What would you do with a Mystery bag o' 30-06

[BT8850]

I was given a bag of 30-06 reloads that I believe were found at an estate sale.

Head stamps are mixed as are COL's but they are all soft points. They are as follows:

19 pieces: TW42 headstamps, COL range: 3.336-3.340
16 pieces: LC 61 MATCH,        COL range: 3.266-3.274
6  pieces : SL53                     COL range: 3.266-3.275, one was 3.313
1 piece   :  FC 30-06 SPRG      COL         : 3.165
1 piece   :  RP 30-06 SPRG      COL         : 3.196 ( primer was spent, pulled bullet - no powder)
1 piece   : 30M2, RD, 58         COL         : 3.205
1 piece   : WRA 43                  COL        : 3.196
1 piece   : TW 54                    COL        : 3.220



I was thinking, for now I'm just going to pull the bullets and hang on the them, an keep the brass, I have a 30-06 but do not plan to reload for it in the forseeable future. Now, what would all do with the unknown powder? I don't have a scale at this point in time to weigh bullets/ charges but I do know I don't trust these rounds. I pulled one of the SL53 rounds just to have a look at the bullet/powder, picture attached. Also, is any of the brass notabe? I know RP is Remington, FC federal, LC lake city but he rest I'm clueless, maybe Winchester Repeating Arms (WRA)? Either way, I have some free bullets!


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[The_Shadow]

How many grains of powder is it?   

[BT8850]

I don't have a scale yet to weigh it, that's why I only pulled one, just to see. It's adds to the mystery! LOL, does it jump out to you as any specific powder? I know a weight would help a lot and a higher quality pic, I apologize. I figure they're just someone's old hunting loads.

[The_Shadow]

The powder looks like RamShot Hunter?

Big game?


Did they have any data from the loader who did them?

There could be many different powders I'm just guessing here?

[BT8850]

The granule size looks pretty close but mine are more flattened than round like the hunter and big game. I'm going to email you a little better pic that you can zoom in on, its too big for me to attach.


Im sure you're right, there are tons of different powders it could be. I've got no info on the loader, none at all, it's a friend of a friend of a friend type situation. The rounds were given to me because no one else wanted to mess with them so I figured it'd be fun to take them apart and at the least get some free .308 bullets out of the deal 

[The_Shadow]

The better picture you e-mailed me, seems to show more of a flattened ball, with some elongated kernels and some teardrop pieces... 

[gandog56]

I would yank the bullets, dump the powder, and reload them myself.

[BT8850]

The better picture you e-mailed me, seems to show more of a flattened ball, with some elongated kernels and some teardrop pieces... 

Agreed. I think your guess at Accurate 2700 is pretty spot on. I'll lay a rule down this evening for mm comparison of the flakes. Also, the link you sent is very interesting. Youre right, the drop down menu's were tricky but having figured it out theres alot of info on there. Thanks! If it is indeed 2700, accurate's website shows loads from 43.9 all the way up to 64.7 grains so I could end up with 2900+ grains of excess powder to "dispose" of, hmmmmmmmmmmmmm what to do with it. They show TAC loads ranging 40.1-56.8grains.  Interesting.

I would yank the bullets, dump the powder, and reload them myself.

Indeed. This is the plan. I'm going to try and wait until I have a scale so that when I do take them apart I can get a measurement of the charges and bullet weights. The bullets are soft points as mentioned so I'm sure there will be plenty of hunting loads to be had with them when the time comes to load for my .308win The cases I don't really have a use for, maybe clean them and trade them.

[denclaste]

Pulling them down for the bullets and brass is the smart thing to do. I've seen fist hand what can happen when someone used unknown reloads. It wasn't pretty.

[Jack Ryan]

I'd shoot them.

I don't see any point in pulling bullets. There's nothing that could ever be said that would get me to reuse that powder but I'd use it the way it's loaded right now. I'd get them zeroed with a few shots and then use it up practicing of killing stuff.

[Yondering]

Dont try to guess at the powder based on appearance. I know that happens a lot on this forum, but it's a really bad idea, especially with ball rifle powders. There are so many that look the same, including non-canister military powders.

Absolutely no way would I shoot those, especially with all the variation in OAL. If the OAL varies that much, what else is wrong with them?

I recently pulled down a bunch of 30-06 ammo, just like this, from an estate sale. There were some interesting surprises. One box had 3 different bullet weights, that all looked the same when loaded, and the same powder charges. Another round had a gas check in the case, under a jacketed bullet. A couple of them had powder that was all gummy and stuck together. I just pulled all of them, and used the bullets for subsonic plinkers in my 300 Blackout.

[gandog56]

I'd shoot them.

I don't see any point in pulling bullets. There's nothing that could ever be said that would get me to reuse that powder but I'd use it the way it's loaded right now. I'd get them zeroed with a few shots and then use it up practicing of killing stuff.

Then pulling the bullets and dumping the powder is the safest way to salvage some of the components. Heck I might have even popped the old primers out and used new ones. Who knows how that ammo was stored or in what conditions?

[BT8850]

Dont try to guess at the powder based on appearance. I know that happens a lot on this forum, but it's a really bad idea, especially with ball rifle powders. There are so many that look the same, including non-canister military powders.

Absolutely no way would I shoot those, especially with all the variation in OAL. If the OAL varies that much, what else is wrong with them?

I recently pulled down a bunch of 30-06 ammo, just like this, from an estate sale. There were some interesting surprises. One box had 3 different bullet weights, that all looked the same when loaded, and the same powder charges. Another round had a gas check in the case, under a jacketed bullet. A couple of them had powder that was all gummy and stuck together. I just pulled all of them, and used the bullets for subsonic plinkers in my 300 Blackout.

I agree, the guessing the powder bit is purely for sport, I don't plan to use any of it for loading, Ill probably keep it on hand though, never know when it will come in handy for some other non firearm related application

Sounds like you had a nice little mess on your hands! a gas check on a jacketed bullet is pretty impressive LOL thats the type of stuff i'd be affraid of. I only pulled 3 and one had no powder in it. What did you do with the leftover powder from your batch? Having made cheap blackout rounds I'd say you made out alright! I plan to get into the caliber in the future as it's an awesome concept.

Who knows how that ammo was stored or in what conditions?

Exactly. As far as I know they were purchased in the ziplock bag they were given to me in. Guess they came out of a box that was in someones attic of basement, I have no idea as they've been through a few hands.

[The_Shadow]

When this thread started, I was trying to have BT8850, learn from the experience.  The pulling of the bullets and taking notes could yield some useable data.  Even though it is just one round, the powder still looks to be pristine, I was hoping he could weigh the bullet, powder charge to get a feel for the charge weight being used with what bullet weight.

Yes, I would agree, it would be safer to pull them...that it is not the best idea to just shoot them with no information.  But I am an inquisitive person.  I would measure each and document charge weights, make observations to see if the powder is the same or is there different powders.  I would possibly reduce one of the loads and test with it, placing some trust, that the handloader wasn't a total idiot.  But like Yondering, I have seen some stuff that makes you go "What The Hell", pieces of foil, cigarette filters, small rocks, tumbling media, bad powder, extreme charge weights (high and low), bad primers (reloaded without removing the old primer, no primer installed, and as in the pull-downs the primer compounds being gone and mixed in the powder)  The infamous "Yellow Pixie Dust".  I just like to learn from things.

All that being said, yes the safest thing is to salvage the brass bullets as far as the powder that's the mystery piece of the puzzle and it would make good fertilizer or fire starter...

[Yondering]

What did you do with the leftover powder from your batch?

I just wrapped it in a paper towel and set fire to it in the driveway. Kinda fun to watch stuff burn.