Powder Of Choice?

[ET]

So, what does influence you for your powder of choice? Surprisingly there are many variables in play that can influence your decision. Such as type of BP for ignition, velocity desired, bullet weight and how well the response is through a temp range to name a few. Now a lot of shooters follow a particular load recommended by other shooters and nothing wrong with that as it should be a safe load to use. But performance wise it may not produce the same results unless your load variables match that of the other shooter. Even then you may have to adjust the load to basically get the same results. To name a few variables, barrel length, rate of barrel twist, how tight fitting is the load, was the bullet annealed and what sabots or wads were employed.

A lot of shooters seek higher velocities so a slower burning powder is employed. It is not the peak pressure but the remaining pressure in the bore during the burn out phase that affects the rate of acceleration determining the velocity output. I find the factor affecting slower powder burns is that it requires a hotter ignition for a better burn start. Here the type of BP that is employed can be a factor. To increase the burn start a duplex load is sometimes used. Now you also need to keep in mind bullet weight and load resistance (tightness of fit), that also affects the powder burn.

I could go on but the above post covers the basic for considering a powder choice. So far I can’t say there is a definitive powder choice but knowing the different factors that affects the burn of a powder helps in deciding what powder/s you choose.
Have fun and burn them up.

[dannoboone]

"So, what does influence you for your powder of choice?"

Perceived recoil
Good accuracy
Decent speed

I have detested muzzle brakes ever since having to shoot
next to a guy using one in his 7mm Rem Mag. The most favorite
of ML shooters seems to be H4198, but I did not like the
sharp kick. After a few years of trying different load combos,
I found that a duplex load using N110 and IMR3031 to be quite
pleasant to shoot with 275gr bullets at a speed of just over
2800fps which gives plenty of range for the areas I hunt. Even
though the barrel is 28", there is not enough pressure
obtained for a complete burn using 250gr bullets...there is
no increase in speed.

[ET]

My choice for powder for 250gr saboted bullets with my recessed BP is either 4227 or Rel-7 that provides accuracy and desired velocities.

[cuda]

I still shoot my 10ML-ll with the original 50cal barrel with a recessed carbide vent liner. I have always used 69gr or 70gr of IMR4198 under a BCR sabot and a 300gr hp .458 Hornady. The gun is zeroed at 200yds my last deer was a heart shot at 180yds. If it works well why change it I have a Stevens 200 45cal too. I use 69gr of IMR4198 a lubed wad and a 290gr .451 Barnes TEZ and it shoots great.

[sideshow]

May 27, 2022 11:31:17 GMT -5 dannoboone said:

"So, what does influence you for your powder of choice?"

Perceived recoil
Good accuracy
Decent speed

I have detested muzzle brakes ever since having to shoot
next to a guy using one in his 7mm Rem Mag. The most favorite
of ML shooters seems to be H4198, but I did not like the
sharp kick. After a few years of trying different load combos,
I found that a duplex load using N110 and IMR3031 to be quite
pleasant to shoot with 275gr bullets at a speed of just over
2800fps which gives plenty of range for the areas I hunt. Even
though the barrel is 28", there is not enough pressure
obtained for a complete burn using 250gr bullets...there is
no increase in speed.

Dannoboone thats a pretty interesting load youve figured out there . Could you please be more specific with it and the particulars of that rifle ??
Im not a big fan of 4198 style recoil either and i am considering sending my 45 barrel back to Brux for recontouring a bit lighter for carrying while hunting deep in the backcountry . A far lighter stock (23oz) is also in order . Id really like to hear if this load of yours with more of a shove than a crack is something i could use or at least adjust a load from . That duplex ratio would be very helpfull to know . This would be a real God-send with a light carry around rifle !!! Thank you for this idea too . Will it shoot good when really cold like zero ?? Im in the far north so that matters .
Reading your post has put a smile all over my face !!!

[dannoboone]

Well, at 13.4# the rifle I use is a brute! Even the rifle I use
only occasionally is only a pound lighter. That in itself,
modifies some of the recoil. The heavier one is a converted
700ml with 7" @ 1.25" tapering down to .800" at the muzzle.
Stock is a Boyd's Pro-Varmint with 11 oz mercury reducer in
the buttstock. The BP is for 209M ignition and has the
bushing installed.

DISCLAIMER: The following loads have proven safe in my rifle(s),
but may not be in yours. Reduce main charge by 10% and work
your way up!

For 275gr jacketed bullets: 10gr N110 and 70gr IMR3031.
For 275gr monolithic bullet 5gr Green Dot and 70gr IMR3031.
For 250gr monolithic bullets 5gr Green Dot and 60gr H322.

Speeds with the 3031 were in excess of 2800fps, but I
haven't checked the speeds with H322. Hillbill has stated
that even though his 3031 loads were very accurate, it is
just too temp sensitive. Well, I try to do load work at
temps close to those experienced during hunting season.

All my bullets are full-formed which MAY contribute to
accuracy with the the mono bullets. It sickens me to know
they were discontinued. They not only are accurate, but
they really put the smack-down on deer.

[sideshow]

May 31, 2022 11:47:54 GMT -5 dannoboone said:

Well, at 13.4# the rifle I use is a brute! Even the rifle I use
only occasionally is only a pound lighter. That in itself,
modifies some of the recoil. The heavier one is a converted
700ml with 7" @ 1.25" tapering down to .800" at the muzzle.
Stock is a Boyd's Pro-Varmint with 11 oz mercury reducer in
the buttstock. The BP is for 209M ignition and has the
bushing installed.

DISCLAIMER: The following loads have proven safe in my rifle(s),
but may not be in yours. Reduce main charge by 10% and work
your way up!

For 275gr jacketed bullets: 10gr N110 and 70gr IMR3031.
For 275gr monolithic bullet 5gr Green Dot and 70gr IMR3031.
For 250gr monolithic bullets 5gr Green Dot and 60gr H322.

Speeds with the 3031 were in excess of 2800fps, but I
haven't checked the speeds with H322. Hillbill has stated
that even though his 3031 loads were very accurate, it is
just too temp sensitive. Well, I try to do load work at
temps close to those experienced during hunting season.

All my bullets are full-formed which MAY contribute to
accuracy with the the mono bullets. It sickens me to know
they were discontinued. They not only are accurate, but
they really put the smack-down on deer.

Thanks for the reply Dannoboone !!!
Well i can see i will need to do a bit of adjusting those loads for my purposes and rifle . Nonetheless its good information for my LW 45 . Its braked and ive a good pad too . I figure 2600 is fine for its purpose of 400yds or so with a reduced load and approx 91/2lb scoped is the goal . It also has Lukes modual plug so i will drop a bit further to start . What is your coldest temps generally for hunting with this powder ?? This temp sensitivity sounds like the only drawback to me that i may possibly encounter . I do have 322 also for trying too . I truly appreciate this !!! This has really got me thinking and thats good .

Dont know if youve looked at Bear Creek Ballistics in SW Michigan but they have a pretty nice mono that works well if youre interested and its fairly soft too . Ive shot them smooth sized with wool wads satisfactory with that 45 being heavy and h4198 . I dont have a full form sizer . Ive even shot them bh209 50 cal saboted with good terminal preformance too to nearly 300yds . Thats a good poke with a 50 700ml smoker and a 285gr mono and it still opened up !!!
They Dont break the bank either just deer lol . Whats cool with those boys is you can get a custom size if needed/wanted too like full form sizeing needs bigger . They are made on cnc lathes right there . Very nice guys that are willing to work with you and pleasant doing so . It will spoil ya !!!
The bc isnt top shelf but if ranges are somewhat shorter these will deliver . Check them out .

[dannoboone]

It's been at least 10 years since going Iowa 2d ML season hunting.
Even at 60 years old, the cold was really getting to me. That last
year, load workup was done when it was 14* and I later got a deer
when the high was 12*.....it wasn't fun. Alaskan natives would
consider that a heat wave, but not for this warm weather junkie.
That was done with a totally different duplex load but I found
that other loads were better. I should note that the loads above
using 3031 did not give a complete burn with anything less than
275gr bullets.....250gr bullets actually gave the same speeds as
the 275grainers indicating not all the powder was completely
burned. Workup was done with temps around 60* which is close to
temps during Iowa 1st ML season.

I would suggest doing your final load work when hunting temps will be
close to doing so. That's not to say it wouldn't be beneficial to
do initial load working at warmer temps, however.

Thanks for the Bear Creek info. The Bushmaster 240gr at .451 looks
like they would work well with my 10MLII having a .451 barrel after
the discontinued Alco 250gr mono bullets are gone.

[sideshow]

Michigans mz season is in December and i usually head north , Far North at that . Those temps are typical for me !!! Brrrrr !!!
Otherwise its the regular firearms season Nov 15 till Thanksgiving . Unless its unseasonably warm thats not much better typically . Maybe 20deg or so but not a typical thing to be warmer than that . Load development and bullet to bore sizing gets interesting quick lol . I will figure it out ....i hope lol . Maybe a powder close in burn speed to 3031 but temp stable ??

Bear Creek has a heavier one too or did . That bullet was the bomb !!! I thought it was a 270 or 275 now ?? Who knows things change quick these days . I look constantly for bullets . Especially .408s .

[sideshow]

If anybody is interested Bear Creek Ballistics has that 240gr mono and theyve gone back to that 285gr that ive used as well . Great preformance i have had from their 285gr offering and i would expect no less from that 240gr .
They also offer it in a loaded cartrige 450 Bushmaster 240gr @ 2590 fps out of a 23 inch barrel . The 45 Raptor/460 S&W loads will far exceed that out of a 26 inch tube but i dont see those offered anymore .
They also are saying theyre coated now with something to reduce copper fouling as they are softer . That deserves investigation all by itself !!!
Off - Topic but they really are a awesome company to do bussiness with and the bullet preforms beautifully . Some of the Southern Michigan bucks will easily exceed 250+lbs is worth noteing and the bullets plain work and work well . Affordable sweetens the deal for a custom mono bullet .