Good price on nice powder -- small update

[earlmck]

A few weeks ago there was some discussion over on Castboolits about a deal in pistol powder. I slid myself over to "Gunbroker" and put in a bid on some for myself. Ended up with 14lb of this stuff (2-7lb jugs) for my $130 bid plus $75 shipping. So just under $15 per pound for fairly fast pistol powder. It is a ball powder, so meters beautifully. The info with it says it is "similar to Win 572 in burn rate". Anyway, out of the 45 Glock 5.0 grains of Unique gave 745 fps with sd of 10; 5.5 grains of this new powder called SB-620 gave 715 with sd of 24 but raising it to 6.0 grains gave 795 fps with sd of 9. This last load is just right for my taste and will be my load for the 45 Auto I believe. Popped the tin cans quite nicely, too.

They seem to have a lot of it -- when I checked on the site they had several jugs being bid on and this has been going on for a number of weeks at least. So if you want to lay in some pistol powder at a decent price here is a link https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?In ... ers=682195

I'm sure I will use it for other cartridges such as 40 s&W and 9mm (and probably 32/20 and 25/20) but right now I only have the 45 load tried out.

A few weeks ago I laid in a goodly batch of those Argentinian small pistol primers that folks here were talking about. I have the progressive press set up to size/prime/bell all my 25/20's in preparation for the next couple years shooting with my two 25/20's. Thought before I switched primers (been using CCI small rifle) I should make sure they work, so loaded up some loads with the primers and my normal loads using Lil' gun (for the "new" m92) and Universal (for the old one) -- they seem to like very different loads of powder using the same 70 grain Arsenal bullet. Thought I might as well try for a replacement of the Universal load with the new SB 620 powder. And thought I'd try a little warmer load of it just to see.

Turns out that 4.6 grains of SB-620 gave the same 1300 fps velocity as my 6.2 grains Universal load for the "old" 92, with a smaller Standard Deviation.

And 5.8 grains at 1770 fps was only 50 fps slower than my 8.0 grains Lil' gun load the "new" 92 likes. And also had a bit smaller standard deviation. And shot at least as well.

This stuff is looking like it might rival Lil' gun in the wideness of versatility, but on the faster side of things. Physical appearance is also very close to Lil' gun.

I should mention that it has about the same density as most ball powders so it would be pretty easy to fit in a double charge in any of these applications I have tried so far. My loading habits call for a real close look at every charged case before I seat a bullet so I don't fear the use of a dense powder but it should be considered...

And switching to the SA Argentinian primer will necessitate 8.4 grains to equal the 8 grains with the CCI small rifle primer, but shoots fine. [/i]

[Bill in Oregon]

Very glad it is working for you Earl!

[6pt-sika]

So if this stuff is about the same as 572 it should work in the 10 , 12 , 16 , 20 and possibly 28 gauge guns .

[samsi]

Interesting, it appears that it's "similar" to both HS7 and Longshot - that should make it pretty versatile.

[earlmck]

So if this stuff is about the same as 572 it should work in the 10 , 12 , 16 , 20 and possibly 28 gauge guns .

There is quite a thread on "Castboolits" under the "Factory & Surplus Powder" topic. One fellow sent some 28 Gauge loads out for testing -- said in that application it is closer to Unique than to 572 in speed. It is probably worth reading through the thread if you get the powder -- there are a few kernels of wheat among a great deal of chaff.

It is Serbian manufactured powder -- apparently used for loading 9mm Nato ammo. In my 45 auto loads it is a scosh slower than, but comparable to, Unique so a very useful powder for pistol and small rifle shooters. And no doubt also useful in shotguns.

[6pt-sika]

So if this stuff is about the same as 572 it should work in the 10 , 12 , 16 , 20 and possibly 28 gauge guns .

There is quite a thread on "Castboolits" under the "Factory & Surplus Powder" topic. One fellow sent some 28 Gauge loads out for testing -- said in that application it is closer to Unique than to 572 in speed. It is probably worth reading through the thread if you get the powder -- there are a few kernels of wheat among a great deal of chaff.

It is Serbian manufactured powder -- apparently used for loading 9mm Nato ammo. In my 45 auto loads it is a scosh slower than, but comparable to, Unique so a very useful powder for pistol and small rifle shooters. And no doubt also useful in shotguns.

If closer to Unique then it will work in the 2 7/8” 10 all the way down to the 28 . As I’ve already loaded Unique in them all and gotten good results . I doubt I order any I’ve got a good supply of Unique , GD , Universal Clays , 572 and Clays at the moment . Truth be told about all the shotgun stuff I load anymore are 8 and 10 and on a long shot 12 but I’ve already got six or seven flats of 12 loads waiting .

[earlmck]

And a bump for the "update" adding some 25/20 data.