Anyone using, vouch for, or warn me off of - Radway Green RG4895 surplus powder?
I've been using H4895 in my .223 and 30-06 loads, but I'm almost out.
I have also been interested in some surplus 4064. It is $109 for 8 pounds. With IMR 4064 being $130 for 8 pounds I think I will be sticking with that until I have been given a reason to switch.
The Kid
I don't know that I have ever seen any...Radaway being British? being a NATO country loading to NATO specs?? I am curious what you find out...please post ...where did you find this powder? D-451
Yep it is British Surplus. Wideners has the 4064.
It OUGHT to be very similar to H4895 or IMR4895, but not exactly the same. :)
The commercial powder sellers go to considerable pains to make the lot to lot variations really minimal, and still all the manuals advise backing down on charges, back to the starting load, when changing lots of powder. That advice would apply in spades (!) to surplus powder.
So the potential savings would have to be balanced against the trouble, work, and waste involved in re-developing loads. :(
And I wouldn't do it at all, unless I had the use of a chronograph to check the velocity of my loads, vs. milsurp, commercial, or my own proven loads with commercial cannister powder.
On the other hand, lately, being able to GET powder is a real plus.
So I'd say proceed, but with caution.
Don't know about RG powder, but Pat's Reloading, at http://patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.htm is a good source for surplus powder. I got some .50 BMG powder (WC-860) for my .300 RUM, cheap($46/8lb.) this spring. He typically carries the US surplus powders and components.
Being the curious type, I had to by an 8lb jug. My travel schedule has not given me the time to experiment, but when I do, I'll post to the forum.
I doubt it'll beat 44.2 gr RL15 under a Sierra 168MK (moly) in my AR10T but was having a lot of trouble finding any quantity of RL15 soooo......
Cheers
MrBill
Weidner's been out of it for a while now, but I did end up picking up two jugs.
I used IMR4895 starting loads in 30-06 - chrono'd where it should be for my 03A3.
I put together some work-up loads for .223 but haven't been to the range with the AR to test them with. Maybe after the first of the year I'll get some reasonable weather (I don't mind some testing in the cold, but I worry about warm weather performance developing loads when it's below freezing.)