make its way into my clutches. Comparing specs, it shows very similar velocity numbers to Hodgdon H110 but with a bit less powder. For starting purposes I loaded up 100 rounds of 8 times fired Starline brass with 21.3 grains of this ball powder with a CCI300 primer and a Campro 240 gr TMJ set to my usual 1,600" OAL.
Just got back from trying them out and I think I have a new favourite powder! This stuff is nice. Very smooth burn with even less impulse than the softer shooting IMR 4227 loads resulting in greatly improved follow up shot accuracy. A few bits of unburned powder but seemed like less of it. Cleaner hands too. Overall it is just super nice stuff to shoot, quieter (relatively), easier on the hands and making cloverleafs at 11m. Next batch will be loaded to near max similar to my usual H110 loads but this looks very very promising. I will definitely be using more of this powder.
 
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G_Alan said:
Thanks for the review , very informative. Have you used 2400 at all? Just curious on how it compares
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No, I've read many accounts from others about it but literally have never seen it available for sale when powder shopping. So somebody(s) must like it because they keep buying all of it.
 
Just got back from testing 22.0 grains of this (22.1 is the published max) and it just got better. Still super smooth without any nasty impulse and noticeably quieter and cleaner than the milder 4227 loads. My new favourite stuff.
 
Based on the point-of-impact change over your other powders, can you guess at velocity? Or change in velocity (IE faster or slower)?
 
Splatter said:
Based on the point-of-impact change over your other powders, can you guess at velocity? Or change in velocity (IE faster or slower)?
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I would call the first shot as being exactly the same as with H110. The difference is in the following shots. With H110, I have to wait and reacquire the target or the next shot placement becomes somewhat random, with the Vectan the following shots are so much easier to keep on target. I don't have a chronograph but based on the published info the velocities should be essentially equal. My perception is that the Vectan is faster but that might be because I can hear the sonic boom better due to less explosive noise. (also way less fireball) I don't know why I didn't take any H110 loads the last time but the next range trip will compare Vectan to H110 head to head after I load up more Vectan to the same proportions as the H110 stuff in the cupboard.
 
Compared a 99.2% of max (23.8/24.0) load of H110 to a 99.6% of max load (22.0/22.1) of Vectan today and sorry H110, it's been fun and we had some good times but get lost. Accuracy would appear to be identical, some great groups with both today but the Vectan is just so much nicer to shoot. Clean up was so easy compared to IMR4227, most everything wiped off with a dry rag,
 
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