50 BMG Powder?

50 BMG Powder

I think that Hodgon makes a powder just for the 50 BMG .Yes sir they do its the H50 BMG -Here is thier loaddata for it below is thier data hope this helps
650 GR. M-33 Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.425" 265.0 3155
655 GR. ADI FMJ Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.450" 248.0 3029
750 GR. HDY A-MAX Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.450" 250.0 2944
750 GR. HDY A-MAX Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.450" 233.0 2800
800 GR. BAR SOLID Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.630" 250.0 2895
800 GR. BAR SOLID Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.630" 225.0 2725

all of this DATA Came from Hodgon's website

Thee is also a lot of Surplus powder out there and with the price of 50 Cal components it might be a good idea to look into.

A few examples are:
IMR5010
WC860 (a friend uses a lot of this powder)
WC867
WC872 (slow but good for long distances)

I got a bunch of that w872 for pretty cheap and have been using it with good results. Havent run a chronograph on it yet, but accuracy has been good enough.

I use WC860 and IMR 5010 surplus. My lots of 860 has been faster than 5010. I load 220 grains of 860 for 647 ball. My one lot of 5010 load is 225 grains for 647 ball bullets. You do have to work up EVERY different lot of surplus powder because they DO vary in burn rate. Start at 210 grains of 860 or 5010 with 643-690 grain bullets and work up carefully watching for pressure signs. For factory cannister powder choose Hodgdon or Vihtavouri. Make sure primers are seated flush or below, and watch brass carefully for signs of case head separation.

I don't own or load for .50, but I did notice that Alliant Powder has come out with a specific .50 BMG powder.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/reloder50.aspx

I've also heard of folks loading stuff like WC860, 869, and 872.

While the commercial powders are all fine for reloading the 50 BMG the charge weights are so large you will soon go broke loading them. The Surplus powders work just as well at a greatly reduced price. Search around the NET and you will easily find several online stores selling the Surplus powder.

I think I'm going to order some WC846 for building Garand ammo because I have well over 500 cases to load. (H4895 is just to expensive for all that ammo)

mallc said:

just what I was looking for.

Scott

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My favorite load is: 235.0 grains of VV 20N29 behind a Lehigh 510-130 800 grain solid brass projectile using worked brass and a CCI #35 Arsenal Primer.
I have shot a 5-shot grouping under 5" center-to-center at 1000 yards in FCSA competition.
However, I used a special trick for this powder, heat all your loads to 135 degrees F before firing in my ArmaLite AR-50 target rifle.
VV 20N29 is expensive !!!!!!!!!!!!!
The loads listed above for 750 Amax are HOT in a target rifle. 222 grains of H50BMG with a 750 AMAX has been proven to be the best loading because most rifle shoot AMAX better at 2700 fps.
I use 215 grains of H5010 Virgin for 700 grain AP loadings.

I am experimenting with WC-872 with 800+ grain bullets, as it has proven to be very erratic with lighter projectiles. I also believe it will require heating prior to shooting to obtain the best accuracy out of a target rifle.

Contact me if you need more infor about working brass and other 50BMG loading techniques. Join the FCSA to obtain even more insight into the 50BMG. Granted we do sometimes have our internal pissing mathches, but it is still the best source of info for loading the 50BMG for target shooting purposes. The World Record is 5-shots under 2" center-to-center at 1000 yards shot by one of our members.


Been a few years since I have been in Muscatine, Iowa - my little brother got married down there - 33 years ago.

I'm just about out of IMR 5010. I started with 225 grains with new African 690 grain ball bullets. I think a few of my primers flattened so I backed off to 205 grains. I weigh each load. They feel just like commercial loads to shoot and I'm sticking with that load.
Go to wideners.com and check out the surplus powders. Economical, but as pointed out before == you must work up your loads as this is not cannister powder.
Don't drink and shoot!

Not drunk is he who from the floor
can rise alone and drink some more
But drunk is he who prostrate lies
without the power to drink or rise

I use 215 grains of 5010. Its not the hottest load, but it works well in my two .50's.

I have to agree with the last 3 posts, start out low and work your loads up looking for pressure signs. Some of the loads listed above might push the bolt into your face (at least the scope into your eye).

New production 5010 is hotter then the pull down powder that's been on the market. Just remember to be careful when you're starting out, it's better to start out on the low side and work up to a load that works for you and your rifle.

Lunie said:

I don't own or load for .50, but I did notice that Alliant Powder has come out with a specific .50 BMG powder.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/reloder50.aspx

I've also heard of folks loading stuff like WC860, 869, and 872.

Click to expand...

I have 32 pounds of Reloder 50 on order and will be using it in our next 1000 yard shoot. There is NO published data for this powder, but several of our top shooters have been experimenting and will be publishing the results in the next 2 publications of our VHP magazine (Very High Power). It is slower than H50BMG but faster than VV 20N29, which should work better for 750-815 grain projectiles. Brass BoreRiders with minimal bearing length lands can be pushed harder than normally thought, but this is not an exact science, so BE CAREFUL.

Be very careful with what some people post for loads, they can be very dangerous in your rifle. What I shoot in my AR or Shorty, will not shoot the same in your rifle. Start low and woork up your loads. 210-215 grains with most powders would be the lowest I would use to prevent "detonation" caused by using too low a powder charge in a case and having primer flash across entire length of powder, instead of a controlled burn back to front.

Feel free to ask more questions.

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NOTE: I apologize to all readers who read some of my rants in other postings. I had a short period of time where I reacted harshly to a PRESCRIBED medication I was using to control pain.
The Moderators here correctly dealt with me and the situation and I thank them for their understanding.
I understand the feeling of some who post here about the FCSA being a "good-ole-boys" club, but it is changing. Our membership is increasing and subtle changes are occurring in our management in a good direction. The information on our Forum and in our VHP magazine greatly pays for the membership fee. There are also raffles in place now to win a 50BMG target rifle with a 2 year subscription attached at basically no-charge. Check out the FCSA at www.fcsa.org - Thank you - I hope this is not a problem here at The High Road.

Oldman,
Yeah, I agree about the "good old boy club" feeling in the FCSA and that's why I left a couple years back. Certain people seemed to me that they were above the rest in one way or MANY.

If it truely does change for the better I'll return but for now I'll just sit back and see what happens. I know Skip would be ashamed at the attitudes of some of the "old heads" if he was still with us.