Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Winchester 760 powder - need input.

Guys, I need as much input as I can get on this powder.

How temperature sensitive is it??
What are it's advantages/disadvantages??

Any other input???

I currently use H4350 in my 30.06, with 180 gr bullets, but the price of 760 keeps making me want to try it.

H4350 goes for $32.99 CDN,/pd while Win 760 is $26.99/pd.

760 is pretty temp-sensitive and tends to be somewhat dirty-burning. But it's CHEAP to manufacture, so gets used a lot in factory WW loads, partly because like all ball powders it meters accurately.

I have worked up some accurate loads with it over the years, but gave up on it a few years ago as they often started to wander when the tmeperature drops. Also ran into a a few pressure problems during summer varmint shoots.

But if you shoot mostly in a certain temp range and don't mind scraping the gunk out of the barrel now and then, it works.

I use it in my 7-08 and exclusively in my 375HH. Get superb accuracy with it, but I find an unbelievable difference from lot to lot. In my 375 the previous lot used 84 gr. to get 2800 fps and the lot I have now uses 88 gr. for 2800fps. But yet the volume in the cases are the same.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Your two replies have said enough that I'll stick to H4350.

I have used W760 in the 30-06 ever since Winchester used it to replace the old 760br. I have had no problem with lot-to-lot consistency over at least 25 lot numbers, so I have to think that what one poster said is unusual, not commonplace. It is true that it is somewhat temperature sensitive, but you would normally not run into real problems unless you were shooting in extreme temps. As for dirty, it is no more so than many other spherical powders used, and certainly less so than H870. I personally have had no problems at cleanup, it is no harder to scrub out of your bore than any other powder residue, provided you are using a decent solvent. It is an Ideal 30-06 powder with 165 grain bullets, yielding good velocities at sane pressures. In both of my 30-06's, it is also very accurate, edging both IMR4350 and H4350 for groups. One of my pet load for years has been 59 gr behind the 165 Hornady Flatbase. Flattens our big northern Muleys with authority. Regards, Eagleye.

Yeah, 760 is no dirtier than most other spherical powders. Which is why I quit using it (and most other Ball powders) after trying the Ramshot line, finding out that, yes, clean-burning, temp-insensitive Ball powders can be manufactured.

I only wrote about the 2 cases above because I was trying to avoid a lengthy post, but as it goes �here�s the rest of the story�.

2 lots ago I loaded a minimum load for my 7-08. Had to use a mallet to get the bolt open, case head was split off, and damaged the extractor. Assumed I screwed up, pulled all the bullets, checked all the charges, all were good, and threw away the brass thinking they were old and loaded too many times.

Couple years went by, loaded a minimum charge for my 375, had to use a mallet and broke the extractor. Had forgotten I used the same 760 powder on the 7-08. Again assumed I screwed up. Very shortly after this I again reloaded the 7-08, this time picking a mid range charge. Gun almost blew up, case flowed into the bolt as if it was liquid, bolt was bent. Now at Remington getting repaired.

Finally I put the pieces together, all 3 problems and also the only problems I have ever had reloading, were connected with the same can of 760.

Time for an experiment to confirm. I load the 375 with 2 grains less than minimum, from before, minimum caused the bolt to stick very hard. Using a Barnes 270 I get 3040 fps. YIKES!!! That is HOT. But only a slight sticking of the bolt, no damage.

Now in contact with the WW consumer damage person. We are waiting for the bill from Remington.

So that makes 3 consecutive lots of greatly varying intensity. I think this particular extreme variation is the exception, but I would definitely chronograph any lot changes with this powder. Could just be coincidence for me.

I still use it very successfully in my 375. Took a lot of animals with it including 4 buffalos.

Tundragriz; Thank for filling in the gaps in the W760 saga. I believe from your description of events that you have a W760 tin that actually contains W748, for some unknown reason. This has happened in other powders, too. I once bought a sealed tin of H1000. When I opened it, I noticed that it looked quite a bit different from other lots of 1000 that I had used. Contacted Hodgdon before I used it, but they, although trying to be helpful, did not offer any real enlightenment. To make a long story short, that tin did NOT contain H1000, but rather something faster. Experiments I made with it seemed to indicate H4350. Imagine what result I would have had to deal with if I had loaded a full load of that in my 264 behind the 140 Partition! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Reloder 22 had a lot # a couple of years ago with a similar situation, and was subject to a recall from Alliant. It always pays to be cautious. I use Winchester 748, 755, and 760 a fair amount, and frankly, I like them for some applications. Clean burning they are not, but the fouling they produce has never been a problem that I could perceive. Regards, Eagleye.

John,

Are you seeing the same undesirable characteristics with H380 and H414 as with 760? Which of the Ramshot powders has a burn rate similar to 4350?

Thanks,

John

In general any of the older Ball powders are temp-sensitive and comparatively dirty-burning--one reason most powder manufacturers are continually striving to develop better powders. My understanding is that H380 and H414 are different burning speeds of the same basic old-style Ball powder.

There are two Ramshot powders that straddle 4350. Big Game is a little faster, the new Hunter a little slower.

Which one to choose depends on the application. If 4350 seems a little slow, and R15 or the 4895's a little fast, Big Game generally works very well. It seems ot be about perfect, for instance, for the .30-06 with 150's. It is so dense have used it with great success in the 9.3x62 with 286's, where 4350 is a little too bulky for the best result. Can get 66 grains into the 9.3x62 case even under a 286 Partition.

Hunter so far seems about like R19. Am using it in the .257 Roberts with 100-grainers, with just a little heavier charges. Like Big Game, it is a very dense powder, so it should work anywhere any of the 4350's does, since you can get more into the case.

Thanks, John. Sounds like I need to try both Big Game and Hunter in my .250 AI, maybe Big Game for 100gr bullets and less, and Hunter for 100gr and more. I haven't noticed any Ramshot in the local gun stores, though. I'll have to look a little closer

John

I tried Big Game and it is a good powder. The "balls" or "spheres" are so tiny is why I'll bet the loading density is so good. I haven't tried this so I'm curious what would happen if you tried to compress a load using those tiny balls? They are packed so tight I'm not sure what would compress. Anyone tried this?



The Big Game is just a little too fast for a 100g Partition in my 260 AI. Wouldn't mind trying Hunter and I bet I would find out if you could compress it or not. I have some H-4350 loaded up now to try first.....hoping this is where my testing stops.



HogWild

Ramshot continues to acquire new dealers in various states, but itsn't available everywhere, by any means. If you can't find it locally, call 800-497-1007 or call up their website, www.ramshot.com, and they'll let you know the closest place.

As far as I can tell, Ramshot powders can be compressed some, though exactly how much I don't know. My 9.3x62 loads, for instance, is compressed some and works fine.

Mauser96
I am a dealer for Ramshot powders. I dont keep much of an inventory, just order as folks need it. The only problem is the distance. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I plan to do a lot of testing as soon as I get my PressureTrace system up and going.
Charlie