H870 for 300 Win Mag?

[MMH]

A buddy of mine gave me 5 lbs. of H870. I cannot seem to find any load data for this powder. Would it work for 300 Win Mag & if so, does anyone have any load data? I know this powder is obsolete, but was hoping I could find some loading data for some practice loads.

 

[Edd]

I don't think it would be a good choice for a 300 Winchester. It has a lot slower burn rate than what I would want.

What weight bullet do you want load data for?

 

[MMH]

Don't know. Looking to develop low power loads for practice (PRS) - save my shoulder & get good barrel & brass life. I'd be open to anything from 178 to 212 gr. Figure even if the powder is not optimal, if safe & consistent, cuts down on my reloading costs while getting some practice.

 

[Edd]

For a 178 gr bullet you are looking at a minimum of about 81 gr and a maximum of about 86 gr.

For a 212 the minimum will be about 78 gr and the maximum about 83 grains.

 

[MMH]

For a 178 gr bullet you are looking at a minimum of about 81 gr and a maximum of about 86 gr.

For a 212 the minimum will be about 78 gr and the maximum about 83 grains.

So to be clear, you are talking about H870, correct? Is this your own data , or some old published data that you have? Also, would H870 be a decent powder for this kind of load? I do not know much about it.

 

[bozo699]

For a 178 gr bullet you are looking at a minimum of about 81 gr and a maximum of about 86 gr.

For a 212 the minimum will be about 78 gr and the maximum about 83 grains.

I think Edd is correct , I remember a guy way back when using it in a .300wm a full case and it was a little slow and was very dirty but was accurate, I use to use it in a .338-378 shot really well but was dirty in it as well
Wayne

 

[Murray Brook]

Tried H-870 in my 300 Win M with the 200 gr Nosler back in the late 80's. At the time Hogdon's max load for this powder in a 300 Win M with a 200 gr bullet was 84 grs. Worked up to this load and got 2643 ft/sec. Poor accuracy and load seemed mild . Later I tried the Sierra 200 gr SBT and worked up to 86 grs for a vel of 2860 ft/sec with MOA accuracy. In the end I found H-870 to be on the slow side for use in the 300 Win M and when used at reduced pressure it would be a dirty powder.

 

[bozo699]

Old Hodgdon manual

 

[MMH]

Good information. Not really sure if I want to use this powder or not. IS the powder dense or are the heavier loads compressed?

 

[bozo699]

It’s dense it’s ball powder and yes a full load would be compressed
Wayne

 

[bozo699]

I’m not going to suggest you use it but if I was short on powder it wouldn’t bother me to use it for practice shooting one bit.
Wayne

 

[cuznguido]

That 870 is positively the cat's meow for 30-378. I would like to have about a 100 pounds of it.

 

[MMH]

So I will plan on going with the following as starting loads:
81 gr for 178
78 gr. for 212

Sorry to keep asking the question over, but I want to double check to make sure I don't go dangerously low.

 

[JSH]

Be sure and look in the chamber. Unburnt kernels crunch on closing then leave ugly dents in your brass upon firing.
I would advise not loading a large amount.
Even heavily compressed with a heavy bullet it was still dirty for a buddy and I. It was accurate but no speed to speak of.

 

[jsn]

Hodgdon had loads for H870 in 2004, they were just listed as max loads, all were compressed. Most of the pressure ratings were in the low to middle 40k's range.

I couldn't find any notes on its use like Winchester used to issue for W296, I don't think you want to lower max loads too far.

 

[Murray Brook]

That 870 is positively the cat's meow for 30-378. I would like to have about a 100 pounds of it.

So true. Works great in my 30/378 with 200+ gr bullets. Best powder I've used in this cartridge.

 

[6MMsteve]

just dip the case full... then have some brake cleaner and patches ready after 3 shots that stuff is dirty. we use to dip 220 swift cases for fun and chootem dirty dirty

 

[ebb]

Ive used it for 300 Jarret and 300RUM and liked it for both. Many use Retumbo for 300RUM and i do now that my H870 is gone but I think H870 was better.

 

[Kurz]

"Hodgdon never made H870. They've run out of the stock they had. H870 is military surplus WC870, an Olin Ball Powder made for loading 20mm cannon cartridges. Since it was made in the same time frame as the Ball powders that caused the fouling problems in the early M16s, I suspect the problem is the same, too much residual calcium carbonate in the powder. The usual description is of a very hard deposit in the corners of the rifling grooves that's difficult to scrub out and doesn't come out with the usual cleaning solvents. If I encountered this problem, the first thing I'd try is swabbing out the bore with white vinegar, followed by the usual cleaning. I haven't encountered it, though, as I use the rather similar surplus WC860 and WC872. My batches are of more recent manufacture; Olin took care of the excess lime problem when it was identified circa 1965." -from an unknown poster on another site-

From Bruce Hodgdon:

"As the bullet weight is reduced, the H870 just doesn't burn as "clean" which is true for a lot of powders.

But, the H870 leaves a residue that can be extremely frustrating to remove from your bore. Scrubbing `till you are blue in the face doesn't cut it either. Fortunately Mr. Hodgdon passed along the tip of making a paste using "Bon Ami" kitchen cleanser and what ever your favorite bore cleaner happens to be. Use a patch wrapped around a brush, apply the paste, give the Bore 10 strokes, push through some clean patches and wash the residue out with a bit more bore cleaner. Lightly oil or grease your bore and you are rid of the residue."

The other solution to make is from Hydrogen Peroxide and vinegar. This will soften and allow the removal the hard build up which will get pushed out by brushing then cleaned up with your bore cleaner.

Note that original use was for a huge cartridge pushing extremely heavy bullets at required velocities. Trying to use extremely slow powder in lower capacity cartridges cases often results in large amounts of fouling caused by burning the graphite and deterrents used to coat ball powders. Even with a full case of H870 and the heaviest bullets using the .300 Win. Mag. results in low pressures and potential poor performance. To me, this signals a waste of time, energy and materials.

My suggestion is to use this as trading material to get some powder which is suited to your use in the .300 Win. Mag. Share with your buddy so he doesn't get the wrong idea.

Enjoy!

 

[Murray Brook]

I remember reading of the Bon Ami solution that Hogdon stated only where I live I can't source Bon Ami. I remember Bruce Hogdon stating to use nothing else but Bon Ami as it will not scratch the bore like others do. Has anyone tried this.