I am looking for information on using 870 powder for a variety of large caliber rifles. I have some info and load data I have compiled myself but is there a site that might have this powder listed?
Thanks for the help.
Frank

Hey Frank, I would guess that Hodgdon's site would be your best source. I've not heard of a dedicated H870 load data site.

However, the reason I'm responding is to let you in on a bit of information that came from Bruce Hodgdon. A long time ago I used a lot of H870 in some Magnum cartridges. As the bullet weight is reduced, the H870 just doesn't burn as "clean" which is true for a lot of Powders.

But, the H870 leaves a residue that can be extremely frustrating to remove from your Bore. Scrubbing `till you are blue in the face doesn't cut it either. Fortunately Mr. Hodgdon passed along the tip of making a Paste using "Bon Ami" kitchen cleanser and what ever your favorite Bore Cleaner happens to be. Use a Patch wrapped around a Brush, apply the Paste, give the Bore 10 strokes, push through some clean patches and wash the residue out with a bit more Bore Cleaner. Lightly oil or grease your Bore and you are rid of the "Residue".

I always used Fed-215s and Rem 9 1/2Ms with it and never had ignition problems.

It is a good powder with a slow predictable Pressure Increase as you increase the Load.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately Hodgdon has dropped 870. It was a military surplus and the military has moved on to something else. I guess I will have to buy a copy of the old H. catalog.
Would someone be willing tosell me one?
Thanks
Frank

Hodgdon never made H870. They've run out of the stock they had. H870 is military surplus WC870, an Olin Ball Powder made for loading 20mm cannon cartridges. Since it was made in the same time frame as the Ball powders that caused the fouling problems in the early M16s, I suspect the problem is the same, too much residual calcium carbonate in the powder. The usual description is of a very hard deposit in the corners of the rifling grooves that's difficult to scrub out and doesn't come out with the usual cleaning solvents. If I encountered this problem, the first thing I'd try is swabbing out the bore with white vinegar, followed by the usual cleaning. I haven't encountered it, though, as I use the rather similar surplus WC860 and WC872. My batches are of more recent manufacture; Olin took care of the excess lime problem when it was identified circa 1965.

my experince with 870?

heh.. they sell it right next to kingsford... saying it burns slower than mequite but faster than hicory

LOL
jeffe

Ricochet, thanks for that extra bit of information. I had never tried Vinegar. I have been using the 870 for awhile now and did know it was a surplus canon powder. I am trying to take some shortcuts to find starting loads for some of my larger caliber rifles. It is hardly ever listed so it can't be too popular. I do find it very good for use with heavy loads in my 338UM and would like to use it in others.
I may have to switch to one of the more common powders.
Frank

I have data for around 231 different loads using H-870 on my site.

WAIT A MINUTE < !--color-->

Vinegar and ANY LEAD is a VERY VERY VERY VERY bad idea. sure, this was used as an invisible ink during the revolutionary war... but you are now being exposed to disolved lead, that can be absorbed by the skin...

This is NOT a myth...

jeffe