I have a couple lbs. of RL-7 somewhere in my stash. LOL. May just dig it out and give it a shot too.
30BR...life after H4198
- Thread starter AlNyhus
- Start date
It loads pretty much like h4198. You might need small adjustments and if it has a downside vs h4198, I think it's lot to lot consistency. Definitely a powder worth looking at, imho.
Ccrider
Gold $$ Contributor
I have worked up loads that agg. the same using Lt30, N130 and then later, when I was able to find it, H4198. When I say agg the same, I mean consistent 5 shot groups in the zeros to mid 1s. at worst.
The real question for me is how the different powders hold up over the course of the day or match. Jackie mentioned consistent results through an entire match with N130.
Has anyone had similar match experiences using either N130 or Lt 30?
The real question for me is how the different powders hold up over the course of the day or match. Jackie mentioned consistent results through an entire match with N130.
Has anyone had similar match experiences using either N130 or Lt 30?
Can't say that I've tested enough with a 30 to say very conclusively, and the 30's just seem very forging in this regard, with most, or a lot of loads. I will only say that LT32 seems much more consistent in 6mm's than n133. Might be totally irrelevant because it's not apples to apples. Both can shoot tiny but no doubt in my mind that LT32 holds solid tune better than n133
Bat Rastard
Gold $$ Contributor
I will buy the 4198 if you want to offload it. I have heard it is good stuff, but never got to try it.
AlNyhus
Silver $$ Contributor
After this weekends combination Score and Group tournament, next week will be for testing some of the faster powders. In particular, the latest IMR4227 is interesting. Compared to the Hodgden H4227 I worked with in years previous, the new IMR is 1.25 gr. lighter than the Hodgden at the same measure setting.
I recall testing 4227 several years back. One thing that you are probably aware of was that the Canadian IMR version was significantly faster and spikier than the Aussie H powder version. Both shot well but the Canadian stuff was very tempermental, to the point that I never suggest 4227 in general. You're not new at this but still, just be cautious with it. I've never seen any powder that can go from mild to wild as quickly as it can, in any rifle. Particularly so with the Canadian stuff. I don't think that particular powder is being imported over here any more but I could be wrong and you might still have some from back then on the shelf. Just read the label before assuming anything. If it says made in Canada, use it for something else, like fertilizer or something. Lol! One more thing...IIRC, they imported both for a short period, both under the Hodgdon name. So just read the label, friend.
AlNyhus
Silver $$ Contributor
Mike, this is the newer stuff made by General Dynamics, Canada. It's packaged in the U.S. by Hodgden. The lot number date on mine is 1/23/23.
I've got a fair amount of old IMR4227 and the various H4227's from Hodgden. But there's no reason to work with any of that stuff. My intention here is to try newer versions of powders that are readily available so shooters new to the 30BR might see that there are options to consider.
Some of these won't make the grade, I'm sure. I'll dedicate the time and resources needed to at least answer that question to my own satisfaction, at least. Whether anyone else wants to try them...who knows. I doubt it. The number of people willing to go outside the box in SR BR seem to be as rare as a marsupial wolf.
I'm interested in seeing if the newer IMR4227 exhibits the same traits as earlier stuff. But here's something people forget...it shot very well and very stable until shooters (myself included) couldn't resist the urge to tip the can some more. The late Wilbur Harris had a 30BR rail gun shooting H4227 and flat tore things up in the S.E. until he gave in to temptation and really opened the throttle.
But how is that any different than people going over the edge with a 6PPC????????
Good shootin'
-Al
Been working with a new load with VV-N130 recently and I believe I have found one with Bart's 112 gr. X-OUT that really does shoot as accurate or maybe better @100 yds. as any previous load of H-4198 that I have tried with that bullet. Plan to load up a couple of 5-shot groups and see if it will duplicate.
112 GR. BARTS F B/M 1.585 O M 2.275 COL T/L B S .202 B C .281
POWDER VV-N130 34.5 GR. PRIMER CCI BR-4 .323 BU.
SEATED @ 1.591 O M 2.281 COL .006 JAM 10/04/23
112 GR. BARTS F B/M 1.585 O M 2.275 COL T/L B S .202 B C .281
POWDER VV-N130 34.5 GR. PRIMER CCI BR-4 .323 BU.
SEATED @ 1.591 O M 2.281 COL .006 JAM 10/04/23
Lol! As I recall, it really lured you into tipping the bottle. The more you add, the better it shot..until it went over the top, out of nowhere. As you know, there's not much for data out there, so we're pretty much on our own. The new stuff may be the same or totally a different animal.Mike, this is the newer stuff made by General Dynamics, Canada. It's packaged in the U.S. by Hodgden. The lot number date on mine is 1/23/23.
I've got a fair amount of old IMR4227 and the various H4227's from Hodgden. But there's no reason to work with any of that stuff. My intention here is to try newer versions of powders that are readily available so shooters new to the 30BR might see that there are options to consider.
Some of these won't make the grade, I'm sure. I'll dedicate the time and resources needed to at least answer that question to my own satisfaction, at least. Whether anyone else wants to try them...who knows. I doubt it. The number of people willing to go outside the box in SR BR seem to be as rare as a marsupial wolf.
I'm interested in seeing if the newer IMR4227 exhibits the same traits as earlier stuff. But here's something people forget...it shot very well and very stable until shooters (myself included) couldn't resist the urge to tip the can some more. The late Wilbur Harris had a 30BR rail gun shooting H4227 and flat tore things up in the S.E. until he gave in to temptation and really opened the throttle.
But how is that any different than people going over the edge with a 6PPC????????
Good shootin'
X-Caveman
Gold $$ Contributor
Here's a little data I collected yesterday from my 30BR fun gun...
16.1" Lilja 3G 17TW
Reamer print attached
Suppressed
7-1/2 primer
125SST seated about .005" longer than touch
34.2gr charge weight - that's as much as I can get in the case and have confidence that the bullet will stay put in a hunting environment.
Cliff notes are that the H4198 is +100FPS over N130. I'm going to stick with 4198 in this application. FWIW, the two loads print within 2" of each other out to 300 yards.
N130
H4198
16.1" Lilja 3G 17TW
Reamer print attached
Suppressed
7-1/2 primer
125SST seated about .005" longer than touch
34.2gr charge weight - that's as much as I can get in the case and have confidence that the bullet will stay put in a hunting environment.
Cliff notes are that the H4198 is +100FPS over N130. I'm going to stick with 4198 in this application. FWIW, the two loads print within 2" of each other out to 300 yards.
N130
H4198
Still a little slower than I would expect, even in a 16" bbl. But it's not a race. How's it shoot?
X-Caveman
Gold $$ Contributor
Better than it needs to, but I really don’t know for sure. I’ve always had either a thermal on it or a 1-6 Razor. I just put a VX5 3-15 on it, so maybe I’ll try shooting some groups. I wanted the MV for the custom turret.
I also took velocity on a 18” .308 suppressed R700. 115gr Lehigh defense Controlled Chaos, Lapua, BR-2, 47gr H335. It was going 3,000 FPS. That’s “only” 135 FPS faster. A lighter bullet, 2” more barrel & 13 more grains of powder. I think the 30BR punches way above its weight class, so to speak.
It was about 60deg out.
It sure does!
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
It won’t.
I can’t pin down as to why, but the fact it is so course you can’t get enough in the case to reach that magic load window that my bullet likes might have something to do with it.
Like a lot of alternatives, it doesn’t shoot that bad, it just doesn’t shoot as good as the H.
Bob in WI
Silver $$ Contributor
While neighbors on the burn chart IMR seemed bulkier than H. I think 32gr was as much as I could get in the case without serious compacting. Velocity was a lot slower too. < 2900fps if i recall.
I think I might've already posted it but my luck with lt30 has been pretty hit or miss...A couple of bbls shot it lights out but most have not liked it. It's one worth trying though, as it "should" work. Just gotta test that one and see what it does in your bbl. I've actually had better consistency from a very full case of LT32...but ymmv.
I think we all get stuck in ruts. I am big on, "If It's not broke don't try and fix it." But, I think we are all learning with the current situation that there is more ways than one to skin a cat......ie/ cleaning threads, lol. Guys are finding powders that work just as well as what was always considered,,,,the go to.
I think so too. Necessity is often the mother of invention. H4198 has been very good and for so long, tons of people had never tried anything else. That's for sure not me. I enjoy testing different combinations, loads, powders, even cartridges. Sometimes it takes a long while to discern if one is better than the other, when you find something else that works and sometimes...it's even better.
I found a load using a blend of AA2230 and AA2460 in my 6 Grendel with 80's that might be the best load of all in it. I found it because 8208, Benchmark, h4895...several that I knew were very good but they all got so hard to find. I had some of I think all of those but I didn't want to run out without a good plan B, C and D! Testing stuff is how we know things. And remember, it was a blend, not just trying one or the other or even both...but thorough testing is how and why I found it.
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