Military Surplus Powder NM-13
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
What was the intended use; 223, 308, 50 BMG,or 105mm artillery? When you know the general volume (case size) and velocity of a round you will find other powders use a similar volume to achieve the same results.
For example: Most 223 powders are the same volume for 55 gr FMJ, it worked out for full velocity, all the powder in that burn range used 24 to 28 grains in weight too!
Then you drop back 8 to 10% and work your way up!
Yes, it is a lot of work, but you are the one with 10 pounds of powder to use for something other than lawn fertilizer!
Ivan
For example: Most 223 powders are the same volume for 55 gr FMJ, it worked out for full velocity, all the powder in that burn range used 24 to 28 grains in weight too!
Then you drop back 8 to 10% and work your way up!
Yes, it is a lot of work, but you are the one with 10 pounds of powder to use for something other than lawn fertilizer!
Ivan
BlackTalonJHP
Member
None of the above, it's a pistol powder. Closest equivalent is 700-X.
Alk8944
US Veteran
nm-13 powder data - Google Search
Follow the link, there are several references to NM-13. The concensus appears to be to use 700-X data.
Follow the link, there are several references to NM-13. The concensus appears to be to use 700-X data.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I agree, you can used data for IMR 700x, not the other powders listed above. If course start low and work up because surplus powders are not as consistent as commercial powders.
Where the heck do you even get surplus powder these days?
I haven't even seen reference to such in about 30 years!
I haven't even seen reference to such in about 30 years!
Thanks everyone, I found the reference to 700x. I'll try to work something up in 9mm, 40mm, .357, and .380. As for where I found this powder, it was in a box at a flee market with a fresh 4lb bottle of Clays and a 1lb bottle of 4831. I thought for $40 for the box I better get it.
Who knows? Might have "fallen off the back of a truck"? I suspect that a number of things for sale at flea markets "fell off the back of a truck". Lots of things on eBay come from that same source.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
That is one back of a price! The Clays alone is worth twice what you paid. You will probably load 14,000 9mm rounds with that surplus powder. Amazing for only $40, way to go!
Boy HOWDY, I guess!
For that price if you never found data for the NM-13 and ended up throwing it away you STILL got 5 pounds of good, name-brand commercial powder for $8 a pound. Can't beat that deal with a stick!
I have used a lot of military surplus powder, but I always found load data before I bought any. I recently got some from Bartlette's, which had an "equivalent" powder for load data listed in the powder description. Without prior information, one could very easily purchase some pretty expensive fertilizer...
I don't think I'd use any "flea market" gunpowder, especially if it were in an opened container or of "unknown" origin...
I don't think I'd use any "flea market" gunpowder, especially if it were in an opened container or of "unknown" origin...
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Not when you get it AND 5 pounds of commercial powder for $40 you can't
I can see taking that approach from and ABUNDANCE of caution.
Kp321
Member
I used NM13 several years ago. I had very good results with Green Dot data which is what the supplier (Jeff Bartlett) recommended. I wish I had more, it metered better than the Alliant flake powders.
This is the kind of actual usage information I was hoping to see. Thanks
Green Frog
Member
No experience with NM13 surplus, but if it is close to 700X, consider 38 SPL revolver loads. I shot a bunch of PPC with swaged lead HBWCs over 700X back in the day. I think my Dad even got good results with the same load in his Model 52 S&W.
Froggie
Froggie
Were the "commercial" powders' containers unopened?
The commercial powder was sealed, all in plastic bottles, Clays is one 4lb bottle. There was also 2 cans 7828 and 4895 that were dented and rusty. That stuff is getting pitched.
Nemo288
Member
Use the 700x data and then compare your chronograph data with the published stuff.
If you are slower, then so is the powder and you can consider moving closer to the Green Dot data.
That is the abundance of caution I would use.
I did some work using CSB-1 in the 44 Special for which there was no data whatsoever.
It behaved somewhat different in that larger case than the 9mm data that was published suggested.
Luckily it is now listed in QuickLoad and I am pleased to see my results are very close to what they predict.
Be slow, safe, and scientific. It's actually more fun that way!
If you are slower, then so is the powder and you can consider moving closer to the Green Dot data.
That is the abundance of caution I would use.
I did some work using CSB-1 in the 44 Special for which there was no data whatsoever.
It behaved somewhat different in that larger case than the 9mm data that was published suggested.
Luckily it is now listed in QuickLoad and I am pleased to see my results are very close to what they predict.
Be slow, safe, and scientific. It's actually more fun that way!
That is the plan. I already have some .357 mag loaded in 4 increments. 5 cases in each. The load data between 700x and greed dot is too different so I am starting with the 700x data. Won't get to range with the chrony till next week. I will post what I come up with. I'm using the Hodgdon data published online.
