Powder Opinions

[lawnranger]

I am shooting a CVA Kodiak .45 and have recently switched from using Powerbelts, after several bad experiences to trying Hornady 200gr. SST and Barnes 195gr. I am using BH209 now after reading so much about it and and not getting anything close to the groups I had with the Powerbelts. I was using T7 before but finished the last bit during this past season. The question I have is whether powder selection for a particular gun just as critical as bullet selection?

[lanenebraska]

You should try 100-120g of BH209, and compress the load Very firmly. Do NOT swab between shots, and see how that works.

I use a 45cal Disc Elite and get MOA with that load. You could also try the Harvester Smooth Blue 45/40 sabots.

[mike.dawson]

As with shooting smokeless in my Savage it is critical you have a proper bullet/sabot fit to allow good ignition and groups. When working up loads for the savage, same applies here, change one thing at a time
1) find the bullet you want to shoot, try sabots from MMP and harvester to see which is the tightest, you may have to do a light knurl to make a proper fit. It should load hard but not so hard that you need a hammer, but in cold weather I have used a hammer to get the Barnes Original and the Harvester BCR down to the powder. Try to seat it with the same amount of pressure every time, some people use a scale, I don't but you will know when it is good, 50-75lbs
2) Start with a small amount of powder 75-80 gr by volume, then work up to you hunting load, 110-130 gr. Now I weigh my BH209 after I get a good measure by volume so I can duplicate this and store the powder in small proper vials either for range work or hunting
3) Finally you have to let the barrel cool between shots, on warm days 15-20 min, less time if it is colder, less than 32. Sabots are plastic that if you put them into a warm barrel to your touch it is hot at the breech plug, the sabot will get soft and you get poor groups or fliers

Mike