I've been using IMR 4350 in both 30-06 and 308 win with 180 gr bullets, and I got to wondering if some of the "other" 4350s might work better. Specifically I'm looking for a powder that has smaller granules and less velocity spread (and consistent performance across a wide temperature range). Any suggestions? Are these powders close enough to each other to use the same starting loads for load development?

[This message has been edited by dogtagger (edited 05-17-2002).]

I'm in the same boat with my .375 H&H Magnum. I'll be using all three 4350s in search of "the right one." I only have IMR at the moment, but will be getting the other two this weekend. I believe someone posted (here or elsewhere) that the Hodgdon version has shorter kernels -- but I'll find out for sure very soon.

Yes, they (IMR, Hodgdon, AA) are all very close in burn rates, so you needn't worry.

Russ

------------------
"Out here, 'due process' is a bullet!" -- John Wayne, "The Green Berets"

Looking at the data in my Hornady manual makes it look like 4350 is a tad slow for the 308 and 30-06 from the powders they list as "appropriate". I thought 4350 was touted as being great in the 06.
I started loading long ago and used 4831 surplus because it was very cheap (like me) and that turned me on to a dislike for all long stick powders.
I stll have a few pounds of it that I drag out and load when I feel like going nuts getting powder thru a measure.
Guess it is plain to see that the longest grain stick powder I shoot is 2400 . . . everything else is ball or spherical to avoid trademark infringement.
Ball powder sure does flow ACCURATELY and consistently thru a measure
LouisB

I used all three 4350. I have a lot of respect for that number. AA is cheapest, H available in SC.

I think I try IMR and add H 4831 SC ( to get more in the case, I weigh each hunting load charge ).

Good shooting! Hermann

------------------

[This message has been edited by aHunter (edited 05-17-2002).]

DOGTAGGER,
A few years ago Hodgdon started reducing the size of their powders granules. All their extruded powders are insensitive to temperature changes. I use H-4350 in my '06 and it does great. In your .308 you might have better success with Hodgdon Varget. I hope that this is of some help.

------------------
BigBob

For the same velocity in cases the size of an '06 or larger, there is a good bit of difference in the burning rate of the 4350's. AA is the fastest, IMR in the middle, and Hodgdon the slowest. In most of my uses there is about 1g difference between each, for the same velocity.

For smaller grain powders, RL19 is a tad slower than H4350. It is smaller granules. Also the Vihtavouri powders, N150 and N160 bracket the 4350's with N150 being faster than AA and N160 about the same as RL19.

For a ball powder which is easy to meter, H414 also works in this size case. It's just a bit faster than AA4350. Lots of good choices in this range.

Frankly I have tried many different powders and I still end up going back to buying the big jug of IMR-4350. Maybe you can try something that might outperform it by a smidgen but generaly I find it "more then good enough". With the 180 grn .308 bullets you might do a bit better with RL or Vihta but its been so long since Ive loaded .308 with anything but IMR-4350 I cant even find my old data.

My one excetion if H-380-CCI250 for 150 grn bullets. I get over 3,000fps with this load and tremendous accuracy.................J

Bob338 gave you some excellent advice. If you need a powder in the 4350-range, H414 (as well as the Winchester version of the same powder, WW 760) and VV 160 are good choices. I haven't tried RL 19, but it looks like it would fit also.

I've never had any problem loading IMR4350. The only time I've switched was when I couldn't get quite enough in the case, then went to H414 which packs a little tighter.

None of these powders act exactly like the others, and can vary in effective burning rate with case capacity, bullet weight, bore size, etc., so start low and work up again when switching between them.

Hey guys,

thanks for all the help. I realy don't have any problem with IMR 4350 in the 30-06, I get 2700 fps with 57 grains in my 700 mountain rifle.

With my 308, the IMR fills the case to the middle of the neck with a max load of 50 grains (this only works with WW cases, as the rem and federal don't seem to have as much capacity). That works ok, but I can sometimes hear the powder getting crushed when I seat bullets on it, and I seem to get large spreads in the velocity (still). I'll have to try out some of the others to see which works best. I get 2500 fps out of the 308s 20" tube now with 180s.

By the way, in a previous post, I mentioned that I was only getting 2350 fps in the '06 with 55 gr of 4350 and 180 honadys, but the last time I shot I was getting 2600 with that load... Must have mis-labled the (first) loads. Gotta pay more attention to details like that... I'm going to pull the billets on the rest of them to see just what's in there.

In the 30-06 I use H-414, IMR-4064, IMR-4895.

In the .308 give RL-15 a try, might be a good one in the '06 too. Check this powder out in the newer manuals. Really wakes up the medium size cases and even some of the larger(.375) ones. Turned my Rem 722 in .300 Savage with long throat into a .308 killer.

I think any of the 4350s may be a bit too slow-burning for optimum performance in the .308 -- for the .308 I think IMR 4064 or Winchester 748 may be better choices. The 4350s should be excellent for 30/06, for any bullet weight from 150 to 200 grain.

The 4350s also work well in the .270, although they are too fast burning if you are going for max velocity in the .270 -- for that, the 4831s seem to be best.

Hodgdon 4350 is both a bit slower burning and shorter grained than IMR 4350. I found H4350 to be a superb powder for the .375 H&H.

IMR 4350 is perfect for the old '06. I've burnt many a pounds of IMR4350 from an '06!

LE270

I've crono'ed the 308 with 4350, 4064 and ww748 with the 180s. I get the best velocity with the 748 (47 grains for 2550), but accuracy is terrible (6"). With the 4064, I only get 2375 fps with its max load, and accuracy is only so-so. So I guess I'll stick with 4350 until I can find something that outperforms it... I'm guessing that one of the slower ball powders mentioned may do. We'll see.