Herters 100 powder. Got any data for it?

[top_prop]

Got a .280 handed down to me with a recipe for a hand load it loved... uses Herters 100 powder (yup my old man has some old stuff). Anybody got any reloading data for it? Does any one know where it would fit in a burn rate powder so that when I finish off the last can I have an idea of what to buy?

 

[ericskennard]

Never use powder older than you are!

 

[FryeGuy]

I would be very careful with old powder. I had a good friend of mine buy some not so old powder, his gun blew up. it was aa2460 I believe. when he recovered a few days later, he poured the whole 8# keg out, said it had a funny odor to it compared to the new batch of 2460 he had. said it was clumpy about halfway down the can. I believe if I were you I would dump that shit out. just start fresh. $25 for a lb of powder is cheap compared to your eyes.

 

[top_prop]

I appreciate the concern and generally safe track advice, But I think I'll continue to shoot it. It still smells like ether. There are no clumps, color changes, powdering etc... smells, looks, and shoots good. The rifle really likes it and has no signs of pressure issues with the 'passed down' load my dad gave me.

Its been in my dads basement in a 20MM can until he gave it to me... and its been in my 20mm can in an airconditioned house since. If it stops smelling/looking good and gets the least bit of a funy smell (acrid etc) I'll dump it in the lawn.

I'm not worried about age here guys... I'm looking for a starting place for suitable replacement based on burn rates and loading data! I do appreciate your concern though!

 

[jonbearman]

I still have ww11 powder and it has been stored properly and it is fine.If it smells like nitro and is still the right color it is probably ok.Start low and work up.I may have imfo on this powder.I believe it is norma powder private labled for herters.

 

[jonbearman]

Come to think of it then all the old surplus ammo is garbage so send it all to me.LOL

 

[pdog2225]

Send me a PM or email, and I will send you a copy of the pages (pdf) for the 280rem from the Herters 1970 reloading data manual. Until then here is the total loads for 100..

139gr bullet, 100 powder.
max grs--55.0, max vel--2943, pressure--51600
mod grs--53.0, mod vel--2856, pressure--48800
sug grs--51.0, sug vel--2724, pressure--47200

175gr bullet, 100 powder.
max grs--52.0, max vel--2830, pressure--50200
mod grs--50.0, mod vel--2741, pressure--48600
sug grs--48.0, sug vel--2551, pressure--46800

I also have an unopened 1# can of 100.
pdog2225

 

[jonbearman]

pdog2225,do you realize how many people you could help looking for the imfo you have.Google herters powder burn rate charts.There are people like me and others that would love to see that book.Does it have a relative burnrate chart in the manual.Could you scan it so we could download it from you? Let us know and thanks.Do you know if norma or alcan made there canister powders.

 

[pdog2225]

Jon T, No I did not realize I could help anyone. I bought a big box of powder at an auction about 10yrs ago and in it was 4#s of 103, 2#s of 101 and 1# of 100. So I looked and watched for a reloading manual and found this one at a gun show. Its 430 pages so scaning is out of the question. There is no burn rate chart that I could find. I googled like you said and Gerryrig on "practicalmachinist.com" back on 2/14/05 says their powder was imported from scotland. Here is from the book
NO. 100--A single-base progressive-burning tubular coated with methyl centralite. It is a slow burning Herters rifle powder and is ideally suited for heavy bullets in large capacity cases. Methyl centralite reduces gun erosion.
NO 101--A particularly flexible progressive-burning single base tubular powder coated with methyl centralite. With it, high velocities can be developed "hot" loads, is relatively slow burning and can be adapted to high intensity "wildcat" loads.
No 102--As No. 100 and No. 101 this is also a single base tubular powder and is coated with methyl centralite. This powder is designed for use in cartridges with normal powder capacities and medium weight bullets. It has the desired flexibility for use in such loads.
No. 103--This powder is designed to be relatively fast burning in order to give high velocities from the light bullets in medium capacity cases. This powder is suited to cartridges such as the .222 Remington. It is a progressive-burning single-base tubular powder coated with methyl centralite.

This book (condensed professional loading , reloading data) it has a yellow cover and is in great shape. If you are interested in buying it, make me an offer.Your money back if not satisfied.pdog2225

 

[RonAKA]

My WAG is that this stuff is WWII surplus powder that I used to buy in a brown paper bag for about $1.50 per pound. I was told it was machine gun powder, and it was 4831. Back then I don't know if anyone other than Dupont made it, so it didn't need the IMR or H designation. It was just brown bag army surplus...

That, and the 175 grain loads almost perfectly match the H4831 loads from Hodgdon,

 

[top_prop]

Thanks for the replys... PM sent as requested.

This is not WWII powder. It is commercial powder purchased by my father straight from Herters about 30+ years ago. I noticed the similarity to 4831/3100 as well, but it seems closer to 4350...

I'm at work right now, so I can't get at the cans, but If I do recall correctly it says it was made in scotland. I understand it was another product 'rebranded' and imported by Herters. I have googled for real data on it and found posts on other fourms saying they had the manual.... but those post are years old.

I see "Scot 4351" listed on the various burn rate charts available in the range I'd expect this powder to be in... and it would be pure speculation to say it was close to 4350, but 4831/3100 or 4350 is what I'm beginning to suspect.

And you may get a kick out of the fact I've got both the Herters 175gr RN, and the 139 Spiter Soft Points the book lists data for by the gross (my dad always buys in bulk)! Some have frosty white tips on them from being so old but they work great for fire forming .280 from 30-06!

 

[RonAKA]

Yes, you are right. If it is only 30 years old, then I think all the WWII stuff was probably gone by then. I do have some Hodgdon H4831 that is about 30 years old, and it is made in Scotland. Hard to measure the grain size but they are about 0.082" long x 0.044" in diameter. They are also quite black in color.

In comparison the current H4831 made in Australia by ADI has a golden looking color to it.

Have never shot H4350 so can't tell you what it is like physically.