Mysticplayer
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2001
- Messages
- 1,459
GG, I use Hodgdon Extreme whenever I can and have done so since it came out. I live in the wooly north which happens also be a semi arid desert when the sun shines. I know all about temp ranges.
Over the years, I have played with adjusting loads for the seasons but when we get into the fall and you can go from freezing to 80deg in 4 hours during hunt, not so good.
After switching to H powders, my drop charts have stayed stable from summer through to winter. I mean, range, dial up, shoot, hit. All come ups remain within the click or two depending on other ambient conditions (non seasonally dependent).
So take what you will from this. I have repeated this is all my LR hunting rifles which have numbered quite a few over the years.
Yep, better chemistry and it seems to work. Temp stable yes, lot stable no. I have worked with several lots of H4350 and H4831SC. ALL were quite different from the previous lots but they all were stable within their load.
Accuracy/velocity eventually ended up being the same but with different amounts of powder. So always work up with a new lot number.
As to the military needing wanting temp stable powders, the answer is a big fat YES. They have them now!!!! The stuff that is bottled by Western powders come mostly from Belgium. The Euros and Swedes have really pushed the development of powders and are getting some really cool results.
First problem is fouling in gas systems. Although 'solved' a while back with the post Vietnam AR's, new powders are even cleaner allowing for a firefight to not cause any fouling related trouble.
Temp stable, you bet your sand mask. NATO must engage from the Artic to the Sahara and they don't separate ammo for the seasons. They were having severe problems with ammo both over and under pressure with old ball stuff. This was compounded by the shorter barrels of the new M4's (wildly varing muzzle velocities leading to grief in the stopping department).
Solution was to make temp stable powders. I think the Aussies came up with it first. Where Varget was invented. The first in the new gen of temp stable 'extreme' powders.
Of course, you have heard maybe used the special stuff that give Hornady and Federal goofy performance without excessive pressures? These special loading powders are military based in design and allow cases like the 308 to be supercharged. Ever wonder how some NATO spec ammo is now so fast?
Now, powder research is going one step further and addressing an enormous firearms problem, copper fouling. Don't know who makes it but there is a non cannister powder that is supposed to strip copper fouling from the bore. Essentially, eliminating copper fouling as you fire. Powder is presently being used in some 204Ruger ammo so the article said.
The chemistry of gunpowder is not likely to slow down anytime soon. In time, we will be the benefactor. For now, buy a bottle and try them. They might just change your mind.
By the way, the Hodgdon Extreme is one of the most accurate powders I use. This stuff will shoot BR accurate if the rifle is up to it. Do respond very well to match primers too.
You could have a load that under normal hunting conditions, you can depend on to get the job done. Good stuff...
Jerry
Over the years, I have played with adjusting loads for the seasons but when we get into the fall and you can go from freezing to 80deg in 4 hours during hunt, not so good.
After switching to H powders, my drop charts have stayed stable from summer through to winter. I mean, range, dial up, shoot, hit. All come ups remain within the click or two depending on other ambient conditions (non seasonally dependent).
So take what you will from this. I have repeated this is all my LR hunting rifles which have numbered quite a few over the years.
Yep, better chemistry and it seems to work. Temp stable yes, lot stable no. I have worked with several lots of H4350 and H4831SC. ALL were quite different from the previous lots but they all were stable within their load.
Accuracy/velocity eventually ended up being the same but with different amounts of powder. So always work up with a new lot number.
As to the military needing wanting temp stable powders, the answer is a big fat YES. They have them now!!!! The stuff that is bottled by Western powders come mostly from Belgium. The Euros and Swedes have really pushed the development of powders and are getting some really cool results.
First problem is fouling in gas systems. Although 'solved' a while back with the post Vietnam AR's, new powders are even cleaner allowing for a firefight to not cause any fouling related trouble.
Temp stable, you bet your sand mask. NATO must engage from the Artic to the Sahara and they don't separate ammo for the seasons. They were having severe problems with ammo both over and under pressure with old ball stuff. This was compounded by the shorter barrels of the new M4's (wildly varing muzzle velocities leading to grief in the stopping department).
Solution was to make temp stable powders. I think the Aussies came up with it first. Where Varget was invented. The first in the new gen of temp stable 'extreme' powders.
Of course, you have heard maybe used the special stuff that give Hornady and Federal goofy performance without excessive pressures? These special loading powders are military based in design and allow cases like the 308 to be supercharged. Ever wonder how some NATO spec ammo is now so fast?
Now, powder research is going one step further and addressing an enormous firearms problem, copper fouling. Don't know who makes it but there is a non cannister powder that is supposed to strip copper fouling from the bore. Essentially, eliminating copper fouling as you fire. Powder is presently being used in some 204Ruger ammo so the article said.
The chemistry of gunpowder is not likely to slow down anytime soon. In time, we will be the benefactor. For now, buy a bottle and try them. They might just change your mind.
By the way, the Hodgdon Extreme is one of the most accurate powders I use. This stuff will shoot BR accurate if the rifle is up to it. Do respond very well to match primers too.
You could have a load that under normal hunting conditions, you can depend on to get the job done. Good stuff...
Jerry
