Diamondback Powder

[Fairshake]

I just picked up 8 lbs of the DB. It is finer in grain size than Goex when you compare them under a 30x glass. It is also a gray color unlike the dark black of Goex. The can has the best looking Graphics of any powder company but as has been posted the top sucks. It is a small plastic pull up with a small opening to pour from. You can however pop out the entire top if trying to pour back into the can. There is the dealer in Va. That sells for around $10 a can. I loaded up some 2F and 3F in my 44-40's to compare with my normal Goex loads this coming weekend at a local match. It has been 98-102 with heat index of 115 so I don't know how much target time I will have after match. The powder is made in Brazil on equipment that was purchased from the old Elephant Brand Co. The company is called Diamondback Chemical out of Tamaqua, Pa. The can then states on the side that it is made by Elephant Industries in Brazil. I called the company and was told that it was not the same powder as the old Elephant Brand as it was now being made by different people and a different process. I think a lot of this information that I was given was what they call Slicked Up PR. The old Elephant brand had it's problems and I hope they work this out. At SASS distance it should be fine as long as your gun does not become too dirty to the point of not working. Time will be the judge.

[Springfield Slim]

I've been using it for cas shooting for the last 5 months, and it seems to work fine. But then I never had any trouble with Elephant, or KIK, or shuetzen or GOEX either. Big Lube's are a forgiving bullet, I guess.

[Pony Racer]

I had an outside source on the info on the DB Fairshake. However, as often noted on the wire it can be very difficult actually confirming things past that.

Bottom Line for me - Scheutzen and Diamond Back have worked for me and with Goex much more expensive per can or in bulk it is an easy decision.

PR

[Haggis MacGurk]

Wow, hope someone brings Diamondback into Canada too, Goex retails for CDN$29.00/lb here right now.

[Fairshake]

I have now shot a few SASS matches with the DB powder and I'm pleased with the out come. I loaded 34-35 drains of the 3F in my 44-40 rifle cases and a little over 33 grains of 2F in my revolver cases. This powder is very accurate at SASS distance as I was just one shot short of a clean match. It leaves a light gray residue in the barrel. I shot on Saturday and left the guns uncleaned until Tuesday to compare with the Goex. It only took one wet patch a dry patch and the bore snake to clean the rifle barrel. Sprayed the revolvers down with a good wetting with Moosemilk and they came clean very easy. I am surprised that the results are so good. I talked with the Diamondback office in Pa. and they said that this powder is made by different people than those that produced the Elephant powder. I was unable to use my CED because of this 100 degree heat but made a hand felt observation that is my feelings. I would say that the burn rate is below that of Goex as the recoil was less felt than that of rounds loaded with Goex. This is not a problem when used as I am. I will do some bench comparision when the temp falls to humane levels. Later David

[Pony Racer]

Fairshake nice report on the DB.

I have had great results with clean up too but had about same clean-up ease with Scheutzen.

My source did mention new folks had taken over facility where "elephant was made" and then brought in Scheutzen folks to help them - make a better product.

I'd say the stories are similar enough for me. 

Thanks for the report,

PR