Surplus Powder

[Cheepshot]

Has anyone used surplus powder?

How do you get shooting info for it and is it any good/safe?

I am shooting 9mm, 40, 45 and .223

[45Marlin carbine]

I have used surplus 4895 for my '06, does good. I've seen some fellas on the Mini forum that use it in their '14 loads. in fact it is one of the most popular. there you could find data for the loads they used. I have used it in my M30, does OK but I can't get the speed I want with it.

[swmike]

WC844 is great for your .223.

Just make sure that your "Source" is putting what they say in the container.

[crowbeaner]

Jeff Bartlett in KY gets surplus 4895 all the time, and has really good prices too. Check him out for stuff for your 223. CB.

[Linear Thinker]

Cheep,

If you load in quantity, surplus powder is a big $$ saver.
One thing to watch out for - it will not be as consistent lot to lot as the canister powders, I found that out 20 years ago with WC852. One batch was fantastic in my Garand, the next one started blowing the primers. The loads were same both by volume and by weight.

If you go the surplus route, buy a lot from the same lot.
I like military powders, they tend to be flash-treated and don't make a fireball when you shoot.
A friend of mine uses WC820 for 44 Mag, the fireball is noticeably smaller than that made by commercial powders.
LT

[Cheepshot]

CB how do I contact Bartlett?

[crowbeaner]

Sorry cheep: I recopied a bunch of phone #s the other day and I thought I recopied his, but it's not on the paper. I got through on the puter once, but I can't remember the link. I know he has an 800 # though. Try 800 information. He's in Kentucky. Bartlett reloading?

[Crosshair]

Bartlett Reloaders (http://www.gibrass.com/)

A word of warning. Be careful to be sure that the burn rate is correct. I have a keg of surplus AA#5 that had a burn rate much closer to Unique, a bit faster even. (He warned that it had a faster burning rate, but it was much faster than I had expected.) I adjusted my loads accordingly and use the powder without trouble.

The 4895 and other common surplus powders should be close to spot on, but use a chronograph to confirm some of the less common surplus stuff.

[Shell Shucker]

A lot of skeet shooters use H-108 in 410 loads.

[sundog]

Cheepshot, I use A LOT of surp powders.

Bartletts - already mentioned
Hi_Tech
Pat's Reloading
Any of the AA Data Powders from Powder Valley and various other sources.

If you find something in the burn rate you use, consider it. Start low and work up. Chronograph helps. Many times a data sheet is provided as with the Data powders.

I'm currently experimenting with surp '4759' - a pull down that started out as SR7641 a non cannister powder. Appears to be good stuff with cast in rifles.

844 and Data 2230-C are good performers in .223.

Nothing wrong with paying less. Make sure your source is reputable, like one of those listed above. As long as you don't get 'stoopid', it's good stuff.

+1 for the surp 4895 already mentioned, also.

860 is good in the 7 mag.

The only surp that has had an issues that I know of is IMR7383. It is triple base pull down from 50 cal spotter ammo. I've been using it in 30-06 for NRA high power and it is stellar! Problem is you can't compress it as it gets peaky real fast. Knowing that, I have a load that works just fine. SD is single digit and ES in the teens run over the chrono several different times. Very accurate, also. Leaves a very black residue that does not affect accuracy, but easy to clean. In addition the residue appears to deter copper fouling.

[Crosshair]

sundog

The Speer #13 loading manual has some reduced load data for jacket bullets in several rifle calibers using 4759, that data should work for cast bullets.