Blackhawk44...Thanks for the info .. I'll check it out

Years ago (1960) I used to load 8mm and 06 using HiVel #2 - it was a very accurate powder. Now after 30 + years of not reloading, and getting back into it, I don't find this powder available, and no one around here remembers it .. any one know what happened to it ?

Discontinued in early 70's and replaced with the Reloder series. Back then RL7, RL11 and RL21. HiVel#2 was very roughly between 7 and 11 in burn rate. I believe that if you look up the latest data for RL10, it may be able to cover some of what you need. BOL

I saw a can of it in an antique store a couple years ago and bought it just for S&G's. It feels mostly full when shaken but I've never had a reason to open it and see!

I just thought it was kinda neat.

Redial

I used it as a kid 30yrs ago. Some claim it was a dirty powder and smelled bad. I didn't mind it; the can still sits in my "testosteroom" but as decoration not among the working powders.

If memory serves, HiVel #2 was a dual-based powder with a nitroglycerine component. Nothing wrong with this, just that such powders generally do not have the shelf life of a single-base straight nitrocellous propellant. So if you com across some Hivel, I'd treat it as a novelty and not as a using propellant.

The current Alliant line of rifle powders (successor to Hercules) is entirely different from the old Hercules line and is made in Europe (I think by Bofors) and is very similar to the Norma line.

There's nothing wrong with the Alliant line, but if you're reloading .308 and .30-06, there is a wide variety of powders available for you to choose from. None will necessarily very closely duplicate the old Hi-Vel, but then you don't need to duplicate it to have very successful loads. Welcome back!

MPBixby,
Here's the scoop.
HiVel#2 was introduced in 1908
Double based with 15% Nitroglycerine
Black tubular grains,.090 length
It's the slowest of the Hercules double based line of powders
It was designed for use in bottle necked cases,like the 30'06 and other military cases
But,as mentioned above,it is also a good choice in larger,straight sided cases
It gives higher velocity with lower pressure in some cases
As per Phil Sharpe in 1949
I found it to be a little faster then IMR 3031,which would be a little slower then RL 7.
Frank

HiVel#2 was the Camp Perry powder in the '06 for many years. It was the favorite for velocity and grouping. When non-corrosive priming (lead styphnate) priming came along, it was found to be much less accurate with that priming. So much so, that everybody abandoned it and it died from non-use. If you are looking for an '06 powder this day and age in a bolt rifle, then try IMR4064, 4350, or H414/WW760. The last number with magnum primers.