Understanding BL-C(2) Powder
What’s BL-C(2) Powder?
The .308 Winchester cartridge, a flexible and time-tested spherical, enjoys immense reputation amongst hunters, goal shooters, and navy personnel alike. Its inherent accuracy, comparatively flat trajectory, and skill to deal with a variety of bullet weights make it a favourite for numerous capturing disciplines. A key element of reaching optimum efficiency with any cartridge, significantly the .308, lies in understanding and using correct and dependable load information. Secure and efficient reloading requires a deep dive into numerous parts, together with the choice of applicable propellants. On this complete information, we’ll discover the intricacies of reloading the .308 Winchester with a give attention to **BLC2 Powder For 308 Load Knowledge**. We’ll delve into this particular powder, offering important data, load information, security pointers, and sensible suggestions that will help you craft personalized and high-performing .308 hundreds.
Understanding that this may be harmful, let’s begin with the knowledge and steps it’s best to take to be a secure and accountable reloader.
Traits of BL-C(2)
BL-C(2) is a spherical propellant manufactured by Hodgdon. It stands out on account of its versatility and suitability for a variety of cartridges, together with the .308 Winchester. This powder incorporates a comparatively quick burn price, making it a superb selection for reaching excessive velocities with lighter to medium-weight bullets. Its spherical form contributes to constant metering, which is essential for reaching uniform powder prices and, finally, optimum accuracy.
BL-C(2) powder’s formulation is designed to supply a constant and predictable burn, lowering the probabilities of strain spikes and making certain that the power is transferred to the projectile effectively. It’s a double-based powder, providing each energy and good temperature stability.
Benefits and Disadvantages
The benefits of utilizing BL-C(2) in your .308 hundreds embody its skill to ship wonderful velocities, significantly with bullets within the 150-175 grain vary. The spherical form and constant metering make it simple to make use of with a powder measure, permitting for constant charging. It’s additionally a cheap possibility, with an affordable value per pound.
Conversely, some shooters discover that BL-C(2) is likely to be a bit much less forgiving than another powders. Whereas it supplies excessive velocities, it additionally creates elevated recoil. Moreover, on account of its ball form, it may probably produce a barely better quantity of residue when in comparison with extruded powders, though this typically isn’t a difficulty in a correctly maintained firearm. Nevertheless, these are minor in comparison with the efficiency you’ll find.
Security First: A Non-Negotiable Precedence
Security Gear and Practices
Handloading ammunition is a rewarding pastime, but it surely calls for strict adherence to security protocols. Neglecting these precautions can result in extreme accidents and even demise. By no means take the handloading course of frivolously.
All the time put on security glasses. These will shield your eyes from flying particles, primer fragments, and any potential powder spills or explosions. Gloves can present a greater grip and maintain your fingers cleaner. Whereas non-compulsory, they contribute to security.
Retailer your powder and primers in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated space, away from warmth, open flames, and direct daylight. Preserve them out of attain of kids and pets. Powder and primers are inherently harmful.
The reloading course of calls for precision. First, put together your brass by cleansing, inspecting, and sizing it. Subsequent, set up a primer. Then, precisely cost the case with the right amount of powder, following established load information. Seat the bullet to the right general size, after which carry out a closing inspection to make sure the whole lot is right.
Utilizing Load Knowledge and Recognizing Stress Indicators
Load information, whether or not from a guide or a good supply, is your guiding gentle. All the time adhere to the really useful powder prices, bullet weights, and general cartridge lengths. By no means exceed the utmost load. Beginning on the low finish of the load information and dealing up is essential for security and efficiency optimization.
Be consistently conscious of the indicators of extreme strain. These embody flattened or cratered primers, tough bolt opening, ejector marks on the case head, and bulging circumstances. In case you observe any of those indicators, instantly stop reloading and seek the advice of your reloading guide or a professional gunsmith.
Receive and make the most of a reloading guide from a good supply. These manuals provide a wealth of knowledge, together with load information for numerous cartridges, powders, and bullet weights. Comply with the info supplied diligently. One other key merchandise for reloading is an efficient scale to measure powder. All the time have your gear cleaned, and calibrate your scale earlier than use.
.308 Load Knowledge with BL-C(2)
Earlier than starting to reload, it’s important to seek the advice of a number of sources for load information. Begin with data supplied in respected reloading manuals equivalent to these revealed by Sierra, Speer, Lyman, or Hodgdon. You may also discover data on the Hodgdon web site. This information is introduced for informational functions solely. All the time work up your hundreds. This data needs to be used to create your hundreds, as security is of paramount significance. The next is a few instance information:
Bullet Weight and Kind: Understanding the Choices
The .308 Winchester can accommodate a variety of bullet weights, providing versatility for looking, goal capturing, and general-purpose use. The selection of bullet weight considerably impacts efficiency, and the choice of BL-C(2) powder needs to be tailor-made to your chosen bullet weight.
For lighter bullets, equivalent to these within the 125-150 grain vary, BL-C(2) can ship distinctive velocities and a flatter trajectory. This makes it well-suited for varmint looking and goal capturing at reasonable ranges.
Medium-weight bullets, within the 165-175 grain vary, are a standard selection for the .308. BL-C(2) supplies wonderful steadiness with these bullet weights. These bullets are good for looking medium-sized sport and are sometimes favored for longer-range goal capturing.
Heavier bullets, these within the 180-grain or heavier vary, is probably not the perfect match for BL-C(2), because the burn price could also be too quick to attain optimum efficiency. Slower-burning powders like Reloader 17 or IMR 4064 is likely to be higher selections for these bullets.
Load Knowledge Desk
To offer a place to begin in your .308 Winchester reloading with BL-C(2) powder, here’s a pattern load information desk, which *have to be verified along with your reloading manuals and information sources.*
| Bullet Weight (Grains) | Bullet Kind | Powder Cost (Grains) | Primer Kind | Case Kind | OAL (Inches) | Estimated Velocity (fps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | FMJ | 46.0 (Begin) – 49.0 (Max) | CCI BR-2 | Winchester | 2.800 | 2750 – 2950 |
| 168 | HPBT | 44.0 (Begin) – 47.0 (Max) | Federal 210 | Remington | 2.820 | 2600 – 2800 |
| 175 | HPBT | 43.0 (Begin) – 46.0 (Max) | Federal 210 | Winchester | 2.820 | 2550 – 2750 |
***Essential Notes relating to the info:*** *This desk is for informational functions solely and isn’t an alternative choice to diligent analysis, and following the recommendation from reloading manuals and different trusted sources. All the time seek the advice of a number of sources and begin with the minimal really useful powder cost.* *All the time begin with the START load proven on this desk.* *Use a chronograph to confirm velocities.* *These figures are approximate and may fluctuate based mostly on elements equivalent to barrel size and environmental situations.* *All the time work up hundreds slowly, growing powder prices in small increments (0.5 grains or much less) whereas fastidiously observing for strain indicators.*
Further concerns when working up hundreds embody the kind of bullet, general cartridge size, case sort and primer sort.
Important Issues and Sensible Suggestions
Case Preparation: An Essential First Step
Correct case preparation is prime to secure and correct reloading. This includes cleansing, inspecting, trimming, and chamfering the case mouths. Clear circumstances guarantee a constant powder burn and cut back friction in the course of the loading course of. Examine your circumstances for any indicators of harm, equivalent to cracks or dents. Trim the circumstances to the right size to make sure constant neck rigidity on the bullet. The chamfer and deburr the case mouth to facilitate bullet seating.
Primers: The Ignition Issue
Primer choice impacts accuracy and velocity. Use the primer really useful by your reloading guide. Commonplace primers are appropriate for many .308 hundreds. All the time make sure that to seat the primers flush with the case head.
Crimping: Elective however Essential
Crimping is usually used, significantly for looking hundreds, to enhance bullet retention and guarantee constant bullet pull. Nevertheless, it’s not required for all .308 hundreds. Seek the advice of your reloading guide for suggestions.
Measuring Velocity: Utilizing a Chronograph
A chronograph is an indispensable software for any reloader. It lets you measure the precise velocity of your hundreds. Use a chronograph to make sure your hundreds are performing as anticipated. This may assist to determine any issues and fine-tune your hundreds.
Temperature Results: An Usually Ignored Variable
Temperature impacts powder burn price and strain. Concentrate on these modifications when reloading, particularly in numerous climates. Retailer your ammunition in a constant temperature setting.
Troubleshooting Frequent Points
Inconsistent velocity may result from a number of points, together with inconsistent powder prices, variations in primer ignition, and bullet seating depth. Use a constant powder-charging method, and at all times seat bullets to the right depth.
Tough bullet extraction is one other signal, and could also be an early signal of overpressure. Stop capturing and re-evaluate your load.
Extreme recoil, significantly with heavier bullets or increased powder prices, could make capturing uncomfortable. Adjusting the powder cost to decrease the recoil is an possibility.
Conclusion
BL-C(2) is a viable possibility in your .308 Winchester handloading wants. When used with the right hundreds, it’s an efficient selection. Prioritize security above all else, adhering to established pointers. All the time use correct gear and comply with load information meticulously. With cautious loading, you may fine-tune your hundreds for optimum efficiency.
Disclaimer
Handloading ammunition is inherently harmful and carries important dangers. This text supplies data for instructional functions solely and isn’t an alternative choice to accountable reloading practices. All the time seek the advice of dependable reloading manuals and information sources. The consumer assumes all dangers related to handloading. The creator and writer of this text should not answerable for any accidents, damages, or losses ensuing from the usage of this data.
References
Hodgdon Reloading Knowledge Middle: (Hyperlink to Hodgdon reloading information)
Sierra Bullets Reloading Guide
Speer Reloading Guide
Lyman Reloading Handbook
(add different respected sources)
