Been getting excellent groups with both at ambient temperatures above 90 deg (F). They both print to the same POI out of a 300 H&H and 180gr A Frames. Which one is supposed to be more stable with regards to temp variations. thanks, jorge

jorge, A visit to Alliant's website didn't tell me anything about it's temp sensitivity, I know RE15 is not a sensitive powder and measures excellent through my powder measure, are the kernals for RE19 on the small side? If so, I'd go with that one, IMR4350 measures really crappy, Jay

Yup, I'd go with RE19, excellent metering, Jay

It's me again, Was just looking at a Guns&Ammo from April 2000, "The Rainy Day Rifle" they talk about propellants that are temp insensitive, "Alliant powder also introduced a line of rifle propellants that produce extremely low-velocity variations that include R15, R19, R22 and R25 powders", don't know about IMR4350 except it sucks through the powder measure, hope that helps, Jay

Thanks for the replies. I normally don't use a powder measure when reloading my hunting loads, I measure each one individually. Yeah it's a pian n the ass, but I'm looking for consistency. I've been experimenting with both powder in my 300 H&H and my data shows the groups are tighter with 4350. I shot them yesterday in 90 degree heat ( in the shade). Since 4350 is a much older powder, I wondered about the it's sensitivity to pressure. Thanks again for the replies. jorge

You might also consider how much muzzle flash each load produces. Being double base, there is a good chance that R19 is going to have more.

jorge, I have no problem with consistancy using my powder measure and RE15, and with a big case like the H&H, a tenth or 2 would not make a difference, and you'd be lucky to get that much with the smaller grained extruded powders, half a grain less in one case to the next will only be about 25fps in a big case like that, so just think how much a tenth would be, guess I'm saying, if you got a powder measure, use it, and you won't find any difference in POI, Jay

Thanks Jay, I'll give it a try and let you know! Just for info, what I'm doing is working up a load for my 300 H&H. I plan to take this for plains game and I want to squeeze the max out of it without sacrificing accuracy. My standard load (max load out of the Nosler book) is 65gr IMR 4350 and 180gr Nosler PArtitions. I'm a Swift A Frame user and since the Swift book does not have load data for the H&H, i just worked up with Swifts and the Nosler data. I had found another load with RL-19 that looked promising, but my statistical trend shows the 4350 to be more accurate. Interestingly enough though, all three loads RL-19 and A Frames, IMR 4350 with Nosler or A Frames shoot to the same POI so I'm guessing velocity is pretty close. To be perfectly anal about it, with RL-19 I get 1.2" groups and with 4350 I get 3/4" groups so accuracy is not that critical. Since I shot in 90 plus degree weather, I think I'm ok for Africa. jorge

[ 09-03-2003, 18:08: Message edited by: jorge ]

jorge, I'm just wondering if 69-71grs. of RE22 might work good also, maybe go to Alliantpowder.com and give them a call to see what they think, just a thought, Good hunting in Africa, hunting for? Jay

[ 09-03-2003, 20:24: Message edited by: Jay Gorski ]

Jay: I thought about RL-22 also, but I really should be happy with 4350 and call it quits. How much better can a 60 year old rifle do than 3/4" groups? I'm trying hard to wean myself from my "go-to" rifle, a 300 Weatherby. I plan to take Waterbuck, bushbuck, another zebra, warthog and maybe a couple more impala in addition to the primary animal, buffalo. For that I'll use my Ruger in 416 Rigby. That one I also use 4350! jorge

I load a lot of IMR 4350, and a lot less of RL 19. I do LOVE IMR powders over Hodgdon quite a bit. However, I also load a lot of RL 15 and 7.

I do rate the RL powders even superior overall to the IMR. For several of my rifles that I use a Matchking in, RL 19 is always my powder of choice first. It does a good job in that application.

Jorge, I've been working with those same two powders in my .338 Win. Mag. this summer.

With 250 gr. Nosler Partitions, I'm getting 2702 fps. on average with IMR4350, and 2735 fps. with RE19. Winchester cases and Federal 215 primers with both powders.

I've tested both loads in 90 + degree F weather, and chronograph readings are consistent with both powders at all temperatures. Extreme spread readings are around 12 fps. with both powders, and pressure indications are well-within acceptable limits. Both loads should work without a hitch in Africa.

But in spite of the fact that RE19 gives some 30 fps. more velocity, I've decided to standardize on IMR4350. It requires 4 grs. less powder, so recoil is slightly less, and powder density is more to my liking as well. Accuracy is also slightly better (like .250" better) with IMR4350.

With a 200 yd. zero I'll never miss the additional 30 fps. that RE19 provides in any event.

As a bonus, if you burn less powder to achieve about the same accuracy and velocity, barrel life is slightly longer as well, and this is a documentable and documented fact.

You might also try H4350 powder as well in your .300 H&H. This is part of Hodgdon's Extreme series of powders that are specially coated for uniformity at all temperatures.

AD

Allen, as always, you came through in the clutch with a well-reasoned response. I never stopped to "smell the roses" in realizing that the 4350 uses less powder, is a bit more accurate and less barrel wear on the 60 plus year old lady. Now begs the next question, what bullet? The 180grain partition is distinctly more accurate than the A Frame. Well, groups are smaller by about .25" . The darned neat thing about this rifle is that it shoots 200gr partitions to the same POI at 100 yards but at 200 about 1" lower which makes sense to me. WHat the heck am I worrying about all of this NOW for? I leave for Maine in 10 days for bear and Africa is still two years away! jorge

FWIW I get slightly better accuracy in my 300 H&H with max loads of H4350 than IMR4350 with 165 grain bullets, .75 and 1.25 MOA respectively at 200 yds.

Thanks, Terry, I'll just have to order some H-4350 and I'll report back. jorge

I have only a very small amount of experience with RL 19, but what little I had wasn't encouraging. I was working with a 25/06, a Tikka, that -- with any load I tried in it -- was not giving me the accuracy that I thought I should get. I think it was the Nosler manual, if I remember correctly, that said that RL 19 gave the best accuracy with at least one of the Nosler 25 caliber bullets in this cartridge, so I got a pound of RL 19 and tried it. It gave me no better accuracy than IMR or H 4350, or IMR or H 4831 in this rifle with any bullet I tried with it, so I gave up on this powder for that application.

Jorge, I don't think you'll see any practical difference between 180 or 200 gr. Noslers on plainsgame. I stick with 180 gr. Nosler Partition Protected Points in my .300 Win. Mag. these days for everything I hunt with that rifle, and it's proven to be a truly great bullet. Recoil's a little less than with the 200s, and that's one reason I prefer it.

When I was in Namibia a couple of years ago we worked particularly hard to find a great Cape eland bull. Early on the morning of the last day of the hunt, we spotted a huge bull at a little over 100 yds - the exact sort of old gentleman I was hoping for - and as fast as I could, I shot him behind the left shoulder with a 180 gr. NPPP from my .300. At the shot, he ran about fifty yards and then fell over for the count.

That 180 Partition completely wrecked both lungs, and was lodged just under the hide behind the right shoulder. Perfect mushroom, perfect performance! A .375 wouldn't have killed him any cleaner of better, nor would 200 gr. bullets have done any greater damage.

AD

Thanks again Allen. Took off early today from work and did more testing. 4350 is definetly the way to go, at least in my rifle. I just shoot the regular NP spitzers and once again the 180s and 200s shot to the same POI. I had a good day today, the two three shot groups were a nice little cluster hovering around 3/8", but just like you say though, the recoil is noticeably less with the 180s. BTW, heard from John Sharp today, he's very busy with clients so business is good. Thanks, again, jorge

The only thing I don't like about the R-19 is that it changes from lot to lot.The I4350 stays the same can after can.Had a can of R-19 comparing to fps to another fellow on another message boad I was getting over 100 fps less,with the same loads,when I ran out of that can got another one with a different lot number and got very close to the same as he was getting with a different lot number.