I am new to reloading and was looking at the Hodgdon site today and noticed the marketing hype (extreme tour) for their extreme powders at the following address:

http://www.hodgdon.com/products/index.htm

I live in North Texas where the temp can vary from 20'F in winter to 115'F in summer and was going to go with the following:

IMR4198 for 60 gr pill in Rem .222 and 22-250
IMR4064 for 100 and 129 in 6.5 x 55 swede
IMR4350/IMR4831 for 100 and 120 in .280

but after looking at this hype I am starting to wonder if I shouldn't go with:

Varget/H4198 for .222
H4895/H380 for 22-250
H4350/H4831 for 6.5 and 280

any suggestions?

Thanks,

RJS

RSY, Hodgdon does a good job hyping their extreme line, and it is a lot better powder than the war surplus stuff we used to use.

The key to remember is that there are not many secrets in the powder business. Therecent tests I have read show that other manufacturers have also made big improvements. My current favorite is Ramshot powders, which have also proven pretty stable. HTH, Dutch.

I do know that the gunwriter John Barsness has done some tests with the Hodgon Extreme line of powders. We can have 100 degrees in the summer and an easy 20-30 below in the winter with 40 below or more NOT unusual. I remember reading that no matter the temperature his velocities were the same whether summer or winter.
I have used the Extreme 4350 in my .338-06 and it has surely proven to be accurate and consistent. I don't think that your notion to switch over to the Extreme powder line may be required, but it isn't a crazy idea either. Unless your loads are right on the ragged edge of maximum temperature shouldn't be that big a problem.

Interesting idea though........FN

I have been in the process of developing new loads for my 257 Roberts and 308 Win barrels for my Encore. I have had good success with the Extreme line of powders. Also the Alliant powders have been very consistant. But is it worth changing. Only if you really want to work up some new loads, which is what I am doing just for the fun of it. Slim

I use Varget in .223 and 7-08 here in AZ and gets pretty hot and cool up north. I have had great accuracy and performance. I am sold on Hodgon. Good shooting!

I use IMR powders for most of my rifles. The reason is that they are consistant and work well.

I have bought a lot of surplus powder from Hodgdon. It was a good deal.

For the .222 Rem IMR 4198 is good. I don't know the game you will shoot with it but for varmints I liked the 50 and 55 gr bullets made for those velocities. The Sierra Blitz is one to try.

For the 22-250 IMR 4064 is the one. Any 4198 would be too fast for top velocities but would be OK for a reduced load.

I recall the hype from Hodgdon on Ball C. I bought a 50 lb keg and used it up in the .222. The Hodgdon loading data was WRONG for the 30-06. I got blown primers with the suggested load and 125 gr bullets.

I used about 23 grs in the .222. It was a dirty powder but cheap.

Let me relate a little experiment that I did. We were at the range one day last spring doing some load developement for my 30-338. I was wondering "well this group is fine at 78 degfrees f. I wonder what the difference will be if it is around freezing" We had a ice chest with our cold drinks & sandwiches in it. I took a zip lock bag from one of the sandwiches & put five 30-338 rounds in it & put that into the ice chest. After 45 minutes of laying on top of the ice the ammo felt about as cold as the cold drinks. I shot this cold ammo at the same target I had already used. The group was very close to the same size (.875) but the group had dropped verticaly be 4 3/4" at 100 yards. Chamber pressure drop due to temperature. The sandwich did not go to waste

------------------
NRA Life member

[This message has been edited by Bear Claw (edited 11-22-2001).]