- Thread starter mtrmn
- Start date
Have you noticed that since Winchester/Olin sold their powder plant (in St. Marks, FL), and then sold the "marketing rights" to the powder, to Hodgdon, that they've moved W748 around in their propellent chart? Hodgdon's latest lists IMR 4320(#100), W748(#101), BLc2(#102) and CFE(#103). It's pretty clear it is a re-do of one of these powders. . . . .Nowadays, it appears that W748 is slower than 4320, which is slower than 4064, which is slower than 4895 (either of them), which is slower than TAC.
This was never the case before, 2010, when Hodgdon placed W748 near AA2460, which is where all the respectable powder companies rekon'ed it belonged. An alert reader of the latest Hodgdon chart, who was unfamiliar to the long history of W748, would conclude these days that W748 is just too damn slow for the 223-55gr combination! Now that's interesting.
Back in the late 80's when my Father was working at the Olin casting plant, and he was reloading 55gr .223 for his son's Mini-14
he naturally went to the Olin company store on Powder Mill road. When he told the old Winchester man behind the counter he was loading .223, what powder did the man slap down on the counter? That's right, W748.
So why is there so few recommended 748 loads for each bullet weight on Hodgdons website? FWIW: I'd like to start using W748 with the SS109/M855 loads, but no-one is testing it with mil-spec bullets. You just can't look up a Sierra or Speer 6x grain hunting bullet and expect to transfer load data over to a longer military bullet.
In conclusion; I think W748 is not getting attention in .223/5.56mm loads now because people are not sure what to think about it anymore.
This was never the case before, 2010, when Hodgdon placed W748 near AA2460, which is where all the respectable powder companies rekon'ed it belonged. An alert reader of the latest Hodgdon chart, who was unfamiliar to the long history of W748, would conclude these days that W748 is just too damn slow for the 223-55gr combination! Now that's interesting.
Back in the late 80's when my Father was working at the Olin casting plant, and he was reloading 55gr .223 for his son's Mini-14
he naturally went to the Olin company store on Powder Mill road. When he told the old Winchester man behind the counter he was loading .223, what powder did the man slap down on the counter? That's right, W748.So why is there so few recommended 748 loads for each bullet weight on Hodgdons website? FWIW: I'd like to start using W748 with the SS109/M855 loads, but no-one is testing it with mil-spec bullets. You just can't look up a Sierra or Speer 6x grain hunting bullet and expect to transfer load data over to a longer military bullet.
In conclusion; I think W748 is not getting attention in .223/5.56mm loads now because people are not sure what to think about it anymore.
Last edited:
Have you noticed that since Winchester/Olin sold their powder plant (in St. Marks, FL), and then sold the "marketing rights" to the powder, to Hodgdon, that they've moved W748 around in their propellent chart? Hodgdon's latest lists IMR 4320(#100), W748(#101), BLc2(#102) and CFE(#103). It's pretty clear it is a re-do of one of these powders. . . . .Nowadays, it appears that W748 is slower than 4320, which is slower than 4064, which is slower than 4895 (either of them), which is slower than TAC.
This was never the case before, 2010, when Hodgdon placed W748 near AA2460, which is where all the respectable powder companies rekon'ed it belonged. An alert reader of the latest Hodgdon chart, who was unfamiliar to the long history of W748, would conclude these days that W748 is just too damn slow for the 223-55gr combination! Now that's interesting.
Back in the late 80's when my Father was working at the Olin casting plant, and he was reloading 55gr .223 for his son's Mini-14
So why is there so few recommended 748 loads for each bullet weight on Hodgdons website? FWIW: I'd like to start using W748 with the SS109/M855 loads, but no-one is testing it with mil-spec bullets. You just can't look up a Sierra or Speer 6x grain hunting bullet and expect to transfer load data over to a longer military bullet.
In conclusion; I think W748 is not getting attention in .223/5.56mm loads now because people are not sure what to think about it anymore.
Are you looking for a load?
Yes, it would be very useful to see a Winchester load guide covering the SS109/M855 like Western Powders has done, where they showing min/max with velocity data.
I don't know where to find such a guide, unfortunately, but I can give you the load that I use that seems to run pretty good in my AR.
Sure! I'm always happy to learn something new.
Post here, or send to my listed email address, whichever you are more comfortable with.Israeli SS109
Rem case-30.2 h20 cap.
#41 primer or Rem 7-1/2
748 25.3
2.250, kiss of taper crimp.
Runs 2950 thereabouts in my 20" Colt. Accuracy goes 1.5-2.5"
Usual disclaimers, work it up.
Good luck
Rem case-30.2 h20 cap.
#41 primer or Rem 7-1/2
748 25.3
2.250, kiss of taper crimp.
Runs 2950 thereabouts in my 20" Colt. Accuracy goes 1.5-2.5"
Usual disclaimers, work it up.
Good luck
Last edited:
AMAZING! That's within 1/10th of my current load! Right down to the primer! I'm getting 2880 (SD=22) in a 18" Superior Barrels upper.*
About the same accuracy. I thought I was doing something wrong because I shot a box of PMC X-Tac M855 in comparison, and I averaged close to 1 inch.
I will reexamine my reloading technique and also do another test a few 10ths in either direction to see if I can tighten things up somewhere.
Thanks for the info!!
*2500-3000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
Similar threads
