Ball powder list

Crockett12

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2011
Messages
120
The more I reload the more I like powders that meter well! I've searched for a list of ball powders but have never found one. Does anyone know of a comprehensive list of which powders are ball powders?
 
I dont know of a listing of ball powders. Perhaps someone else does. I know which are just by being familiar with the available powders. All winchester rifle and ramshot are ball. H-335, Xterminator/A2230, A-2460, Tac, A2520, BL-C2, CFE-223, Leverevolution, H-380, A-2700, H-414/W760, Staball 6.5, Superformance, A-Magpro, A-8700, H-450 to name a few. Some Norma and Alliant powders are also ball. Im sure I forgot more than a few. Hope this helps. Knowing what you are loading for might narrow the list a bit.
 
I dont know of a listing of ball powders. Perhaps someone else does. I know which are just by being familiar with the available powders. All winchester rifle and ramshot are ball. H-335, Xterminator/A2230, A-2460, Tac, A2520, BL-C2, CFE-223, Leverevolution, H-380, A-2700, H-414/W760, Staball 6.5, Superformance, A-Magpro, A-8700, H-450 to name a few. Some Norma and Alliant powders are also ball. Im sure I forgot more than a few. Hope this helps. Knowing what you are loading for might narrow the list a bit.
That list certainly helps! I knew about AA-2460, TAC, CFE-223, H-380, H-414/760, and H-450 because I have those powders -- and recearched BL-C2 but didn't necessarily know about the rest! I'm a long time reloader who has always weighed my loads and have only recently begun to use the powder measure in a used Dillon 650 I bought to throw my charges. I've never trusted my powder measures (I have several) because I've always used stick powders like IMR 4350 and those powders have never been consistent enough for me to trust. I did some experimentation with the Dillon powder measure using H-380 and it was so consistent, it about blew me away -- all charges I threw were within .01! I'm mostly loading .223 and 22-250 now and I'm new at the .223 but have good accurate loads worked up for the 22-250 using H-4895. I also hunt deer with a .257 Ackley Imp but use IMR-4350 in it. I know H450 is similar to IMR 4350 but wondered about what else I might try because there is virtually no load data for H-450, except in one old Speer book I have. Thanks for your list. If I can find any, I might try Staball 6.5!
 
I dont know of a listing of ball powders. Perhaps someone else does. I know which are just by being familiar with the available powders. All winchester rifle and ramshot are ball. H-335, Xterminator/A2230, A-2460, Tac, A2520, BL-C2, CFE-223, Leverevolution, H-380, A-2700, H-414/W760, Staball 6.5, Superformance, A-Magpro, A-8700, H-450 to name a few. Some Norma and Alliant powders are also ball. Im sure I forgot more than a few. Hope this helps. Knowing what you are loading for might narrow the list a bit.
You forgot Gold Bond!😏
 
That list certainly helps! I knew about AA-2460, TAC, CFE-223, H-380, H-414/760, and H-450 because I have those powders -- and recearched BL-C2 but didn't necessarily know about the rest! I'm a long time reloader who has always weighed my loads and have only recently begun to use the powder measure in a used Dillon 650 I bought to throw my charges. I've never trusted my powder measures (I have several) because I've always used stick powders like IMR 4350 and those powders have never been consistent enough for me to trust. I did some experimentation with the Dillon powder measure using H-380 and it was so consistent, it about blew me away -- all charges I threw were within .01! I'm mostly loading .223 and 22-250 now and I'm new at the .223 but have good accurate loads worked up for the 22-250 using H-4895. I also hunt deer with a .257 Ackley Imp but use IMR-4350 in it. I know H450 is similar to IMR 4350 but wondered about what else I might try because there is virtually no load data for H-450, except in one old Speer book I have. Thanks for your list. If I can find any, I might try Staball 6.5!
There are some small grained extruded powders that may also work Depending on the cartridge
 
That list certainly helps! I knew about AA-2460, TAC, CFE-223, H-380, H-414/760, and H-450 because I have those powders -- and recearched BL-C2 but didn't necessarily know about the rest! I'm a long time reloader who has always weighed my loads and have only recently begun to use the powder measure in a used Dillon 650 I bought to throw my charges. I've never trusted my powder measures (I have several) because I've always used stick powders like IMR 4350 and those powders have never been consistent enough for me to trust. I did some experimentation with the Dillon powder measure using H-380 and it was so consistent, it about blew me away -- all charges I threw were within .01! I'm mostly loading .223 and 22-250 now and I'm new at the .223 but have good accurate loads worked up for the 22-250 using H-4895. I also hunt deer with a .257 Ackley Imp but use IMR-4350 in it. I know H450 is similar to IMR 4350 but wondered about what else I might try because there is virtually no load data for H-450, except in one old Speer book I have. Thanks for your list. If I can find any, I might try Staball 6.5!
I once had the pleasure of shooting prairie dogs with JB Hodgdon for a couple of days, according to him H414 is the ball powder equivalent of IMR4350 and H450 was the equivalent to H4831 that was in 98 and H450 was being dropped from the production line at that time.
 
I once had the pleasure of shooting prairie dogs with JB Hodgdon for a couple of days, according to him H414 is the ball powder equivalent of IMR4350 and H450 was the equivalent to H4831 that was in 98 and H450 was being dropped from the production line at that time.
I did know H414/760 were the same and were similar to IMR4350! Some time ago I tried to find data for H450 in a 270 WSM and did a lot of comparisons for it. I don't remember what I finally decided except that I finally gave up and used some H1000 I had -- and worked up some good loads using the H1000! However I still have the H450! Thanks for the information on H450 being equivalent to H4831!
 
I did know H414/760 were the same and were similar to IMR4350! Some time ago I tried to find data for H450 in a 270 WSM and did a lot of comparisons for it. I don't remember what I finally decided except that I finally gave up and used some H1000 I had -- and worked up some good loads using the H1000! However I still have the H450! Thanks for the information on H450 being equivalent to H4831!
H-450 has been out of production for years. It was discontinued prior to the .270 WSM being introduced, hence the lack of published loading data for that particular cartridge. If you are seeking slower burning ball powders for use in cartridges similar to the .270 WSM, I suggest looking for Ramshot Hunter or Magnum, Accurate MagPro, and Alliant Power Pro 4000-MR. Another good hint for determining if a powder is ball powder is if it is manufactured in the USA. Chances are if it is produced domestically, it is a ball or spherical powder from St. Marks, Florida.
 
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I really liked superformance for my 22-250, 55gr bullets and heaver. I meters very easily. It does cause a little more carbon but what better way to help a barrel cool down than a good swabbing after 50 prairie dog shots. Trying to use with a 6.5 creed now. Another reason I like it is because most people dont and its available.
 
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