H 414 for year-round use?

[41rem]

Have a newer 22-250 & a stock of H 414. Good for year round use? I'm in NW Montana so hunting temps range will likely be Winter zero to 90 degrees in Summer. If it's over 90 I'll be in the lake.

41

 

[17VLD]

H414 has been my go to powder in my 22-250s and Swift I also used WW760 in my 17 Rem which is essentially the same powder. I did notice the velocity was down in the 17Rem in the Colorado winter by almost 200 fps, perhaps a magnum primer would have helped it. I put a new barrel on the 17 as it was shot out which I'm sure contributed to that issue as well. I wouldn't hesitate to use H414 in your 22-250 during the winter but I would definitely chrono your load or at least check your zero in the weather you plan to hunt in. You can't give any advantage to Ole wiley at all.
Matt

 

[WyleWD]

+

H414 has been my go to powder in my 22-250s and Swift I also used WW760 in my 17 Rem which is essentially the same powder. I did notice the velocity was down in the 17Rem in the Colorado winter by almost 200 fps, perhaps a magnum primer would have helped it. I put a new barrel on the 17 as it was shot out which I'm sure contributed to that issue as well. I wouldn't hesitate to use H414 in your 22-250 during the winter but I would definitely chrono your load or at least check your zero in the weather you plan to hunt in. You can't give any advantage to Ole wiley at all.
Matt

+1^^^

I used 414 & ww760 in the 22-250, 220Swift, 243, and 17rem year round. In the '250 and Swift with 12 & 14Tw with 50-55gr bullets with no real issues for hunting purposes. It's worthwhile to do some checking on accuracy when you're planning on sub 30* and above 80-85* hunting excursions.JME. WD

 

[357Mag]

Have a newer 22-250 & a stock of H 414. Good for year round use? I'm in NW Montana so hunting temps range will likely be Winter zero to 90 degrees in Summer. If it's over 90 I'll be in the lake.

41

41 -

Howdy !

I and a friend shot WW760 under 55gr varmint bullets in both 24” .22-250s, and a 26” .220 Swift. I also shot WW760 and 55s from a 24” barrel chambered in my “..22-35 Remington “ wildcat ( larger case capacity than a .22-250 ). This was mostly Feb - Dec in NE Indiana, including a random 100yd benchrest type local match, once in a while.

We found that best accuracy ( our guns, our loads ) came when we used FED Large Magnum Rifle Match ( GM215M ) primers. We also believed these bolstered ignition of the cartridges in cold outdoor temperatures, and never experienced a hesitation, delay; or failure to fire in any WX conditions.

FWIW - We didn’t find WW760 or H414 to be temp sensitive, or require any memorable load adjustments in reaction to cold weather load performance.

I am intending to use newer 6.5 StaBal in an impending longer-barreled application of my .22-35 wildcat. I believe this powder will allow higher charge wt for increased load density over WW760 ( and Hodgdon Hybrid 100V for that matter ) while also bringing temperature stability w/ safe pressures. And lately…. I’ve seen better availability of the newer 6.5 StaBal powder than I have for WW760 ( locally ).

VV160 gave more velocity in my .22-35 than did my WW760 loads, but…760 edged out
VV160 on ultimate accuracy achievable under Hornady 55SX and a prototype of their then-new 55 “V”-Max. As a result, I didn’t shoot VV160 long enough to really get a good sense of its temp stability; so cannot personally speak to that.

Best of luck in your endeavors !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[urbanrifleman]

Great powder in 22-250.

Use MAGNUM primers.

 

[Gary in MD]

It’s always worked well in the past for me in the 22-250 & Swifts that I’ve used it in. Good velocity and accuracy. The only trouble that I’ve had a couple of times is when using “maximum” loads that were worked up in temperatures at 70 or below and then when using them in 90 or above, pressures can get too high. This can be said for many powders though and your loads should be worked up in the highest temperatures that you are likely to encounter. YMMV

 

[CJ6]

My "winter" loads are 3/10ths higher than my summer loads and mag primers. Sub zero to about 40 above.

 

[K22]

While I never used H414, my experience with ball powders has been different than some of the others in this thread.

I hunt and range shoot all year around in temperatures that range from 90+ to in the low 30's (I don't go out anymore once the temperature drops below freezing due to arthritis).

For a while I used H380 (ball) in the 22 250 which shot outstanding groups, in the .2's and .3's at the range under cover. However, in the field with temperatures in the 90+ range, I got pressure surges with medium loads and in the winter, significant changes in POI.

I had similar experiences with H335 in the 223 but to a lesser degree.

While I don't shoot the 22 250 anymore, when I did, I found that IMR 4064, Varget, and IMR 4895 produced excellent varmint grade accuracy with less POI shifts in the temperature ranges that I hunted and shot at the range. Also, I never got any pressure surges with stick powders.

I will say that ball powders shot some of the tightest groups I ever shot in both of these calibers (22 250 and 223) but they seem to be more sensitive to temperature changes.

 

[std7mag]

Not a 22-250, but used the heck out of H414 in my 7mm-08AI year round.
I'm in central PA, so aside from possible altitude and humidity levels, I shoot the same temperature swings.

 

[17VLD]

Works good in the 300SAUM too, kinda sad that Hodgdon let it go. At least they have WW760 under their umbrella still. I've eaten a lot of tasty elk done in by H414. I know I'm getting old when 22-250 brass and H414 is hard to come by...
Matt

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Not a 22-250, but used the heck out of H414 in my 7mm-08AI year round.
I'm in central PA, so aside from possible altitude and humidity levels, I shoot the same temperature swings.

Yup for, Mid sized 7 MM's,. It's Perfect !
I Use, H-414 in my 7 X 30 Waters, 21" barrel, Contender Single shot with 120 grain, NBT's, in the Fall for Hunting,..
Varmints / Deer and with the weather being, NEVER over 90 Deegree's SO,. NO,. issues !
This Load is Sub, 1 MOA,.. easily !

 

[std7mag]

Yup for, Mid sized 7 MM's,. It's Perfect !
I Use, H-414 in my 7 X 30 Waters, 21" barrel, Contender Single shot with 120 grain, NBT's, in the Fall for Hunting,..
Varmints / Deer and with the weather being, NEVER over 90 Deegree's SO,. NO,. issues !
This Load is Sub, 1 MOA,.. easily !

Unfortunately unless you have an old stock of H414, you are now going to be shooting W760.

I haven't tried the W760 yet, but supposedly it's the same powder.

 

[CJ6]

Lots I have from mid 80s 414 and early 90s 760 were 3 grs. apart.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Unfortunately unless you have an old stock of H414, you are now going to be shooting W760.

I haven't tried the W760 yet, but supposedly it's the same powder.

Yup,. I've Got a couple of Pounds of it, "set aside" and WON'T be using, this Powder for, anything else but,..
the 7 x 30 Waters. My .22-250 Rem. 1-14 Tw, 700, Medium Sporter barrel Loves, IMR 4895, H-380 and Win 748 with, 50 to 55 grain Bullets and Surprisingly, it likes, 38.3 gr's of, IMR 4350 with, a couple of, 60 gr. "Short" length Bullets, Like the 60 gr. FB HP Varminter, Sierra and OLD, 60 gr. Noslers, Pre- Bal Tip's ( the old, Solid Base, jobbies ).
The 50 grain, V-Maxes,.. RULE, in this Rifle for,. Sage Rats !

 

[Tommie]

Heat sensitivity isn’t an issue until it is. When things go wrong it is not pretty. Being the slow learner, it took two booms to learn my lesson. A person can go years or decades without an issue but that doesn’t mean the danger doesn’t exist.

 

[ben lurkin]

I had a 22-250 AI that I developed loads for in the wintertime with H414. Admittedly, they were pretty hot but that’s where the accuracy node was. Loaded 300 of them and went prairie dog hunting the following summer with at least an 80* temperature swing. I had to keep my ammo in the cooler and not let a round heat soak in the chamber or they got sticky. So yes, there’s definitely some temperature sensitivity to it. I have since changed my load workup practices.

 

[DGP4]

I have no experience in very low temperatures, but from 40 to 100F, I never had a problem with H414 which is my go-to powder for 7MM Mauser and 270 Winchester, so I have shot a lot of it! I have read that it is temp sensitive, but that has not been my experience.

 

[stacy]

I shoot all year round in a 243 and 85 gr Sierra Hp from crows to deer and anything in between

 

[Gabe22BR]

Heat sensitivity isn’t an issue until it is. When things go wrong it is not pretty. Being the slow learner, it took two booms to learn my lesson. A person can go years or decades without an issue but that doesn’t mean the danger doesn’t exist.

Hell yes !!!

Only takes 1 time-

Load as needed, only when needed - them ball powders are sneaky…

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I think I would just spring for a pound of Varget for hunting loads and have a year round load.