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Joined: 07 Sep 2014 Posts: 419

One good thing about the new IMR Powders (at least the ones that have been released so far) is that they are more tolerant of temperature changes.

Bob

Does anyone know why the IMR Green and Unequal powders are sold in 14 Oz containers? Is it really that bulky?

All of the new IMR color powders are packaged in 14 oz. cans. That follows what IMR has done in the past with their shotshell powders 700- X and 800-X.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Charge more package less----i.e. Remmy selling boxes of 20 shells/basically most cereals,soft drinks are now sold in a smaller size and are the same price or higher than the original.I remember when powder was sold in 14oz tins----The theory was that reloaders were not going to consume large amounts of powder at any given time.

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1256 Location: Nebraska

And we may wind up with a new 16ga powder in winchester 572. Anything designed for 20ga and 28ga is starting off in the ballpark. Load development a bit tougher maybe, not having corresponding Alliant versions as with the colors.

There are many loads posted for 572 with both federal and remington hulls. The loads listed for the new IMR powders for 16 gauge are a waste of time. That is unless you load 12 and 20 gauge.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

More tolerant of temperature changes? Does anyone have quantifiable data to report? If the difference is 15fps at 0 degrees, I don't think it is worthy of concern. Advertising hype? With rifle ballistics there is some merit to thermal stability when seeking hair splitting accuracy. In our game not as much.

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1256 Location: Nebraska

Haven't some here reported issues with Green Dot in cold weather? A friend told me of Spanish 12ga shells with significant recoil differences in hot weather as compared to the chill. OTOH we don't see winter vs summer loads, from factory offerings or in the manuals.

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1256 Location: Nebraska

Green Dot performs just fine in the cold weather.

It is more likely a primer problem as in the wrong primer for the job or a load that isn't all that robust to begin with.

Anyone claiming a problem with any shotshell powder in cold weather, definitely has another issue with the load.

Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 830 Location: Adirondak Mtns

[quote="hoashooter"]Charge more package less----i.e. Remmy selling boxes of 20 shells/basically most cereals,soft drinks are now sold in a smaller size and are the same price or higher than the original.I remember when powder was sold in 14oz tins----The theory was that reloaders were not going to consume large amounts of powder at any given time.[/quote]

Yeah, and we all remember 7oz bottle of coke for a dime, Hershey bars for a nickel, and gas 5 gal for a dollar. A little off subject but a nice down memory land. I be depressed for the rest of the day.

Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1973 Location: Maine

Please correct me if I'm wrong: the new IMR color powders are supposed to emulate the colored Dots from Alliant?

Sorta like Allliant's Clay Dot was supposed to equal Hodgon's Clays?

I was happy just to see Clays back on the shelf at my local Cabela's....

Primers are important. Using some of the Euro primers and some of the more mild US primers when trying to light off loads at those temperatures are a problem. For most loads in those temperatures, Winchester 209, CCI209M, Federal 209A and if you must use a Euro primer the Cheddites seem to be the ones to use. Remember that Euro primers are mostly made to light off single base powders which are generally easier to ignite than double base powders that dominate in the US. When it gets cold most Euro primers are not up to the task. They are good primers just not for our double base powders. You need to get Vectan or Maxam powders if you insist on Euro primers in cold weather.

Loads that are published with chamber pressures lower than 9,000 psi, should be avoided. I kinda like stuff that is over 10,000 PSI. Pressure is your friend when it comes to better loads in general, but especially when you are shooting in cold weather.

Crimps, solid, well formed and at least .055" deep, .065" deep is even better.

Good hulls, not something that the crimp area is crispy, cracked or spongy because they have been fired 10 times.

Making sure you are using the right powder for the job.......as in using Unique or Universal for a 1 oz. 16 Gauge load not Blue Dot.

There is a lot of iffy data out there, you need to be selective.

I live in CT and shoot year round. I don't have separate loads for summer and winter. I am of the opinion that if the load won't work or is inconsistent ballistically from 0 to 100 degrees F, it isn't a good load to begin with.