Thread: Belmont rifle powder 763

So is anyone using this? Got a bottle of it by accident with some 740 I got before lockup.
Says its for heavier bullets but the limited load data only deals with "mid weights" in 308. I already chuck 180 and 200 grs out of my 3006 but was hoping it might be good for pushing 250 or 300 gr woodleighs in a 9.3.
I've Google Drive it but there's bugger all info seems it's more of a factory powder than a reloaders.
Hardly worth returning so any info would be appreciated, otherwise it looks like the tie it to a tree and pull the string method of load development might have to be employed. Anyone want to lend me their rifle for this?. I will of course share the results with you.

Goes great in 308 with heavies and anything else you might use 2208 in.

Gets amazing speed with light bullets in my 6.5x47. It's quite erratic in this though and I think this is because of the small primers. A bit temp sensitive too.

Alliant sell the stuff as PowerPro 2000-MR if that helps you find more data.

@Pommy That will help

Very interesting.

I have been researching powders to use with 62 grn Speer Gold Dot and came up with PowerPro 2000-MR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZevnNZwseM

Can anyone actually validate that its exactly the same as Belmont 763? @Pommy what was your source?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Tahr

Very interesting.

I have been researching powders to use with 62 grn Speer Gold Dot and came up with PowerPro 2000-MR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZevnNZwseM

Can anyone actually validate that its exactly the same as Belmont 763? @Pommy what was your source?

Thanks

pretty sure it is my mate got given 5 bottles of it from his mate who owns Belmont to load his 6.5x39 Grendel

There's a couple of material safety data sheets floating around online if you Google "smp 763 powerpro 2000-mr".

My chrono results don't suggest it's anything otherwise. That's the best I've got

I wish Belmont would have done this, so we had more info on it. I have been flip flopping between 760 and 748.
I was burning 760 in a Creedmoor. But have gone to the dark side on 308's
I wonder if its listed on the load programs like quikload ?

Originally Posted by johnd

I wonder if its listed on the load programs like quikload ?

It's not, nor PP 2000.

Originally Posted by johnd

I was burning 760 in a Creedmoor. But have gone to the dark side on 308's

You sir, just scored 100 brownie points

Originally Posted by ebf

You sir, just scored 100 brownie points

Yeah thanks... managed a trip to Welly too but then wrecked my rotator so no shooty shooty anyways ( actually climbed out of the sling and tried FTR ) ( with open sights ) but that still ground me down.

It is made in the st marks powder factory where Winchester ball powders are made and so i would think you could use 760 reloading data as a base to work from do a ladder test

Originally Posted by 57jl

It is made in the st marks powder factory where Winchester ball powders are made and so i would think you could use 760 reloading data as a base to work from do a ladder test

I definitely WOULD NOT recommend this course of action.

SMP763 is VERY different to 760. Go to the Alliant website and look at the Power Pro 2000 MR loads - this stuff shines in heavy for caliber in 308. It works alright in heavy 223 stuff as well. I think @Pommy is closer to the mark comparing it to 2208 in purpose, but DEFINITELY NOT LOAD DATA!

I had a go with it in my 6.5 Creedmoor as Sierra list it with 85 and 100 grain bullets at high velocities. I did a workup to start with loading 85s as I was also inherently cautious about whether it absolutely is Power Pro 2000 MR under a different brand/packaging. I would also support the notion that it is erratic in the application I tried it.

The usual approach of reducing 10% from Maximum and working up produced weird results - the first few rounds didn't obturate properly. There was soot all over the case and bolt face. It wasn't until I got to less than 5% of max that I got proper obturation. It would often group 2 rounds closely then for a third 50 to 80mm away. I didn't get to chrono them at the time, but from the recoil alone they had to be shifting. I have shot these same projectiles with 2206, 2208 and Trail Boss and they will reliably punch 10 to 20mm groups despite the vast journey to the lands in a Creedmoor!

The rifle is definitely not in question as it will predictably put 123 to 143 bullets in to tiny clusters in a boring fashion.

The characteristics of this powder suggest that it might work relatively well for you @Marty Henry i.e. heavy for calibre with low to moderate case capacity for bore size

Pommy's suggested search raised this site The Ballistic Assistant which is worth a look if you're interested in propellants etc

@zimmer, Gordon's Reloading Tool is in the process of adding 2000-MR.
@57jl, it ain't 760 and that's dangerous advice.

St Marks was spun off years ago and their relationship with Winchester/Hodgdon isn't exclusive. Alliant buy some/most/all of their ball powders from St Marks and they get their extruded powders from Bofors in Sweden I believe.

SMP 763 is the one Alliant sell as 2000-MR. Now, this is speculation - but I suspect Belmont simply buy the same stuff from St Marks. Due to the nature of canister grade powders having potentially large lot to lot variations in burn rate, one should be especially careful when working up a load. But assuming the above is correct, 2000-MR is a good starting point.

I have even read that the lot to lot variations are so large, that the powder mfg just makes "powder" and don't label it as 748, 763, 760 etc, until after it's finished and they've tested its burn characteristics to see which it came out closest to. Not sure I've seen enough to believe that - but I find it interesting.

Originally Posted by Pommy

@zimmer, Gordon's Reloading Tool is in the process of adding 2000-MR.
@57jl, it ain't 760 and that's dangerous advice.

St Marks was spun off years ago and their relationship with Winchester/Hodgdon isn't exclusive. Alliant buy some/most/all of their ball powders from St Marks and they get their extruded powders from Bofors in Sweden I believe.

SMP 763 is the one Alliant sell as 2000-MR. Now, this is speculation - but I suspect Belmont simply buy the same stuff from St Marks. Due to the nature of canister grade powders having potentially large lot to lot variations in burn rate, one should be especially careful when working up a load. But assuming the above is correct, 2000-MR is a good starting point.

I have even read that the lot to lot variations are so large, that the powder mfg just makes "powder" and don't label it as 748, 763, 760 etc, until after it's finished and they've tested its burn characteristics to see which it came out closest to. Not sure I've seen enough to believe that - but I find it interesting.

Yes disregard my stupid mention about win 760 that was dump shit