Disclaimers:
1. I'm new. Please don't flame me (too much).
2. This is purely for information, YMMV.
I acquired some rifle powder marked Bonanza 4831. The powder in question is in 10 pound, waxed cardboard cartons about the size of a #10 tin can.
I have two of these canisters, one partial and one full. I have scoured the interwebs (and we all know how reliable here-say on the internet is) and not found much. The only reference I've found to the powder is from one guy that posted the same questions about the powder on multiple other forums. Most of the responses were to throw it out, as you can't verify its origins or the correct load data. Many other responders said that a rifle or your life are worth a lot more than a few pounds of powder. I also gleaned that cardboard canisters haven't been used to store powder since the late '60s or early '70s, and Bonanza Sports, Inc. went out of business sometime in that era. I think this powder is old. [Not making any statements about you, ladies and gents, born in that era or much, much before]
I have two bad vices:
1. I am cheap, and 10+ pounds of powder will supply me for a long time and is 10+ pounds of powder I don't have to buy
2. I am curious.
I decided to post my experience, in case someone else is curious. This is what I know about the powder. The powder is listed as "4831 DATA POWDER". It is not H4831 or IMR4831, and nobody has ever heard of load data for "Bonanza 4831". I decided to dig for some data from the era. I happen to have some classic Lyman Reloading Handbooks, namely 43rd edition (~1960s) (I think, as the cover and first few pages are missing), 45th edition (copyright 1970) and the current, 49th edition (copyright 2008). I used the older manuals to compare load data. Low and behold, there is a straight 4831 powder listed in the 43rd edition, as well as the 45th edition. Interestingly, the only manufacturer specific variety powder listed in the 43rd edition is H380, but by the 45th edition, there are several IMR-series powders, several H-series powders and even some Rx-series powders, and yet 4831 is still listed by itself. By the 49th edition, 4831 is available in both, IMR- and H- varieties, but no straight 4831.
43rd edition, page 132:
45th edition, page 104:
49th edition, page 225:
Interestingly, the data in the 45th edition is the same as the load data for H4831 in the 49th edition. The charge weight of the 43rd edition, is closer to the charge weight of the current (49th edition) H4831, than say, current IMR4831. However the published velocities from the 43rd edition more closely match the max velocities given for the current IMR4831. Unfortunately, the 43rd edition does not give pressures. But in my mind it is safe to assume (after working up to it) that the H4831 charges are in the ballpark for the load data of this old "Bonanza 4831" powder that I have.
Please note my testing is in a Winchester Model 70 Classic, .30-'06 Springfield, with a 24 inch factory barrel. The day was slightly windy with about ~10mph, full value crosswind (pretty light for SW Idaho) and temperature approximately 40 degrees F. I shot prone over a small pack I use as a rest.
I tested 5 rounds at 55.0 grains each of IMR4831 and "Bonanza 4831". The bullet used was a Hornady 180 grain SST PTBT. On shooting, I found that the Bonanza shot a little, possibly 3/4", lower than the IMR4831, leading me to believe that the Bonanza is a little slower powder and will need a few grains more to match it, also leading me to believe that it is closer to H4831. I didn't load any H4831 to compare, as I didn't have any H4831 on hand. I will post more of my findings as I continue to develop a load with this powder.
IMR4831
"Bonanza 4831"
Hopefully I haven't been too longwinded, especially for a newbie, but at the very least I enjoyed writing this and hope someone else finds this interesting or useful.
1. I'm new. Please don't flame me (too much).
2. This is purely for information, YMMV.
I acquired some rifle powder marked Bonanza 4831. The powder in question is in 10 pound, waxed cardboard cartons about the size of a #10 tin can.
I have two of these canisters, one partial and one full. I have scoured the interwebs (and we all know how reliable here-say on the internet is) and not found much. The only reference I've found to the powder is from one guy that posted the same questions about the powder on multiple other forums. Most of the responses were to throw it out, as you can't verify its origins or the correct load data. Many other responders said that a rifle or your life are worth a lot more than a few pounds of powder. I also gleaned that cardboard canisters haven't been used to store powder since the late '60s or early '70s, and Bonanza Sports, Inc. went out of business sometime in that era. I think this powder is old. [Not making any statements about you, ladies and gents, born in that era or much, much before]
I have two bad vices:
1. I am cheap, and 10+ pounds of powder will supply me for a long time and is 10+ pounds of powder I don't have to buy
2. I am curious.
I decided to post my experience, in case someone else is curious. This is what I know about the powder. The powder is listed as "4831 DATA POWDER". It is not H4831 or IMR4831, and nobody has ever heard of load data for "Bonanza 4831". I decided to dig for some data from the era. I happen to have some classic Lyman Reloading Handbooks, namely 43rd edition (~1960s) (I think, as the cover and first few pages are missing), 45th edition (copyright 1970) and the current, 49th edition (copyright 2008). I used the older manuals to compare load data. Low and behold, there is a straight 4831 powder listed in the 43rd edition, as well as the 45th edition. Interestingly, the only manufacturer specific variety powder listed in the 43rd edition is H380, but by the 45th edition, there are several IMR-series powders, several H-series powders and even some Rx-series powders, and yet 4831 is still listed by itself. By the 49th edition, 4831 is available in both, IMR- and H- varieties, but no straight 4831.
43rd edition, page 132:
45th edition, page 104:
49th edition, page 225:
Interestingly, the data in the 45th edition is the same as the load data for H4831 in the 49th edition. The charge weight of the 43rd edition, is closer to the charge weight of the current (49th edition) H4831, than say, current IMR4831. However the published velocities from the 43rd edition more closely match the max velocities given for the current IMR4831. Unfortunately, the 43rd edition does not give pressures. But in my mind it is safe to assume (after working up to it) that the H4831 charges are in the ballpark for the load data of this old "Bonanza 4831" powder that I have.
Please note my testing is in a Winchester Model 70 Classic, .30-'06 Springfield, with a 24 inch factory barrel. The day was slightly windy with about ~10mph, full value crosswind (pretty light for SW Idaho) and temperature approximately 40 degrees F. I shot prone over a small pack I use as a rest.
I tested 5 rounds at 55.0 grains each of IMR4831 and "Bonanza 4831". The bullet used was a Hornady 180 grain SST PTBT. On shooting, I found that the Bonanza shot a little, possibly 3/4", lower than the IMR4831, leading me to believe that the Bonanza is a little slower powder and will need a few grains more to match it, also leading me to believe that it is closer to H4831. I didn't load any H4831 to compare, as I didn't have any H4831 on hand. I will post more of my findings as I continue to develop a load with this powder.
IMR4831
"Bonanza 4831"
Hopefully I haven't been too longwinded, especially for a newbie, but at the very least I enjoyed writing this and hope someone else finds this interesting or useful.
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