Smoking Retumbo

[Red Ryder]

I'm shooting 68g of Retumbo and CCI Magnum primers out of a 264 and I'm getting A LOT of smoke. I mean the damned thing looks something like a flintlock going off. I've never used Retumbo before - is this much smoke normal for Retumbo?

Your wise and experienced answers are, as usual, much appreciated.

 

[Wind50cal]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

Is Retumbo a recommended powder for the 264? I obviously haven't checked Hornadys manual on this, but I would think it would be awful slow.
I shoot Retumbo in the 338 Lapua and the 338-378 Weatherby, very clean and have never noticed smoke. It is very loud though!

 

[Red Ryder]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

Retumbo is a very good powder for a 264 especially with barrels of at least 26". It's good <span style="font-style: italic">because</span> it's slow.

 

[Shireman]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

I shoot quite a bit of Retumbo in 3 different rounds and while I would say it is on the smoky side compared to other powders, I have never had the "flintlock" experience.

 

[bohem]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

I haven't had a front-stuffer type smoke experience, but it is smokier than most.

It works REALLY well with the 6.5-06, the 264 mag would be a good choice for a long (26-30") barrel and heavy bullets.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

What bullet weight are you running in your 264?
Retumbo is a a little more smokier than other powders. If it's really bad, then you may not be getting a complete burn, and/or running to light of a bullet for the 264. I would think it might be too slow of a powder for your application. I do like Retumbo in magnum cases with big heavy bullets.

 

[Raider Power]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

I run 62.5 grains of retumbo with a 140 grain AMAX in my .264 win mag. I hadn't noticed it being smokey at all. Sounds like an incomplete burn as mentioned. If you're using that much powder I'm guessing you're on the lighter side of the bullet spectrum so I'd go with something a little faster. Ive had really good results with h4350 and lighter bullets. My rifle also likes ww 780 supreme for just about everything I shoot through it. It's not always the best, but it has been one of the best for all of the bullets I shoot.

 

[Red Ryder]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

I'm shooting 140g Bergers out of 26" Sendero. I agree that it sounds like incomplete combustion. I've researched quite a bit and I've read about guys who use 62.5, 66.5, 68g Retumbo. More often than not though, guys claiming good accuracy/speed are loading with heavier charges. I myself am not a speed freak but I must say that so far, the 68g has been the most accurate but I have not yet concluded that it will prove to be THE most accurate.

I was a bit surprised when I ran QuickLoad and it said 68g was generating slightly over 50K psi. I'd have thought it would be more. And according to QL, that's a pretty mild load.

Oh, there's one thing I neglected to mention - the rifle has a Vais-style brake on it. At the time I had the gun worked over I asked the smith, Clarence Hammonds, what kind of brake he installed and he told me but right now I can't remember what he said at the time. Looks a lot like a Vais though I can't say that conclusively. Maybe the brake is simply directing more smoke than I'm a accustomed to seeing?

 

[flashhole]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

You might try a Winchester Magnum Primer. I shoot Retumbo in both my 7mm Rem Mag and 25-06 and don't see any smoke. Do you use a crimp? I agree with the others, sounds like you are not getting full ignition. Did you chronograph the loads to see where you are with expected velocity? That might tell you a bit about where the problem is. H-1000 is lightly faster and might be a better choice for your gun and bullet.

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wind50cal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is Retumbo a recommended powder for the 264? I obviously haven't checked Hornadys manual on this, but I would think it would be awful slow.
I shoot Retumbo in the 338 Lapua and the 338-378 Weatherby, very clean and have never noticed smoke. It is very loud though! </div></div>

They don't make a powder too slow for .264. I use IMR 5010 in mine with great results.

 

[4ester]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

Im running 92 Grains of Retumbo in my 300 RUM. No noticeable smoke from it.

Not sure what would cause that. Maybe incomplete burn. ??????

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

I'm betting he's using a light bullet.

 

[Red Ryder]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

JF11, I mentioned in a subsequent post above yours that I'm shooting 140 bergers. That's a heavy bullet for a 264. There are 160g 264s but from what I've read, I don't think any of them ever shot well.

I'm starting to think that I'm noticing the smoke more because the muzzle brake is blowing the smoke out in an annular fashion instead of blowing it straight out of the muzzle. I'll have to run a couple of experiments this weekend.

 

[Jerry m]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: flashhole</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You might try a Winchester Magnum Primer. I shoot .... </div></div>

Am betting this would solve the issue.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[rcamuglia]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

Try some WC-872

Retumbo is waaaay too fast for the .264 WM and the 140's. As others have posted, you'll find that there is no powder too slow for the .264.

About 80 grains of WC-872 and a 130 Swift Scirocco gives me 3275 fps

 

[4ester]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rcamuglia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Try some WC-872

Retumbo is waaaay too fast for the .264 WM and the 140's. As others have posted, you'll find that there is no powder too slow for the .264.

About 80 grains of WC-872 and a 130 Swift Scirocco gives me 3275 fps </div></div>

Im not sure if I agree with that. Retumbo should be a good powder for this caliber. WC-872 is very close to burn rate on Retumbo.

If you check reloading manuals, they list 4350 for 140 grain pills: a much faster burning powder. You should be fine.

The longer the barrel, the better the retumbo should work for you. Not sure what your barrel length is.

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RedRyder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">JF11, I mentioned in a subsequent post above yours that I'm shooting 140 bergers. That's a heavy bullet for a 264. There are 160g 264s but from what I've read, I don't think any of them ever shot well.

I'm starting to think that I'm noticing the smoke more because the muzzle brake is blowing the smoke out in an annular fashion instead of blowing it straight out of the muzzle. I'll have to run a couple of experiments this weekend. </div></div>

I missed the post where you said what weight you were shooting. I've had great luck with 160 grain pro hunters in my .264.

 

[rcamuglia]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 4ester</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rcamuglia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Try some WC-872

Retumbo is waaaay too fast for the .264 WM and the 140's. As others have posted, you'll find that there is no powder too slow for the .264.

About 80 grains of WC-872 and a 130 Swift Scirocco gives me 3275 fps </div></div>

Im not sure if I agree with that. Retumbo should be a good powder for this caliber. WC-872 is very close to burn rate on Retumbo.


If you check reloading manuals, they list 4350 for 140 grain pills: a much faster burning powder. You should be fine.

The longer the barrel, the better the retumbo should work for you. Not sure what your barrel length is.</div></div>


Published data for the .264 WM is old. 4350 and Retumbo are pistol powders in comparison with WC-872. I've tested 7 different powders in the .264 WM. If you want to shoot bullets fast which I'm guessing you do since you own such an overbore, you've got to use the slowest powder you can find.

US-869 by Hodgdon is a good choice but still too fast if you want max velocity. You will reach pressure at about 76 grains. I'm loading 80.5 grains of WC-872, a compressed load and a long drop tube is helpful.

 

[4ester]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

But the slower powders dont do you any good if your barrel isnt long enough to burn it all.

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 4ester</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But the slower powders dont do you any good if your barrel isnt long enough to burn it all. </div></div>

Since he isn't shooting .264 winmag out of a snub nosed pistol his barrel is long enough.

 

[Red Ryder]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

I think it was the CCI primers. I switched to Winchester primers and Remington 9 1/2 M primers and neither of them smoked.

Many thanks to all who tried to help. Gotta' tell you guys though, I'm sticking with Retumbo - though in time I may try another powder. J

F11, I'm quite surprised about those 160s. I'm happy they're working for you, I just never heard good things about them.

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: Smoking Retumbo

I can't find any of the targets I shot with it so the next time I go to the range I'll take it with me. Was shooting just under MOA at 200 meters though.