Powder Question

wfk

Not sure how to ask this question, but I'll try it this way. I'm still not getting consistent shot groups out of my 257 Roberts. I'm using Speer Grand Slam 120's behind Varget powder. My question is, could changing to a slower powder, such as IMR 4350 make any difference. I tried 4 different loadings tonight. 36.0 grains, which shot the worst, 34.0 grains, 33.0 grains, and 32.5 grains. About as good as I could get was about a 3" group at 100 yards. Not very impressive huh?

wfk

Just opened a can of 4350 and found about a 1/2" of brown dust on top. Sucked it off with shop vac and powder looks fine but am concerned that it may no longer be good. Checked 2 other cans and they looked fine and they were all stored in the same locker. All dated 8/1988. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks

Walt

wfk

I am loading some 250 gr hard cast bullets in 45 Colt for my Rossi 92 carbine. Why does most all loading data for cast bullets use only faster burning powders like Unique and Clays? I see that H110 gives very good results with jacketed bullets of the same weight so why is it not listed for the same weight cast bullets. I relize that generally a jacketed bullet can handle higher velocity than cast but in a cartrige like the 45 colt I would not think that the velocities are high enough to create a ploblem with a good hard cast bullet at the same velocities as are listed for jacketed. Just curious. Thanks Steve

wfk

Is there any difference between AA Solo 4100 and AA Scot 4100?

Ronald J. Snow

"When in doubt, throw it out." And, if you were not in doubt you would not have asked. I have done away with a lot of older powders over the years due to the same condition. My personal opinion is that the brown powder is a sign of chemical breakdown. Spread it in you garden or on the lawn or burn it in a safe manner.

wfk

Was thinking the same thing. Thanks for confirming.

Walt

JustC

That brown/rust color is one of the signs of deterioration. Throw it on the vegetable garden as fertilizer.

why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?

Iconoclast

I have powder much older than 1988 which I use from time to time; material I purchase(d) , often in shop closeouts or from estates over the years. But infrequently I encounter the dust or acrid odor in a can. *THAT* can goes to the lawn immediately. Properly stored, the stuff will last longer than I will, but when one buys older material, there's no record of it's storage conditions over an extended period.

"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain) ". . . And DemoCraps" (me)

1KYDSTR

In my experience this is an issue of poor long term storage and more accurately, exposure to heat. As mentioned...fertilizer material! I've used and bought powder much older than that but always have checked for just such a condition

"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)