Using up random powder

[slimmer13]

Over the years, I accumulate powder that I bought for rifles I no longer own or cartridges I'm no longer interested in. I've got 8208 XBR, H 4895, IMR 4064, RL 15, and RL17.

There is load data for each of these powders for .308 in 168 grain. If I was to use up all the random powder for bulk ammo and load them all to the published, say 2600 FPS range, would the POI be significantly different for range ammo from one powder to another considering the different burn speeds?

Basically I want to load it all up and dump it all into ammo cans.

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[DizzyJ]

Yes I'd expect the poi to be different.

 

[DizzyJ]

I guess it all depends on what you consider to be significant.

 

[slimmer13]

Im just looking for minute of tennis ball.

 

[DizzyJ]

Im just looking for minute of tennis ball.

bubblegum. Now you've got me wanting to measure a tennis ball!

 

[DizzyJ]

I would hope the shots would be within a 3-4" impact area if you're holding the same speeds. I've honestly never tested your theory though.

 

[gmerkt]

In my experience, the point of impact will vary some from one type of powder load to another.

 

[orygun]

If all of the loads used the same bullet, seated at the same depth and they had a velocity spread of 100-150fps, I would expect little variation in overall group size.
But, if ya wanna do a little experiment you could segregate in batches by powder type and see if one stands out as the best.

 

[oremike]

I do this as well as the odd and ends and call it shootem' up ammo. Great for playing happy can at the local gravel pit with a couple good ol' boys.

 

[gmerkt]

I should expand on my original comment, #7 above.

To do what you suggest would involve a lot of variation to begin with. Book values vary. Temperatures vary. Atmospheric pressure varies. To get a better picture, you'd have to ladder several loads of each and shoot them across a chronograph to get them all within the desired range of velocity, then compare point of impact.

Having said the foregoing, for "good enough" shooting, using book data you'd likely wind up good enough for deer hunting. After all, it's not unknown for hunters to take a box of 20 or this and another box of 20 of that afield. Obviously those two boxes are gonna print different POI even same bullet weight.

 

[DizzyJ]

Over the years, I accumulate powder that I bought for rifles I no longer own or cartridges I'm no longer interested in. I've got 8208 XBR, H 4895, IMR 4064, RL 15, and RL17.

There is load data for each of these powders for .308 in 168 grain. If I was to use up all the random powder for bulk ammo and load them all to the published, say 2600 FPS range, would the POI be significantly different for range ammo from one powder to another considering the different burn speeds?

Basically I want to load it all up and dump it all into ammo cans.

How much of each do you have left? Perhaps a trade could be made to get you more of one kind of powder. Still not ideal but it could get you closer.

 

[slimmer13]

How much of each do you have left? Perhaps a trade could be made to get you more of one kind of powder. Still not ideal but it could get you closer.

I have a pound and a half of 8208 XBR and RL 17 and full pounds of the rest. Im just trying to simplify my life and get to one load per cartridge and hopefully overlap some powders. There is a local forum I could throw them up on. It's hot right now so they might move.

I load for .223, .308, 6.5 CM, and 7mm mag.

 

[po18guy]

Any ballisticians in the house? I would think that, setting internal ballistics aside, exit (muzzle) velocity would be all that matters. Easy enough to load up 5 of each and put them to the test.

 

[slimmer13]

Any ballisticians in the house? I would think that, setting internal ballistics aside, exit (muzzle) velocity would be all that matters. Easy enough to load up 5 of each and put them to the test.

I think so. Like stated, I think the question is the accuracy of the of the published velocity and I'm currently chronographless. My brother has a lab radar I could use, I'm just busy and lazy.

 

[jfeller]

Ironic that I was trying to cover 3 different cartridges with one powder! Truth be told I failed.

 

[thorborg]

Ironic that I was trying to cover 3 different cartridges with one powder! Truth be told I failed.

I load: .270, 6.5 X 55, 30-06, .243, plus 6.5 X 257 Roberts, and 7.62 X 54 when I still had the rifles, all using IMR 4350 and with very good results.

 

[DizzyJ]

Any ballisticians in the house? I would think that, setting internal ballistics aside, exit (muzzle) velocity would be all that matters. Easy enough to load up 5 of each and put them to the test.

I think there's more than speed at play. Otherwise you could use any powder and get the same speed and poi. In real life, it doesn't work that way. Some powders are inherently better than others in certain calibers. Harmonics come into play.

 

[Caveman Jim]

So much to learn in this addiction (hobby)...

 

[DizzyJ]

So much to learn in this addiction (hobby)...

More than enough to make your head spin.

 

[DLS]

... Harmonics come into play.

This!

Different powders have differing burn rates and resultant pressure curves. So the barrel harmonics will be different for each load, even with identical bullets and muzzle velocity. How much difference? Not much for your intended purposes. If you are on your hind legs shooting at that tennis ball you probaly would not notice it at all within 100 yards or so of range.