Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Powder ID help?

Hi All,

I received some handloaded ammo from a trusted source, but dot not know the powder used. They are 69gr Nosler's loaded in R-P 223 cases over 23 grn of powder. It's something between a flake and a ball powder.

Does anyone recognize it from the pic?

They shoot really well and I'd like to figure out what the recipe is if possible. . .

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...AAYI/ShQFf0wb-to/w429-h572-no/2013-06-18[/img]

Thanks all and God bless you!

Adam

Chronograph one or two and see what velocity you get... they correlate the 23 grain charge with the reload manual for that bullet weight...

if it doesn't necessarily identify the powder, it will at least give you a reference to duplicate the load that you have...

Good thinking, sounds like I will never know exactly what this is. . .

"... a trusted source..." Why not ask them?

Bud take a look at your picture, this isn't a slam or anything but there is so much purple, that even the powder looks purple. I havent ever seen purple powder!

H414 or w760 or maybe w748....the photo isn't a great one, and there's so many that you can put in the 223.

add in 335 322,benchmark,ruled out accurate as it isn't a ball powder, IMR makes a few also that fit that bullet weight.

Well, if he was using Nosler load data this link should help: http://nosler.com/223-remington It could be 2230, but you need to get us a better photo. Try the macro/close-up setting on your camera.

It could be Vihtavouri.

Yes.
Ask the person you obtained the ammo from what powder was used.

A close up, clear photo, of some of the unknown powder grains on white printer paper would be useful.
Especially if you include a known powder of similar grain size beside the "mystery" powder for a comparison.

Seafire gave the only logical answer. trying to ID a powder merely by appearance is pretty dicey.

+1 eyes and fingers are too valuable.

Unless the guy who loaded it KNOWS what it is, don't chance it. You can get a RANGE by looking in the burn charts and load charts to see what it MIGHT be in a block of 8 or so different powders. But exactly? Only if you end up buying a jar and it matches.
Ask, and if you don't get an exact answer, start over. Don't chance a guess like that.

From the bullet weight and the picture, I'd be looking at BLC-2.

23 grains would be approximate starting loads in a work up.

With a velocity and barrel length you could get a lot more accurate guesses as to what it is. If it's BLC-2 there should be a little space left in the case, but not much.

If you have a little space in left in the case and if the velocity is 2600-2800 FPS, I would just go buy some BLC-2 and start a workup at ~22 grains. I have had excellent accuracy results with it and little trouble.

Please read my post.
Then show me where I say that the OP should "try to ID a powder merely by appearance"
The OP posted a rather poor photo, then asked for help to ID the powder. I suggested the OP post a close up, clear photo with a known powder for comparison, since this would be useful in helping to ID the unknown powder.
In the context of this thread, this would be one more way to help ID the powder.
Nothing "dicey" about it.

Since the OP gave up after waiting 9 hours for his answer, I seriously doubt this will happen.

A better picture isn't gonna change anything. To put it rather simply, people that try to ID powder by appearance are stupid. No matter how clear of a picture they have.

Ball c2 or 748 would be my first guesses, you need a macro and a close up of the powder on a white sheet of paper.

Looks like a General Dynamics spherical out of St. Marks, FL, to me, but a close-up (on white paper) would be very helpful. From there, though, there's really no way to tell any more specifically what it is from a photo. Can't even tell whether it's a canister powder or a mil-surp.