Bad Lot Bad Can

[cross]

I recently (within the past year or so) have realized that there are a couple of powders in my collection in which always yield less than average results compared to most other peoples accounts of them and am wondering if I don't just have a bad lot or can in these powders?

Cases in point, I have a can of IMR-4350 that I've been experimenting with for 25 years or so and it has always yielded poor results. I've never loaded with it for hunting or shooting because none of the loads ever pass the experimental stage. Plenty of speed but no accuracy. Because it's only used for experimenting, this can of IMR-4350 lingers on, waiting to disappoint me again in future attempts. I have a can of Retumbo that acts just the same, good but inconsistent speed and poor accuracy. No loads ever pass the experiment stage so that can too just sits there and waits to disappoint.

The result of this, is when I'm working up a load for a new rifle or bullet, is I don't try IMR-4350 or Retumbo. The results always seem poor so I don't bother with them.

Do any of you have types of powder that are recommended by others but you never seem to get to work? Do you have the same miserable can sitting on your shelf that you've all but abandoned due to the fact that it never seems to deliver? Do you guys have powders that you avoid because you've never had luck with them? Has it been consistently bad luck over several cans or several lots?

I guess I'm trying to get a feel for whether or no there are others who have had bad luck with certain powders with a larger sample size that I have. I don't tend to worry about it as I've plenty of other powders that seem to consistently make me happy but wonder if my lack of success with these two kinds is just my experience or I just have two bad apples.

You too? Or just me?

 

[Sully2]

Take those 2 powders out in the back yard....dump both into a pile and set them afire. Dont let them aggravate you.

 

[EricL]

Do what Sully2 said! Or put them on craigslist and use the money to buy some you like!

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Lots of things could be the issue.

If you "need" those burn ranges, get a different can of one and run your test again.

or

Safely, do what they said. I'm a bit of a fire lover but powder burning is scary, cool but scary.

 

[FEENIX]

Instead of burning it, put it to better use. Place it in a small safe container and use it as fire starter for your survival kit.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

hmmm, I've never had too much trouble with either I4350 or retumbo... They are rather much "niche" powders at times though.... I'm using I4350 in my '06 and retumbo in my 7rum at present.

If you have a powder that doesn't work for you or you do not trust, give it to someone you know who could use it or burn it. Your minds eye will not let the powder work, even if it could do a good job. I am that way with magpro.... I've seen enough issues with that powder that I destroyed some to put it out of its misery.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Yep, I have the same issues as you with a few powders, to note, H4831/H4831sc has NEVER given me the results the books say in ANY cartridge I tried it in. Poor accuracy or 200fps below listed velocities, gave me a headache every time I tried it. Haven't bought any in 10 years or more.
Another powder that I have and continue to try but never get the results others get is H1000. I have a dedicated F-Class Open rifle in 300WM, those few that have one are ALL OVER H1000 telling me they have NEVER gotten such groups with any other powder, me, nope, doesn't cut the mustard. I get my best results with RE25, both accuracy AND higher velocities.
RE15 is another powder that has NEVER given me good results, so yes, I understand where you're coming from.

Cheers.
gun)

 

[cross]

Lefty and Magnum,

Those are the answers I was looking for! I'm not sure that I have bad cans or lots, I might just be a guy who's fate is to be a loser with those two powders. I love me some H1000. I feed it to all of my overbore magnums and it always produces speed and accuracy. H4831 and Magpro both are on my last resort powder list though.

Thanks guys.

 

[FEENIX]

Lefty and Magnum,

Those are the answers I was looking for! I'm not sure that I have bad cans or lots, I might just be a guy who's fate is to be a loser with those two powders. I love me some H1000. I feed it to all of my overbore magnums and it always produces speed and accuracy. H4831 and Magpro both are on my last resort powder list though.

Thanks guys.

H4831SC has been my go to powder for most of my rifles (6.5x55, .270 AI , .30-06, .300 WM, .338 WM, etc ...) for quite awhile now. I just started using Magpro on my .300 WSM and have not formed any opinions about it yet, other than it has yielded the best velocity with 215s thus far.

 

[cross]

Thanks Feenix,

I've tried H4831sc multiple times and only gotten it to work with one load. IMR-4831 seems to work much better for me so I tend to skip over the Hodgdon powder.

OK, thanks again guys. It seems that my experience is similar to others.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[FEENIX]

Thanks Feenix,

I've tried H4831sc multiple times and only gotten it to work with one load. IMR-4831 seems to work much better for me so I tend to skip over the Hodgdon powder.

OK, thanks again guys. It seems that my experience is similar to others.

Thanks,

Chad

Stick with what best works for you. The only IMR I have ever used thus far is IMR7828SSC and have gotten very good result with it.

I have a pound each of the new 4451 and 7977 but haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Cheers!

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

Yep, I have the same issues as you with a few powders, to note, H4831/H4831sc has NEVER given me the results the books say in ANY cartridge I tried it in. Poor accuracy or 200fps below listed velocities, gave me a headache every time I tried it. Haven't bought any in 10 years or more.
Another powder that I have and continue to try but never get the results others get is H1000. I have a dedicated F-Class Open rifle in 300WM, those few that have one are ALL OVER H1000 telling me they have NEVER gotten such groups with any other powder, me, nope, doesn't cut the mustard. I get my best results with RE25, both accuracy AND higher velocities.
RE15 is another powder that has NEVER given me good results, so yes, I understand where you're coming from.

Cheers.
gun)

As to rl15.... I never really took to rl15 until I tried it in my old 375h@h. I realized it could work wonders in a bigger bore. I'm not currently running rl15 in my 375h@h, but my 35 whelen is loving it with 220 speer pills at 2700 fps and sub moa groups at worst. A couple of weeks ago jweiel and I were at the local range and we shot successive clover-leafs with the little m77 Hawkeye in whelen. His at 100 yards directly after mine at 200 yards (that group is my recent best at 200 yards (.295") and the rifle is a stock ruger Hawkeye other than a floated barrel).