Hodgdon's Burn Rate Chart

I am not a chemist, physicist, engineer, or doctor of anything. I am a long time reloader. Sometimes I'm asked for advice. Sometimes that question goes something like this...

"PowderX has the 'same' burn rate as PowderY, can't I use it instead of spending money my wife doesn't really want me to have on PowderY?"

In reply I have several concerns. First, and most importantly, I made the recommendation based on published data and my own experience. I didn't just lift my hat and pull out something to get you off my back. If I don't know, I say "I don't know" and likewise if something has worked for me that's what I recommend. If you don't want to spend the money maybe you shouldn't be playing the game.

Second, and more technically, every time you change a component you change the dynamics of entire load in ways that you, also not a chemist, physicist, engineer or doctor of anything, can't predict. The writers of the manuals and the lab workers developed the manual data based on their experiences measured using equipment with which they were familiar in known conditions. They didn't pull that data out of their headgear either. There is a REASON that that data is published and data for your substitute can't be found. There is no grand conspiracy to reach into your wallet for another $25 or to deny you the ability to load cartridge A with bullet B at velocity C. As for me and my recommendations, I'm not going to start thinking that I somehow have some special insight as to why what is in the manual is or what is not in the manual is not.

All that said, can one make substitutes? Yes, if one can reason, i.e. think logically and to do that one needs information and for that one needs the manual AND experience. If you had all that you wouldn't be asking me questions.

Anyway, the burn rate chart is interesting and now that I've thoroughly alienated you I need to throw you a bone so here it is, the most recent burn rate chart copied from the Hodgdon chart.

1	NORMA R1	73	VihtaVuori N120
2	Winchester WAALite	74	Hodgdon H322
3	VihtaVuori N310	75	Accurate Arms 2015BR
4	Accurate Arms Nitro 100	76	Alliant Reloder 10X
5	Alliant e3	77	VihtaVuori N130
6	Hodgdon TITEWAD	78	IMR, Co IMR 3031
7	Ramshot Competition	79	VihtaVuori N133
8	Alliant Red Dot	80	Hodgdon BENCHMARK
9	Alliant Promo	81	Hodgdon H335
10	Hodgdon CLAYS	82	Ramshot X-Terminator
11	Alliant Clay Dot	83	Accurate Arms 2230
12	IMR, Co Hi-Skor 700-X	84	Accurate Arms 2460s
13	Alliant Bullseye	85	IMR, Co IMR 8208 XBR
14	Hodgdon TITEGROUP	86	Ramshot TAC
15	Alliant American Select	87	Hodgdon H4895
16	Accurate Arms Solo 1000	88	VihtaVuori N530
17	Alliant Green Dot	89	IMR, Co IMR 4895
18	Winchester WST	90	VihtaVuori N135
19	IMR, Co Trail Boss	91	Alliant Reloder 12
20	Winchester Super Handicap	92	Accurate Arms 2495BR
21	Hodgdon INTERNATIONAL	93	IMR, Co IMR 4064
22	Accurate Arms Solo 1250	94	NORMA 202
23	IMR, Co PB	95	Accurate Arms 4064
24	VihtaVuori N320	96	Accurate Arms 2520
25	Accurate Arms No. 2	97	Alliant Reloder 15
26	Ramshot Zip	98	VihtaVuori N140
27	IMR, Co SR 7625	99	Hodgdon VARGET
28	Hodgdon HP-38	100	IMR, Co IMR 4320
29	Winchester 231	101	Winchester 748
30	Alliant 20/28	102	Hodgdon BL-C(2)
31	Alliant Unique	103	Hodgdon LEVEREVOLUTION
32	Hodgdon UNIVERSAL	104	Hodgdon H380
33	Alliant Power Pistol	105	IMR, Co IMR 4007 SSC
34	VihtaVuori N330	106	Ramshot Big Game
35	Alliant Herco	107	VihtaVuori H540
36	Winchester WSF	108	Winchester 760
37	VihtaVuori N340	109	Hodgdon H414
38	IMR, Co Hi-Skor 800-X	110	VihtaVuori N150
39	IMR, Co SR 4756	111	Accurate Arms 2700
40	Ramshot True Blue	112	IMR, Co IMR 4350
41	Accurate Arms No. 5	113	Hodgdon H4350
42	Hodgdon HS-6	114	Alliant Reloder 17
43	Winchester AutoComp	115	Accurate Arms 4350
44	Ramshot Silhouette	116	NORMA 204
45	VihtaVuori 3N37	117	Hodgdon HYBRID 100V
46	VihtaVuori N350	118	VihtaVuori N550
47	Hodgdon HS-7	119	Alliant Reloder 19
48	VihtaVuori 3N38	120	IMR, Co IMR 4831
49	Alliant Blue Dot	121	Ramshot Hunter
50	Accurate Arms No. 7	122	Accurate Arms 3100
51	Alliant Pro Reach	123	VihtaVuori N160
52	Hodgdon LONGSHOT	124	Hodgdon H4831 & H4831SC
53	Alliant 410	125	Hodgdon SUPERFORMANCE
54	Alliant 2400	126	Winchester Supreme 780
55	Ramshot Enforcer	127	NORMA MRP
56	Accurate Arms No. 9	128	Alliant Reloder 22
57	Accurate Arms 4100	129	VihtaVuori N560
58	Alliant Steel	130	VihtaVuori N165
59	NORMA R123	131	IMR, Co IMR 7828
60	VihtaVuori N110	132	Alliant Reloder 25
61	Hodgdon LIL'GUN	133	VihtaVuori N170
62	Hodgdon H110	134	Accurate Arms Magpro
63	Winchester 296	135	Hodgdon H1000
64	IMR, Co IMR 4227	136	Ramshot Magnum
65	Hodgdon H4227	137	Hodgdon RETUMBO
66	IMR, Co SR 4759	138	VihtaVuori N570
67	Accurate Arms 5744	139	Accurate Arms 8700
68	Accurate Arms 1680	140	Hodgdon H870
69	NORMA 200	141	VihtaVuori 24N41
70	Alliant Reloder 7	142	Hodgdon H50BMG
71	IMR, Co IMR 4198	143	Hodgdon US869
72	Hodgdon H4198	144	VihtaVuori 20N29