Name that powder!

[MACHTECH]

I need help identifying this powder. The first two pics are of the mystery powder. The third is a comparison pic next to Retumbo (w/ Retumbo being on the left).

This powder is used in Magnum loads and I have confirmed that it is not Reloader 33 as well. I appreciate any help you might be able to give!

Todd

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

No stick powder can be identified visually, it would have to be tested by a ballistics lab (cost prohibitive). Is this from a cartridge or storage container? How old is it? How was it stored? If it came from a cartridge and your trying to identify it to purchase new, knowing what cartridge might give us more of a clue. It doesn't appear to have the graphite coating or size uniformity of modern powders. Sometimes the special blends used in factory ammo is never made available to the reloading community. Some old reloading manuals have factory duplication loads listed, if that would help. If this bulk unknown I'd just dispose of it.

 

[MACHTECH]

It came out of some very currently loaded ammo from Desert Tech Munitions. This is the powder they use in their current 375 cheytac 352 gr. Cutting Edge loads.

 

[Deleted member 113831]

Could be the new IMR 8133, looks very similar to it. The burn rate would be appropriate, IMR 8133 burns extremely close to RL33. I am currently using it in my 338AX.

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

It came out of some very currently loaded ammo from Desert Tech Munitions. This is the powder they use in their current 375 cheytac 352 gr. Cutting Edge loads.

Machtech,

At ten dollars a pop, I can see why you would want to duplicate this load. I would call Cutting Edge first. I saw there phone number on the home page they might be able to hook you up with the right connection. I'm not shy so I'd also try contacting Desert Tech and thank them for a really great product before asking the hard question. Worse that could happen is they would say it's proprietary info or they can't divulge it because of liability reasons. The other resource might be some of the shops/smiths providing reamers and making dies. I'm not a big fan of trusting internet load data I can't verify from a book. There was a good thread over on the accurateshooter forum with pics of a nice 375CT bench rifle where someone was looking for info on contacts. You may have to put the dogs on a diet to afford shooting that thing. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, best of luck!

 

[Huskydriver]

Hmmm oddly looks like H-1000 to me but hard to tell from just a pic. Have you asked DT if they will tell you the powder they use? Longshot but hey cant hurt to ask they might tell you straight up.

 

[1badbarrel]

I could be way off but would you be able to find out the powder by velocity. Get your velocity from the load , then Pull a few and figure out your charge weight , then try that weight with the different powders to duplicate the load. Use same brass and bullet and same ogive ect.

 

[LRShooter101]

Assuming that you are trying to copy that load.

Personally, I would NOT try to duplicate that powder.

Looking at the picture, the "sticks or rods" of powder appear to be very non-uniform in size and length. Powder that is very non-uniform like that is harder to meter/dispense consistently, and it can also give you an inconsistent load density. If you look at your pic of the Reloader 33 next to it, you will see how much more consistent the Reloader 33 is.

Per above, I would be looking for a powder that gives you the same burn rate/velocity, but is also hopefully more consistent in size & shape for the reasons above.

I used to shoot .50 BMG competitively, and a friend tried to get me to use some Mil surplus canister powder that looked like that. It really sucked trying to deal with it!

 

[FLIGHT762]

You're going to put your Eye out.

 

[MarinePMI]

Typically, factory ammunition is not loaded with canister grade powder. The smaller companies (like DTM) may, but if they're producing any volume, than factory powders are usually much less expensive, and easier to blend to achieve a desired pressure and velocity. I'd wager that you have some factory blend of powder.

The only ammunition I can think of in recent history to use canister grade powder was the 6.5 CM when it was initially released. But then, partly due to the scarcity of components (due to the run on stuff during Obama's last term) and partly due to the bitching of some folks (who couldn't just leave well enough alone), Hornady changed to a factory power blend as well. .308/4064 combo was another one, now that I think about it....

At any rate, you should be able to find something close with the available canister powders. These days, our powder options as reloaders are massive when compared to 50 years ago, so there's plenty of options to try.

 

[xdeano]

Todd,
Did you end up finding out what this powder is? Imr 8133?

Xdeano

 

[MACHTECH]

Todd,
Did you end up finding out what this powder is? Imr 8133?

Xdeano

I didn't. I ended up trying RL33, RL50, H50BMG and Retumbo. I found a great node using Retumbo and just stuck with it. I worked up a load for my buddies 408 and Retumbo worked great for his as well.

 

[Major Clayton]

It came out of some very currently loaded ammo from Desert Tech Munitions. This is the powder they use in their current 375 cheytac 352 gr. Cutting Edge loads.

I too am wondering if it is IMR 8133, as I just bought an 8lber and going to start testing loads on my 375 Cheytac. How many grains were in the cartridge?

 

[MACHTECH]

I too am wondering if it is IMR 8133, as I just bought an 8lber and going to start testing loads on my 375 Cheytac. How many grains were in the cartridge?

I gave up on trying to find that powder and have stuck with Retumbo ever since. What ever that powder was in the factory desert tech load, there was 130 grains of it.

 

[Major Clayton]

Okay, the issue is I haven't been able to find Retumbo anywhere online for months now - neither n570. And its impossible to find any of these powders locally in Norther Cal.

I did some loads with 136gr of RL33 for 337gr CEB that worked pretty well, but I fly all over for my shooting and temperatures vary quite a bit, so looking for something with a bit better temp stability.

Has anyone else done any IMR 8133 loads for their Cheytac?