7.62 nato m118lr powder ?

seant · November 7, 2010, 11:02 PM

Does anyone know what powder the army uses for M 118 LR?
Im trying to handload a duplicate load.

I took one apart and weighed the powder. 42.5 gr
175 gr SMK
lack city brass.

At first I thought 4064 but the granules in the m118 lr are smaller.

Thanks in advance.

golfnutrlv · November 7, 2010, 11:36 PM

I believe it is Alliant Reloder 15.

I could be wrong, and I know for years the military used an IMR powder in that load.

Double check me, but that's my best guess.

Loader9 · November 7, 2010, 11:38 PM

M118 Special Ball ammo was used in sniper grade weapons where accuracy was paramount. The bullet was a 172 gr moving at 2640'ps exact from a test weapon. Loads were trimmed to duplicate the speed so your weighing the powder will only get you in the ballpark. They used WC-846 which is a ball powder or they used IMR 4895 which is a stick powder. Looking at the Hodgdon website, the max loading for the IMR 4895 with a 175 gr bullet is 45.0 grs getting 2700'ps. If you are loading this for an M1a, I'd avoid the max load as pressures will be tall for the military max of 50,000psi versus 57800psi per Hodgdon site.

seant · November 7, 2010, 11:53 PM

From the round I took apart, the powder is stick powder and the SMK weights 174.8 gr on my scale.

HiBC · November 7, 2010, 11:58 PM

I was told by someone who would know that Re-15 was used.
However,that is probably about who has the contract at the time.
loader 9's info may very well be correct for some lots.

Wildalaska · November 8, 2010, 12:39 AM

Use 40 grains RL15

Best wishes

WildimfollowingyouAlaska ™©2002-2010

seant · November 8, 2010, 01:12 AM

Thanks for all the prompt responses. I really appreciate it.

Looks like I need to pick up some reloader15.

Wildheisastalker,thinkisawhimattherangetodayalaska

HiBC · November 8, 2010, 03:07 PM

My "someone who would know" after a career that included being an "A" tem commander,then moving on up through SOCOM,hs spent his life involved with developing arms,equiptment,and doctrine for SOCOM.
He has been directly involved in the development of many of the improvements that our troops use to advantage today.He told me Alliant has the contract to load the 172 gr Sniper round.They use Re-15.I know it is true.
It would be wrong for me to connect his name to anything I might say,so,often I must say "I have been told".

kraigwy · November 8, 2010, 03:15 PM

How much RL 15 in the 118LR and what makes it better then 4895.

I guess I can see what works in my rifle, but its gonna have to be great to beat 4895.

Wildalaska · November 8, 2010, 03:19 PM

My load of 185 Scenar, Lapua case, 40 gr RL15 and 210M is way submoa out of my blaser. I had no luck with 4895 with that bullet

Kind Regards

WildmaybeifiusedlighterbulletsAlaska ™©2002-2010

**Mike Irwin** · November 8, 2010, 03:26 PM

Remember that you are very likely unable to get the EXACT same powder.

The powders we can get are blended from a variety of lots. They're called canister powders and are so blended so that every can a reloader buys will give roughly the same performance curve year after year.

That's not as much a consideration with the military.

HiBC · November 9, 2010, 03:30 AM

this is a little fuzzy in the memory,I could be a little off.
As I recall,before the Hogdon Extreme series,some of the best powders for uniform performance through extreme temperatures were the Reloader series powders.I think that was a factor in choosing the powder for the Mil sniper load.
At that time,H-4895 was not yet one of Hogdon's Extreme series powders.
Initially,I think thet were just varget and benchmark.now,I think H-4895 is a Hogdon Extreme,and so its temperature performance should be as good or better than Re-15

November 7, 2010, 11:02 PM	#1
seant Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2009 Posts: 115	7.62 nato m118lr powder ? Does anyone know what powder the army uses for M 118 LR? Im trying to handload a duplicate load. I took one apart and weighed the powder. 42.5 gr 175 gr SMK lack city brass. At first I thought 4064 but the granules in the m118 lr are smaller. Thanks in advance.

November 7, 2010, 11:36 PM	#2
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,347	I believe it is Alliant Reloder 15. I could be wrong, and I know for years the military used an IMR powder in that load. Double check me, but that's my best guess. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS "The price of liberty is vigilance" America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

November 8, 2010, 03:15 PM	#9
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	How much RL 15 in the 118LR and what makes it better then 4895. I guess I can see what works in my rifle, but its gonna have to be great to beat 4895. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

November 8, 2010, 03:26 PM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Remember that you are very likely unable to get the EXACT same powder. The powders we can get are blended from a variety of lots. They're called canister powders and are so blended so that every can a reloader buys will give roughly the same performance curve year after year. That's not as much a consideration with the military. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

November 7, 2010, 11:38 PM	#3
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	M118 Special Ball ammo was used in sniper grade weapons where accuracy was paramount. The bullet was a 172 gr moving at 2640'ps exact from a test weapon. Loads were trimmed to duplicate the speed so your weighing the powder will only get you in the ballpark. They used WC-846 which is a ball powder or they used IMR 4895 which is a stick powder. Looking at the Hodgdon website, the max loading for the IMR 4895 with a 175 gr bullet is 45.0 grs getting 2700'ps. If you are loading this for an M1a, I'd avoid the max load as pressures will be tall for the military max of 50,000psi versus 57800psi per Hodgdon site.

November 7, 2010, 11:53 PM	#4
seant Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2009 Posts: 115	From the round I took apart, the powder is stick powder and the SMK weights 174.8 gr on my scale.

November 7, 2010, 11:58 PM	#5
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	I was told by someone who would know that Re-15 was used. However,that is probably about who has the contract at the time. loader 9's info may very well be correct for some lots.

November 8, 2010, 12:39 AM	#6
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	Use 40 grains RL15 Best wishes WildimfollowingyouAlaska ™©2002-2010

November 8, 2010, 01:12 AM	#7
seant Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2009 Posts: 115	Thanks for all the prompt responses. I really appreciate it. Looks like I need to pick up some reloader15. Wildheisastalker,thinkisawhimattherangetodayalaska

November 8, 2010, 03:07 PM	#8
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	My "someone who would know" after a career that included being an "A" tem commander,then moving on up through SOCOM,hs spent his life involved with developing arms,equiptment,and doctrine for SOCOM. He has been directly involved in the development of many of the improvements that our troops use to advantage today.He told me Alliant has the contract to load the 172 gr Sniper round.They use Re-15.I know it is true. It would be wrong for me to connect his name to anything I might say,so,often I must say "I have been told".

November 8, 2010, 03:19 PM	#10
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	My load of 185 Scenar, Lapua case, 40 gr RL15 and 210M is way submoa out of my blaser. I had no luck with 4895 with that bullet Kind Regards WildmaybeifiusedlighterbulletsAlaska ™©2002-2010

November 9, 2010, 03:30 AM	#12
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	this is a little fuzzy in the memory,I could be a little off. As I recall,before the Hogdon Extreme series,some of the best powders for uniform performance through extreme temperatures were the Reloader series powders.I think that was a factor in choosing the powder for the Mil sniper load. At that time,H-4895 was not yet one of Hogdon's Extreme series powders. Initially,I think thet were just varget and benchmark.now,I think H-4895 is a Hogdon Extreme,and so its temperature performance should be as good or better than Re-15