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Post by Deputy819 on Aug 31, 2022 10:35:58 GMT -5
There seems to be some VV N135 available here and there (tad bit slower than H4895 in burn rate) and I’d like to know if anyone here is using it with success? I’m having a bench rifle SML built and the barrel will be 28” in length, 1-18” twist and I’ll be trying 300 & 325 grain Pittman Aeromax’s. Thanks folks!
PS. a search here revealed only 1 thread where a member stated he was using 110gr of N135 with a 325 Pittman, but not much other information conveyed. 🤔
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Post by Richard on Aug 31, 2022 15:19:22 GMT -5
It should work in larger amounts with the 325 and 350's. Seems I probably tried it way back when but too many pages to go thru to find it. If it did work really well, I still would be using it. I save what I have left for my .17 MK4. There are a lot of powders that will work well if you have them on hand and have the time and enough experience to test them. I have gotten H335 (ball powder) to work well........you just need to put a booster of N-110 under it to keep it from mitigating into the bushing hole. Most shooters just want a decent load for deer hunting and not overly interested in bug holes? I have also done Triplex loads with good success like N-110/N120/N-130. I just found that the means did not justify the end!....but I tried!
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Post by hillbill on Aug 31, 2022 15:50:23 GMT -5
As Richard indicated it will likely work with the heavy stuff, 300s? they would be questionable? 325s and above should work but personally I have never fired it in a SML. It's fairly slow but would likely burn well if you get into the pressure parameters it's designed for, most VV powders I have shot burn very clean. As with any powder that's relatively unproven start low and ease your way up keeping good records as you go.
IMR-4198 has been showing up a good bit lately, you can likely source some if you look around, most times its better to run a proven load than to be a guinea pig.
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Post by Deputy819 on Aug 31, 2022 16:57:04 GMT -5
It should work in larger amounts with the 325 and 350's. Seems I probably tried it way back when but too many pages to go thru to find it. If it did work really well, I still would be using it. I save what I have left for my .17 MK4. There are a lot of powders that will work well if you have them on hand and have the time and enough experience to test them. I have gotten H335 (ball powder) to work well........you just need to put a booster of N-110 under it to keep it from mitigating into the bushing hole. Most shooters just want a decent load for deer hunting and not overly interested in bug holes? I have also done Triplex loads with good success like N-110/N120/N-130. I just found that the means did not justify the end!....but I tried! “If it did work really well, I still would be using it.” ^^^THIS speaks volumes to me^^^ But……I’m all about some “bug holes”, too! 😇
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Post by Deputy819 on Aug 31, 2022 17:05:30 GMT -5
As Richard indicated it will likely work with the heavy stuff, 300s? they would be questionable? 325s and above should work but personally I have never fired it in a SML. It's fairly slow but would likely burn well if you get into the pressure parameters it's designed for, most VV powders I have shot burn very clean. As with any powder that's relatively unproven start low and ease your way up keeping good records as you go. IMR-4198 has been showing up a good bit lately, you can likely source some if you look around, most times its better to run a proven load than to be a guinea pig. Yeah, I’m not much on being a Guinea Pig. The ‘proven powders’ that I (and probably everyone else) am looking for are nearly impossible to find, obviously. IMR 8208 XBR, Benchmark, H4895, IMR 4895, etc, etc. I have quite a bit of IMR-4198 that I use in my current SML (Defiance ‘Outcast’/Brux hunting rig) shooting 278gr Pittmans VERY accurately. I’m just trying to see what other powders folks may have tested with success as far as their bench rifles are concerned using 300’s and up…. 👍
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Post by blackpowder72 on Aug 31, 2022 20:08:36 GMT -5
Liked we talked earlier N120 if u can find it. Working awesome for me but it seems to be a lot of it around here no 4198 .
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Post by Deputy819 on Sept 1, 2022 5:40:17 GMT -5
Liked we talked earlier N120 if u can find it. Working awesome for me but it seems to be a lot of it around here no 4198 . Wasn’t sure how well that would work with 300-325 gr bullets. It’s a barn burner for you and those 275’s for sure!👍
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Post by Deputy819 on Sept 29, 2022 6:59:54 GMT -5
Snagged an 8 pounder of Benchmark yesterday at Powder Valley. I know from reading here that it’s GREAT for 300 grain bullets. It will look GREAT sitting next my to 10 lbs of IMR 8208 XBR, too. 😇👍
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Post by dennis on Sept 29, 2022 7:30:00 GMT -5
Snagged an 8 pounder of Benchmark yesterday at Powder Valley. I know from reading here that it’s GREAT for 300 grain bullets. It will look GREAT sitting next my to 10 lbs of IMR 8208 XBR, too. 😇👍 Good catch.
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Post by hillbill on Sept 29, 2022 8:04:50 GMT -5
Both powders work very well with 300s It takes just a couple grains more of 8208 to get the same speeds as benchmark but that difference could be lot specific also
I got very good accuracy and good burn with both
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Post by hillbill on Sept 29, 2022 10:14:09 GMT -5
To add Either of the 4198s or N-120 are very versatile powders with 275-325 grain bullets and are what I consider mild or slower speed loads, not that the speed is slow at all but greater speeds can be had with other powders.
Benchmark and 8208 are what I consider mid range powders, clean burners with great accuracy
4895 is a speed demon and burns really clean in most .45s with 300-325 grain pills, recoil also gets substantial especially with 325s. It is one of the most temp stable powders I have tested.
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Post by Deputy819 on Sept 29, 2022 14:43:36 GMT -5
To add Either of the 4198s or N-120 are very versatile powders with 275-325 grain bullets and are what I consider mild or slower speed loads, not that the speed is slow at all but greater speeds can be had with other powders. Benchmark and 8208 are what I consider mid range powders, clean burners with great accuracy 4895 is a speed demon and burns really clean in most .45s with 300-325 grain pills, recoil also gets substantial especially with 325s. It is one of the most temp stable powders I have tested. I’ve noted your load development here concerning Benchmark. Figured I’d better grab a keg while I could and avoid being a ‘Guinea Pig’ at all costs. 😇
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Post by Richard on Sept 29, 2022 17:59:54 GMT -5
A couple of months back I did a post specifically on 8208 and Benchmark being identical. For me, and y'all know I test a lot, these two powders are one and the same. My testing was with my .223 benchrest rifle. Velocity using the same cases, primers, bullets and shot on the same day, were identical. I then checked the size of the powder kernels/sticks and they were the same in both length and width. I ran them thru my Harrell's powder measure at exactly the same setting and the weights were identical. I would have no problem mixing the two together! At least the lots that I have!
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Post by Deputy819 on Sept 29, 2022 19:35:28 GMT -5
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Post by Richard on Sept 29, 2022 19:50:13 GMT -5
Just thought you might have missed it! Both good powders for the .45 SML and my .223. I could use a few more pounds of it.
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Post by Deputy819 on Sept 29, 2022 19:58:44 GMT -5
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