Accidentally finding a great load

steveNChunter · October 21, 2013, 08:03 PM

It's been almost a year now since the current shortage began, and it's forced us all to either pay too much to get the components we need, wait it out till what we need comes back in stock, or buy what you can get your hands on that will work for your uses.

I'm curious how many people have had to "make do" with different combinations than what you're used to of powders, bullets, or primers, maybe even brass, and accidentally found a great load in the process. (I'm not talking about trying anything unsafe)

Anybody had this happen?

Nick_C_S · October 21, 2013, 08:22 PM

Yes. I "discovered" AA2 & AA5 powder, due to the shortage. The stuff meters great (especially #2), burns clean, and shoots consistently.

4runnerman · October 21, 2013, 09:04 PM

I have never had any luck with varget in my BR. RL-15 has been my match powder. Ran out of it. Had no choice but to give it more work ( had 15 lbs of it ). Low and behold by luck I hit a load that just rocked. Varget has become my new BR powder now

mjes92 · October 22, 2013, 11:20 AM

RL #7 for 223 loads / 55gr projectiles.
Suprized it work better for me than Varget. With slightly lower load density I get more rounds per pound.

rclark · October 22, 2013, 12:21 PM

After the first go around, I just kept buying different powders and finding good loads... Now have a table of all the loads in a spreadsheet. I still have my 'favorites', but if I need to, I have loads for a 'bunch' of different powders that work well. Fun searching too. The last one I worked up for different calibers was 20/28.

Hammerhead · October 22, 2013, 01:26 PM

I wasn't going to use my best components during the shortage, so I bought what I could find for my 357s and found a new pet load.

357 brass, Rainier plated 158 grain FP over 6.5 grains of SR-4756 with WSPM primers and a light profile crimp.

It's a real nice load that is accurate in all my magnums and is super clean. No unburned powder, no greasy residue on the outside of the gun, and no fouling.

NWPilgrim · October 22, 2013, 01:46 PM

One of my favorite powders for .223 and Garand loads, Varget, was about the first to disappear. So I went looking for another .223 powder and found that H335 and BLC2 are even better than Varget for most bullets under 75 gr.

SIL found that IMR 8208XBR is also a great .223 powder and was able to get it toward the end of powder availability but it is now hard to find as well.

David Bachelder · October 22, 2013, 04:40 PM

I used Hodgdon Universal for most of my straight wall pistol cases.

I bought HP-38 because it was all I could find and now I'm a HP-38 Fan.

I used 2400 for my magnum loads, now I use H-110 and like it.

I used TiteGroup on a few occasions, now I use it regularly.

I never kept over 500 primers on hand, nowadays I keep thousands.

I still can't find any Hodgdon Universal. I'm OK with that.

Kimber84 · October 22, 2013, 05:30 PM

RL15 behind a 60g Vmax. Shoots absolutely lights out in my Aramalite.

Killed groundhogs at 400 yards with it after I got it chronoed and dialed in.

Nick_C_S · October 22, 2013, 06:01 PM

Quote:

I bought HP-38 because it was all I could find and now I'm a HP-38 Fan.

Welcome to the club. HP-38 (Win 231 - same powder) is the best powder ever.

Quote:

I used 2400 for my magnum loads, now I use H-110 and like it.

Welcome to the club. H-110 (Win 296 - same powder) is the second best powder ever.

steveNChunter · October 22, 2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

I used TiteGroup on a few occasions, now I use it regularly.

I started using Titegroup for .45 acp after not being able to find W231, HP38, Unique, or Bullseye locally. It's very accurate, decently clean, and makes great target loads with decent velocity. It's cheap too and as it says on the can, "a little goes a long way"

4runnerman · October 22, 2013, 06:46 PM

stevenchunter-- whats your dose?. I have been using it in the 45 for years. 4.2 gns with a 230 gn berrys bullet. Unreal for acuracy

steveNChunter · October 22, 2013, 07:22 PM

5.5 grains and a 185 gr Hornady HAP. CCI 300 primers. 1.220" OAL

I've got some 230 gr XTP's laying around I will work up a load for eventually with it.

October 21, 2013, 08:03 PM	#1
steveNChunter Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2012 Location: Southern Appalachian Mtns Posts: 1,520	Accidentally finding a great load It's been almost a year now since the current shortage began, and it's forced us all to either pay too much to get the components we need, wait it out till what we need comes back in stock, or buy what you can get your hands on that will work for your uses. I'm curious how many people have had to "make do" with different combinations than what you're used to of powders, bullets, or primers, maybe even brass, and accidentally found a great load in the process. (I'm not talking about trying anything unsafe) Anybody had this happen? __________________ DEO VINDICE

October 21, 2013, 09:04 PM	#3
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	I have never had any luck with varget in my BR. RL-15 has been my match powder. Ran out of it. Had no choice but to give it more work ( had 15 lbs of it ). Low and behold by luck I hit a load that just rocked. Varget has become my new BR powder now __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

October 22, 2013, 11:20 AM	#4
mjes92 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2013 Location: Land of 10,000 taxes Posts: 211	RL #7 RL #7 for 223 loads / 55gr projectiles. Suprized it work better for me than Varget. With slightly lower load density I get more rounds per pound. __________________ Dad !!! "It's only going to be perfect if you do it yourself." - my teenage daughter Dad !!! "I'm not scared" My Cancer fighting daughter." Cancer Sucks NRA - Life Member

October 22, 2013, 12:21 PM	#5
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,622	After the first go around, I just kept buying different powders and finding good loads... Now have a table of all the loads in a spreadsheet. I still have my 'favorites', but if I need to, I have loads for a 'bunch' of different powders that work well. Fun searching too. The last one I worked up for different calibers was 20/28. __________________ A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.

October 22, 2013, 04:40 PM	#8
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	I used Hodgdon Universal for most of my straight wall pistol cases. I bought HP-38 because it was all I could find and now I'm a HP-38 Fan. I used 2400 for my magnum loads, now I use H-110 and like it. I used TiteGroup on a few occasions, now I use it regularly. I never kept over 500 primers on hand, nowadays I keep thousands. I still can't find any Hodgdon Universal. I'm OK with that. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

October 21, 2013, 08:22 PM	#2
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,523	Yes. I "discovered" AA2 & AA5 powder, due to the shortage. The stuff meters great (especially #2), burns clean, and shoots consistently. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

October 22, 2013, 01:26 PM	#6
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	I wasn't going to use my best components during the shortage, so I bought what I could find for my 357s and found a new pet load. 357 brass, Rainier plated 158 grain FP over 6.5 grains of SR-4756 with WSPM primers and a light profile crimp. It's a real nice load that is accurate in all my magnums and is super clean. No unburned powder, no greasy residue on the outside of the gun, and no fouling.

October 22, 2013, 01:46 PM	#7
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	One of my favorite powders for .223 and Garand loads, Varget, was about the first to disappear. So I went looking for another .223 powder and found that H335 and BLC2 are even better than Varget for most bullets under 75 gr. SIL found that IMR 8208XBR is also a great .223 powder and was able to get it toward the end of powder availability but it is now hard to find as well. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

October 22, 2013, 05:30 PM	#9
Kimber84 Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2013 Location: US Posts: 455	Accidentally finding a great load RL15 behind a 60g Vmax. Shoots absolutely lights out in my Aramalite. Killed groundhogs at 400 yards with it after I got it chronoed and dialed in.

October 22, 2013, 06:46 PM	#12
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	stevenchunter-- whats your dose?. I have been using it in the 45 for years. 4.2 gns with a 230 gn berrys bullet. Unreal for acuracy __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

October 22, 2013, 07:22 PM	#13
steveNChunter Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2012 Location: Southern Appalachian Mtns Posts: 1,520	5.5 grains and a 185 gr Hornady HAP. CCI 300 primers. 1.220" OAL I've got some 230 gr XTP's laying around I will work up a load for eventually with it. __________________ DEO VINDICE