Hiya
I've been wondering if anyone has had any luck with H-380 in '06.. It seems to be an ideal burning rate for the '06 but I've not had any results with it that were acceptable by any means.. I've had good luck with it in 22-250 but nothing else really.
Also what primer is good with H-380? I've heard you have to really lite a fire under it..

Anyway, someone must be having luck with it, cause every loading manual you see, H-380 is included..

Thanks!

In my experience H414 was a better powder for the '06.

I don't know, but I use H-380 in my 35 whelen IMP. and it groups nice.

Yes, H-414 and W760 are pretty close and they both work well..
mad_Jack02 what primer do you use in your .35 load?

I worked up a load with H380 in my '06, but found that H414 was the go to powder.

That being said, I've shot hundreds and hundreds of 8x57 with H380 and have found velocities to be good and accuracy excellent, .5 inch at 100 yards all day long. I use WLR primers. No issue with the primer and no difference in ignition from other powders in my experience.

H 380 has a burn rate close to 4320...

it works very well in a wide variety of cartridges, but it is not highlighted as much as other powders... which is no way reflective on its capabilities...

Large rifle primers ignite it just fine in my experience....however a Mag primer seems to be a popular recommendation..

it provides top velocity with all bullet weights in my 338/06..

I just checked my data from my reloading journal. As it turns out, I did develop good loads with H380 and several 165-168 grain projectiles, including Woodleigh, Nosler and Barnes.

The H414 produced a load that basically shoots one hole, so I went with that one...

Good luck.

I use CCI large rifle primers. I use H-380 because I also use it in 3-4 other calibers I load for, it meters like water, and will group well.

Ok thanks for the replies..
Got a lb sittin around not doing anything so this winter I'll see what I can come up with.

Keep us posted, would like to how it does for you.

in my experience it works fine for the lighter bullets. if i was going to load a bullet heavier then a 150 or especially if heavier then 165s id probably step up to 414

That's interesting because I am shooting 200 grain bullets in my 8x57 with H380...very accurate.

bigger bore and smaller case is going to call for faster powders.

My 35 Whelen Imp. is grouping 3 shots at 5/8" @ 100 yards with 225 grain bullets using H-380.

As far as primers go, most people forget that they came out when people started reloading for big large case(weathernys-416R-H&H opend to 45) with tall columns of slow burn powders. The military have been useing ball powder since the 30's and don't uses Mag primers. If you want to try Mag primers and you have a load already (w/ reg. primers) you need to go to a starting load and work up. Just because and primer is more expencive or marked "MATCH" dose not always make it better. You have try them in YOUR gun to find out.

A lot of GI 30-06 ammo was loaded with H-380. I've never tried it since 4350 does what I need. I've had great success with it in my 22-250 and now I've got to try it in my 8x57.

Hey RDub, How well did the H380 do for you?

quote:

Originally posted by RDub:
Anyway, someone must be having luck with it, cause every loading manual you see, H-380 is included..

Thanks!

I have always noticed that too. Many also feel that 4895 is as good as it gets for the '06.

With one exception,virtually everyone of my rifles prefer the slowest burning powder, that is just shy of a compressed load. I have tried the faster burning powders like H-380, and 4895 in both of my '06s and the accuracy and velocity was not there. I tend to shoot mid-range - heavier for caliber bullets, and velocity is important to me also. In my particular 30-06s, H-4350, AA-4350 and RL-19 seem to work the best. I guess if I did not care about velocity, I guess could have gotten some very acceptable accuracy loads with the H-380 and 760 powders, but a 180 grain bullet leaving the muzzle at 2500 fps. (or less) doesn't really appeal to me. Any more than that and I started to get pressure signs. And that is pretty much what it came down to.

Only H-380 seems to work in my 22-250s (40 grains worth). I have not noticed any problems lighting it off in any load trials. And as I recall I used CCI200 and WLR primers in the trial runs. In my 22-250 I use Federal 215s.

But as you said and can see in the previous post, it does work for many.

Good luck.

Hotcore,
I had good results in 22/250 with 50-52gr bullets. But I got more 'flyers' than I wanted to see.. Not sure why. I tried many different primers.
I since discovered that my Sav 112 did the best with Rx15 so I never looked back.
I shot a few trials with H-380 in some other calibers with mediocre results. That's about it. Nothing in 30/06 yet.. That’s what I was asking about.

Rae59,
I know some M-1 Gerand shooters that swear by 4895 and use nothing else..

Interestingly.. Winchester factory 180gr loads use 57.2grs of a ball powder, according to trigger's post.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...2511043/m/4541013341

Which indicates W-W is using a powder with a burning rate slower than W-760 and a bit faster than W-780. If Win believes that a powder of that burning rate is the way to go for their factory loads, there must be a good reason. H-4350, AA-4350 and RL-19 are right there..

Hey RDub, I've used a god bit of it in 22-250s with 50gr Bullets. And it is my go-to Powder for Match Grade Accuracy in a 308Win with 168gr MatchKings. But, I've not tried it in a 30-06 that I can remember.

Looks like Rae59 has some good info on it though. What he found is typical to what I'd expect with the Buring Rate it has.

One of my buddies has a bit of Arthritis in his shoulders now, so the lower velocity might be just what he's looking for with the heavier(180gr) Bullets that Rae59 mentioned.

I still have a fairly adequate supply of the discontinued H450, plenty of H380, H414, H4350 and H4831, so we should find something in there that both the rifle likes and he is happy with.

Best of luck to you.