Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 25-35 winchester/Leverevolution powder

Last week I picked up a pound of the new Hodgdon leverevolution powder, I have a Thompson center pistol with a 15 inch barrel chambered for 25-35. My current pet load consists of 29 gr of IMR 4320 behind the nosler 85 gr ballistic tip, this load runs 2460 and shoots 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups, I am using winchester cases and winchester large rifle primers. Data from Hodgdon website shows a charge of 34 gr with a 75 gr bullet at 2990, they were using a 24 inch barrel. I have posted the results that I recieved below.

31 gr 2617
2682

31.5 gr 2704
2710

32 gr 2704 slightly stiff extraction
2727 slightly stiff extraction

32.5 gr 2789 stiff extraction
2824 stiff extraction


I am going to go with the 31.5 gr load and see how accuracy goes, I am very impressed with the velocity that this powder produces compared with my pet load, I don't think tht thre are any powders out there that even come close to these number. This powder should work well with rifles chambered in this caliber, of course you would have to use round nose or flat point bullets in rifles with tublar magazines like the winchester model 94, I know that Hornaday produces loaded ammo that uses tipped bullets that are safe in tubular magazines but I don't know if the bullets are available as a component for reloading.

Freddy, When I called Hodgdon about using the LeverEvolution powder with bullets other than the ones they tested with, the tech I talked with said No Way Jose. You probably already know this, but I just thought I'd throw this out there.

From your posting I wasn't sure you which bullet you used, but from what I was told, pressure with different bullets is still an uncharted territory.

Good Luck and Good Shootin'........Chainsaw

I called Hodgdon to let them know about this load, the tech never mentioned anything about only using the bullets that they used for their tests. I was using the 85 gr nosler ballistic tip, they probably used Hornady bullets because they are partners, they probably just want people to use their products.

So far this powder is not working well in my 15" barrel T/C, settled on 30 gr of the stuff, average velocity is 2650, which is 180 fps over my pet load of 29 gr of IMR 4320 and the nosler 85 gr Bt. Groups are running from 2 to 4 inches with the same pattern, first round hits an inch high and slightly right of point of aim, the other two rounds hit to the left of point of aim and just a little low. Tech support at nosler recommends that I seat the bullets deeper, different powders might warrant deeper seating depth. Load data from Hodgdon shows that they used a 75 gr speer flat point, maybe this powder is only accurate with 75 gr bullets, can't understand that 10 grains in bullet wieght would make that much difference. I am going to try seating bullets a little deeper, it's almost time to start watering the lawn, maybe this stuff will work better as lawn fertilizer.