[68inSS]

I've been using the 28.0 grains of Re10x with 115 grain SMK's in my Bison 20" Stainless with superb accuracy.

Yet, come winter, I'll switch over to either a 110 grain PH or 130 Grain but my bigger question is:
What is my best COLD weather powder to use when I take the rifle deer hunting this year?

I live in Wisconsin and hunt in the far north. Last year, opening day was -9 F. Yes, MINUS 9!!!

I've already read that 10x would not be my best choice this winter. Could you all recommend what you'd think my best choice for powder would be?

I can't even begin to simulate -9F with a bag of ice ( LOL!!!) but if a chill test is recommended, I'll do that, too.

 

[marinesg1012]

IIRC from paulo's test H335 and h322....

 

[rcrandall]

Agreed, for 110 and 115 grain bullets H322 is an "extreme" powder and has a decent pressure curve. Try 29 to 29.5 grains of H322 with the 110 grain bullets, some barrels may be able to handle 30 grains or higher. I've not done a whole lot of testing with H335 but want to try some out with 115 grain bullets. H335 is a ball powder, is it pretty temp stable?

 

[paulosantos]

Most ball powders will loose 100 FPS from 100-0 degrees. X-Terminator was even worse at 150 FPS. The Hodgdon Extreme powders (H4198, H322, Benchmark, H4895, Varget) are the best and will only loose 25-50 FPS.

 

[rcrandall]

Thanks, Paulo. I'm still thinking about trying out the H335 for better velocity. Isn't 30 grains for a 115gr OTM the max?

 

[ron169]

ooSo, with it being 100-103 here all week with a heat index of 110-115 with the humidity, does that mean I will gain FPS, or just blow up my gun? Now that it matters, ill die of heat stroke stroke first anyways

 

[paulosantos]

Thanks, Paulo. I'm still thinking about trying out the H335 for better velocity. Isn't 30 grains for a 115gr OTM the max?

From a 1:10"/SPCII Barrel, you can go up to 30 GR and check for pressure signs and maybe go higher. With your 1:12"/3 Groove/DMR Barrel, you can go higher than that.

 

[rcrandall]

Thanks. In Hodgdon's data 29 grains of H322 behind the 115gr SMK isn't even to the 50K mark so I thought 30 grains might put me around 51K, less in the 12 twist barrel.

 

[marinesg1012]

Most ball powders will loose 100 FPS from 100-0 degrees. X-Terminator was even worse at 150 FPS. The Hodgdon Extreme powders (H4198, H322, Benchmark, H4895, Varget) are the best and will only loose 25-50 FPS.

Thanks paulo, I still have a ton to learn with the powder stuff, I figured (incorrectly) that H322 and H335 were the same types of powder but different preassure curves..

is the H322 best for the 100 grain plus bullets? or does it work well for the lighter bullets as well?

Planning on using that to work up the hunting loads since I live in the north country.....

 

[paulosantos]

Thanks paulo, I still have a ton to learn with the powder stuff, I figured (incorrectly) that H322 and H335 were the same types of powder but different preassure curves..

is the H322 best for the 100 grain plus bullets? or does it work well for the lighter bullets as well?

Planning on using that to work up the hunting loads since I live in the north country.....

H4198 is the best Hodgodon Powder for the 85-100 GR Bullets in the 16'+ Barrels.
H322 is the best Hodgdon Powder for the 100-115 GR Bullets in the 16'+ Barrels.
For barrels under 14", H4198 is the best for the 85-115 GR Bullets.
H335 is great for the 85-115 GR Bullets in the 16"+ Barrels, but it isn't as temperature sensitive.
The problem with H322 is that you can only load up so much of it before it gets so compressed.

 

[HTR]

I have never had good accuracy with H335, unfortunately.

With H322, I seem to get better accuracy, and this powder is not very sensitive to compression, i.e. the pressure curve that you see is not as erratic as can be the case with some other powders (like RE10X). So, I find that a little compression, up to 105% , is not ereally a problem with H322.

For example, I have been able to load 32 grains of H322 behind a 110 grain SPH, and shoot that in my 20 12/3 barrel with the exact same pressure as that seen with M 193 in a 5.56 barrel....i.e 58K. It is very accurate, too, and acts the same in 90 degrees as it does in 40 degrees. Be careful, though ....there are a lot of barrels that will take this load over 60K. Your max might be closer to 31 grains.

So, all in all, I find that the best overall Hodgdon extreme powder for the 6.8 is H322.

But, thaks to you Paulo and Randall, I am revisiting the H4198, (just bougtht a few cannisters) for the 85 TSX, and for some heavier bullets, since I carry both 12 and 16" barrels.

 

[RoAus]

How temperature sensitive is Reloader 7 and what powder does it resemble in that regard? I've been reading Paulo's and HTR's load suggestions with the 85 - 100 grain bullets and I'm thinking of getting some.

 

[paulosantos]

How temperature sensitive is Reloader 7 and what powder does it resemble in that regard? I've been reading Paulo's and HTR's load suggestions with the 85 - 100 grain bullets and I'm thinking of getting some.

http://www.68forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2296

 

[Buck_Naked]

http://www.68forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2296

Link doesn't work for me, takes me to the old board and no longer appears as a thread...

 

[paulosantos]

I recently contacted Hodgdon Powder Company because I have always wondered exactly how much of a velocity difference there was with extruded and ball powders at different temperatures. I spoke with Mike from Hodgdown Powder Company about their Extruded (Extreme) and their ball powders. Here is what Mike provided:

Hodgdon Extruded Powders:
From 0-125 Degrees they got an average velocity difference of 20-25 fps.

Hodgdon Ball Powders:
From 0-125 Degrees they got an average velocity difference of 150-200 fps.

I decided to test out some powders to see exactly how much of a difference there was in real world temperatures.

Powders Tested:
1. 28.5 Gr. of H322.
2. 27.9 Gr. of H335.
3. 25 Gr. of Reloaders 7.
4. 28 Gr. of X-Terminator.

Ammo Information:
Bullet: .277 Sierra 110 Gr. Pro-Hunters.
Brass: SSA.
Primer: CCI#41.
Crimp: Lee FCD Crimp.
Cannelures: Rolled my own using Corbin cannelure tool.
OAL: 2.260".
Gun: Ko-Tonics 20" Chrome Lined 1:11" twist.
Chrony Distance: (@5')
Cold Temperature: 30 Degrees F. (I placed the ammo in a small cooler filled with ice and placed a thermometer in the cooler to check the temperature.).
Hot Temperature: 107 Degrees F. (I placed the ammo in a heating pad and plugged it in to my truck to keep it at a constant temperature. I also placed a thermometer in the pad to check the temperature.).

Results:
28.5 Gr. of H322:
Cold: Avg: 2650fps, Lo: 2635fps, Hi: 2666fps, ES: 31, SD: 11
Hot: Avg: 2694fps, Lo: 2677fps, Hi: 2704fps, ES: 27, SD: 12
Velocity Difference: 44fps.

27.9 Gr. of H335:
Cold: Avg: 2429fps, Lo: 2411fps, Hi: 2455fps, ES: 44, SD: 18
Hot: Avg: 2528fps, Lo: 2501fps, Hi: 2544fps, ES: 43, SD: 23
Velocity Difference: 99fps.

25 Gr. of Reloaders 7:
Cold: Avg: 2471fps, Lo: 2450fps, Hi: 2487fps, ES: 37, SD: 15
Hot: Avg: 2545fps, Lo: 2525fps, Hi: 2569fps, ES: 44, SD: 19
Velocity Difference: 74fps.

28 Gr. of X-Terminator:
Cold: Avg: 2488fps, Lo: 2464fps, Hi: 2506fps, ES: 42, SD: 19
Hot: Avg: 2641fps, Lo: 2624fps, Hi: 2666fps, ES: 42, SD: 20
Velocity Difference: 153fps.

Conclusion:
H322: I thought that the H322 was going to vary less than it did, but it is still very good.
H335: It is right where I thought it would be.
Reloaders 7: I thought the Reloaders 7 was going to vary a little more, but I'm happy it didn't.
X-Terminator: I was very disappointed with the X-Terminator powder. Way too much velocity difference, especially if you plan on doing long range shooting. For plinking it is fine.

 

[Buck_Naked]

Thanks for taking the time to test, and for posting that information, that is some very useful data!

Thanks again!
Dave

 

[snaz567]

Thanks for taking the time to test, and for posting that information, that is some very useful data!

Thanks again!
Dave

+1

+1 again since the message was too short...

 

[RoAus]

Thanks Paulo I knew I read it somewhere but couldn't find it.

 

[68inSS]

Thanks! This is some fantastic info. A lot of people do testing in the hot and dry climates, it's nice to get an idea how my loads will function in the frozen tundra!

 

[Raph]

H4198 is the best Hodgodon Powder for the 85-100 GR Bullets in the 16'+ Barrels.
H322 is the best Hodgdon Powder for the 100-115 GR Bullets in the 16'+ Barrels.
For barrels under 14", H4198 is the best for the 85-115 GR Bullets.
H335 is great for the 85-115 GR Bullets in the 16"+ Barrels, but it isn't as temperature sensitive.
The problem with H322 is that you can only load up so much of it before it gets so compressed.

16 foot barrels, damn that AR must be cumbersome! JK!