Powder education please

[208muley]

So I am just barely getting into reloading so excuse the ignorance. What makes one powder better than others? I am working up a load for my 280 ai. With 168 Berger vld hunting bullets. I am using imr 7828 ssc powder. I am getting good groups now, .5 or a little better. Can other powder give different (better) results? Educate me amigos.... Thx

[willhunt4coues]

IMR powders are usually NOT temperature stable. It will say if it is or isn't. Hogdon extreme line usually ARE temperature stable. Shooting long range gets tricky when if you chrono your load in summer will be one speed and will be completely different usually lower in winter being that your FPS can change DRASTICALLY. So lets say I use an IMR 4895 in a .308 165gn bthp. In summer I may get 2600 fps but in winter 2500 fps. Sometimes it will change a lot and sometimes it will be very little. The Hogdon line no matter what temp you are in will still be the same. I did this test last year with a .308 and the IMR 4895 and between 25 degrees it changed 40 fps. So needless to say the IMR 4895 is the worst. If you are shooting short range then this really does not matter depending on range.

[Red Sparky]

There is so much to discuss but here are my basic philosophies.

 

Granulation and burning rates. If you use a stick powder it is harder to get consistent powder drops and weight with a powder measure. Flake powder or spherical powder it is easier to get consistent weight of charges but may not fill the case properly. For my target practice loads in my .38 special I use Unique powder, a flake type powder, but a max load is only about 4 grains. Imagine how much space of the case is not used. Now in my .270 I use IMR 4064 which fills the case but is a stick powder so it is harder to get consistent powder weights when using a powder measure. It is great for hunting as my rifle is a hunting rifle to 500 yards and not a 1000 yard shooter.

 

Some powders are easier to ignite and burn more consistently. What you want to do is optimize a consistent powder weight, consistent burn rate, and fill the case to optimize space. Have fun playing and keep a reloading log to know what works and what doesn't.

[roninflag]

Loading and shooting in a monthly F-class match where you shoot 66 rounds at 500 or 600 yards allows you to shoot enough to gain some experience with different powders., and increases your shooting skill. For hunting, most do not shoot enough to achieve that. With so many powders to choose from now ; i usually start with "an extreme " powder that is not as temp sensitive when starting to load a new rifle / cartridge. Quite a few on 24hourcampfire have a 280 ai . If whatever you are using for ammo worked to harvest a 208" mule deer i would say it is working exceptionally well. ron

[GreyGhost85]

if you are getting sub .5" groups, i wouldn't change anything.

[Willyhunts2]

+1. I don't know to much about different powders but groups at half an inch would have me buying more 7828. I'm shooting 7828 ssc out of my 7RUM and has been the best powder for my set up.

[208muley]

Thanks for the responses. I can't find anything on how temp sensitive 7828 is, anyone????

 

Ron, I actually had to borrow a rifle to kill that deer, I had been a bow hunter exclusively for years prior to drawing the tag so I borrowed a 300 ultra. Lol

 

Willhunt4coues, I plan on this gun to shoot 700-800 yds. Are there better powders? I understand that .5" groups are good but if downrange my groups start to go downhill do I change powder? Would it matter? Or are there other things to look at?