Hogdon H322

[SCJim]

I found a deal I could not refuse on a 8 pound jug of H322 today. I bought it thinking about using it in .223 but started thinking it might do well in my Grendel. Anyone here ever tried it ? Load data is available on the Hogdon site as well as from Sierra and the Berger load manuals. Looks like it has good case fill and acceptable if not outstanding velocities. I am more interested in accuracy than squeezing ever FPS I can from the rifle. Anyone here ever play with this powder on 107 - 123 gn bullets ? I have a few hundred 120 & 123 SMK's onhand. Rifle is a 18 inch Sanders Armory 1 in 8 twist upper. I have been using 8208 with so so results

[A5BLASTER]

I use it with light weight pills 100 and lower. Works great.

[muvef1]

Sierra has load data for H322.

[Lemonaid]

The old Sierra Grendel link has gone away. This one still works. https://sierrabullets.files.wordpres...ata-112817.pdf

Sierrra 120 grain Match King, Hornady brass, cci 450 primer, 2.280 oal.
BCA 26 inch bbl.

H322 25.8 5=1.320 2444,2436 Medium ejector swipe on brass.

RAP 22 inch bbl.

H322 25.8 5=.655 2442, 2407
H322 26.0 4=1.070 3=.240 2446, 2454
H322 26.2 5=1.080 2451, 2487, 2482 SD=19.5 ave 2473
No pressure signs on any of the RAP brass.

Hodgdon Max for H322 and Sierra 123 hpbt = 26.6 Vel = 2434 Pressure = 49,900 psi
Hodgdon Max for H322 and barnes 120 tsx = 25.8c Vel = 2347 Pressure = 50,000 psi
Sierra Max for H322 and 120 bullets = 25.8 Vel = 2450

Velocity was measured on an old chronograph (now I am happy to have a magnetospeed.)
This was mostly safe in my guns, start at recommended published start loads and work up, be safe, use info at own risk, etc.

[SCJim]

Thanks for the info Lemonaid. I did a quick load test yesterday. Sanders Armory upper, 20 inch barrel, 8 twist. Rock River match lower with a 2 stage trigger.

I do three shot groups on initial load workups on the reasoning if three shots won't group the five or ten won't either. From 24.0 to 26.1 gns the action would cycle but the bolt would not lock back on the last shot. No worries there because the groups were all around 1 inch, no better that than I get with 8208. Suddenly at 26.3 the group dropped down to .5 MOA and the bolt locked back on empty magazine. At 26.5 the groups was .3 inches for the three shots. Mild ejector marks, nicely rounded primer, no cratering. I estimate about 1 90% - 95% case fill. Sierra 123's seated at 2.8 base to meplat and they will just fit into my magazines.


Next step will be to load 50 rounds at 26.5 and test them at 100 over the chrono and try some 300 and possibly stretch it out to 600 and 800 yards in the next few weeks. In January my club will be doing some prone AR matches and with a bit of luck this Grendel can do the trick for me.

[0311B]

I also have a Sanders barrel and couldn't get 8208 to group the SSTs unless I dropped way down in velocity. H322 is good powder. I also load 60gr Partitions with it in .223.

[0311B]

I must've erased a post trying to edit it. I have two good loads for H322 in a 24" Sanders barrel, AR15, Starline brass, BR-4 primers:

107 SMK
27.6gr H322
CBTO 1.658"
2717 fps

123 SST
26.0gr H322
CBTO 1.668"
2465 fps