I am going to start working up some loads with a few powders you don’t hear about in this game. As a long time loader I keep a powder inventory that covers about forty or so cartridges. Many are discontinued and others I don’t see getting  mentioned here so  I’m beginning work up some loads for my 38-55 with a couple propellants that look like a possible fit. So if anybody here has already been there and done that I’d appreciate your feedback. 

WW 680: discontinued ball powder which in its day was the best performer with the Hornet and shined in the 218 Bee, the Fireball, 25-20 and other small cartridges. I loved it for both the Hornet and lighter loads in my 222.  But I also found it was great in the 357 Max, 7 TCU and 30 Herrett when I was into silhouette. My last thee cans are same batch and I’ve found the speed between 4227 and Re7 or 4198 and unlike some ball powders easily ignites with small rifle or pistol primers. It’s a very dense powder but it won’t fill much of a big case. I’m thinking 250-295 grain bullets with around 19-20.5 grains. 

AA 2015: I love this powder in everything from the 222 to my 444 and light 45-70 Target.  It is a single base very small stick powder that meters easily. It burns very clean and I’ve yet to get into any red zones on pressure whatever I’m dealing with. It’s predictable and very flexible. In fact it almost seems like the burn rate charts aren’t correct some times. I’ve had good luck in my 375 Win Savage 99 so I’m hoping it will perform with lighter loads and heavier lead bullets. It does decently I’m my No #3 444 with 250 grain lead at around 1450 to  1500 FPS.  Thinking maybe 18.5 to 20.5 grs with 250 to 295 gr. bullets. 

Anybody, ideas, experience ? 

Rick

MT Chambers wrote on Jul 25^th, 2020 at 3:39pm:


Pretty much it seems. Both flattened ball double base but I’d bet AA will burn cleaner. If I didn’t have three pounds of old WW680 I’d be burning 1680 I’m sure. 

Also interested in 2015: I bought some to try with 25 cal loads, anyone have any load data experience with it.