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Posted By: Fraser Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
I just finished loading some .270 ammo and I was using 60 grains of H-4831 with 130 grain Nosler Partitions. O'Connor used 62 grains. I've heard that some think his scale was off (I doubt that) and I've heard that H-4831 has changed over the years (which I don't doubt). But what I'm wondering is if anyone still uses the old 62 grain load?
Posted By: n8dawg6 Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
Hornady manual still lists 62.0 g as max with a 130 g bullet.

I use 60 g and am very content with it. No pressure signs in my two rifles and very good accuracy.

correction: I have the previous version of the Hornady manual, they just did a new one.
Posted By: Lou_270 Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
O'Connor used military surplus H-4831. Apparently H4831 has been through 2 iterations since the H-4831 O'Connor used and is a bit faster. I have a Handloader's Digest with an article on handloading for the .270 by O'Connor and O'Connor himself mentions in it that his 62 gr load is with the military surplus version and the new (at the time - 70s since the surplus supply ran out) manufactured H4831 and dupont version (imr) are both faster than the military surplus version and require lighter charges.

Lou
Where's Bradford at??? He may be able to clarify whether or not his dads scale was off. The powder in question has definitely changed a bit though and supposedly 62gr. is a very HOT load for todays powder (H4831SC). I'd start around 58gr's. and work up to maybe around 60 if it were me. I'll be doing that here in a few days with the 130gr. partiions I just bought at SPS for $15.00/box.... Some of you guys should jump on this deal, it's a pretty good one:

http://shootersproshop.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=71_101_102&product_id=158
Posted By: RinB Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
Most of you are too young to know that the original 4831 was a surplus military powder. I think it was from WW two. In the 50's you could buy 100 pounds for about 40 cents a pound. It was sold at retail for a buck a pound. None of the successors have been as slow.
Posted By: BobinNH Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
Yeah,like RinB says, the old stuff JOC used was slower...he did very deliberately use 62 grains of it in his rifle.His scale was not off.

I use 61 gr of the current stuff with 130 Sierra, and Partition for a smidge under 3100(or a bit over in some barrels),and shoot it year round with no ill effect.

Funny thing I discovered awhile back but paid little attention to until recently;you can carefully work up to 62 gr 7828 and get roughly the same results that JOC got with 130 gr bullets in the 270.It has worked so well in 3-4 barrels for us that a pal of mine now uses it as his standard load for the 270.For giggles I am going to try this with the 130 Swift SS II in a 9 twist barrel.

It never occured to me that 7828 could have been designed to replace the old 4831 but maybe so(?)
Posted By: rrogers Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
I really like 7828 with 140's in my 270.
Posted By: jwall Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
Originally Posted by Fraser


But what I'm wondering is if anyone still uses the old 62 grain load?


YES - I STILL have most of 1 lb in an original m s can (hodgdon's can BUT NOT H 4831). I could post a pic but don't have it handy. In the last 70s I bought several lbs. for 2-3 bucks/lb can.

I've bought 10 lbs of of MS 4831 recently, but don't have possession of it.

Reminds me, I need to CALL someone.

BobinNH, I've been replacing ms4831 with IMR 7828 since it has been available.
Posted By: BRoper Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
I have used 62 gr. H-4831 in my .270 quite a bit with no signs of high pressure. My normal load is 60 gr. though. I get 3050 fps and 1" groups so I don't see a need to go hotter.
Posted By: bobnob17 Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/04/12
Maybe its my rifle, but loading 62g of H4831 (called AR2213sc here) gets me only to 3050fps or so with the 130 cup and cores. Its mild. I can't get much more in than that so I use 4350 instead for just under 3100fps.

I find the 4831 perfect for the 150 and 160 though, 59 and 57.5 respectively give 2950 and about 2800.

Barrel is 23.5 inches on a Zastava Mauser.
Posted By: M1Garand Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/05/12
Originally Posted by BobinNH

Funny thing I discovered awhile back but paid little attention to until recently;you can carefully work up to 62 gr 7828 and get roughly the same results that JOC got with 130 gr bullets in the 270.It has worked so well in 3-4 barrels for us that a pal of mine now uses it as his standard load for the 270.For giggles I am going to try this with the 130 Swift SS II in a 9 twist barrel.



Bob, be careful with the Swift if you're looking at running it up to 62 grns, they run higher pressure than either the Sierra or Partition. I blew a primer working up loads with the first version of it with Magpro that were under max and fine with the 130 Partition. I was chronying at the time too and my velocity was in Weatherby territory.
Posted By: BobinNH Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/05/12
M1: Noted and thanks! wink
Posted By: RinB Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/05/12
Years back I used 57.5 of IMR 4831 with 130's for 3100+. That powder usually won the velocity contest with all the 130's but I had some concerns about using it in hot weather so went to H4831 and now to H4831sce.

I have gotten great velocities with 150's using IMR7828ssc but with charges less than those used by Cactus Jack.
Originally Posted by BobinNH

Funny thing I discovered awhile back but paid little attention to until recently;you can carefully work up to 62 gr 7828 and get roughly the same results that JOC got with 130 gr bullets in the 270.It has worked so well in 3-4 barrels for us that a pal of mine now uses it as his standard load for the 270.For giggles I am going to try this with the 130 Swift SS II in a 9 twist barrel.

It never occured to me that 7828 could have been designed to replace the old 4831 but maybe so(?)


60gr IMR7828 in my .270 did a shade over 3200 with a 130NBT....how far above that do you get with 62?
Posted By: BobinNH Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/05/12
Originally Posted by bellydeep
Originally Posted by BobinNH

Funny thing I discovered awhile back but paid little attention to until recently;you can carefully work up to 62 gr 7828 and get roughly the same results that JOC got with 130 gr bullets in the 270.It has worked so well in 3-4 barrels for us that a pal of mine now uses it as his standard load for the 270.For giggles I am going to try this with the 130 Swift SS II in a 9 twist barrel.

It never occured to me that 7828 could have been designed to replace the old 4831 but maybe so(?)


60gr IMR7828 in my .270 did a shade over 3200 with a 130NBT....how far above that do you get with 62?


bellydeep we are not getting near that velocity....in two Kriegers and one pre 64 M70 barrel(all 22") we are getting about 3100 fps.I have not tried it yet in the newer Brux barrel.
Posted By: Eremicus Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/05/12
I remember when old Jack started fooling with H4831. It was called "4350 data powder" as one could use IMR 4350 data and not get into trouble.
It was WWII military surplus powder. It was used in the 20mm ammunition. The story goes that old man Hodgdon bought it as it lay in piles on the runways of old air bases. He had it washed, blended and packaged. It sold very cheaply and was loved by the long range target shooter of that era. E
In JOC's 1961 "Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns", page 147, he said he never found a better .270 load than 49.5 gr of IMR-4064 with a 130 gr bullet.

He mentions IMR-4350 as the slowest IMR powder.

Perhaps this is prior to his finding H4831.

For .30-06, he recommended 4320.
I still have about a gallon and a half (out of 5 gallons originally purchased) of WWII 4831 that I bought for $1.50 a pound in about 1968. It still smells sweet and shoots well.

I used 62.0 grs with a 130 gr bullet in various .270's over the years with no issues until last year, when I got an apparently soft batch of Remington nickel plated brass. I experienced difficult extraction and ejector marks on the case head. I think that I would have had problems with any load with that brass.

In a 24" barrel I was getting just about 3200 fps with 62/H4831/130 NP. Now that I am old, I have backed off to 60.0 grs of 4831 with no damage to my ego so far.
Posted By: Dale K Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/06/12
Was there any bullet/charge weight information with that recommendation of IMR 4320 in the 30-06?

Dale
Posted By: forepaw Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/06/12
I believe O'Connor's load, and the one I have used and liked, was 53.0/4320 with any 150 gr. bullet. Since then, I have had better luck with AA 2520 and Varget, but if you have 4320 it's still a good load.

forepaw
Posted By: forepaw Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/06/12
Keep in mind that O'Connor used WW brass, and a powder funnel with long drop tube, which required shaking and tapping as the powder trickled in. There is nothing magic about 62 gr. but it is pushing things and if you have a tight bore or chamber, soft brass, a bullet with a long bearing surface, min. headspace or any number of other things, you could be at max pressure during fall temps. If you shoot those same loads during the summer you may see some symptoms of high pressure, which to me = risky. If your primers fall out, or your bolt handle is sticking, you are way overpressure.

forepaw
Posted By: BobinNH Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/06/12
Originally Posted by Richdeerhunter
In JOC's 1961 "Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns", page 147, he said he never found a better .270 load than 49.5 gr of IMR-4064 with a 130 gr bullet.


He used this load back in the 40's...once IMR4350 cam out he used that and once H4831 became available that's about all he used from then on.
Posted By: BRoper Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/06/12
I have used 49.5 gr. 4064 in my .270 too. It's a good load and chronographs about the same speed as 60 gr. H4831, in my gun.
Posted By: jwall Re: Jack O'Connor's load data - 12/06/12
Originally Posted by BRoper
I have used 49.5 gr. 4064 in my .270 too. It's a good load and chronographs about the same speed as 60 gr. H4831, in my gun.


I am not and don't intend to be critical, so....

I used 49 grs 4064 TILL I found JOC's load. After getting my chrono I found these results to be pretty consistent.

49-4064 / 130 / 22" = 2900 fps.

62-4831 (MS) / 130 / 22" 3100 fps.

HOWEVER, HOWEVER - when MS ran out the NEWER H4831 did NOT equal the MS. Vels were @ +/- 3000. I quit H 4831 altogether when I found 7828.

NOW TO BE FAIR H changed their newer 4831 at least twice that I did NOT know about. JB (MD) says that now the newer H 4831 is performing pretty well. I would accept that sight unseen.
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