Sometimes the best answers come when you’re not looking for them. While at my Father’s-in-law house this past weekend, I got to poking around the basement and found three, one pound canisters of H414. My FIL was in the retail business and had the habit of stamping nearly everything he owned with the purchase date. All three cans were stamped 06/18/73! This stuff was 35 years old.

The tops were rusted a bit, but other wise the containers appeared to be fine. I got some channel-locks and pried them open. All of it smelled and looked pristine.

I have no experience with H414 and rarely hear it mentioned in any “pet loads.†A quick trip to Hodgdon’s website produced load data in everything from the .22-250 to the .416.

I have been shooting my .338 a lot this summer in preparation for a BC elk hunt this fall. H4350 and Reloader 19 shoot great out of it (two go-to powders for the .338 WM), so I don’t know why I was tinkering. But just for kicks, I decided to try the H414 with a 225 gr Hornady Interlock. After doing a pressure check up to 69gr, I fired two three shot groups at 100 yards.



The first group measured 0.8†and the second 0.6.†When the two targets are laid on top of each other, the 0.6†group fits inside of the 0.8†group. So, the first six rounds down the bore are easily under an inch. I will have to go through some targets, but I don’t think I’ve ever done that before with this rifle. Equally impressive was the consistent velocity: 2791, 2796, 2792, 2786, 2794, & 2798 fps. Not too shabby for 35 year old powder!

Granted, my testing is VERY limited – haven’t even shot them past 100 yards. But this combo. looks promising. Thought I would share with other .338 fans that might be looking for something else to play around with.

I loaded up some 225gr Woodleigh Weldcores with the H414. Hopefully I can get out on Thursday and see what they do at 200 & 300 yards. If they shoot as well as the IL did, it looks like I may be switching my hunting load at the 11’th hour...

H414 is identical to WW 760. This powder is the "spherical equivalent" of 4350, at least in burning speed (burning characteristics always vary from powder to powder, no matter the relative "speed"). It is not surprising that you are getting good performance from it. I like it in a .375 H&H with lighter bullets where you can get more into the case than with 4350.

Thirty-five years is just getting started on powder life. I prefer a slightly slower and older powder in my .338. I use some original surplus 4831 to get 2940 fps from a 225 grain Nosler Partition (yes, this gun seems to have a somewhat "fast" barrel). Being a WW II surplus product, this powder is more than 60 years old. I killed 6 head of plains game with this load last month, including a 750 pound mountain zebra at 275 yards with a single shot.

2900+ with a 225 NP, that is indeed hauling. I'm real happy with the 2790'ish that the 69gr of H414 is getting me.

Spherical equivalent to H4350 or not, the preliminary testing I have done seems to point toward the fact that it is going to outshoot H4350 out of my rifle. Load density or not... Time will tell. If the weather cooperates, I'm heading to the range tomorrow with some Woodleigh Weldcores and H414.

The Weldcores didn't like H414. Groups opened up to nearly two inches. Back to the H4350 with the WC...