Making ball powders shoot well
- Thread starter Wolfdog91
- Start date
The only ball powder I keep around is Ramshot Hunter. I've
never used it in a magnum case but for cases close to or
just above 308 cases, the powder works quite well with
heavy bullets around the 180 grain range, and a full fill
with good neck tension. My buddy's 8mm Mauser likes
it with hard crimp cannelure bullets. It also does not need
a magnum type primer. He want's to try it in his 6.5x55 to
replace the old IMR-4831 which is about the same burn rate.
never used it in a magnum case but for cases close to or
just above 308 cases, the powder works quite well with
heavy bullets around the 180 grain range, and a full fill
with good neck tension. My buddy's 8mm Mauser likes
it with hard crimp cannelure bullets. It also does not need
a magnum type primer. He want's to try it in his 6.5x55 to
replace the old IMR-4831 which is about the same burn rate.
If you're talking for hunting accuracy I have some experience with Winchester 748, 760, HS6, H380, LongShot and LilGun.So I've never had good luck with anything other then stick powders. However I've always get told theirs a lot of people getting great results with various ball powders. So in general, what are some tips or must do's to get the best out of a ball powder ?
Thanks
Like all powders a load that nearly fills the case is best, so if you can't find a load that's going to get to 90%+ case capacity in my opinion you're in for a challenge. That actually can be a tough task with ball powders as it's so dense.
My other experience is I find ball powders like magnum primers once you get to rifle cartridges, even with the 30 Carbine and LilGun.
Longshot is the bees knees for 357 Sig, with standard primers and HS6 is perfect for 45 ACP at 45 Super pressures.
H380 and Winchester 760 is fine in 30 06 heavy loads 165 and heavier bulletts with magnum primers.
Winchester 748 has worked for me in 308 and 8MM Mauser light weight loads w8th magnum primers and in AR 15, 5.56 loads with standard primers.
Last edited:
Wolfdog91
Silver $$ Contributor
Well just rifle cartridges in general. Figured there had to be some universal rules that would help you get the best out of certain powder types. Would like to understand that then get more specific from cartridge to cartridge
Wolfdog -So I've never had good luck with anything other then stick powders. However I've always get told theirs a lot of people getting great results with various ball powders. So in general, what are some tips or must do's to get the best out of a ball powder ?
Thanks
Howdy !
IMHO - match the " burn rate " of the powder chosen really well to the case capacity, and bullet wt you'll use.
For me..... WW760 and H414 out-shot H380 in multiple .22-250 bolt guns, when shooting 55gr bullets from 24 - 26" barrels w/ 1-14 twist. H380 did shoot supebly for me in a 22" M-77 .250-3000, under Sierra 75HPs; for use on groundhogs. Groups sizes were really great, and this was back in the latter -70's.
Going back to a .22-250 application: Hybrid 100V and 6.5 StaBal would likely not be able to provide as high a Mv as would WW760. Not to say that even w/ lower velocities, that accuracy achieved w/ the latter 2 powders would be superb ? Testing would show. Once again.... match the selected burn rate to the case capacity and bullet wt.
Hodgdons is bringing out 2 new temp stable ball powders..... StaBal Matrch, and StaBal HD.
" Burn rate " info for these, has not yet been revealed.
For me / my loads /my guns, WW760 / H414 shot best when using FED Large Magnum Rifle Match primers.
With regards,
357Mag
Wolfdog91
Silver $$ Contributor
Yes ! Honestly as much as I'd like to be shooting 0's like some of these bench rest guys honestly it's just not what I need 9/10's to be honest something that will keep me 1.5" and under consistently @100 is really all I need for my real world use. Though I do prefer clover leafs or everything touching ( messy or not lol ).
That paired with how hard it is to find "good components" , for me powder like varget, I'm looking at trying to at the very least just understand how to get the best with what I can get. And in my situations like I'm gonna be stuck with ball powder for a bit
So what your saying at the very least I need to try and get at least 90% case capacity ( safe loads I mean , not just filling cases with whatever till it's a 90% fill )and some mag primers to get ball powders working well ?
Wolfdog91
Silver $$ Contributor
Interesting, yeah I'm still trying to grasp burn rates to be honest with you. Became really Important when I started messing with cast bullets ( another side of reloading a do but separate from what I'm talking about here for the most part ) but past people telling me I need slow or fast for this and that , I've never really grasped it I guess.
Johnnys reloading bench on YouTube did explain it to a degree where I thought I understood the basics , kinda, but still.....egh a little lost compared to how how I think I need to understand it.
Yes, 748 is close to Varget in burn rate but won't fill the case as full. Ball powders are nitro cellulose and nitro glycerin where extruded powders are nitro cellulose. Hence the more energy with less powder in ball powders. Cold weather in my rifles the ball powders need magnum primers.Yes ! Honestly as much as I'd like to be shooting 0's like some of these bench rest guys honestly it's just not what I need 9/10's to be honest something that will keep me 1.5" and under consistently @100 is really all I need for my real world use. Though I do prefer clover leafs or everything touching ( messy or not lol ).
That paired with how hard it is to find "good components" , for me powder like varget, I'm looking at trying to at the very least just understand how to get the best with what I can get. And in my situations like I'm gonna be stuck with ball powder for a bit
So what your saying at the very least I need to try and get at least 90% case capacity ( safe loads I mean , not just filling cases with whatever till it's a 90% fill )and some mag primers to get ball powders working well ?
I measure accuracy by hits in the field not X's, boy do I get in trouble with the modern tactical boys when I tell them that in close (50 yards) the I only point shoot.
Gargoyle
Finder Outer
Weird, I've had so many ball powders work for me I don't think I can screw it up, but I've had many extruded types cause all kinds of headaches!So I've never had good luck with anything other then stick powders. However I've always get told theirs a lot of people getting great results with various ball powders. So in general, what are some tips or must do's to get the best out of a ball powder ?
Thanks
dc.fireman
Sling & Irons!
This combination, is still the best group I've ever shot. I fired 10 rounds and they went into a group about .25". Funny thing was, I used brand new un-prepped Remington brass, and it was fired in a half dirty, bone stock, Savage BVSS. I can't even remember the primer I used.
Wolfdog91
Silver $$ Contributor
Funny how the world works! Idk I've just come to the idea that some things just don't work for some people lol!Weird, I've had so many ball powders work for me I don't think I can screw it up, but I've had many extruded types cause all kinds of headaches!
jelenko
Gold $$ Contributor
Along with TAC, 2520, SW Match and MR2000.
From a fill ratio and burn %, BL-C2 looks like the best for 69gr and over.
My understanding is you want the fill ratio and the burn % above 90% for consistency in the rate of burn and energy released.
Wolfdog91
Silver $$ Contributor
So at risk of sound alike a complete and total amateur ( honestly on in the last year out of the seven or so I've reloaded, I've gotten past just following what the books says lol) where are all finding info on the burn percentage? Quickload?
jelenko
Gold $$ Contributor
Sorry. Good question. For me it's GRT [Gordon's Reloading Tool]. It's free.
Gargoyle
Finder Outer
My first rifle bought at 18 yrs old was a Rem 700 VS (Sendero). I put a Burris Black Diamond 4-24X50 I think it was and loaded 55gr Vmax H380. I have "High 8" Dig 8? cassettes of me shooting aspirin bottles at 400yds. I thought I was quite the Hawkeye!
3600fps I remember. I just now think I didn't have a clue about hand loading like I do now 30yrs later! HAHAHAHAHA I'm surprised I still have a face!Gargoyle
Finder Outer
Right?!!! In my case "Varget" has only been ok in a lot of loads I've tried. AA2520, a ball powder, seems to shoot great in anything I try. IMR 3031 is the biggest sleeper in all the powder world in my mind.
Not always true. Most if not all Reloder powders and H-100V are extruded double base
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