Powder Questions, What do I have??

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  • Last Post 04 December 2017
Muskrat Mike posted this 06 November 2017

I just bought a bunch of shot, lead and various casting items that came from an estate of an old reloader and caster.

Included was also a bunch of powder.  The red dot , Unique and H335 I have no problem with.  What was opened all seems fine and I plan on using.

However there are multiple unopened 8# boxes of Magnum Rifle MR-3100 from the: Sonday Powder Co., Lake Villa, Illinois.  It was stored with the other powder so I am assuming its fine but have no idea what to use it for.

There's also several boxes of Hodgdon H870 which at least I recognize the brand but have no idea what to use it for either. 

These mostly 8# of powder in a black plastic bag inside a cardboard box I'm guessing from the 60's or 70's.

Can anyone help me?  what do I have and are they more then fertilizer?

Muskrat Mike

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RicinYakima posted this 06 November 2017

Sonday was the guy that started Accurate Powder Company. This is a surplus powder about the same speed as surplus 4831, except probably Israeli made, same as MR5744 and other as the early MR powders he sold. There is a lot of reloading data on the net if you search for it as Accurate MR 3100. HTH, Ric

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RicinYakima posted this 06 November 2017

Accurate Load Date pamphlet from 2001 has data for this powder, then known as XMR3100 same as XMR5744 nomenclature. Don't know if this is Eastern Bloc new made, or still surplus.

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Muskrat Mike posted this 06 November 2017

That's a big help!  Thank you!  Sounds like it could be put to good use.

Now to fiquire out what to do with H870?

Muskrat Mike

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RicinYakima posted this 06 November 2017

If you want to use the old powders, you really need to go on EBay and find old reloading manuals. None of them are on the internet, so you have to buy the print ones. At least five each from Lyman, Hodgon, Sierra, and Hornady between 1965 and 1990.

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 06 November 2017

You might want to check your powder lot number as there was a recall on the AA 3100.

http://www.accuratepowder.com/consumer-alert/recall-notice/

 

 

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lotech posted this 06 November 2017

I think 3100 powder has been made by several manufacturers over the years. I used it about thirty years ago with good results. As I recall, it's a little slower than H4831, but I got good accuracy and velocity using it in such cartridges as 6mm Remington and .270 Winchester with full power loads and jacketed bullets. 

Don't believe I ever tried it with cast bullets; may work okay but probably not with reduced loadings. 

 

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GP Idaho posted this 06 November 2017

This is the first I've heard of a recall on Accurate 3100. I know it was discontinued.  I still have a small amount left of this powder and it has worked well in my 25-06 using jacketed bullets. Gp

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 06 November 2017

I only knew about it because a friend of mine has a grand son that used the powder in his 25-06  to take his first deer.  They never had any problem with the powder, but who knows which lot he had at the time.  Just putting the information out there just in case the warning applies. 

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Ken T posted this 06 November 2017

I just loaded some 270 Win with MR3100 I bought during the 80's.I have less than a pound left in an 8 lb keg.I also used in it in several different magnum cartridges.I like the powder.The recall was for recent manufacture powder.

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John Alexander posted this 06 November 2017

RicinYakima posted this 20 hours ago

 

Accurate Load Date pamphlet from 2001 has data for this powder, then known as XMR3100 same as XMR5744 nomenclature. Don't know if this is Eastern Bloc new made, or still surplus.

===========================

Ric, I don't know anything about 3100 but I have shot a lot of the original surplus 4831 and MR5744 and MR 5744 is a much faster burning powder  than 4831 about like 4227.  It would obviously be a disaster to use 4831 loading data for MR 5744.  Your post above sounds dangerously like you are saying that 3100 and 5744 are the same.  Maybe just the way I am reading it. But thought I should get the thought in this thread.

John

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RicinYakima posted this 07 November 2017

No No! the nomenclature "MR" "XMR" "AA" prefixes went through the same process. The powders are all different. MR is the early imported stuff, while the XMR is East Bloc made  powders, and AA is who knows where made powders. Sorry my sentence structure lead you astray. The prefixes tell  you the time period it was imported so you can look up proper vintage loading data. HTH, Ric

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BigMan54 posted this 07 November 2017

Ric is right about collecting the old Reloading Manuals. I have been collecting old manuals from gun shows & old used book stores. Even on ebay .They have invaluable information about all types & methods of reloading. The DATA MAYBE WAY OUT OF DATE. But the history is both fascinating & educational.  It helped a buddy out years ago that found a sealed 8lb can of 5066. It shot great too. 

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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MarkinEllensburg posted this 08 November 2017

H870 is the best powder I've found for my .25-06 with jacketed bullets. Higher velocity with lower pressures per the reloading manuals that list it. It is a surplus powder whose source has dried up.

I've not tried it in anything else and with the lack of supply I'm not likely. I did find a pound that I'll use until it's gone.

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steveco posted this 08 November 2017

The original MR-3100 was surplus IMR 4831. It was sold first as 8# packed in 1 gallon opaque milk jugs for $27 and later in dark black plastic 8# containers.

It was written up in Handloader magazine by Mike Venturino, #83, January-February 1980, pp 62. Also, Bob Hagel wrote the Propellant Profiles on it in Handloader #92, July-August 1981, pp 66. His testing showed it to be identical to IMR 4831.

I've used it in 270 Win., 7mm Rem Mag., 300 Win. Mag., and 338 Win. Mag. with good results.

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Ken T posted this 08 November 2017

The early MR3100 was marked as Israeli manufacture.Rumors were floating around at the time that it was actually made in South Africa and the Israels were involved to get around the trade embargo.

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Muskrat Mike posted this 03 December 2017

Surprise surprise!  I didn't want to open the unopened boxes of MR3100 I have because I have one opened one with 5-6 pounds in the plastic jug.  I finally carefully opened up one of the unopened ones and inside was one  typewritten sheet of loads for the powder MR-3100. It has loads for 19 cartridges from 222 Rem to 458 Win, most with 3 different bullet wts. showing powder chg., velocity and Pressure in C.U.P.

Of course it recommends starting @10% below their charges for starting loads.

I have almost 24 lbs of it and with this data will start looking to working up safe loads for some of the calibers I have.

If anyone needs a data copy for AA's MR-3100  powder from the 70's and 80's give me a holler!

Mike

Muskrat Mike

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 04 December 2017

There is a section under reloading specifically for surplus data.  It would be great if someone could scan and put that in that folder.  I do not have a scanner.

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Muskrat Mike posted this 04 December 2017

I have a printer/scanner that I have no idea how to scan on but when one of my daughters is here sometime I'll get them to teach me how and I'll take some pictures of the shipping box and the Jug and label and maybe I can figuire out how to post the pictures too. Might be a while.

Mike

Muskrat Mike

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Starmetal posted this 04 December 2017

H870 is a military surplus ball powder. It's a very slow burning powder suitable for overbore magnum cartrides.  It's very similar in burn rate to the current military surplus ball powder of 867 and 872. 

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