Powder in old shells?

GRiNGo

GRiNGo

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I bought my dad a weatherby 30-06 for Christmas and he shot some old Imperial 150gr shells to well less than MOA 5 shots. Anyway I am going to go through the normal process of reloading for it but was just curious and pulled one apart to check the powder. It is tiny granules like RL-10x and had 50.4grs. I know that some people have discovered the types of powders used by manufacturers and usually they are not available to the public but I had to ask just in case.:)
 
Not likely to find the powder used, especially an old Imperial round. Most ammo makers use their own blend to meet their needs.
 
Seem to me Imperial was CIL?? Connection to DuPont Canada? Not sure. If so, I believe DuPont is now IMR, and owned by Hodgdon.

Perhaps IMR4064 or IMR4895?

In any case, many powders are likely to work just as well.
 
Ron AKA said:
Seem to me Imperial was CIL?? Connection to DuPont Canada? Not sure. If so, I believe DuPont is now IMR, and owned by Hodgdon.

Perhaps IMR4064 or IMR4895?

In any case, many powders are likely to work just as well.
Click to expand...

DuPont was tied with Remington/IMR for a bit IIRC.
 
Ammunition manufacturers do not use consumer canister powders. So, while the powder may look much like a canister powder on your shelf, and may weigh close to some manual's load, it is not a consumer canister powder. Ammunition manufacturers purchase huge quantities of powders, and pressure test trial loads until they get the pressure curve they need. They may well blend two or more powders to achieve a specific pressure curve.

The old Hodgdon powder - 4831, I think it was, but if it matters, look it up - was the other way around. Hodgdon bought up a bunch of surplus powder, packaged it in one, three, and eight pound packages, threw a numeric designator on it, and started a phenomenally successful business.
 
I have no idea what was in the old imperial shells other than it was the sweetest smelling stuff I have ever ran into.
They don't smell like that today after firing them that is for sure:)
 
You can't tell anything about a powder but the colour and shape of the granules by looking at it.
Work up the load the way you always do. IMR or H 4895(close but not the same), IMR4064 or Varget. IMR4064 gives more consistent accuracy than IMR4895.
Imperial was just a brand name. Used by CIL, then IVI then discontinued.
 
I live very close to the old CIL factory in Brownsburg Quebec. My Dad actually worked there. They made their own powder at the factory and blended according to their need. They also sold cannister powder, but probably was a starting point for their needs. If those old rounds were mine, I would save them, work up some new reloads and enjoy your rifle. There is no room for guessing in reloading.
 
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