What a shame. Just a crying shame.

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BillBro

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That Alliant has discontinued their single best 5 56 powder when coupled with a 77gr SMK, TMK or Berger 77gr OTM, PowerPro Varmint.
Im down to just over 1lb of it, about 300 rounds. In my 18" Douglas mk12 profile barrel Ive been loading about 24.3gr of it under a 77gr Berger OTM for a blistering 2780fps-2790fps with sd's down around 12 and an es floating somewhere around 27-35, just about always. The accuracy is there, right there, moa +/- .5 all the way out to 400yds. The absolutely most amazing part is that in 1X LC brass, a Rem 7 1/2 primer and no crimp there has never been no measurable sign of pressure.
This load or 23.6gr of 8208xbr have been my two go-to loads for my mk12 for as long as I've shot that rifle. The 8208 load is probably a tad more accurate to about 200yds but not as speedy so I struggle with maintaining the same level of accuracy out past 300yds.
This powder will push a 75gr bthp around 2900fps or more and still not show any pressure signs, it flows through a powder measure like water and was as temp stable as Varget.
I really believe this powder was the ultimate 5.56 powder to use with heavy bullets, at least that was certainly my experience. Im very sad to see it discontinued and very sad I don't have more. Im gonna miss it. It made loading for my mk12 second nature. Im guessing others didn't try this wonderful powder and probably already had their powder selections already made and passed it by causing Alliant to discontinue it. Too bad.
 
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If 8208 isn't quite enough for you needs, try Hodgdon Benchmark, H-322, or H335. Some are ball and some are extruded; I just forget which at this time. The H-335 is my light bullet (50 grain) 223 powder, the Benchmark is my 22 BR powder. Varget is my 77 gr 223 powder in my 1000-yard bolt gun.

The 322 was developed for the same reason as 8208, a replacement for the old Phoenix T-22 (the ultimate BR and PPC powder) Some of my guns prefer 322 over 8208, and my 22BR loves Benchmark.

I also found that Rem 7 1/2 primers are terrible at less than high or max pressure loads. IN small case rounds or light 223s and similar, I prefer Rem 6 1/2.

CCI BR-4 is another very good primer for the 7 1/2 application. It has tightened up some so-so 7 1/2 loads.

Ivan
 
1. VV-N140
2. RL-15
3. H or IMR- 4895
4. Accurate-2230 for 69's and down

Never found a better primer than the 71/2 for the AR but I only shot full house loads
 
A good barrel will shoot just about anything well. I have a Krieger that shoots 55 FMJ pretty well.

I’m going to pick a nit that always bugs me. When people say there are no pressure signs…. The bullet came out of the barrel, didn't it? That took pressure. That’s a pressure sign.
You , like most people should have said “excessive” pressure signs.

Ok, I’m finished. Carry on.
 
this is why I won't develop any new loads with alliant.
Only about 1/3 of their products are even available on midway. Best availability I've seen in a decade. out of the offerings, there's only one powder left I can't quite shake yet.
And yes, its a shame that is not isolated to a specific powder, It's really the whole company
 
Yendor 1 said:
A good barrel will shoot just about anything well. I have a Krieger that shoots 55 FMJ pretty well.

I’m going to pick a nit that always bugs me. When people say there are no pressure signs…. The bullet came out of the barrel, didn't it? That took pressure. That’s a pressure sign.
You , like most people should have said “excessive” pressure signs.

Ok, I’m finished. Carry on.
Click to expand...
Ok I get it but that’s picking nits like you said.

Mine is I really like to put 0’s in front of . like I was taught in science class. My case neck diameter isn’t .336”, it’s 0.336”. Silly and my nit pick. Then again I’d sound like a dork if I showed off my new zero point three zero eight Winchester in stead of Three O Eight Winchester.
 
Lance,
The official SAAMI registered name of your 308 Winchester is correctly pronounced “Three O Eight Winchester”. It’s caliber, between the groves, is 0.308 inches.
My cringe worthy nit pick is whenever someone uses the letter O instead of the number zero. In artillery we always used the phonetic Oscar, never O, to avoid any confusion.
 
Bastogne71 said:
Lance,
The official SAAMI registered name of your 308 Winchester is correctly pronounced “Three O Eight Winchester”. It’s caliber, between the groves, is 0.308 inches.
My cringe worthy nit pick is whenever someone uses the letter O instead of the number zero. In artillery we always used the phonetic Oscar, never O, to avoid any confusion.
Click to expand...


Adjust fire, over.😎
 
Lance Boyle said:
Ok I get it but that’s picking nits like you said.

Mine is I really like to put 0’s in front of . like I was taught in science class. My case neck diameter isn’t .336”, it’s 0.336”. Silly and my nit pick. Then again I’d sound like a dork if I showed off my new zero point three zero eight Winchester in stead of Three O Eight Winchester.
Click to expand...
Mine is correct reference. I think we learned decimals in math. Science was when our teacher set his lab coat unfire with the Bunsen burner. Mr. Bumble we called him.
 
bigggbbruce said:
Mine is correct reference. I think we learned decimals in math. Science was when our teacher set his lab coat unfire with the Bunsen burner. Mr. Bumble we called him.
Click to expand...
lol, at the lab coat warming.

I had a chem teacher that would deduct points if you lacked that 0.
 
I've denied myself from using WW 231 for 3 decades as WW would discontinue my favorite powders frequently. The lesson is that if you like a powder never let your inventory get less than a fixed amount. It might be 4 lbs or it might be 2, but repurchase when you hit that minimum.
 
venomballistics said:
this is why I won't develop any new loads with alliant.
Only about 1/3 of their products are even available on midway. Best availability I've seen in a decade. out of the offerings, there's only one powder left I can't quite shake yet.
And yes, its a shame that is not isolated to a specific powder, It's really the whole company
Click to expand...
Couldn’t agree more. There’s simply too many good alternatives with ratable availability.
 
Yendor 1 said:
A good barrel will shoot just about anything well. I have a Krieger that shoots 55 FMJ pretty well.

I’m going to pick a nit that always bugs me. When people say there are no pressure signs…. The bullet came out of the barrel, didn't it? That took pressure. That’s a pressure sign.
You , like most people should have said “excessive” pressure signs.

Ok, I’m finished. Carry on.
Click to expand...
I believe the average Joe can't identify excessive pressure sighns!
 
Top Strap said:
I believe the average Joe can't identify excessive pressure sighns!
Click to expand...
Well they can if they get a good case failure or firearm failure. It’s readily apparent at that stage.

Not funny for sure but true.

Primer flatness varies with primer hardness, ie federal pistol is soft and will look like it’s flattened easily.

Or any rifle where the reloader is bumping the shoulders back too far. The primer actually partially ejects taking up that free headspace that’s actually at the rear of the case not the shoulder when the button ejector is holding it forward. Then as pressure builds the case head gets pushed back reseating that primer which is now pressurized making the primer skirt stick to the primer pocket. When slammed against the bolt face the primer appears flattened or even mushroom headed. That happens at standard pressures but will look like an over pressure flattening.

Probably the best and closest the home loader is going to get is measuring case head expansion at the web to 0.0001” with a micrometer of sufficient accuracy.
 
Yendor 1 said:
A good barrel will shoot just about anything well. I have a Krieger that shoots 55 FMJ pretty well.

I’m going to pick a nit that always bugs me. When people say there are no pressure signs…. The bullet came out of the barrel, didn't it? That took pressure. That’s a pressure sign.
You , like most people should have said “excessive” pressure signs.

Ok, I’m finished. Carry on.
Click to expand...
Pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure.....🫡
 
Wow.
I e been shooting this gun long enough to know it well. Its probably been about 8 years and I always shoot my handloads unless Im shooting the BHA ammo designed for it.
No, I don't have scientific equipment to perform actual m pressure testing so what am I to rely on? I use my mitutoyo 143-121 to measure case head expansion just above the extractor groove along with the usual regular Joe primer clues. Seems to have done just fine for me.
 
I've got plenty of Alliant powders stocked, but I'm pretty much through with them. Throwing your customers under the bus is more the norm nowadays. Same with Speer products and Hewlett Packard.
 
In this day and age, it's probably a good idea when developing loads to do it across the spectrum of available powders. That way when one powder goes away, you have another on deck. I think a lot of what is going on now is that the manufactures are playing musical chairs. Hodgdon, for example, has acquired a couple of other manufacturers. It makes sense for them to get rid of the powders that are duplicitous. I'm going through it with IMR4895, which is almost completely unavailable. I use it in 308 and 30-06 for my military guns. Now I'm working up similar loads using H4895. The loads are just as good as the IMR but because the H4895 is a little different, it requires some load development. Welcome to reloading in the capitalist world.
 
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