Ball vs. Extruded powder

[castnblast]

I have never loaded "ball" type powders because I have always heard they are heat sensitive. I live in South Texas where we have 2 seasons - Hot, and Not as Hot...

I was really leaning toward using H414 in a new 243 until I found out it was ball. Have any of you experienced accuracy issues with ball powders due to heat?

 

[Tuzo]

Try Varget

Varget works very well in my .243. It is an extruded powder but in very small grains with an easy metering compared to longer extruded powders. Hodgden claims insensitivity to temperature extremes.

I live near New Orleans and experience the same weather as Houston.

 

[RKG]

Heat sensitivity is an issue (if at all) where you go from summer to winter. If it is always hot where you are, shouldn't be an issue.

One of my favorite powders is Win 748. I shoot it in 30F winters and 90F summers and have not noticed much (if any) velocity difference. I have observed repeatable (albeit small; about 100 fps or so instrument) summer/winter velocity differences with other powders, including 3031 and RL-15, both of which are extruded.

 

[steve4102]

Ramshot Hunter.

 

[Ifishsum]

No accuracy issues that I've noticed, but I have seen a few cratered primers with my .204 on hot days with some loads that I developed in winter. It takes a fairly wide temperature swing though, and it's just something to be aware of - I certainly don't avoid ball powders because of it.

If you develop and test the loads in the same general climate that you plan to shoot them in, you won't have any problems (unless you leave your ammo sitting in the hot sun or something like that).

I like H414 in the .243

 

[dlb435]

I'm using ball powders (meters very well in my powder drop) I've had no issues even with ammo that I loaded 7 years ago.

 

[crowbeaner]

I use a LOT of H414/WW760 in the 243 and have no problems here in SC where it touches 100 in the summer. Just start about 2 grains low and work up 1/2 a grain until you find the "sweet spot". Use standard primers as both don't really need magnums for good ignition. It really shines with 80 to 100 grain bullets.

 

[Win_94]

I use H 414 in my 30-06 using 190gr SPBTs for winter. If it is below 32 degrees F then it shoots wonderful, once it gets above 32 the groups open up drastically.

When I realized that I developed a load for spring but that load wasn't viable for summer. So I went with IMR 4831 instead. The hotter it got the more I needed to change charge weight to remain accurate.

[edit]Also, I would also have an issue with the primer not igniting the powder charge immediately. I could get it to ignite a bit sooner with heavier loads but every 10 or so shots there would be a hesitation.[/edit]

 

[billnourse]

Living in NM I have temperatures from below zero to 100 degrees. I am now working on loads for all my rifles that will use the Hodgdon Extreme powders.

I have used 414(ball) with great suscess in the 30/06, but it is pretty radical depending on temperature, especially if you are loading to near max.

I use a lot of H380 (ball) in my 22/250, but I am no where near max with it, so not too much of an issue except for differences in bullet impact depending on the temp. It is a paririe dog gun, so it is mostly shot in warmer to hot temps.

Bill

 

[castnblast]

Thanks for the replies. I'm trying some of the hybrid hodgdon V100 for the 100 gr Speer BTSP's. I may give H4831 and H4350 a whirl too. I think the hybrid is actually a ball powder, and not a true extruded powder. Never used it before. First time for everything. yes - working up the loads. Should have some info soon on results!

 

[Slamfire]

It is absolutely true that ball powders are more difficult to ignite. I found that out with misfires/hangfires in cold weather with AA2520 in the 35 Whelen. Also with AA#9 in a 357. Flake and stick powders did not have the same issues in the same firearms fired on the same day.

It is my considered opinion, having shot tens of thousands of round in Service rifle competition, in snow to swampy heat, that stick powders have a wider "sweet" spot and give more warning signs before blowing primers.

I have carefully developed loads with ball powders in 80 F weather, shot the stuff in 100F weather and I suddenly had blown primers. Went from zero to Bitch in .1 seconds.

Of course I had to cut the loads.

In the cartridges I shoot, I cannot tell any difference in on target accuracy between dumped charges of ball or stick in .223, 308 and 30-06.

I only weigh maximum charges.

People who shoot from benches or bipods might see stuff that is lost when you are prone with a sling. But that is in the noise level as far as I am concerned.

 

[castnblast]

great info - Thanks!