Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Artillery shells and powder supply

It depends on the lot of "original" H4831--and also the particular batch of "new" H4831.

Ran a test of both for the Chapter 10 in GUN GACK II on "Different Batches of the 'Same' Powder."

In my O'Connor .270 M70 Featherweight a 61.0 charge of current H4831SC and the 130-grain Hornady Interlock Spire Point got 3029 fps, and 61.0 of one of my batches of mil-surp H4831 got 3118 fps. This was on the same day, over the same chronograph, with enough time between for the barrel to cool off.

I have GG II, will check it out.

DF

Wasn't the original surplus powder initially called "4350 Data Powder" because you could safely use 4350 data with it? When did they actually start calling it 4831?

If my memory is correct 4831 wasn't the only surplus powder Hodgdon sold. I remember buying 4895 too in the early '60s.

When Hodgdon started selling newly manufactured H4831 I wrote a letter to Hodgdon (the company, not the man) about something on a yellow legal pad page. I received my handwritten reply on the bottom of the same page, and it was signed Bruce Hodgdon. I came across that letter in the recent past so I still have it somewhere.

the only problem i see with the Army increasing ammo production by 500 % is handloaders like myself will see more shortages in what powders we use and probably brass ,primers and bullets too?? so here we go again with higher prices , low inventories of reloading supplies !

It’s been posted several times so the short answer is yes, the basic ingredients of our smokeless powder competes with all kinds of military propellants including rocket propellants.

Enduron powder was preempted by military production, for example.

Ha, read the other day where they are shooting off more ammo in a day than can be produced in 2 1/2 to 3 months. Last estimate was 5-7 years to replenish. Oh and this is why I have 75,000 22 LR hanging around.

I bought a bunch of H335 surplus years ago. Instructions came with it to use 3031 data

I bought my share of surplus 4831. Was sold by the coffee can. Was a 1.00 a can. You had to furnish the can. 1960’s.
Hasbeen

I don't know what it is exactly, but over 50 yrs ago, in Artillery, I helped "burn" thousands of rounds of it, both through "the tube" and burn up the excess after training. To me it looked like Rabbit Pellets you buy at the feeds tore. Big ol' kernels. From 71 to 73, Germany, and from 75-76 (Ft Hood) every Arty round we shot had either a 1944-45 Date on it. God only knows how many they have stockpiled,. So when they crank them out...they must really take advantage of it!!

If the powder companies are sending powder to the military then I'd say it would have to effect civilian powders production and distribution. The factories only have so much equipment and floor space. The ADI plant here in Australia is not overly large and I can't see them producing both military and civilian powders concurrently. Why would they? All production will be going for military ammunition.

Many 'experts' are predicting a war with China and the Ukraine war has depleted the world's ammo supplies. More ammo has to be made and it all needs powder. I can't see governments really caring about home handloaders hobbies when the world is going to sh_t.

I bought another kilo of 2206H and 2208 (H4895 and Varget) but might get some more while I can. I also just bought a new Loop fly rod and two Sage reels so that's my Plan B when all the powder is gone. But realistically, I have enough powder (and other components) to last me for years at my current usage rate.

But my mates don't.