H-108

[mp]

My dad found 4 unopened cans of h-108 in his reloading cabinet.  Can’t remember what he used it for.  I can’t find a lot of information.  Any ideas what it is used for?

[x101airborne]

Interesting. Never heard of it.

[squawberryman]

Old thread, old.

singleactions.proboards.com/thread/12306/108-powder

[mp]

Thanks guys. Have found some info on cast shooters. Say it compares to aa9

[bradshaw]

Mar 26, 2024 17:49:45 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

Old thread, old.

singleactions.proboards.com/thread/12306/108-powder

*****

No knowledge of “H-108.” Ammo makers on the magnitude of Remington, Winchester, and Federal load their ammunition with propellants unavailable to the public, mixing batches to meet performance criteria which cannot be duplicated without verifiable pressure equipment. As a handloader is neither lab-trained nor lab-equipped, powders selected for handloaders meet stricter criteria for consistency. To repeat, the major difference registers in the absence of pressure testing.

Which is why I do not talk pressure. When I mention pressure, its source is not me.

A powder like “H-108” may produce great results. Yet, lot discrepancies may vary considerably more than the small lot-to-lot variations in canister propellants batched for caveman handloaders. How many people here heard of Hodgdon Ball C, aka BL-C1? Predecessor of Ball C-2, or BL-C2, it produced fantastic accuracy from the .308 Winchester, among other shells.

However I've outshot a number of sixguns, including a Freedom Arms M83 in championship competition, I am a caveman when it comes to handloading. Don’t polish brass. Throw, don’t weigh, charges. Get particular about POI down range, Strive for a powder & charge swinging in the hammock of its RPM range. No wire edge loading for me. The old M1 Garand represents what I want in a marksmanship wand: from 0800 to 1700 I want that baby rocking, holding to my hold, laying em in there. Same with a sixgun: mornin noon and night, singing the same song. I want a gun to sing, not make me grumpy. The aesthetic of marksmanship is found at the target. That’s the hunt.

Which is why the marksman and markswoman focus tight on powder selection. While the revolver is the first arbiter of accuracy, and the bullet is second, selection of powder determines true flight. Surplau powders put Bruce Hodgdon on the handloading map. Prior to Bruce Hodgdon, there was Dupont and Hercules. While a bit of simplification, during development of American smokeless propellants, Hercules focused on double-base (nitro cellulose with nitro glycerine), while DuPont focused on single-base (nitro cellulose) powders. Both produced spectacular gains over black. Nitroglycerine amps nitro cellulose, thus packing more force for a given volume.

It is incorrect to assume only ball powders are double base. Note Hercules (now Alliant) double base propellants formed as flakes or kernels, not tiny beads. As a teen I loaded Hercules Bullseye, Unique, and 2400, all double-base powders containing nitro glycerine, yet remarkably stable.

The deal with unfamiliar labeled powders is to research their origin as best as possible before loading. There are golden oldies out there.

A completely strange powder in my hands is destined for pouring into a string for a smokeless burn demonstration.
David Bradshaw

[450ak]

H108 is wc820. There are lot numbers on Hodgdons label. It is very good magnum pistol powder. The lot numbers that I am familiar with are 47320 and 47321.
If you don’t want this stuff send it to me. I’ve burned three hundred pounds of it in 45 colt and 44 magnum and special

[harveylogan]

I replied with Data from Hodgdon on your Ruger Forum post.