Hi-Vel #2

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
One of the Facebook groups I belong to posed a question about use of this Old School powder earlier today. Mind you--I am a super-annuated old throwback in many ways, but even in my current decrepitude I have no experience with this pre-historic propellant. I suppose the depleted components market is in such a state that all kinds of old stuff is surfacing, since the prices for all componentry has surpassed the "Ridiculous" level and is on final approach to "Utterly Insane". Gotta love shortage mentalities, and the silliness such mindsets prompt.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I really like Hi-Vel #2, but it has storage issues. Some lots last forever in storage, others eat the cans up about 50 years. It had a very wide useful pressure range, but nothing new ball powders don't overlap. I have some and load it once in awhile, just to smell it. It was called the "perfume" powder.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
good lord, I'd have to do some digging for loads but for some reason it's use for cast bullets in an 0-6 case comes to mind [maybe that was lightning or number 60 or 80??]
I got data for top mark, grey-B, RL-21, hs-5, 230-P, and the Alcan's [shrug]
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
It's useful range was about 24,000 to 42,000 CUP. You could get close to 2,000 f/s with 30 caliber heavy bullets with about 2.5 MOA in the 1930's. It was the powder for 30/40 Krag until 4064 came out in the late 1930's.
 

4060MAY

Active Member
I have an unopened 1# can, still has the safety metal closure
a guy give it to me to load .219 Zipper , sold the gun still have the powder
things I read about was throat erosion, with HV loads, do not know this is true
John Kort played with this a bit, in his 30-30 788 Rem
 

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
Joshua, That is the best edition of all the printings! It was updated just before he died with his latest data.

When I cleared out the last of my friend’s father’s estate they gave me all of the reloading books. One of the family members had taken all the primers and powder, all the brass and guns. But they didn’t want any of his lead or reloading manual library!
I knew I had seen Hi-Vel #2 before. That’s my oldest manual and I remembered seeing it!
 

BudHyett

Active Member
One of the Facebook groups I belong to posed a question about use of this Old School powder earlier today. Mind you--I am a super-annotated old throwback in many ways, but even in my current decrepitude I have no experience with this pre-historic propellant.
The references to Phil Sharpe's book are the best source. Cleaning out a reloader's basement for his widow in the 1970's, I found three unopened one-pound cans. Asking a friend who was a reloader since World War II what it was good for, he offered to buy it then and there. He had favorite cast bullet loads for his .30-'06 and 7 mm Mauser. In discussion, it appeared to be similar to Reloder #7 for burn rate and velocity.
 
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CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Ackley had a bunch of data too .
Yes--P.O. Ackley's Handbook For Shooters And Reloaders, Vols. 1 & 2 was where I saw data for this powder. I have paperback reprints in my bookshelf next to the Reloading Garret/Bear Habitat in the garage.
 

Outpost75

Active Member
Frank Marshall had great results loading 23 grains in the .30-'06 with #311284 and won lots of matches with it. When the HV2 ran out he used 23 grs. of RL7 with similar results and sight dope. Never chronographed it, but from sight come - ups from 100 to 200 yards am guessing about 1600 fps.