Am starting to load for a number of early 20th Century mil-surp rifles; 7.7 Jap, 303, 8mm, etc. Am wanting to buy one powder that will produce decent loads, probably in 8 pound quantity.

Is there an all-around powder I should consider besides 4895? I always seem to stick with the powders of my comfort zone and want listen to other (experienced) voices before going out and buying several pounds of powder.

P.S. No, the 'enth degree of accuracy and velocity are not crucial. I'm shooting as-issued mil-surps and happy when I get a four inch group at 100 yards.

The bore of the 8mm is a little big to get really good results out of a slow powder. I get my best results with Varget (a safe 2750 fps w/175 grain bullet), so 4895 may also be good. Can't speak to the 303 or Arisaka.

:Hey a 7.7 Jap shooter! I shoot a 1940 Jap long barreled rifle that had the first 1.5 inch of the barrel removed and then 2 inches ported. The stock was cut down and bolt arm heated and bent to let a scope be mounted. I was shooting it with a 3 x 9 but recently went with a 6.5 x 20. Haven't shot it with the new scope yet. I have been shooting constant 100 yard .375 groups with some .250 using a Sierra 180 grain pro hunter bullet, Federal 210 primer, Norma case and 44 grains of IMR 4064 powder. I seat the bullet just so it will fit in the mag. This is about .065 from the rifling. I am going to load up some Sierra 174 grain Match king Hollow point Boat tail and start about .005 from the rifling to see what they will do. Of course will have to shoot single shot. Will also use IMR 4064 powder. If you want to get accrucry from the old 7.7, providing the rifling in good shape, IMR-4895 or IMR-4064 is the way to go. Don't know about the 303 or 8MM, but the 7.7 loves these two powders. Let me know how you come out. Good shooting!

I use IMR 4064 in the 8x57 and 303 British with good results. I don't load the 7.7 Jap., but, I don't see why it wouldn't work. Rojelio

Almost any powder you'd use in a 30-06 will be OK in any of those cartridges, including the powders you mentioned. I have had good luck recently with AA2520 in .308 and Swiss 7.5 and would recommend it because it would meter well in a progressive reloader. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by Rojelio:
I use IMR 4064 in the 8x57 and 303 British with good results. I don't load the 7.7 Jap., but, I don't see why it wouldn't work. Rojelio

IMR 4064 would be my choice for the ones you mentioned.

The best economical choices are WCC 844 and 2230-C. Both are inexpensive and are the right burning rate.4895 would be great if you can find it at a good price. Beware that there is some deteriorated 4895 being sold. I had to use 8 pounds of it for fertilizer and even though I diluteded it in a garbage can full of water it burned my lawn ; I mean badly. roger

I went to a sight on the net and was going to buy 8 # of 4895 but seen it was 1972 pulldown powder and cancled the order. Might have been ok but will go ahead and pay for good powder.

I shoot 860 and 872 50 cal powder in all my 6.5, 7mm, 8mm and 30 cal rifles. It's very slow but is accurate beyond any of the powders I've ever tried.

Powder Valley has Accurate Data-Powder 73 (Listed under Accurate Powders)



Special note on Accurate Data-Powder 73:

# It is slightly faster than the standard AA 2230 standard powder.
# Therefore, reduce any load as published for AA 2230 by 5%.
(Multiply all AA 2230 loads by 0.95)
# This applies to all caliber/bullet weight combinations.



ACC73-08 * ACCURATE DATA POWDER 73- 8 LB.$52.00


And it has 2230c

ACC2230C-08 * ACCURATE 2230C - 8 LB. $65.00

ADI 2206 for 303 & MAS36 + 6.5x55 120gn hp. Nearest US stuff, IMR3031 & the 4895s.