Extruded or Ball Powder?

[warbirdlover]

Which do you prefer?

I no longer reload but when I did (for many years) I found that the extruded powders were easier to develop a load but would not drop consistent amounts from my (benchrest) powder measure. I always had to hand measure them. The powder measure(s) I had would always drop perfect amounts of ball powder.

Then (after having some sooty looking barrels after only a few shots) I read that with ball powders you had to get the pressures up for it to completely burn. This I found was true. The higher the pressure, the cleaner the barrel. I watched the pressure by looking at the case for signs (flattened primers etc).

When I got a good load with the ball powder I really couldn't beat it with any of the extruded.

Any of you have similar experiences?

[BCRules]

Yea, about the same. Ball likes hot ignition and to burn hot. Not a rule, but generally.

I use both. I like BL-C2, which is ball. I like H380 also.

But for the most part for rifle, I mostly have extruded.

Mostly for pistol, I use sphereical. If for nothing else, for consistent powder drops from my progressive presses.

[Ridge Runner]

ok, ball powder is double based, extruded is single base, the addition of nitroglycerine in ball powders makes it tempatuure sensative more so than single base powders.
But ball powder has a lower flame temp than extruded and the shape and size of the granules are less abrasive to the throat, so in my large capacity cases I use ball powder and work around the temp sensativity. I'll take barrel life over being less temperamental. so in the big stuff its ball powders, single base in the others.
RR

[BCRules]

Originally Posted by Ridge Runner

ok, ball powder is double based, extruded is single base, the addition of nitroglycerine in ball powders makes it tempatuure sensative more so than single base powders.
But ball powder has a lower flame temp than extruded and the shape and size of the granules are less abrasive to the throat, so in my large capacity cases I use ball powder and work around the temp sensativity. I'll take barrel life over being less temperamental. so in the big stuff its ball powders, single base in the others.
RR

What ball powders do you use again in your mag calibers?

[Ridge Runner]

WC 872, WC 868, Hodgdons US 869
RR

[BCRules]

Originally Posted by Ridge Runner

WC 872, WC 868, Hodgdons US 869
RR

That WC 872 is what I was thinking of you used. You can't even get the stuff anymore can ya?

[Ridge Runner]

at times, pats reloading and gibrass.com had it last time I checked, a new company is also now importing H870, read about it, not sure I saved it or not.
RR

[BCRules]

I still have some H870. Never had luck with it. Thinking of trying 869. I still have a lot of retumbo left. Not a fan either.

[Ridge Runner]

man retumbo serves me well in med. capacity cartridges (the 6.5 gibbs), but H-1000 is my go in my STW.
H870 was imported [mil-surp] (I think) US869 is as close as hodgdon could get to reproducing it. so if you didn't like H870, I'm afraid US869 won't help ya much. ever give ramshot a go? its double base, but looks extruded, but heard good things about it, but I heard alot of praise for re-22 also and its not ll that.
RR

[warbirdlover]

I ended up using alot of Winchester 760 because they didn't have 780 yet back then. The Hodgdon H414 and H380 stuff was okay but I still liked the 760 best.

Reloader 19 and 22 are great powders. My best .30-06 loads were using 19.