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I am a long time user of W748 in 7.62x51.

I remember when this article was published.

A few things to note.

The test barrel used is a SAAMI 308 test barrel, not a 7.62x51 test barrel.

Years ago, Winchester used to specify the allowable lot to lot variation of their powders and kept them tighter than the Hodgdon powders, which had the standard bulk powder, lot to lot variation.

That was great for W748 back then.

W748 has (had?) flash retardant.

It had almost no flash.

H335 and BLC2 had no flash retardant and made quite a bit of flash without a flash hider.

These days, Hodgdon is the licensed distributor of Winchester powders in North America and are allowed to control the quality, to some extent.

Ever since Hodgdon started handling the Winchester powders, the lot to lot variation of W748 results much more noticeable variation, W748 seems to usually be slightly faster burning andwhile still having much less flash than H335 and BLC2, seems to have a bit more flash now.

W748 has somewhat different pressure curve than most other powders.

It seems steeper with smaller increases and with smaller decreases, meaning the just pops up with small increases in charge weights and drops down quite a bit with small decreases in charge weight.

In the same way, W748 is also more sensitive to case capacity changes.

W748 seems slightly less position sensitive in larger cases, such 30-06, than some other ball powders of similar burning rate.

Current W748 is still similar to the pre-Hodgdon W748, but it just doesn't seem the same.

Good information from both of you,thanks…