Why is AR Comp the Red Headed Step Child?

[urbanrifleman]

With a burn rate right near IMR 8208 and H4895 and supposedly the LEAST temperature sensitive powder on the market, no one on this board will touch the stuff.

I just keep wondering why.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Who says its temp insensitive? I have only heard the opposite and to the extreme like the ramshot powders- so bad you never know what theyll do even in just the box in the sun. Go from the extreme low in the morning with sooty necks to popping primers by noon

 

[shoot4fun]

AR Comp is supposed to be Alliant's answer to Varget but, being spherical (?), flows thru the powder measure more smoothly.
I have some but haven't done much with it. Same with CFE223. It is said that this one does the same plus higher velocity.

 

[Mulligan]

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/comparing-ar-comp-with-h4895.3964397/

might find this interesting.
CW

 

[Mulligan]

AR Comp is supposed to be Alliant's answer to Varget but, being spherical (?), flows thru the powder measure more smoothly.
I have some but haven't done much with it. Same with CFE223. It is said that this one does the same plus higher velocity.

I must have a weird lot, my AR-Comp is a stick powder about the same size as H4895 just not as uniform in size.
CW

 

[Rodney]

AR -comp is a great powder from my experiences. My 308 loves it with a 168 Berger VLD. It seems to be very close to H4895 as mentioned. I've also used it with my 22-250 and 243, both with the lighter bullets, great velocity too. Can't say it's better than other brands, but it's price is decent and can usually be found on the shelf at the store. I kind of like it not being popular, makes it available for me, but that's being a little selfish. Try a pound and see for yourself.

 

[shoot4fun]

I must have a weird lot, my AR-Comp is a stick powder about the same size as H4895 just not as uniform in size.
CW

That's why I added the ?
Couldn't remember if it was spherical or stick.
It is CFE223 that is spherical.

 

[rebel]

With a burn rate right near IMR 8208 and H4895 and supposedly the LEAST temperature sensitive powder on the market, no one on this board will touch the stuff.

I just keep wondering why.

I think it's a great powder. I use it in a 22-250 for groundhogs. it does see some extreme temps. Never had and issue at all. I don't go by hearsay, I try stuff.
The groundhogs have hated it.

Above target is me and a buddy doing load development at 200 yards. John's group is good with his Savage LRPV. Mine is stupid as it's a Remy ADL HB, bedded, floated, spring change on x mark trigger. The next shot after this was at 250 yards.

Called the shot, only had a head to shoot at so sent one through the mouth.

 

[ShootDots]

AR Comp has the exact same technology as both RL-16 and RL-23. I can guarantee you that RL-16 and RL-23 are about as temp stable as powders come. I have never used AR Comp, however, being made exactly the same as RL-16 / RL-23, I would think that it too is stable.. Being in the burn rate vicinity of 8208XBR is a GREAT place for the .308 to shoot the 155 / 155.5 Palma bullets. Run ANY powder with low pressures and it will burn dirty, run a powder with enough pressure to burn properly, it may not be the cleanest powder, however, it should work well..

 

[dmoran]

Who says its temp insensitive? I have only heard the opposite and to the extreme like the ramshot powders- so bad you never know what theyll do even in just the box in the sun. Go from the extreme low in the morning with sooty necks to popping primers by noon

Funny.... my sources say it is good on sensitivity.... but is 2nd hand information also.
Goes to show, one should only speak based from personal experiences !.!.!

 

[GSS]

AR Comp is a Horrible / Evil powder.
I suggest anyone that has any stashed away that they do not even attempt to use it.

Send it to me and I will rid you of the grave risks of all the horrible things it does and dispose of it properly for you. PM me for shipping address to get it to me asap before it does any harm to you or your loved ones.
George

 

[sdeal5]

ARC in my experience is very temp insensitive and has been a very accurate powder in both of my BRA barrels. Have conducted several vel tests with temp swings of 40-50 degrees , morning session to afternoon session. Avg vel has always been within single digits, and more than once the afternoon vel has been a few FPS lower than the morning numbers. Only prob I have with it is that it is pretty dirty and you can run into fouling problems depending on what discipline you’re competing in.

 

[dmoran]

Back in 2011 when AR Comp was released, Dick Quesenberry of Alliant was quoted in a Daily Bulletin here of test results obtained from both 223 and 308 calibers that yielded less then 20-fps extreme spreads from -20° to +160° F.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2011/03/new-ar-comp-powder-from-alliant-details-revealed/
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[johara1]

I remember when Hodgens said 8208 was the least temp. sensitive, now it isn't. Maybe you had better test for yourself ....... jim

 

[urbanrifleman]

So again, I ask, it's never discussed for 6br or 6bra or Dasher, why?

People worship h4895 like a pagan idol and cuss it at the same time as having horrible lot to lot consistency. Arcomp appears to be virtually interchangeable and Alliant has no consistency issues. None of the extreme powders can touch the new Bofors series for temperature sensitivity, I just don't get it.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I remember when Hodgens said 8208 was the least temp. sensitive, now it isn't. Maybe you had better test for yourself ....... jim

I plan on it. But its already been tested several times in several places and it was shown to be ten times better than Varget. So it truly does live up to it's own hype.

 

[johara1]

So again, I ask, it's never discussed for 6br or 6bra or Dasher, why?

People worship h4895 like a pagan idol and cuss it at the same time as having horrible lot to lot consistency. Arcomp appears to be virtually interchangeable and Alliant has no consistency issues. None of the extreme powders can touch the new Bofors series for temperature sensitivity, I just don't get it.

I wouldn't go that far on H4895, it is getting like Varget and lot to lot is all over the place. but it shoots if you get the right lot. My two best powders in the Dasher were RL-15 and second was H4895, in the BR imp. it is H4895 so why try to fix something that isn't broke. I would try it if I were you and if it will shoot under a .1 and repeat that 4 times with es. in single digits let me know..... jim

 

[Alex Wheeler]

A lot of things are being used/tried, just not getting posted. Give it a try, I have seen it shoot well. Its probably a little fast but who cares if your barrel likes it.

 

[johara1]

A lot of things are being used/tried, just not getting posted. Give it a try, I have seen it shoot well. Its probably a little fast but who cares if your barrel likes it.

You are so right, if you can get 8208 to work like Bart I may try it, I can't get it to work like H 4895 though..... jim

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Cody Finch won LG group at the 2018 1k IBS nats on 8208. It definitely shoots in some barrels.