7-6.5 PRC: N555 vs H4350

[Rook 6]

I see a lot of folks using N555. Not many, if any claiming to use H4350. I’ve seen claims not to waste time trying H4350. If they are similar burn rates, wouldn’t H4350 be a viable option? Or, is N555 slower burning than claimed? Tried to find anything claiming N555 might have a slower burn rate than H4350 but no luck. Feels like I’m missing something obvious?
Appreciate any thoughts.

EDIT: For discussion purposes, I am talking about 180-184gr Hybrids

 

[TikkaSporter]

I only tried H4350 with a couple bullets, but it never shot as well as the when compared with H4831 and the same bullet. No experience with N555, but RL23 with 184 Hybrids is something special.

 

[antunRC]

Just from my experience N555 is slower burning powder, it is closer to H4831SC than H4350

 

[Rook 6]

Just from my experience N555 is slower burning powder, it is closer to H4831SC than H4350

Thanks. My gut from forum feedback mirrors this. But I have zero experience with either N555 or H4831SC.

 

[JLT]

For me, the case does well with powders shading to the slower side. I'll echo TikkaSporter's comment re: RL-23. I'm also working with N-165, given the availability issues associated with RL-23.

 

[Henryrifle]

@Rook 6: Can't speak to the 7-6.5 PRC but all the mentioned powders will shoot great in a Shehane with pretty much identical case capacity. So far, H4350 has been the best of the "big three" N555, H4831sc and H4350.

If you get 5 consultants in a room you are going to get 5 different answers. Depends on climate, primers and what your barrel + action like...

I don't think there is any missing-out no matter which you choose.

Hank

 

[Willow]

I certainly think H4350 is worth trying, if you haven't already. I have one friend who is seeing promising results with it, and I know of a shooter in Canada who put it up against N555 and RL23 and H4350 produced the best groups for him. I plan on trying it this weekend myself, as Vitavhouri powders are not available in Australia. I've currently been using 2213sc (H4831sc) but I've seen 2209 (H4350) shoot incredible groups in 7SAUMs and I have no doubt it will work in the slightly smaller 7-6.5PRC. If there's a downside I suspect it will be a tradeoff in barrel life over the slower powders, but if it shoots, well that's the way 99% of people will go right?

 

[Bryan Blake]

All of these powders I have tested and all shoot small groups:
RL16
RL23
4350
4831
N555.

All worked good in some variant of the 6.5 PRC case with lapua brass.

 

[Willow]

I will add from my previous post, I wasn't convinced ADI 2213sc (H4831sc) was the most accurate powder in my improved version of the 7-6.5 PRC, so I tried 2209 (H4350) and without too much effort at all, it shot inside of 2213sc, with a noticeably flatter waterline at distance (800 metres) and tighter groups. Velocity is down slightly, but the accuracy is there.

 

[F Class John]

Another good option is N550. I've run it as well in both an improved version and a straight 7prcw. Faster powder but was really happy with how it performed and metered.

 

[bas402]

So far my powders of choice in order w/180hyb 7PRCW suppressed, 4831SC, 555, soon to test RL23 and last 4350 (shots very tight but pressures to quickly for me).

 

[Willow]

Just throwing this one out there...Has anyone tried H1000? I've read reports of many people having success with it in the original 6.5 version and was wondering whether it translates to the necked up 7mm version?

 

[Gb300wm]

It’s on this burn rate chart as noticeably slower. N555 vs H4350

 

[GLC]

H4350 gave me excellent results in 6.5-7PRC sadly I’m down to my last case (in U.K. and it’s now forbidden) R16 and N555 also very good so at least I have options once 4350 all gone.

 

[Sandstorm]

N555 is Very Good Indeed..
Id be hard pressed to shoot anything else.

 

[Laurie]

Just from my experience N555 is slower burning powder, it is closer to H4831SC than H4350

Mine is the opposite. In a smaller cased 7mm, the 7mm-08, it was similar to H4350, if anything a little faster burning.

http://www.targetshooter.co.uk/?p=3683

In Viht's max charges, N555's are very close indeed to N160 often exceeding them slightly in smaller cartridges, but drop a couple of grains lower in the larger numbers. Vihtavuori, and hence in both published burn-rate charts and QuickLOAD Ba values, is a serial offender in showing its powders as being 'quicker' [edit: that should read 'slower'] in relation to others than they really are. I long ago concluded that N160 behaves as if a little slower than H4350 and is not an equivalent to the 4831s that burn-rate charts show it to be. That would again put N555 close to H4350.

I've switched over to N555 from the 4350s (no longer available on the eastern side of the Atlantic) in an F-Class 300 RSAUM for 185/200s. Loads are much closer to those for the 4350s than to H4831.

 

[G7BC]

Initial powder testing, fire forming and barrel break in but around 53 grains of H4350 is looking promising. ( don't mistake my black sharpie dots for bullet holes) I'm going to test N555 at lower charge weights to see how it does around 2900 FPS , have some 4831sc also. 180 Hybrids, Lapua Brass necked up . Only 100 rds on barrel currently. Barrel is 32" Bartlein 4 groove 9 twist

 

[GLC]

Mine is the opposite. In a smaller cased 7mm, the 7mm-08, it was similar to H4350, if anything a little faster burning.

http://www.targetshooter.co.uk/?p=3683

In Viht's max charges, N555's are very close indeed to N160 often exceeding them slightly in smaller cartridges, but drop a couple of grains lower in the larger numbers. Vihtavuori, and hence in both published burn-rate charts and QuickLOAD Ba values, is a serial offender in showing its powders as being 'quicker' [edit: that should read 'slower'] in relation to others than they really are. I long ago concluded that N160 behaves as if a little slower than H4350 and is not an equivalent to the 4831s that burn-rate charts show it to be. That would again put N555 close to H4350.

I've switched over to N555 from the 4350s (no longer available on the eastern side of the Atlantic) in an F-Class 300 RSAUM for 185/200s. Loads are much closer to those for the 4350s than to H4831.

Hi Laurie
In my testing N555 was around 1.5-2gr more than 4350 in my .300wsm and 6.5-7PRC to obtain equivalent competition velocities, pressure does not seem to build as quick as 4350.

 

[kyreloader]

In my 7-6.5 PRC Imp 40: ADG Brass.

N555. 55.3g. 2922 fps.
RL16. 53.2g. 2929 fps.
H4350. 53.8g. 2929 fps.
N160. 54.7g. 2927 fps.
RL23. 55g. 2928 fps.

Not sure if that helps anyone or not.

 

[Rook 6]

In my 7-6.5 PRC Imp 40: ADG Brass.

N555. 55.3g. 2922 fps.
RL16. 53.2g. 2929 fps.
H4350. 53.8g. 2929 fps.
N160. 54.7g. 2927 fps.
RL23. 55g. 2928 fps.

Not sure if that helps anyone or not.

I am going to be working up a load using ADG. I will of course start low and work up but seeing others results certainly is appreciated.