A New Source of Reloading Data for Czech 'Lovex' Powders

[Laurie]

For people who are thinking of trying the Czech Lovex powder range, I've found a new data source. (Exlosia's guide is good, but is heavily weighted towards European sporting rifle loads. So, many popular US originating cartridges such as the 6.5 Creedmoor are missing, and even where data is provided for popular US numbers such as 308 and 30-06, many of the bullets and cases used to generate data aren't common choices here.

(This guide can downloaded from https://explosia.cz/app/uploads/2016/11/reloading_Lovex_EN.pdf )


An American shooting supply company Shooters World

https://shootersworldsc.com

has been importing Lovex powders into the USA for some time and renaming / labeling them under its own 'Americanised' names. For example, Lovex SO65 becomes Shooters World Long Rifle and SO62 is renamed Precision.


I've just noticed that Shooters World has commissioned proper loads pressure testing and has its own online reloading manual either available from the Shooters World home page or directly in pdf file form as:


http://shootersworldsc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Shooters-World-Load-Manual-Version04-23-18.pdf


Note the date of the latest version - last month. This is still obviously a work in progress and there are only four pages (15-18) of rifle loads data in a small number of cartridges, but they include 260 Rem and 6.5mm Creedmoor in addition to the usual suspects of .308 Win and .30-06 etc, not to mention the less usual suspect of .458 SOCOM! (There are also some BPCR loads bullet data for the old Accurate-5744, now known as Lovex DO-60, or in its Shooters World rebranding as Buffalo Rifle.)
There are no data as yet for Lovex SO70 (SW4350 in Shooters World speak).


Still, it's a useful additional source of information for those using or contemplating using Lovex powders which are very good indeed in some applications, and this reloading guide is obviously still being expanded. When used in conjunction with Exlposia's own Lovex Powders guide coverage is becoming reasonable now

 

[TSG]

I am currently using Loved D073.5 for my .270 and 110 TTSX.
I found that the Quickload mv prediction for this powder is 10-15% less that measured one.
I have adjusted case capacity and seating depth but had to change burning rate of the powder to get closer to measured speeds.


My advice is start with minimum load measure your speed and take it from there.

 

[8x57]

Take a look at Shooters World powder prices at Graf & Son. Less than £15 per Lb if I have worked it out correctly.

 

[TSG]

Take a look at Shooters World powder prices at Graf & Son. Less than £15 per Lb if I have worked it out correctly.

uk price averages £34 and this comes from EU

 

[Muir]

Mid South Shooter's Supply -a company I like doing business with- has had this powder advertised for some time. Only the $25 HAZMAT fee keeps me from ordering. I need to buy enough at once to negate the price and since i haven't tried any of it, it's hard to know what to bulk up on.~Muir

 

[phaedra]

S062 is a lovely powder, I got around 10Kg of it (and some D073.5) very cheap from a chap who brought over 250Kg of assorted Lovex powders directly from Explosia.

I wish he'd go back and get more, price was 40% of what it's sold for here now and he was still making around 33% profit!.

I used it in the 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Rem and 308 with very consistent results.

 

[25 Sharps]

S062 is a lovely powder, I got around 10Kg of it (and some D073.5) very cheap from a chap who brought over 250Kg of assorted Lovex powders directly from Explosia.

I wish he'd go back and get more, price was 40% of what it's sold for here now and he was still making around 33% profit!.

I used it in the 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Rem and 308 with very consistent results.

I wonder if he paid import duty?!

 

[8x57]

I wonder if he paid import duty?!

Isn't the Czech Republic within the European free trade zone?

Not powder but firearms related. I spoke to a RFD who imports long barrelled pistols from the Czech Republic. He told me that the paperwork and legislation is so involved that it was far easier for him to drive over and pick up a boot full of guns than it was to have them couriered to him in the conventional way, and that this is the way that he does it every so often. Perhaps its the same with powder?

 

[phaedra]

I wonder if he paid import duty?!

Yes, the rifle & pistol powders (25Kg of 10 types) along with a much larger amount of shotgun powder was brought back legally.

Total cost for the rifle powders worked out around £18/Kg.