Lt-32 Powder
Dec 17, 2014 16:31:44 GMT -5
Post by Richard on Dec 17, 2014 16:31:44 GMT -5
Someone a few weeks back brought up whether or not Accurate Lt-32 could be used for SML? I had a chance to get my hands on a pound and thought I would give it some testing. It is in the same general burn rate as H-or IMR-4198. It is also an extruded (stick) powder which generally lends itself to our use. It meters very well thru my Harrell's measure.
.45 Rem/Pac-Nor with 25 1/2" barrel.
This past week after bore scoping my barrel (which originally started out 28") (then removed an inch when I removed the brake)
I found some marking in the lands and groves within the first inch of the muzzle. (still shot good that way) Probably from stuffing all those 3250 bullets in it
So, I decided to cut some off and re crown.........Thus the 25 1/2".
Today was clear and 36* with no wind. I knew with the barrel J-B cleaned that ignition on the first shot with the looser breech end fit, that ignition might be a problem. (particularly with light bullets)
On my first shot I used a 230 Hornady HAP loose fitting bullet with a veggie wad and a 8/62 Clays/H-4198 duplex and the shot came off at 1840 fps and hit 5" to the right of POA. I also used a veggie wad on shot #2 but you can see the velocity came up to 2806 fps. Shots 3 & 4 (marked 2 & 3 as the first shot actually did not count) were fired with no wad and the velocity pretty much stayed up there.
So, now to the Lt-32!
Figuring the barrel was sufficiently fouled, I went ahead with my first test series which was the 225 FTX and a 5/60 Clays/Lt.-32 duplex with no wad. First shot...........2269 fps and bullet 3" high and right. Second shot.....................................
Nothing! Primer (win. 209) fired but did not ignite the powder. Re seat the now, mixed up duplex, put a CCI Mag primer on and pull the trigger.............................."Click" ---"Bang" amd a whopping 734 fps and no sign of the bullet on the target!! I could hear the "click" and a split second later, the BANG!
Needless to say, I scrapped that combination.
So, I upped the clays to 10 gr. (shot on the same bull) and got a three shot average of 2542 fps with a 59 fps ES and a 1.5" group. Not too good!
Next up was 13 gr. of Clays. Here the velocity went up to 2669 with a 30 fps ES and a .779" group. Not bad but then the velocity is not what it would have been with H-4198.
Two weeks ago with the same bullet and no wad, 5/60 Clays/4198 gave 2585...........10/60 gave 2851 and 13/60 gave 2891 fps.
Granted there is some looseness in my bore near the powder charge but none the less, I am comparing apples to apples and the Lt-32 just does not have the energy/velocity as equal amounts of 4198. It might be great in applications where you might have been using 322, 2015, N-130 or even 3031. So I am not saying it is a bad powder but for me and this barrel, 4198 is a preferred powder. It could make a good saboted load powder along with 4759.........It has a lot of possibilities as do many other powders. So, if nothing else, we have added an additional powder to our game.
Richard
.45 Rem/Pac-Nor with 25 1/2" barrel.
This past week after bore scoping my barrel (which originally started out 28") (then removed an inch when I removed the brake)
I found some marking in the lands and groves within the first inch of the muzzle. (still shot good that way) Probably from stuffing all those 3250 bullets in it
So, I decided to cut some off and re crown.........Thus the 25 1/2".Today was clear and 36* with no wind. I knew with the barrel J-B cleaned that ignition on the first shot with the looser breech end fit, that ignition might be a problem. (particularly with light bullets)
On my first shot I used a 230 Hornady HAP loose fitting bullet with a veggie wad and a 8/62 Clays/H-4198 duplex and the shot came off at 1840 fps and hit 5" to the right of POA. I also used a veggie wad on shot #2 but you can see the velocity came up to 2806 fps. Shots 3 & 4 (marked 2 & 3 as the first shot actually did not count) were fired with no wad and the velocity pretty much stayed up there.
So, now to the Lt-32!
Figuring the barrel was sufficiently fouled, I went ahead with my first test series which was the 225 FTX and a 5/60 Clays/Lt.-32 duplex with no wad. First shot...........2269 fps and bullet 3" high and right. Second shot.....................................
Nothing! Primer (win. 209) fired but did not ignite the powder. Re seat the now, mixed up duplex, put a CCI Mag primer on and pull the trigger.............................."Click" ---"Bang" amd a whopping 734 fps and no sign of the bullet on the target!! I could hear the "click" and a split second later, the BANG!Needless to say, I scrapped that combination.
So, I upped the clays to 10 gr. (shot on the same bull) and got a three shot average of 2542 fps with a 59 fps ES and a 1.5" group. Not too good!
Next up was 13 gr. of Clays. Here the velocity went up to 2669 with a 30 fps ES and a .779" group. Not bad but then the velocity is not what it would have been with H-4198.
Two weeks ago with the same bullet and no wad, 5/60 Clays/4198 gave 2585...........10/60 gave 2851 and 13/60 gave 2891 fps.
Granted there is some looseness in my bore near the powder charge but none the less, I am comparing apples to apples and the Lt-32 just does not have the energy/velocity as equal amounts of 4198. It might be great in applications where you might have been using 322, 2015, N-130 or even 3031. So I am not saying it is a bad powder but for me and this barrel, 4198 is a preferred powder. It could make a good saboted load powder along with 4759.........It has a lot of possibilities as do many other powders. So, if nothing else, we have added an additional powder to our game.
Richard
