30BR with H322

[RGRobinett]

Anybody but especially R. Robbinette I'm sure its not exact but isn't Lt 32 supposed to be the same animal as old H32, the predasessor of H 322?

This may rack my memory, but there is probably help/correction for any errors, "out there" . . .
Rather than H-32, as I recall, the number was, "in the beginning" (early-mid 1980's), T-322 , a surplus version of 322, sold by Thunderbird, in Phoenix, AZ.

Since Hodgdon owned the rights to H-322, Thunderbird, to avoid infringement, condensed the number to T-32: there were, I believe, at least two LOTS of that particular powder, which, in IBS/NBRSA group and score (Hunter Class) earned/won great acclaim. I still have a partial jug of the T-32 . . . at the same time, some Surplus H-322 was being sold through various sources, such a Lock-Stock & Barrel, which was located in the far South West region of 'The FORBIDDEN ZONE', aka South Dakota. As I recall, all of those powders were available for $45.00/8Lb. jug, freight paid - the T-32 may have been slightly higher . . . In my experience, all [of the LOTs] were very similar & useful.

Fast forward to a few years ago: I do believe that Accurate Powders developed the Lt-32 to mimic the characteristics of the original T-32 powder(s) - as usual, with smokeless powder, it's close, but not exact. As this is written, though I scored a stash of the Lt-32 from each of the first two LOTs, I only just broke it open last spring, to compare to my OLD T-32, via a new .220x30* Russian barrel: once I learned the proper maximum case length, the Lt-32 worked quite well.

The last two 100 Yd. group aggs, at the IA State LV/HV being .24xx & .25xx - due to outside issues, I was unable to shoot the 200 Yd. stages. I also shot the HV rig in several NBRSA VfS events - the last two, it shot 22 and 19X at 100 Yd. - not bad for a punny .224 . . . . again, the Lt-32 seems to, "work" - yours truly being the weak link.RG

 

[jimmymac]

So I gave it a short go yesterday at the range. It was one of those weird days with light swirling conditions that really made you work for a good group. Every flag was different at times. Seldom had the opportunity to shoot a steady condition but made the most of it. The goal was to bump up the powder using my new drop tube and funnel setup.

These are 5 shot groups. Bottom row is 37.2 grains of H322. The middle row is 37.5 grains and the top row is 37.9 grains. I was lazy and in a hurry to get out there, so all charges were thrown from my powder measure without weighing after the fact, so I'm sure I have a little variation. About the best I can hold with H322 is .2 grains of accuracy on thrown charges. I had no pressure signs for any of these loads. Extraction was easy. Primers looked good. Case heads were fine. So far I'm pretty happy with this powder. I will continue to test.

 

[josh shrum]

Did your face hurt from smiling?

 

[jimmymac]

Did your face hurt from smiling?

Every time Josh. Dave made this gun so good I might be able to mix garden dirt with powder and still have it shoot.

 

[Tim Singleton]

So I gave it a short go yesterday at the range. It was one of those weird days with light swirling conditions that really made you work for a good group. Every flag was different at times. Seldom had the opportunity to shoot a steady condition but made the most of it. The goal was to bump up the powder using my new drop tube and funnel setup.

These are 5 shot groups. Bottom row is 37.2 grains of H322. The middle row is 37.5 grains and the top row is 37.9 grains. I was lazy and in a hurry to get out there, so all charges were thrown from my powder measure without weighing after the fact, so I'm sure I have a little variation. About the best I can hold with H322 is .2 grains of accuracy on thrown charges. I had no pressure signs for any of these loads. Extraction was easy. Primers looked good. Case heads were fine. So far I'm pretty happy with this powder. I will continue to test.

View attachment 1147950

You can’t shoot that powder
What’s the matter with ya!

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

I'm a newer 30BR shooter. I must say that so far this thing has been stupid easy to load for. It took me no time at all to develop a competitive load using H4198. Once that was taken care of, I figured it was time to play a little bit, so I did some digging on other powders. I remembered reading some stuff on another site where @RGRobinett talked about running H322 as a backup plan to H4198.

So, last Saturday I loaded up some H322 in my cases using the same seating depth I was already running with my H4198 loads and headed off for a brief test. These are the first 6 groups I shot. To say the least, I was stunned by the results. It was competitive right from the get go. It wanted to shoot small, but more importantly the load shot through the condition better than my trusty H4198 load. Basically, less hold off was required to achieve acceptable results.

View attachment 1129309


Obviously, this isn't much testing, but also obvious is the fact that this load was working great on that particular day. It out shot my go to load. I'm enjoying playing with this caliber. I love shooting a PPC, but in the short time I've been shooting the 30BR it seems way less fussy keeping a tune.

I just need to chime in. I shoot the 30AR cartridge and it is really awesome. I chose it because it's easy/smeazy . no neck turn , zero freebore , reamer .003" over virgin brass. 17 twist Krieger. Lt32 works really well.

 

[LCazador]

So I gave it a short go yesterday at the range. It was one of those weird days with light swirling conditions that really made you work for a good group. Every flag was different at times. Seldom had the opportunity to shoot a steady condition but made the most of it. The goal was to bump up the powder using my new drop tube and funnel setup.

These are 5 shot groups. Bottom row is 37.2 grains of H322. The middle row is 37.5 grains and the top row is 37.9 grains. I was lazy and in a hurry to get out there, so all charges were thrown from my powder measure without weighing after the fact, so I'm sure I have a little variation. About the best I can hold with H322 is .2 grains of accuracy on thrown charges. I had no pressure signs for any of these loads. Extraction was easy. Primers looked good. Case heads were fine. So far I'm pretty happy with this powder. I will continue to test.

View attachment 1147950

Not that it matters. Are you shooting flat base or boat tails?

 

[josh shrum]

Every time Josh. Dave made this gun so good I might be able to mix garden dirt with powder and still have it shoot.

I know that feeling.

 

[cdngary]

H4198 is about 1000% more proven than anything else in a 30br. Even that doesn't mean it's the best in a given rifle. Yes, it's extremely good but I still like to...and like to see others, test different things in their guns.
Several years ago, a guy we shot with brought his previous loaded h322 30br ammo to a cool match...preheated, in a cooler. He swore by it and shot well.
I tend to believe, if there's an edge to be found, it'll be on the faster side of 4198 but....isn't it cool how these small 30s are so forgiving? They scream..that they want to shoot, with several powders.

since Accurate 1680 is on the faster side of 4198 has anyone tried it in their 30br

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

since Accurate 1680 is on the faster side of 4198 has anyone tried it in their 30br

n120 is another excellent one to try. Wonderful powder.

 

[billslatteryjr]

What kind of neck tension are you people using with compressed H-4198 loads and how much are you compressing? I recently picked up a rifle here with a pair of 30BR barrels, both .330 necks, and kind of remember some preloaders years back using up to .004 and .005 neck tension to keep the bullets from moving on them. I'd like to load up 3 or 4 boxes now using a .3055 mandrel on the .0098-.0099 thick necks pouring the powder through a 6” 21st Cent funnel into prepped SB sized brass and shoot them come spring. Not sure if .0025-.003 will be enough tension to hold the 115g Bergers in place with 34.5-34.8g while I concentrate on a couple other shooting projects.

 

[jimmymac]

Hi Bill. In my chamber, 34.5 to 34.8 grain charges of H4198 fit the cases nicely without being compressed charges. The case fill is good with the base of the 115 grain bullet just kissing the top of the powder column or slightly off the top of the column. I'm using a Forster blue ribbon drop tube funnel and it seems to do the trick packing the powder in the case to avoid compressed charges. When I went with the H322, the Forster funnel wouldn't allow me the opportunity to avoid compressed charges with the amount of powder I want to run, so I got myself a longer drop tube funnel from Steve at Benchrite. It works like a charm.

Nothing wrong with running compressed charges, but I try to avoid it if I can by working around the issue with different drop tube setups. I know this doesn't answer your neck tension question, but this is a different solution for your problem.

Hope this helps you and good shooting.

 

[billslatteryjr]

Thank you Jimmy.
Guess I should have tried loading them before asking.

 

[Rockchuck]

James that's some good shooting. Getting my first 30br put together soon. What barrel length do you guys run 13 1/2 lbs gun.

 

[JimPag]

James that's some good shooting. Getting my first 30br put together soon. What barrel length do you guys run 13 1/2 lbs gun.

Most people run between 22 & 24" in a heavy VFS rifle.

 

[LCazador]

n120 is another excellent one to try. Wonderful powder.

1680 is a fine ball powder it does not give a good fill for the 30BR. Too erratic, not temp sensitive, lights better with magnum primers but not consistent.

 

[LCazador]

What kind of neck tension are you people using with compressed H-4198 loads and how much are you compressing? I recently picked up a rifle here with a pair of 30BR barrels, both .330 necks, and kind of remember some preloaders years back using up to .004 and .005 neck tension to keep the bullets from moving on them. I'd like to load up 3 or 4 boxes now using a .3055 mandrel on the .0098-.0099 thick necks pouring the powder through a 6” 21st Cent funnel into prepped SB sized brass and shoot them come spring. Not sure if .0025-.003 will be enough tension to hold the 115g Bergers in place with 34.5-34.8g while I concentrate on a couple other shooting projects.

I run .003-.004" neck tension and that has worked very well for me. I size as far as the bushing will go but I tried sizing just half way down the neck and that did not give me consistent results. Good gas seal and consistent ES. I run two guns a 40X and a Panda. The 40X is a bolt in and the Panda a glue in, same reamer. The 40X out shot the Panda till I found a bullet for the Panda. My personal experiment about round action vs. square bottom action and glue in vs bolt in. I shoot 24 and 22 inch barrels respectively, another experiment!

 

[sqrlgtr]

I know this is a thread about h322 powder, but I have a pretty good load worked up for my 30br using Vihtavuori n130 and bib 118’s. I belive its listed as being slower then h322 on most of the burn charts.Go figure...

 

[OmegaRed]

003-.004" neck tension as well.

 

[JimPag]

I know this is a thread about h322 powder, but I have a pretty good load worked up for my 30br using Vihtavuori n130 and bib 118’s. I belive its listed as being slower then h322 on most of the burn charts.Go figure...

N130 is the 2nd most popular go to powder for a 30BR that there is.