HXP Ball Powder ID

[plt1059]

Any idea's what the an equivalent ball powder is to the powder they use in HXP '63 ? Although the powder used in the rounds is ball, I'm just trying to determine what it is. Thanks Jim

Information

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[John Kepler]

Something that burns dirty and inconsistently! That should make finding an equivalent a LOT easier!

[Art]

I'm with John. While my opinion of HXP isn't as low as his I certainly would never try to duplicate the powder. There are a lot of modern powders that will give about 2,800 fps with the correct pressure curve pushing a 150 gr flat base spitzer.

[Bill2311]

I shoot a bunch of the Greek stuff without any problems. For a match I use the brass and reload Hornady 165 grain bullets over IMR4895.

[plt1059]

Thanks guys. I may have worded my original question such that I was looking for a similar ball powder to use. Rather, I was just looking for information about what anybody thought it was so I would not purchase something that would perform like it. I too have not had any problems with the HXP '63, but sought some insight as to what to stay away from.

Semper fi

[Art]

I'm not a reloader but I think the appropriate load of Improved Military Rifle powder, IMR 4895 or 4064 should work nicely for you.

[John Kepler]

Re: HXP ammo issued at the Nationals last year: 80 rds issued, 68 fired, 3 squibs and 6 hang-fires! I suppose it may be fine for punching the occasional beer can if that's what floats your boat, but it should NOT be issued for competition shooting, even in "games" matches. Short Version: You guys can buy ALL of "my share"....enjoy, because I will NEVER shoot it again!

I haven't willingly fired any ammo I didn't load in nearly 30 years.....crap like that HXP is why!

[NuJudge]

We're all Bozos on this bus. Ignore all the razzing from these guys. They'll really miss .30-'06 at $0.28 a round when it's gone.

Disclaimer: don't use powders out of the right speed range for Garands. Take nothing we say as a recommendation. Everything here is for entertainment only.

The Greeks may well have used different powders at different times, and they were almost certainly 'bulk' powders with loosely controlled powder burn rates, not 'canistered' powders with closely controlled burn rates for consumer use. . You can find a rough approximation of what they used with your lot of ammo.

Pull a bullet and weigh the powder charge.

Look at a charge table for a middle level load of Hodgdon ball powders and 150gr bullets.

WC-846 Has a burning rate from a little faster than H335 to almost the same as BLC2
WC-844 somewhere around H335 burn rate.
WC852(fast) is about H380 burn rate
WC852 is close to WW748
WC852(slow) is close to 4831

The stuff all looks the same to me. Match the load's weight with the powder that produces the right velocity, and you should be in the neighborhood.

Powder burn rate charts:
http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html
Powder Chart (no charge for elevator music)
http://www.gswagner.com/bigreloading...rburnrate.html

[John Kepler]

We're all Bozos on this bus.

Actually, I'm waiting for the electrician or someone like him.

Ignore all the razzing from these guys. They'll really miss .30-'06 at $0.28 a round when it's gone.

How 'zactly am I going to miss what I've never bothered to buy? Frankly, I'll be ecstatic when the CMP runs outta that HXP crap and gives us something worth shooting again!

[plt1059]

Great information on the powder burn rate tables. Didn't mind the elevator music either!

Jim