I just recieved my "plains game" rifle. Its a .358 Norma Mag. I am also going to be recieving my "heavy" shortly in .404J.

Normally I use alot of IMR 4350, but was wondering what powders would be better suited (if any) to the extreme temperature differences between here in Alberta & Africa?

I would like to start off with the best suitable powder "make", and continue to use it everywhere for everything. So would H4350 be better? how 'bout Reloder (I think I have read Reloader would be the worst)?........so what make should a guy go with?

Thanx.

If you are talking temp. sensativity, I don't think you have that much to worry about, at least in the 404j. I like RL19 & IMR4831. I worked up my original loads in cool temps (40-50) & then shot them again in the 90s, no problems. I am only running the 404j @ 2200fps, so pressures are low, but still, unless you are hunting in November, exstreme heat is not much of a problem in Africa IMO.

use whatever you'd use where you are in the summer. africa isn't all that hot. it might to 115 or so in summer, but you're not out hunting in that heat. leav ammo out of the sun & you'll be fine

If your hand loading ammo , perhaps you had better have " Factory boxes " for those loads .

Seeing as the U N is now in charge of small arms ammo and any other foreign shipping . they may frown on some off the wall hand load or non issued ammo container !??.


Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

I came from Africa. It cannot be hotter than your hot places in the US. (You can fry an egg on a rock in the sun in both places). I never considered temperature as an issue unless we were talking about the cold (which was like never - how cold can frost be?). My understanding is that some of the Hodgdon line of powders - some of which are made in Australia (a hot place) - are fairly temperature insensitive, by design. It is probable that some other brand name powders have the same design. (I am only aware of the Hodgdon powders because I use them locally under the ADI brand name).

Good hunting to you!

Nice choice of caliber the 358 Norma , depending on the bullet weights you want to shoot, several powders in the Hodgdon line suggest themselves & as 303guy has said, some of these are produced in Australia where they are reputed to be relatively temperature insensitive. For a 250 grain bullet, my ADI reloading manual lists a max load of 63 grns of AR2208 which is loaded for Hodgdon as Varget for 2700 fps .Start load 57 grns. 75 grns of AR2209 gives 2778, start load 71 grns. I believe AR2209 may be H4350, the Hodgdon Manual lists exactly the same loads & figures for H4350, they also list the same figures for H4895 as ADI list for AR2206H, 65grns for 2736fps, start load 61 so its its not unreasonable to assume these are the same powders,someone else may be able to confirm that.
Happy hunting.Be sure to let us know how it goes.
Steve.