Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles What is a stable powder in both cold and hot climates?

I am reloading for my 300 rum and I seem to remember a forum talking about powder stability. I hunt in Mexico and Colorado so it is imperative that the powder I use be stable in both environments. Can someone comment? I am currently loading IMR 4350.

Check out the Hodgdon Extreme powder...

hodgdon.com...

Thanks I saw that last night but did not take the tour.

H4831 is great as is RL-15 IME (-20 to + 80 degrees)

hwat are you loading for??

NOTHING is the same above 70�-75�. They all increase pressures, the degree being the only question. All the "tolerance" is lower than those temperatures.

In the 300 RUM I would go with RETUMBO is is a hongdon extrem powder. and has done well in all the temp test that I have done.

Yeah ditto...

Retumbo and H-1000 would be good places to start w/ a 300 RUM IMO.

Like I said , I have been working on a pet load for my 300 rum and started thinking aboout the extreme temp difference. Right now it is 75-77 in the morning and 85-90 in the evening. I worked up an 80 gr load of imr 4350 and it shot <.5 moa@ 100yds but I am concerned about getting in Colorado mule deer and elk hunting on November 3rd in 15-30 degree temps and them hunting Mexico whitetail after Thanksgiving in 85-90 degree Heat. I am loading 180 accubonds for both. The accubonds have worked great in my 7mag as well as the 30-378 on both elk muleys and white tail deer. Further I realize this is not the best time to work a pet load but It has to be done as it just goning to get hotter before it get cool again. I load a H1000 Load for my partners 30-378 so I think I am going to try some of his powder. I have a chorny coming next Tuesday and hope to get some consistant loads with the H1000 as it sure would make it simpler loading both rifles with the same juice. That way we might find a deal on bulk powder and split it as we usually load 2-400 rounds a season. Oh BTW Thanks for you comments

Try this...

Newberry - OCW......

You gotta think about things in a little different light but since I switched over to these load work up principles I've noticed a lot of variables lessened and in some cases negated.

Temperatures being one of them that is lessened to the point of "No worries mate".........

Well...at least you know to get away from IMR

H1000, Retumbo as mentioned and don't overlook Ramshot powders (they meter well I'm told).

J

The Newberry link is something to think about .. I have always looked for the tightest three shot group but shooting the round robin allowing for more variables ie fouling ect, makes for a more accurate picture of what the gun likes. Thanks for all the info. I have 21 rounds loaded but have been unable to go shoot due to the standing water at the range.

"Round Robin" is just a means to kinda equal the effects of fouling, barrel heat, ect., during the actual test string. Scientifical (technical term) Control, sort of.

The real principle, as I understand it is to allow the harmonic effects of the produced shock wave to work FOR you and not against.

The side benifit, whether intentional or not when this was thought up, is that OCW loads are very pressure tolerant. IOW, a load is probable to work well in different brass, with different lot #s, in different rifles, under different weather related conditions and so on.

In my case, I've found that different bullets of the same weight work pretty good, and finding a "swap" is fairly easy, having done so with several rifles so far.

OCW has caused me to quit fussin' over a lot of the steps I used to take in case prep.......

Not saying it's going to work everytime for everyone...but I've got three consecutive examples that prove to me Newberry's OCW does work for my criterea. That being at a minimum, MOA hunting loads with upper end velocities with a premium bullet. And, I've taken it a step further and sought out same/same with a cheaper bullet swap for play using same POA/turret twist.