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Question on gov't surplus smokeless powder

chappsynychappsyny Member Posts: 3,381 ✭✭
edited January 2002 in Ask the Experts
I'm looking into starting reloading .357 and 38 special cartriges by doing some cost comparisons for components and I've come across people selling gov't surplus powder. Even though it's designed for rifles, I was wondering if the powder could be used to reload pistol cartriges. Also, does anyone know where I could pick up some inexpensive cast bullets?.Thanks for the help.
New Hampshire, USA - "Live Free or Die!!!"
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Comments

  • 22WRF22WRF Member Posts: 3,385
    edited November -1
    The short answer is NO. Pistol powder is much faster burning than rifle powder
    NRA Pistol InstructorP'cola. FL Home of the Blue AngelsnIshnabe'k
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    HI neighbor - the gov't surplus powders work fine in the cartridges for which they were designed, but putting rifle powder in pistol cartidges is not, to put it mildly, a good idea. Norhteast Bullets puts out some decent lead slugs for a reasonable price. Riley's carries them, as do many other dealers in the Granite State.
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Some powders do have a bit of grey area; for instance, some pistol powders can be used for rifle cast bullet loads. But I don't think any of the surplus powders on the market now would work in pistols.
    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.
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  • chappsynychappsyny Member Posts: 3,381 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks very much for clearing that up for me, I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for a bargain on powder. I'll definately call rileys on the bullets.
    New Hampshire, USA - "Live Free or Die!!!"
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  • ATFATF Member Posts: 11,683 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have an article from Handguns Mag.March of 1999,page 16 that tells about a surplus powder that is suitable for handguns it's WC820 I have some and it works good for mag.loads .357 and up.The article tells how Hodgdon bought one lot of this powder and named it H-108.You can get loading data from Hodgdon.
    ATF
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