Shortcut (SC) powder question

[Darkhorse]

I've been wanting to try some of the new temp stable H4831. It comes in both regular and SC. I think the SC would be a smoother more consistent burning powder and would meter better through a powder measure, but something keeps bugging me about the SC's.
I have shot traditional BP since 1976 and today I shoot nothing but my hand built LH flintlocks. For those that don't know, all black powder starts as a block that is crushed then filtered through screens. Each screen stops a certain size piece of powder and that becomes a grade, such as 2FG. No matter what grade or size the powder ends up being it always comes from the same block and is the same composition.
However, the smaller piece, such as 3FG, it burns faster due to increased surface area in a given charge. Therefore the charge volume must be decrease when you drop to a finer grade or pressure will skyrocket.
So, if I remember right the charge is the same whether you use regular H4831 or H4831SC, am I right in this or not?
By making this a SC powder you are increasing the number of powder granules in a given charge, which gives you more surface area to ignite and should increase pressure. And that makes me wonder why the SC charge is not decreased slightly to maintain the same pressure curves as the regular cut.
I hope you follow where I'm coming from on this and I may be overthinking things as I usually do but I'd appreciate some input from SC users on this if possible.

 

[gerry]

The data is supposed to be identical between the two. I have used H 4831sc quite a bit and found it to be an excellent powder.

 

[Guy Miner]

Yeah, from the user point of view, you are over-thinking it.

Get the H4831 SC (because it does meter better through a powder measure) work up your accurate load and use it. All is well.

And with at least some, like H4350, Hodgdon dropped the "SC" designation, though all the H4350 now sold is short cut.

Regards, Guy

 

[11 Charlie]

I've got sub-moa loads I've worked up with various bullets in .300 WBY and 30.06 using H4831 that I have loaded with H4831SC using the same charge weight and they have performed just as well. I use whats available. Good luck and God Bless! Bob

 

[Oldtrader3]

I do not use that much 4831 but I do use a lot of IMR 7828 SSC and can comment on that powder for use in both my .25-06, 7mm Rem Magnum and my .340 Weatherby Magnum over a period of 20 years of using both the standard and the SSC (short cut) powders in all three of these calibers.

The short version of this story is that I had never been able to get the 120 grain Partition bullet in the .25-06 and the 160 grain Partition in my 7mm RM above 3000 feet fps muzzle velocity without shortened case life and loose primers after two or three loadings. Switching to 7828 allowed me to do that first with the standard and later the SSC powder and to extend my case life to normal 9-10 loadings.

I also was able to get factory velocity with my Alaskan Mark V Weatherby with 210, 225 and 250 Partition bullets in my rifle with no hard bolt opening and no blown primers, plus being able to hold sub-MOA groups past 200 yards with all three bullets. This in addition to being able to shoot 3/4 MOA groups to 200 yards with all three weights of those bullets in the .340 Weatherby.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I have used both variations in the same rifle. Worked up both to the same charge weight and had equivalent velocity and accuracy. Indistinguishable.

Good luck finding either version. Once it hits the shelves it disappears fast.

 

[elkeater2]

Charlie,
I too have found 7828 SSC to be what my 25-06 likes best with 120's . I'm getting right at 3175 fps with my load, using Hornady 120 HP's. I believe it has been sort of ignored but in these specific cases like yours and mine I like the obviously longer case life from the pressure (or pressure curve). I stocked up.

 

[Oldtrader3]

It is for sure nice to get a better, longer case life with the SSC in the .25-06 and the 7mm RM!

 

[big rifle man]

I spoke with Hogdon on this and their response was there is no change in the burning rate. It was designed to meter better through a powder measure.