H4831SC

[timeout]

Need to replenish my H4831. For those of you that have used H4831 SC, are there any reasons not to switch from H4831 to the SC? It looks on paper to be a win-win exchange. I meter my charges from a powder measure and then trickle to the exact charge weight on a scale. Shorter kernel length would be advantageous for that process.

 

[TrapperT]

You can get better load density with H4831SC which may help and I have found that it does meter better through the powder measure. So to answer your original question, I see no reason not to switch unless you can't find any H4831SC.

Tony

 

[timeout]

You can get better load density with H4831SC which may help and I have found that it does meter better through the powder measure. So to answer your original question, I see no reason not to switch unless you can't find any H4831SC.

Tony

Thanks for the first hand info.

 

[alf]

Neither one measures worth a schmidt, so dropping and trickling is standard procedure with either, and burn rates are identical, different lots not withstanding.

At this time, it's more depending on what you can find.

 

[timeout]

Thanks Alf. Got enough snow up there? I'm real sick of it down here by me. We have been in the daily Clipper bullseye for a week!

 

[flatlander]

I've tested two different lots of 4831SC vs regular 4831 in several different rifles/chamberings, and have always found that with equal charge weights, SC gives less velocity. Looks to me like it's at least 2% slower than regular 4831.

 

[timeout]

I've tested two different lots of 4831SC vs regular 4831 in several different rifles/chamberings, and have always found that with equal charge weights, SC gives less velocity. Looks to me like it's at least 2% slower than regular 4831.

That is interesting info. Any theory as to what causes this?

 

[Tommie]

Don't get you hopes up too high about easy metering with 4831SC. Grains are like beer kegs.

 

[Tommie]

I've tested two different lots of 4831SC vs regular 4831 in several different rifles/chamberings, and have always found that with equal charge weights, SC gives less velocity. Looks to me like it's at least 2% slower than regular 4831.

That is interesting info. Any theory as to what causes this?

Possibly more air space since the SC would theoretically be denser? In other words, th 4831SC case would be less "full". That's assuming identical burn rates. Just guessing here...

Tom

 

[savagedasher]

I have found 2% difference in varget from lot to lot. Good Shooting Larry

 

[Kingfisher]

Had the same conversation with a buddy just the other day. He's finally nailed down a load in his Rem 700 5R 300WM using 4831SC. Only problem is that supplies have completely dried up around here. Fortunately I found some standard 4831 online which I added to my hazmat order for him. It SHOULD perform the same. Time will tell if it actually does. I know that when SC first came out and I switched I didn't have any issues, but I haven't shot plain 4831 since then.

 

[mshelton]

I have a can of 4831SC to try in a new rifle getting built, just looked at it and I've never seen 4831 regular but the short cut doesn't seem too short to me. The grains look to be about the same length as H4350 and Varget.

 

[alf]

Got enough snow up there? I'm real sick of it down here by me. We have been in the daily Clipper bullseye for a week!

We must be in the same pattern.....snow-shovel-snow-shovel-repeat-repeat-repeat.

I'll take that over the drizzle-freezing drizzle-rain stuff coming now.....

I've tested two different lots of 4831SC vs regular 4831 in several different rifles/chamberings, and have always found that with equal charge weights, SC gives less velocity. Looks to me like it's at least 2% slower than regular 4831.

I've talked to Hodgdons and was told that the two powders are interchangeable in load data, and have read somewhere (probably on the net, which is never wrong) that the specs on lot numbers are kept to 5% in burn rates.

 

[nfa1eab]

I have been using H4831sc in a std. 280 Remington with 180 Berger VLDs for LR Prone. Recently tried some H4831. Everything the same, I am getting 30-40 fps more with the straight 4831. In my opinion neither meters worth shite. Could be differences lot to lot, but I have found the short cut pretty consistent lot to lot, so far. I agree with Flatlander^ Hell can't get anything now anyway! Too many hoarders scarfing up everything in sight.

Won't be shooting the 7mm for a while.........save the over 50 gr.s per squeeze and start shooting the 6BRX at 33 gr. a shot. Muchooo less expensive!

Ed

 

[timeout]

Thanks for all the info gents! I don't have much 4831 left and none to be had as far as I can find. The rifle I want to shoot it in is a couple months away from completion and is a hunting rifle build, so I have some time. I found out that Powder Valley is not taking backorders. Sure can't blame them, as there is no way to know when they will get the merchandise into their store. I have a fairly good supply of Varget and N133 so I can shoot my 6BR this summer and the Mrs. can shoot her 6PPC. I'm guessing there will be a healthy supply of powder become available a few months from now. Should come from two sources, companies catching up and persons with buyers remorse realizing they over spent. Off to get the driveway plowed - AGAIN

 

[flatlander]

Theory only - I'm not a chemist nor a scientist; just a plain old farmer/shooter. Burn rate of most smokeless powders is controlled by deterrent coating. Once the coating is burned through, burn rate goes up. Regular 4831 kernels are roughly twice as long as SC kernels; so it follows that there's more uncoated propellant to be burned per grain of weight with long kernels than what remains after deterrent is burned through with SC. If there's any merit to this theory, then it would follow that even if the formulation of both regular & SC 4831 are exactly the same (which I have no reason to doubt), then regular 4831 would produce slightly more velocity.

Started reloading rifle ammo in 1968 - bought WWII surplus H4831 for 80 cents/lb from an older gentleman who kept 125lb kegs of the stuff in his basement, along with similar sized kegs of surplus 4895, BL-C2, & H870. He sold 4831 to me in empty glass gallon apple cider jugs that he'd washed & dried - I'm pretty sure I was getting 9lbs/jug, but he charged me $6.40/jug anyway. I used a Redding #3 measure, along with a Redding beam scale that Dad had bought back in the '50s. Always wondered what sort of velocity I was getting out of a 243 case full of that surplus 4831 with a Speer 80gr PSP. I shot bunches of prairie dogs with that load, fired in a new M70 sporter bought from the same fellow who sold me the powder, RCBS press, dies, etc. I paid $123 for that M70, plus $35 for a used Weaver K4, and thought I had the world by the tail on a downhill pull. Wouldn't it be great if we could all find deals like that on a practically unlimited supply of powder today?

 

[timeout]

Flatlander, I started reloading somewhere around 69 or 70. We had a neighbor that was mostly into traveling the country trap shooting, but sold firearms and the like from his farm residence. I also bought my powders in bulk from him. My memory is nowhere near as sharp as yours to recite prices, but they sure were a lot less expensive back then. Life was simpler. Carried a pocket knife every day of my life since about age 4, including to school. Had firearms in my car many times at high school because we were going hunting after school. Got in fights, but no one ever went for a gun. The big city welfare types have ruined all of that. I doubt we will ever as a country be able to return to those great times.