N150 in 1-8 6BR

[jackieschmidt]

I have been playing around with 3 different powders in my regular 6BR. While doing this, I have come across a rather strange anomaly with N150.

On paper, (latest burn rate chart), it should be too slow for my 103 grn bullet. in a 26 inch long Krieger, I am averaging 2920 FPS with what I consider 1/4 minute accuracy at 200 yards with 31.2 grns.

That puts the powder column just at the neck shoulder junction.

I always assumed that with V powders, the burn rate got slower as the numbers got larger. 130 is slower than 120, 133 is slower than 130, 135 slower than 133, and so on.

By Hodgons lasted chart, 150 is darned near as slow as 4350. You can’t packe enough 4350 in a standard 6 BR to make it agg at a reasonable velocity.

Any thoughts on this? In my opinion, this N150 is acting more in the burn rate of Reloader 15, Accurate 2495, maybe even 4895.

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[6ShotsOr5?]

That is a big difference. To put it in V terms, you are saying it’s acting more like N135 or N140. Bad day at the factory?

 

[KMart]

I think that is just the way that Hodgdon does their chart in a linear fashion. It is hard to make everything fit correctly, one after another. The comparative charts that lay things out in a somewhat horizontal fashion seems to make things fit better.
On the Reload Swiss chart, N150 falls very very close to H414 and Reloader 17. That is about half way between Re15 and H4350.
The Norma chart uses a completely different measuring system and N150 again falls about half way between RE 15 and H4350.
The other thing that strikes me is that N150 is nowhere near as fluffy as H4350. The bulk densities are not nearly the same.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

N150 is very close to Varget practically speaking; just a hair slower in burn speed (so hair slower than RE15, H4895 etc.). In multiple calibers (6mms to .308s) I'm usually ~1gr within a known Varget charge range? The burn rate charts are undoubtedly misleading (as is VV load data for that matter).

I've got a lot of it, and I use it in just about everything. It's close in terms of charge weight/speed etc. to N140 (140 being faster, obviously), but it takes up more case capacity.

I know a few folks reading this will roll their eyes, but in every barrel I've ever had that was chambered in something that is supposed to "work best" with Varget (or powder in that range), N150 usually ends up being the most accurate. I realize how profound a statement that is, but it's been true in my experience.

If you can get enough in the case to hit your target velocity range, I'd shoot the hell out of it.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I stopped by the range this afternoon and set up my Chrony, shooting at 200 yards.
31.2 grns of N150 had an average 2920 FPS.
30.8 grns of Accurate 2495 gave the same average, give or take.
A flat 29.0 grns of V 135 gave the same average. So in this barrel, there is only a little over a 2 grn difference between 135 and 150.

surprisingly, the135 loadshot the best today with my own 103 bullet. I plan on shooting it at our 200 yard Score club match in the morning.

 

[ShootDots]

I have used N150 in a few cartridges, a 6mmBR being one of them. I can tell you that it is NOWHERE NEAR as slow as H4350, as BOTH Hodgdon and Viht state in their literature. N150, Varget and RL-15 literally could be used interchangeably. There is ONE caveat, I have NEVER found N150 to be good in a 6 Dasher! Fabulous in everything else, including a 6mmBR, but will not make a Dasher do anything but frown.. I think you will also find that N540, which is the "5" series equivalent of N140, is SLOWER than N150! That's why on many occasions these burn rate charts can be dangerously wrong! N150 is one of those instances. Should you try to use N150 with charge weights in the H4350 area, where Viht says the burn rate of N150 falls, you WILL have serious problems>> T-Rust me on this!! As a matter of fact, N550 is faster than H4350 and the 5 series powders are generally noticeably slower than their 1 series counterparts..

 

[Sandstorm]

N550 is faster than H4350

Ben where do you find N550 might work well,? Ive tried it here and there before but couldnt get it
to work well. Is there a case or Caliber where it may be worth trying.I do find N150 to work well in
multiple applications.

 

[ShootDots]

Ben where do you find N550 might work well,? Ive tried it here and there before but couldnt get it
to work well. Is there a case or Caliber where it may be worth trying.I do find N150 to work well in
multiple applications.

The 6mm x 47 Lapua, the 6mmGT and the like in a 6mm. A 6.5 x 47, with 123-140 cal bullets is prime for N550 and probably a 6.5 Creedmoor with 123-130 class bullets could be great candidate. I have never tried it BUT I would bet a substantial sum that a .308 with 215gr Hybrids would be extremely well served by N550..