What is this powder?

[Dr. Vette]

OK, I'll say it right away - it's very difficult if not impossible to identify a powder based on looks. But I thought I'd see if anyone has an educated guess. :grin:

This is from my Hornady factory ammo for a 7mm Weatherby Magnum, 154 Interbond bullet. I pulled 7 factory loads, and five were at 66.5 grains, two at 66.3. I remeasured to be sure.

The powder appears smaller in diameter as well as length than H-1000. It also is a darker gray vs the gray-green of H-1000. I know that Hornady "tends to" use Hodgdon powders so that's why I compared in that direction.

For whatever reason one of my Wby rifles used to shoot this factory ammo very well but suddenly last year and now this year it won't shoot it well at all. I've been through several inspections of the rifle as well as new scope/bases/rings with no improvement. So, I've disassembled the loads, removed the crimp (simple chamfering did it), neck sized the brass and reassembled them at magazine length of 3.360 (actually 2.725 to the ogive). I've got a few boxes of this ammo to play with so that's why I thought I would see if I could improve upon it before I do something else with it.

Anyway, photo below of the powder in my weighing pan.

Patrick

 

[BK]

More than likely, it's not even a canister-grade powder. The biggies in the ammo business tend to blend available powders to do whatever they need them to do.

 

[Dr. Vette]

More than likely, it's not even a canister-grade powder. The biggies in the ammo business tend to blend available powders to do whatever they need them to do.

Yep, I know that.

However, the 7mm Wby was a moderately small run so I thought they might pick a previously used powder rather than developig one just for this ammo.

 

[JD338]

My guess is a non canister powder.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

I don't recognize it, but there are tons of powders I have never used.

Have you tried RL22 in your 7mm Wby? Or seen if you can secure some Norma MRP?

 

[DrMike]

It is a practical impossibility to identify a powder by its appearance. Even if it is a canister powder, the various manufacturers will receive powders that have received different coatings and deterrents. It is likely a non-canister powder, however. What is more, the manufacturers are close-mouthed about what they do use.

 

[FOTIS]

66 gr or so?

Not sure of the brand BUT burning rate should be similar to rl19

 

[Dr. Vette]

I don't recognize it, but there are tons of powders I have never used.

Have you tried RL22 in your 7mm Wby? Or seen if you can secure some Norma MRP?

Finishing up some RL-22 testing on Monday, weather permitting.

I've considered Norma MRP but shipments have been delayed and now they're saying "maybe" December. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[FOTIS]

Retumbo works very well in the 7mm Bee. I had 150 NP's doing 3250 fps in my 7mm Bee

 

[JCalhoun]

Since you know what the charge is, the bullet and the cartridge, you could look up the various stick powders recommended for the cartridge and see what is listed for that bullet weight and charge weight.

Just by eyeballing it I'd be tempted to say it's H-4831SC.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Looks a little like IMR 7828 SSC? Of course I could be wrong but that loading would be close to the load for that cartridge with IMR 7828 SSC and that bullet weight. I know that Hornady uses this powder and many others, so????

 

[longguner]

sorry did see the caliber... not 4320... maybe 7828 according to Hodgdons.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Not 4320 for a 7mm Weatherby!

 

[Elkman]

4350 the earlier lots were darker in color?

 

[super-7]

Not sure of the powder but if accuracy has tapered off I'd first suspect copper fouling. I'd give your rifle an over night dose of Wipeout. Then hit it with a good copper cleaner like Montana Extreme. Just my 2 cents, take it for what it's worth. LoL

 

[FOTIS]

sorry did see the caliber... not 4320... maybe 7828 according to Hodgdons.

Remington loads 68 gr of 7828 with the 150 BT at 3150 fps in the 7MM Rem mag.

I loaded this and the loads clocked and shot identically with my components.


So 66 gr of XXX powder in the 7mm WBY with the 154 has to be in the RL19~ 4350 burning rate.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I don't load for the 7mm Weatherby, just the Rem Mag. Makes sense Fotis, could be either one.

 

[Dr. Vette]

I've cleaned the rifle a couple of times with no effect one way or the other. I've taken to BoreTech Products and gotten it very, very clean with no improvement in shooting.

It's very annoying as the rifle used to shoot this factory round very well. Suddenly it will not and I can't see why.
I wonder if it's moving inside the stock but am too busy working on load development to look into it yet.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Patrick, I wonder if Weatherby has changed the ogive of the bullet maybe? Of course Wetherby does not make their own ammo. I assume that Hornady does from all the years of Spire point bullets. Maybe Hornady changed powders on them? Hard to know but frustrating. I know that the older Hornady made 200 gr .340 ammo was MOA accurate.

 

[Dr. Vette]

Charlie,

It's all Hornady ammo. When it shot well out of the rifle I bought a case of it, all same lot number as my original boxes. There's nothing in the ammo that theoretically could have changed unless the powder somehow degraded over the past few years.

Patrick