I was reading an article in AH recently, and got to wondering if Somchem powders are manufactured in the RSA, or elsewhere. Are they like the Austrailian ADI or Bofors powders that are known by different names in different countries, or are they only used locally in sub-Saharan Africa?

Many thanks for your insight into this question.

LD

/

Like ALF said, "wholly and totally South-African". It is not known as something else in a different country.

We also don't get any other powders locally, so most of the loads talked about on AR we only read about.

We are very limited with the Somchem powders.

I own a 30-06 and can't come close to the velocities that you guys do with the powders available in the states.

I am particularly "jealous" of the velocities that you guys can get out of the .458 Win and Lott with the powders available to you.

I have seen imported powders in a gunshop here but it was extremely expensive.

quote:

Wholly and totally South African, hailing from a long history of military need at a time of embargos and before, starting out as AE & I.

I am ashamed about those embargoes. All they did was lead to huge increases in death, disease, rape and corruption.

/

Yes ; The World is in the Toilet !.
Just look long and hard or right down the street for your favorite place of worship . Now your beginning to see WHY !. Who is behind that power ??. Some one has always got a better or bigger Idol to bow down to !. Personally NO ONE got the story right !. After all WHO WROTE IT !!!!!!.

I understand that the want of powder selection in SA has led to a development of duplex loading, something that is anathema among the aghast community here in the States.
It would be good to learn of that arcane technology.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

quote:

Originally posted by Ewin:
I understand that the want of powder selection in SA has led to a development of duplex loading, something that is anathema among the aghast community here in the States.
It would be good to learn of that arcane technology.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

Like Navajo sand paintings, I would guess you have to know what you are doing. I don't think anyone is going to publish a book on the duplex techniques in the near future, they have lawyers in South Africa as well.

Before S355 came along we used duplex loads of S335 and S365 in 260 Rem, 30-06 as well as 270 Win.

Bullet_.375,
Have you tried S355? We do quite a bit better with it than we ever did with S365.

To see how the Somchem powders fit into the big scheme of things, see here.

Many thanks for that chart Gerard.

LD

Gerhard

I am no where close to being an experienced reloader or have even close to the technical knowledge you have but I must admit that I was quite disappointed with the S355.

I could not really see the benefit of a duplex load or S355 above S335 in my .375H&H.

I would appreciate if you could shed some light on this.

Thanks!!!!

Bullet_.375
For the 375, S335 or S341 is the right choice. In my 375H&H I use S335 with our shorter FN bullet and S341 with the 265gr HV, which is longer and needs a bit more space in the case. You mentioned the 30-06 and that is where S355 is now the preferred powder for me. With our 150gr HV, we could not get enough S365 into the case to get decent speed out of it and S335 was too fast, leaving excessive air space. With S355, we start it with 53gr and work up to 3100fps. Shoot anything with it from bush to plains, springbuck to eland.

Gerhard

Thanks for the info.

I use PMP's 155gr match bullets for target shooting out of my 30-06.

I load it 55,5gr S365, but I was concerned as the case is extremely full. I can't prove it yet,(because of too many variables) but I also think it is not accurate enough.

I will most definitely give S355 another try.

Bullet_.375,
Bear in mind that you would start with a lower powder charge with a jacketed bullet. The PMP match bullets will start at about 49gr of S355 and 2950fps would be a maximum speed to observe. The HV type drive band bullets can go higher because they do not require anywhere near the engraving pressure that a smooth bullet does.