Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Big Game aka Unobtainium, getting nervous

I talked to the nice lady at Ramshot yesterday concerning an update on Big Game powder, also known as Unobtainium. They were hoping for August, she told me, but now it looks like September. I'll bet September looks like October.

In the meantime I rolled these today, they represent a whole pound:



I use the 140 grain Partitions, my dad uses the 140 grain Accubonds, both over 47.5 grains of powder, sparked by WLRM. Velocity out of our Tikkas in 7mm-08 is 2880 and 2850, respectively. I'm down to my last full pound and an opened canister, maybe 3/4 full. I figure I have enough for 250 more, then I'm done. I'm concerned that the new stuff, if it's ever available, will be significantly different from the powder I have now. It's scary fast and accurate.

The good news is, I have a bunch of Varget. I don't get quite the velocity but it's just as accurate. I hear good things about RL15 but I haven't tried it. How is everyone else doing on favorite powders?



P

The good news is that I've tested a bunch of the made-in-Belgium Ramshot rifle powders over the years and they're very consistent from lot to lot.

The bad news is that Big Game won't be here until it's here. Like most powder factories today, the Belgian factory can't make enough Ramshot powder to fill the demand. They've been making TAC for a while, the most popular Ramshot rifle powder, but as soon as any appears here it's gone.

Aside from Big Game, Varget and RL-15, I've also had great luck with H4350 and 140's in several 7-08's. Of course that's a good news/bad news deal, because H4350 is also pretty much unobtainium right now. But have done some testing with IMR4451, which is as close to a double-based version of H4350 as you'll find. So far it has worked just as well in both the 7-08 and 7x57 with 140's. And 4451 is easily available, if not in stores then from several Internet sites.

What kind of velocities are you getting? Big Game gives 2850 to 2880 with 140s through a 22 1/2" tube.



P

A little over a year ago, I was urgently looking for some Big Game powder to load up rounds or an upcoming Africa trip, with my .375 Ruger. I found a pound of it that a member here had for sale, in Denver. I drove the 110 miles to meet him and pick it up.

Since then, I have found H414 to be a good substitute for the load I am using, and it seems to be much more available. I think nowdays you have to be willing to experiment with alternatives.

Rl 15 used to be one of my favourite powders. Haven't been able to find any in over a year. Finally bought a pound of 4064 a couple of weeks ago but haven't had a chance to try it yet. (I realize 4320 is probably a little closer in burning rate but haven't been able to find it either.)

Jim

RL15 is all over the place here. Big Game...only on Idaho's hunting proclamation...

I'm down to 3.5 pounds of Big Game. I called Western Powders awhile back and they were hoping to get some back on the shelves sometime late spring.

I shoot the 162gr AMAX at 2600 fps from a 7mm-08, 22" Kimber. ES and SD are extremely low, and if the shooter is capable it'll stack 8-10 shots under 1" at 100 yards with ease. The combo has done amazingly well at 500+ yards too.

Always wondered about temperature stability. Yesterday it was high 90 degrees F and that load sat in a hot vehicle for most of the day. At 490 yards, my first 3-shots made a 2" group. My bud's first 3-shots went 4". The heat didn't seem to affect the POI, as elevation was perfect (we didn't hold for wind though). With a good shooter, having 5-shots in a 6" circle (the green area on the steel) isn't uncommon but yesterday's performance was spectacular.

In contrast, my 223 shooting the 75gr AMAX needed 0.3 mils less elevation than normal using RL15. I was shooting just over the edge of the target with my 'normal' drop data. According to JBM, the load gained 70 fps in the heat. Even so, we had 20-shots between the two of us within an 8" circle after dropping 0.3 mils. Other than the heat, it was a great day of shooting

Two questions:

1. Where do you live?

2. Do you have a security system?



P

Pharm....thanks for the chuckle... I needed it.

4th point...very nice.

I probably have somewhere between four and six pounds left.

That made me chuckle as well.