WW Supreme 780 to be released

[Rocky Raab]

I received this email news release from Hodgdon. It is most unusual for a powder company to release in canister grade the exact powder used in factory ammunition. Most factory ammo is loaded with non-canister powders, and must be re-developed whenever stocks of the bulk-grade powder run out.

Quote:

WINCHESTER® SMOKELESS PROPELLANT “For Loading Professionals”
Tim Vaitekunas Director of Marketing and R&D today announced a potent new addition to the Winchester Smokeless line called Supreme 780™. Supreme 780 is the same powder loaded in Winchester’s factory Supreme® ammunition including 243 Win., 270 Win., and 300 Win. Mag.

“This propellant allows the handloader to duplicate Winchester Supreme factory loads,” said Tim discussing this product. “Our state-of-art ballistics laboratory has initially developed data for 14 different cartridges with over 35 different recipes”.

Supreme 780 is a Ball Powder® propellant, which means easy measure flow resulting in the most consistent charge weights. Comparable in burn speed to H4831®, it fills a spot that previously was not available in Winchester Smokeless offerings.

One and eight pound containers will be available at dealers Spring 2008. Supreme 780 reloads are now on-line at wwpowder.com in the Reloading Data Center. For more information call 913-362-9455 or write to 6231 Robinson, Shawnee Mission, KS 66202.

*Ball Powder® is a registered trademark of General Dynamics Corporation.

Unquote.

The formal release/announcement will be at the 2008 SHOT Show.

[Jack]

That should be a very useful powder- now if they'll just keep it in their line long enough for people to actually use the stuff.......

[Rocky Raab]

Let me be the first to let you in on yet another breakthrough powder...

Hodgdon will also release Hybrid 100V, which marries the chemistry of a spherical powder with the geometry of an extruded.

Quoting Chris Hodgdon: "Ideal for use in calibers that fit H4350, HYBRID 100V delivers stunning velocities not seen before in a variety of popular cartridges, such as 3,310fps for a 150-grain bullet in the 300 Weatherby Magnum –nearly 100fps faster than the nearest competitor. Its unique small grain, part Spherical, part Extruded shape benefits the handloader in two ways; the powder accurately flows smoothly and easily through a measure and charge weights are consistent for ideal load density and pinpoint accuracy. HYBRID 100V sets the performance standard with a winning precision target shooting and big game hunting experience."

You heard it here first.

[Catfish]

The 100V souds like it my be one that might work very well in my .22-6mm. I will be waiting to see it on the market, did they say when it would be on the market?

[Rocky Raab]

Both powders should be on dealer shelves in Spring 2008, Bruce.

[Oleman]

I know that back in the early 70's BR 780 powder make by Winchester was one of their products.

[PJgunner]

IIRC, 780BR was dropped because it fouled barrels badly and was quite difficult to clean out of the barrels. It was replaced by W-785 which, IMHO, wasn't much better. That too was replaced by WMR which was pulled before it had a chance to catch on. I liked it and found it useful in way too many cartridges for it to have had such an early demise. Well, I don't have to worry about running out of WMR for a while as I bought up every bit I could find.
FWIW, I can match or in some cases surpass factory specs with WMR in the .243 win., 6MM Rem.,.257 Robt., 25-06, .270 Win., and .300 Win. Mag. For some reason though, it doesn't work in the 30-06. Looking through the various loading manuals, only Hornady and Nosler gave it any coverage. Without pertinent data, I guess nobody gave it much thought and like the dodo bird, it disappeared.
It does foul some, but nowhere nearly as bad as 780BR and W-785. With the two former powders, it took some fairly long sessions with JB Bore paste to get the gunk out.
Probably, about the time we get to liking the new powder, "Big W" will pull it because it didn't sell fast enough. We lost H-205 because Hodgden's didn't sell enough fast enough. Too bad as that was a great one in my 30-06.
That's the bad thing today about American industry, what's left of it. bring something new out and if it does not bring in instant millions, drop it before it has a chance to catch on.
Paul B.