OK, got 4 pounds N 205.......

**44 AMP** · October 6, 2007, 05:37 PM

Now what can I do with it? I got four 1lb cans at a sale, and I can't find it listed in any of my old loading data. I can find N204, 203, and 200, but not N 205. I assume it is slower than N 204, but we all know about assumptions.

It may not be useful in any of the calibers I load, but without data......

So, tell me, what is this stuff good for?

Oh, yeah, the reason I bought it was it was $1 a can! Figured at that price I would be able to do something with it. If I can't use it in anything I currently load, maybe that is the excuse I need for another rifle!

Trapper L · October 6, 2007, 05:43 PM

What magnum rifle cartridges do you load for? I might have the data for you.

crowbeaner · October 6, 2007, 07:16 PM

Try the older Speer manuals. They might have the data. You could contact Norma and ask. I still have some AL8 that I'm using and the Speer books have the loads I need. CB.

**44 AMP** · October 7, 2007, 01:21 PM

Which uses medium rate powders. Maybe .25-06? Some very slow powders work for that one.

crowbeaner · October 7, 2007, 06:16 PM

Slow powders with heavy bullets in the .243 might be an application. The 25/06 might work. 25/284 is another. All my books are at the bench 30 miles away. Sorry. CB.

ZeroJunk · October 7, 2007, 06:23 PM

Don't get it mixed up with H205 which is a discontinued Hodgdon powder.Lots of uses for that in the old manuals.If you do a search on Norma N205 there are several loads listed for 308 Norma magnum etc.N205 falls between IMR 4831 and H4831 as far as burn rate goes.

Trapper L · October 7, 2007, 07:54 PM

For the 25-06 using N205 powder:
87 gr bullet- 49.0 grs start, 57.2 grs max- 3400'ps
100 gr bullet- 48.1 grs start, 56.1 grs max- 3300'ps
120 gr bullet- 43.7 grs start, 52.8 grs max- 3100'ps

For the 243 using N205 powder:
75 gr bullet- 43.6 grs start, 49.2 max- 3500'ps
87 gr bullet- 39.9 grs start, 46.0 max- 3200'ps
100 gr bullet- 38.9 grs start, 44.9 grs max- 3100'ps

Experience that I have had with this powder is that it works much better in larger cases with heavier bullets than the loading data above. A good comparison is the 300 Win Mag with a 180gr bullet or heavier is an ideal cartridge/powder combo than the above. It is a very dense powder and will not stack like any of the 4831 powders in the case. There is a considerable difference between manufacturers lots so work up to these max loads- you may not get to max and have pressure issues with your particular lot number. While I have friends that years ago would have paid dearly for this powder when it was taken off the market, it is one that had too many manufacturing issues to be considered a reliable powder option. Accuracy for the big cases was pretty darn good for most. You may find someone that will trade you for powder that is more suitable for your needs. I'd look around for a trade.

HankB · October 7, 2007, 09:24 PM

Norma 205 was, in my opinion, the best powder ever made for .30/06 with 180 grain bullets - I still have a few cans left.

The Speer #8 manual listed several loads with it. For example, in that .25-06 you mentioned, Speer listed . . .

100 grain spitzer: 57.0 grs start, 3321 fps; 61.0 grs max, 3569 fps
120 grain spitzer: 54.0 grs start, 3085 fps; 58.0 grs max, 3285 fps

This was out of a "custom" M70 with a 25" barrel, using "Gov. Issue" cases. This tells me Speer reformed GI .30/06 brass, and as for the "custom" rifle, there's no telling how the chamber and leade compare with other rifles - for all we know, the rifle had a Weatherby-style freebore.

Notice the difference here from Trapper L's data.

The closest powder available today is probably ReLoder 22.

(BTW, are you sure the cans are one pound? I seem to recall they were 400 grams or so . . .)

**44 AMP** · October 8, 2007, 11:29 PM

So, I guess I have slightly less than 4 lbs. I just checked, and the cans are about an inch shorter than IMR powder cans, and they say 400 grams.

So the powder is out of production? No wonder data is scarce. Well, I have plenty of powder already, so I have no pressing need to use this stuff. Anybody interested? Trade? PM me.

Thanks for the info.

October 6, 2007, 05:37 PM	#1
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,871	OK, got 4 pounds N 205....... Now what can I do with it? I got four 1lb cans at a sale, and I can't find it listed in any of my old loading data. I can find N204, 203, and 200, but not N 205. I assume it is slower than N 204, but we all know about assumptions. It may not be useful in any of the calibers I load, but without data...... So, tell me, what is this stuff good for? Oh, yeah, the reason I bought it was it was $1 a can! Figured at that price I would be able to do something with it. If I can't use it in anything I currently load, maybe that is the excuse I need for another rifle! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

October 6, 2007, 07:16 PM	#3
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Try the older Speer manuals. They might have the data. You could contact Norma and ask. I still have some AL8 that I'm using and the Speer books have the loads I need. CB. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

October 7, 2007, 01:21 PM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,871	Only magnum right now is .458 Win Mag... Which uses medium rate powders. Maybe .25-06? Some very slow powders work for that one. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

October 7, 2007, 06:16 PM	#5
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Slow powders with heavy bullets in the .243 might be an application. The 25/06 might work. 25/284 is another. All my books are at the bench 30 miles away. Sorry. CB. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

October 8, 2007, 11:29 PM	#9
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,871	400grams exactly right So, I guess I have slightly less than 4 lbs. I just checked, and the cans are about an inch shorter than IMR powder cans, and they say 400 grams. So the powder is out of production? No wonder data is scarce. Well, I have plenty of powder already, so I have no pressing need to use this stuff. Anybody interested? Trade? PM me. Thanks for the info. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

October 6, 2007, 05:43 PM	#2
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	What magnum rifle cartridges do you load for? I might have the data for you.

October 7, 2007, 06:23 PM	#6
ZeroJunk Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Location: Browns Summit NC Posts: 2,589	Don't get it mixed up with H205 which is a discontinued Hodgdon powder.Lots of uses for that in the old manuals.If you do a search on Norma N205 there are several loads listed for 308 Norma magnum etc.N205 falls between IMR 4831 and H4831 as far as burn rate goes.

October 7, 2007, 07:54 PM	#7
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	For the 25-06 using N205 powder: 87 gr bullet- 49.0 grs start, 57.2 grs max- 3400'ps 100 gr bullet- 48.1 grs start, 56.1 grs max- 3300'ps 120 gr bullet- 43.7 grs start, 52.8 grs max- 3100'ps For the 243 using N205 powder: 75 gr bullet- 43.6 grs start, 49.2 max- 3500'ps 87 gr bullet- 39.9 grs start, 46.0 max- 3200'ps 100 gr bullet- 38.9 grs start, 44.9 grs max- 3100'ps Experience that I have had with this powder is that it works much better in larger cases with heavier bullets than the loading data above. A good comparison is the 300 Win Mag with a 180gr bullet or heavier is an ideal cartridge/powder combo than the above. It is a very dense powder and will not stack like any of the 4831 powders in the case. There is a considerable difference between manufacturers lots so work up to these max loads- you may not get to max and have pressure issues with your particular lot number. While I have friends that years ago would have paid dearly for this powder when it was taken off the market, it is one that had too many manufacturing issues to be considered a reliable powder option. Accuracy for the big cases was pretty darn good for most. You may find someone that will trade you for powder that is more suitable for your needs. I'd look around for a trade.

October 7, 2007, 09:24 PM	#8
HankB Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Central Texas, outside of Austin Posts: 1,698	Norma 205 was, in my opinion, the best powder ever made for .30/06 with 180 grain bullets - I still have a few cans left. The Speer #8 manual listed several loads with it. For example, in that .25-06 you mentioned, Speer listed . . . 100 grain spitzer: 57.0 grs start, 3321 fps; 61.0 grs max, 3569 fps 120 grain spitzer: 54.0 grs start, 3085 fps; 58.0 grs max, 3285 fps This was out of a "custom" M70 with a 25" barrel, using "Gov. Issue" cases. This tells me Speer reformed GI .30/06 brass, and as for the "custom" rifle, there's no telling how the chamber and leade compare with other rifles - for all we know, the rifle had a Weatherby-style freebore. Notice the difference here from Trapper L's data. The closest powder available today is probably ReLoder 22. (BTW, are you sure the cans are one pound? I seem to recall they were 400 grams or so . . .) __________________ To be kind to your enemy is to be cruel to yourself - Sun Tzu