Ramshot Hunter in 6XC

[DeerHunter82]

I’ve recently completed a 6XC build. I have some Ramshot Hunter that I’ve been looking to use in something and I’ve found some limited information online regarding its use in the 6XC. I’m using 115gr DTAC. Anyone have some experience/results? Thank you.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Interesting. I just completed a 6xc build and tested several powders. Im using lighter bullets with Big Game which worked well in mine. I think Hunter will work well for you with that bullet. I've had excellent accuracy with it is several cartridges. H-4350 is the go to powder for your bullet but Hunter is in the same burn range

 

[Gary in MD]

John Barsness used it in the 6xc when testing for an article in the 2022 Hodgdon manual. He tested it using the 105 grain Berger. There’s no reason you couldn’t use it for anything other than competition loads.
Hunter has a good reputation for getting fairly high velocities with good accuracy in suitable cartridges. I used it years ago in a Swift when loading prairie dog ammo dumping right out of the powder measure.
Gary

 

[Hoot]

In the interest of helping out, I quickly and with few specifics, ran the two through QuickLoad. Keeping in mind that it is merely a predictor without a few range tests to calibrate it, here's brief comparison using default parameters:

Both powders at 100% case fill.

H4350
62.2k psi pressure
2963 fps velocity
99.7% powder burn

Western Hunter
66k psi (over recommended pressure limit)
3076 fps velocity
100% powder burn

I'm sure some members will chime in about how hot they got away with loading the 6XC. I have tried mimicking some of their loads and was rewarded with stiff bolt lift and flattened primers, so YMMV.

Hoot

 

[Kracken McGraw]

In the interest of helping out, I quickly and with few specifics, ran the two through QuickLoad. Keeping in mind that it is merely a predictor without a few range tests to calibrate it, here's brief comparison using default parameters:

Both powders at 100% case fill.

H4350
62.2k psi pressure
2963 fps velocity
99.7% powder burn

Western Hunter
66k psi (over recommended pressure limit)
3076 fps velocity
100% powder burn

I'm sure some members will chime in about how hot they got away with loading the 6XC. I have tried mimicking some of their loads and was rewarded with stiff bolt lift and flattened primers, so YMMV.

Hoot

Isn’t it slower than 4831 on the burn rate chart?

 

[STOMP442]

Hunter has always worked great for me in the .243 with excellent velocity and results on paper with the 105 class bullets. I have never tried hunter in the XC but I am willing to bet it will work quite well.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

https://ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf
Ramshot’s load data does list Hunter for the heavies in 6XC.

 

[Mudcat]

I have a bunch of Data 85, which was nothing more than an off lot of Hunter from back years ago. Been using 36.0grs of it with 105-109gr weight bullets. not overly fast load, but super accurate.

 

[Kurz]

Here is the Ramshot/Western table for all to see.



I was in the same boat as you because I had a jug of this on hand and wanted to get some break in finished. Results were consistently good with decent velocity and accuracy at 300 yards.

However, I found some Re-16 and discovered slightly more velocity and a touch better accuracy at that 300 yard target set up.

Recently, I bought some VVN-555 and it's showing some fine points also. I haven't loaded a lot of it yet so I'm simply keeping my hopes up for another powder which will work.

Enjoy the process!