The Accurate Reloading Forums
Old H4895
20 March 2009, 07:45
trashcanmanOld H4895
I got about 8 pounds of h4895 for free but it might be from the late 80s. It was stored properly. Its also is a different color. Old stuff is dark gray and new h4895 is kinda amber-gray. will it shoot the same? why is it different color?
20 March 2009, 07:51
vapodogquote:
will it shoot the same?
I see H-4350 is also a different color.....and I don't know why......but it's the same stuff.
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20 March 2009, 07:53
OzzieCan't say it would shoot the same but you have to assume lot to lot variations anyway. The color difference is probably due to different manufacturers. Much of current Hodgdon powder is made by ADI and their powder tends to be a lighter color.
20 March 2009, 09:16
armadilloWhat does it smell like? If it still has the ether smell you will be OK. It is wise to work up carefully to your max load when you change to a different "lot" of the same powder.
20 March 2009, 09:31
Allan DeGrootThe older stuff has a better graphite coating than the new stuff.
I wondered about it between some really olf H4198 and some much moire recent stuff.
If there is no acrid smell or red fumes comming off it, use it.
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20 March 2009, 10:38
seafire2start off at prudent velocities instead of max and work up...
I have always preferred IMR's over Hodgdon's...
I loaded some surplus early WW 2 vintage 4895, and it was actually a little more accurate than current production IMR 4895...
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20 March 2009, 14:24
Gerryquote:
I have always preferred IMR's over Hodgdon's...
I'm the opposite but simply due to the fact that IMR's haven't been consistantly available in Europe for awhile. It appears that Hodgdon's distribution network has changed that quite quickly in the past year or so. At least now I can use the data I've hoarded over the years.
trashcanman - IMO the appearnace (color) from the older powders to the newer are most likely changes in coating.....?
Cheers,
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20 March 2009, 15:32
DocEdIf it is real old the lable will say, "made in Scotland". I shot this powder in a Hunter Class rifle, in the 80's. When Hodgden started importing the Australian powders, many of the BR shooters claimed it was "No Good", but I never saw any radical difference.
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I have some old and new H-4895, and the color of the granules is different. I think the graphite content of the new stuff is different from the old. But, both shoot equally well.
It's my "go-to" powder for 223's and 222 Mag loads.
Don
20 March 2009, 20:42
Stonecreek4895 is one powder that seems to be extraordinarily consistent from lot to lot and even varies little between manufacturers. I've used the Scottish version, the surplus version, the American IMR version, and now the Canadian IMR version -- all seem to do equally well. Seafire's advice to work up as you would with any change in powder lots is appropriate.
By the way, powder from the 80's would be the young stuff in my loading cabinet
21 March 2009, 06:28
bartsche
H-4895 (surplus) is the only powder I ran into a SERIOUS decomposition Problem. 8 pounds of it created miss and hang fires and surface rusted my Redding dispenser. It was a redish brown, smelled like nitrous or nitric acid and took out a section of my lawn.
roger
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22 March 2009, 06:23
uniqueIf the older H4895 was made in Scotland then this version ran slightly hotter and gave slightly better accuacy than the current offering from ADI...at least in my experience. I have some (made in Scotland) and it works just fine.
22 March 2009, 07:36
jeffeossoquote:
Originally posted by trashcanman:
I got about 8 pounds of h4895 for free but it might be from the late 80s. It was stored properly. Its also is a different color. Old stuff is dark gray and new h4895 is kinda amber-gray. will it shoot the same? why is it different color?
sounds like a very bad thing to have around. if you send it to me, i'll let you know in just about 685 rounds
I certainly am ecstatic about trashcan getting all the assistance we are so graciously offering him..
22 March 2009, 21:46
butchlocquote:
I certainly am ecstatic about trashcan getting all the assistance we are so graciously offering him.. Wink
just doing what we can with what we got
