New IMR Powders

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
We will eventually be using these new powders, even though I am no fan, and have a whole lot of years worth
on the shelves now.

I had a good discussion with Chris Hodgdon about these new powders and the issue is the EPA regulations are being
tightened and making it more and more difficult and expensive to continue the old powder manufacturing processes.
The biggest issue has nothing to do with the new copper eliminators or temperature insensitivity, although both are
probably good things, but just purely EPA tightening the regulations.

Bill
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
the European EPA is what has caused the changes already, he is just expecting ours to follow suit.

my understanding is that the CFE is lead.
that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me but that's just something I picked up somewhere.
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
I do have one of the Hodgdon SC versions of the IMR powders (off the top of my head I can't remember which). But, like many here, I've used the IMR powders (4895, 3031, 4759, 4198, 4227, 4064) for decades and unless I'm forced to, have no desire to switch to other so-called substitutes.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
At the rate I shoot, Not a lot compared to some of you, I could go without buying another pound of powder for 20 years. Easy.
Possibly longer than that. I don't mind trying some new stuff now and again. Shoot. I've only been reloading since 1999.
 

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Nothing against IMR but trying to meter it is like sharpening a pencil in an old pencil sharpener..crunch, crunch..
the H is a little easier....but I'll use whatever is on the shelf....

The old standbys are great..mostly because I've spent so much time developing loads for them....do I really want to spend that much time perfecting loads with the new stuff... NO..I just want to shoot..

BTW..How come Walter is on this site?.."only been reloading since 1999"?...only kidding Bro..;) love your posts...Dan
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
1999?
get a rope :p

for quite some time there I chased powders around trying the new ones [and also looking for data for them]
I didn't have enough experience [or guidance] to try them without printed data.
and for sure didn't have enough knowledge to understand I was splitting hairs and should have been looking at other avenues to get what I wanted.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
BTW..How come Walter is on this site?.."only been reloading since 1999"?...
Hey now!:rolleyes:
So I was 25 when I started. I bet Ian hasn't been at it much longer than me.
He has his head wrapped around cast bullets a lot better than I do though...:rolleyes:
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I started in 84. Learned from Khornet. Learn to cast at his kitchen stove. I was 18.

No problem Walter, you will be doing this long after most of us are gone. Carry on the tradition and do us proud.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
I have very fond memories of playing with my brother and cousin in my uncles garage in '82-'87
That Lyman tumbler was running more often than not. I don't even remember how many Hot Wheels cars we crushed in his RCBS Rock Chucker press.
I know we ruined some .30 Herrett dies doing it. Our job when we went out shooting was after everyone was done we had to pick up all the brass, ours and anything else, then we were each handed a pocket knife and told to dig out any lead we could find from the stumps people shot into.
So many good memories. My Uncle and Father are both passed on now.
I still have and use the old Lyman tumbler and the Rock Chucker press. I even still use the Uncles old reloading bench. I can't make myself upgrade to a bigger bench. Too many good memories with this one.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Damn Walter, you make it hard for us to pick on you. What a bunch of great memories.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I'm somewhat of a pioneer in my family, still the only one who has ever reloaded any kind of cartridge. My father built a Dixie Kentucky rifle kit when I was very small, I remember him shooting it occasionally, but that was as close as anyone has come to rolling their own. Lots of shooters and avid outdoorsmen/hunters, just not handloaders. When I was about 12 my grandfather gave me his .30-30 Marlin and my dad gave me his old K-38 copy, so I had a new shooting habit and finally graduated to center-fire guns....the only problem was ammo was out of my reach due to price. Fortunately, my best friend from high school introduced me to his father and grandfather (both old-guard cast bulleteers of the finest order) and they soon took me under their wing. For my 15th Christmas (1991 IIRC) I asked everyone in my small family if they could pool and just get me just one gift: An RCBS Ammomaster single-stage reloading kit. They came through for me and the rest is history. For bullets I'd get WW by the buckets from the local tire shop and 2-3 times a winter my friend and I would cast bullets for us and his father/grandfather using their moulds. I didn't start buying casting gear of my own until college, mid '90s.
 

KHornet

Well-Known Member
I reloaded my first ctg when I was 12 or 14. It was a 44 Russian, and I was taught
by the father of a friend of mine. Also taught me to cast at about that same time.
However, I did not get into reloading seriously until I was 21 and fresh out of the
Marine Corps. Had a 340 Sav in 222 and a 310 tool, and a scale with an oil damper.
I started serious reloading and casting when I was about 25 or 26, with a 311284 and
a 311291 for my Mod 70 06.

Was stationed in Topeka, Ks, 35 mi from Hogden.
Surplus 4831, 4895, and BLC-2 were less than a buck a pound, and came in brown
paper bags. A 25 lb. tub of 4831, was about 22-23.00 Surplus full jacket 30 cal
bullets were 2 cents each (some one time were just a penny each). Corrosive LR
primers were 5.00 a brick. $25.00 bought a lot of shooting. My first c-press was (still
is a CH) that I still have. I was a 2 stripper in Washington state, and it cost me
15.00 used, and we ate beans and rice for the next two weeks.

Now as I approach
80, I have more reloading equipment and bullet molds than I know what to do with,
but for some reason seem to just keep adding. Reloading and casting, and shooting
cast is an addiction. However, it is one that I am glad I became addicted to.

Paul
 

Todd M

Craftsman of metals...always learning.
Awesome stories guys. I started loading in 2010, casting at the same time. My FIL showed me the ropes. I was 21. Glad there ain’t an age limit on this site!
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I got started in 83 or so. Learned at Khornets loading for a then new to me Ruger 77 in 270 Win. Shot a few cast, mostly jacketed. Loaded some for his 44 mag too.
We were getting into ML shooting so most casting was round ball.

Good thing to marry a girl who was properly raised to understand that buying a rifle never meant just a rifle. A scope, dies, bullets, etc were unspoken of but understood to be obvious to anyone but a complete idiot.
 

John

Active Member
I started loading shotgun shells in my early twenties. Got my first pistol dies and press about 1987. I started casting in 94 to keep up with the pistols. I had no mentors and before attending a NCBS had never met another caster. When Cast Bullets under the shooters site came out and I found the net in the late 90's it was a real revelation.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
the revelation for me was.
hey, I'm not the only nut job struggling with this stuff, when I found the old shooters site.