Viht Tin Star is Dead - Long live RS14

[Scrumbag]

Hi folks,

With Tin Star being discontinued and Trail Boss being long gone, I was wondering about a good "fluffy" powder for decent case fill in "plinking" applications.

Turns out Reload Swiss are bringing out a powder called RS14 which will have an odd shape to give a high case proportion and it might well be here in the not too distant future.

Here's some info from Reload Swiss:

https://www.reload-swiss.com/en/reload_swiss/tipps___tricks/tipps_und_tricks_neu_1/einfuehrung_rs14/index.php

"Introduction RS14

Dear Reload Swiss family,

We are proud to announce there will be a new addition to our product family in the fourth quarter of 2022. The new powder has been named RS14 and is suitable for cartridges that were originally designed for black powder propellants (e.g. .45 Colt), for reduced loads (if the permissible muzzle energy at the shooting range is limited), for subsonic ammunition and for training situations with handguns where the aim is to shoot with reduced power, but still with a good filling level.

What led us to accept this challenge? Some time ago now, we were told that it is proving increasingly difficult in Europe to get hold of a unique powder from a U.S. competitor. Apparently, this powder’s special feature is that you can almost always just about fill the case without worrying about excessive pressure. We were asked whether we could produce something similar. When we took a look at the benchmark powder, it turned out to be cut very thinly. This is done using a cutting technology that is not available to us in Wimmis. Besides the form of the powder, its very low bulk density of just a little over 300 g/l also impressed us. This is combined with a vivacity that, although high, is not exactly through the roof. Our thinking was that the low bulk density would require our powder to have an extremely high porosity, which would result in a much higher vivaciy than that of the U.S. powder. Only very late in the day did we notice the relatively low energy content. This naturally also reduces the vivacity. Armed with this knowledge, we launched an initial sample production operation at the end of September 2020. The two samples already represented a very good start at the time (in terms of bulk density, energy content and vivacity). The vivacity was even a little below the level we were aiming for. Following targeted adjustments to the manufacturing parameters and further sample production operations, the reference sample was mixed at the end of 2021 and will serve as a guideline for the product in the future. In 2022, we then obtained certifications, prepared the data sheet, drew up the safety data sheet, generated initial load data, spoke to the importers and provided initial samples for opinion-forming purposes.

In terms of shape, you are primarily used to single-perforated powder and flake powder. With RS14, we are now introducing a T-shaped powder. Fear not – you barely see or notice the shape. Dispensing from standard dispensers is very uniform and reliable. What’s more, we have a great deal of experience with such powders in military applications. Consequently, they are only new in reloading applications.

The first batch was produced some time ago and we are currently working on the second in order to ensure supplies. RS14 has a bulk density of approx. 320 g/l, an energy content of approx. 3,250 J/g and a vivacity just below the benchmark that has already been referred to several times. Overall, we come very close to the benchmark at the range. In our opinion, we have successfully kept our promise of producing something similar. And it goes without saying that the new powder is REACH-compliant.

So, it’s now up to you to see what you think of our latest addition to the Reload Swiss family. We hope the powder helps you make lots of cartridges that bring you enjoyment and success.

On behalf of the Reload Swiss Team

Jan Krcmar

Pascal Beer

Urs Altorfer

Dominik Antenen"

 

And https://www.reload-swiss.com/en/reload_swiss/produkte/rs20_pistol_powder/rs14_rifle_pistol_powder/index.php

"RS14 Rifle/Pistol Powder

Uses

RS14 has been developed specifically for the needs of Reload Swiss RS.

Boasting a unique combination of minimal bulk density, low energy content and high vivacity, it is suitable for reduced loads, light cowboy action loads and subsonic loads for revolver and rifle calibres.

Tips:

Recommended load: Filling level of approx. 50% to 100% for all calibres.

Lead or copper-plated bullets for handgun calibres.

Self-loading guns: The self-loading function is not a given for all loadings and calibres.

Standard calibres

.38 Special

.30-30 Win.

.338 Lapua Mag

.357 Mag.

.308 Win.

.375 H&H Mag.

.44 Special

.30-06 Spring.

.444 Marlin

.44 Mag.

.300 Win. Mag.

.45-70 Govt.

.44-40 Win.

7,5 × 55 Swiss

.458 Win. Mag.

.45 ACP

7.62 x 54 R

.50 Browning

.45 Colt

8 x 51 R Lebel

.500 S&W Mag.

8 x 57 IS

 

Packaging units

400 g can

 

Powder type

RS14 is a porous, extruded, nitrocellulose-based propellant powder.

Safe service life

If properly stored, the propellant powder remains safe to use for up to ten years.

Verification tolerances

Batch-to-batch tolerance:

v5 ±12 m/s

pmax ±250 bar

Key characteristics

Heat of explosion           approx. 3,200 J/g

Bulk density       approx. 320 g/l

Length x width x height approx. 1.2 x 1.1 x 0.8 mm

Thickness           approx. 0.3 mm"

[Bangbangman]

Looks promising with the demise of Tin Star and Trail Boss.

[sean c]

I didn’t know Tinstar had been discontinued but at least there’s a alternative. 

[Laurie]

There is also Lovex D0-60 which is a speciality powder like Trail Boss and Tin Star that has very wide reduced load applications. It was originally designed for use across the entire range of large 19th century straight-wall BPCR cartridges at original pressures, but with no compression or airspace fillers/wads required as it burns consistently at low case fill-ratios.

It also works in modern high-pressure rifle cartridges in low-pressure, low fill-ratio reduced loads. 

The US distributor Shooters World quotes as an example:

 

The standard test load for this propellant is .30-06 Springfield, a 168 grain bullet, and ONLY 22 grains of propellant.   This loading density is less than 50%! Yet this propellant burns extremely well in this condition.

 

Shooters World calls it 'Buffalo Rifle', although I've seen a comment that it has apparently been renamed 'Cowboy' in some parts of the company's website. 

 

https://shootersworldpowder.com/buffalo-rifle/

 

For handloaders who've been around for a few (!) years, this grade used to be sold here as Accurate Arms XMP-5744.