In smaller calibers?

[nvshooter]

Widener's Reloading and Shooting Supply (Johnson City, TN) has 8-lb kegs of 50BMG powder for 25 bucks. Can it be used in smaller cases, like my 300WSM?

 

[JesseL]

After a little playing around with QuickLOAD (set for H50BMG powder in a 300 WSM with a 180grn Hornady BTSP), you could do it, but you would be lucky to hit 2000 fps and burn half the powder.

So you would have a very weak load with a lot of muzzle flash. Powder for 50 BMGs is just too slow burning to be useful in any cartridge that isn't in the same ballpark as the big fifty.

 

[Dave R]

So did John Moses Browning have to develop a new powder incoming up with that cartridge? Or were there commercial powders slow enough in the early 1900s?

Just curious.

 

[steve4102]

Too slow. But this will work. http://accuratepowder.com/datapowder_dp86.htm It can be purchased here. http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/

This will work also. http://accuratepowder.com/datapowder_dp85.htm

It can be purchased here. http://www.grafs.com/fc/product/45068

Data for these two powders can be found here. http://accuratepowder.com/datapowder.htm

Good Stuff, this Data Powder!

 

[CMcDermott]

I wouldn't be surprised if a new powder was developed for the 50 BMG. But Browning wasn't restricted to commercial powders, and would have had Dupont engineers doing the actual chemistry while he just tested the ammo & his new gun for the U.S. goverment. Back when it was designed the 50 BMG was considered an anti-tank gun and could penetrate the armor of many of the WWI tanks. As tank design advances quickly left the 50 BMG ineffective, its mission was changed to attack trucks, buildings and aircraft; which it still does very effectively.