Hi vel 2

[Vacek]

I purchased the reloading estate of an older gentleman. God rest his soul as he was quite the reloader and collector. I think I have examples of about every type of rifle and handgun cartridge of the last 100 years.

Anyway I all have several unopened cans of powder (mostly IMR from 60's) but what has my curiosity are 2 unopened 1 lb cans of HiVel 2. Any suggestions? I know it was considered a great propellant for 3006 back in the day.

 

[Don McDowell]

There's data for it in some of the older Lyman reloading handbooks. I'ld check it real close that it hasn't gone bad, there hasn't been any made since the late 60's. It did work quite well in the 06.

 

[rcmodel]

back in the day.

Back in the day was before 1964 when it was discontinued.

You will need to find a reloading manual from the early 1960's or before to find any data for it.

It fell in disfavor because it is a double-base powder containing about 15 1/2% nitro glycerin, causing bore erosion in hi-velocity loads.

The IMR and ball powders that replaced it were much kinder on barrels.

rc

 

[Don McDowell]

I don't know if I'ld put much stock in the "erosion" bit. I know a couple of model 70's that digested a bunch of the stuff, that are still just fine.

 

[david bachelder]

I have a Lyman 45th edition from the 70's. No mention of HiVel2 there.

The price tag on the book is $3.30. WOW! things have changed!

 

[Don McDowell]

If you look at the level of income and the prices of things back then , it was probably actually higher cost to your budget then than today.
Think you have to get back to the 42nd or earlier to find hivel data.

 

[Don McDowell]

Speer #7 has hv2 data

 

[FROGO207]

Look in the books that you got (hopefully) with the other stuff. If you did not I have some older reloading books with data. The use for mordern calibers will be non existent anyway. But for 30-06, 270, 7MM Mauser, and 250 Savage there should be a good amount of data. There is in my Belding and Mull reloading handbook from 1950 for example.

I also have a couple square cans of that stuff I was intending to try someday as I wanted to save the cans for display above my reloading bench.

 

[gamestalker]

I haven't seen that powder for many, many years. My Brother in law used it, I think for his 300 Sav. back in "Them Good Ol Day's.

GS

 

[Elkins45]

I've read about how erosive it was in a number of publications. Dean Grinnell talked about it in the first ABC's book and I seem to recall that my older Sierra manual mentioned it in the section about the myths associated with boat tail bullets.

 

[NCsmitty]

HiVel2 was the powder of choice when I started reloading in 1962, while I was still in High school. My buddy had a 270 Win and I had a 30-06, both on 1917 Enfields, and we loaded maximum loads back then. We didn't worry about barrel erosion at the time, and it shot well.
We have certainly come a long way baby.


NCsmitty

 

[USSR]

Here is some National Match HiVel 2 .30-06 load data from 90 years ago:

1922 - 170gr BT bullet - 45.4gr - 2702fps
1923 - 170gr BT bullet - 45.6gr - 2703fps
1924 - 170gr BT bullet - 46.3gr - 2694fps

Seems like a good basis for 168SMK loads.

Don