Does H4895 Hold A Record?

[Brians356]

I've used H4895 for reduced loads. Hodgdon state it can be safely reduced to 60% of published max charge in any cartridge for which H4985 data is published. This got me thinking - H4895 must be a particularly adaptable powder. And I have noticed H4895 listed for an awful lot of rifle cartridges.

So ... having some time on my hands, I decided to find out just how many cartridges.

It turns out Hodgdon publishes H4895 data for no less than 107 rifle cartridges, from 17-222 to 460 Weatherby Magnum and 500 Cyrus. There's only a relative handful of cartridges in between which don't have H4895 listed for them.

Is that some sort of record? Can there possibly be a powder that works in more rifle cartridges than H4895? I seriously doubt it, but I've done all the cartridge counting I can stand for a while ...
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[ireload2]

Unique is another powder that is widely used.
When you pick a few more powders that are flexible you can cover the gamut of necessary loads with about 4 to 6 powders depending on the cartridges that you load.

 

[6MMsteve]

I noticed Varget ina 6.5x284 with 130 gr pills, scary for me

 

[ShootDots]

IMR 4895 is another VERY flexible powder... If the powder kernels were a bit smaller, like Varget, it might be a "go to" powder for many cartridges like the 6mmBR and it's variants, the .308 and other cartridges in the same genre..

 

[dstoenner]

Sort of on the same vane as Shooting Dots. While H4895 may have load data in a lot of cartridges that doesn’t mean it is the best powder for that cartridge in terms of accuracy. Don’t get me wrong. I am not knocking it because i do use it and the feature for reduced loads with saftey is a great. I will always have some on hand

David

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I think it was so widely available it was tested in everything. Ive seen brown paper bags from hardware stores with it in there.

 

[jds holler]

I hearken back to the day when 4895 was "IMR" or "H". Data was the same for either. This is what the old Speer #8 Book had to say about it. jd

 

[kountryboy2]

I think it was so widely available it was tested in everything. Ive seen brown paper bags from hardware stores with it in there.

I've read that the point blank crowd use to drill out there flash holes and use it in the 6ppc.

 

[K22]

It's a great to good powder for a vast variety of cartridges. I use it now exclusively in my 223 Rem bolt rifles, 8 to 12 twists, bullet 50 to 60 grains.

It's also a great powder for the 308 with 125 and 150 grain bullets. I developed a reduced load for my Tikka 308, which is a light rifle to reduce the pounding on my old shoulder. I'm loading 40 grains with 125 Nosler BTs and 125 Hornady SSTs. Very accurate load at about 2500 to 2600 f/s. Recoil is mild even out of my Tikka. Getting consistent group in the .7 range with both bullets.

While not my preferred powder for the 243, it can work quite well especially with bullets 85 grains and under. My Browning X Bolt loves it with the 85 Sierra BTHP shooting in the 1/2 moa range.

 

[Brians356]

Lacking a formal challenge, I'm prepared to award the versatility crown to H4895.
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[jds holler]

While not my preferred powder for the 243, it can work quite well especially with bullets 85 grains and under. My Browning X Bolt loves it with the 85 Sierra BTHP shooting in the 1/2 moa range.

Yeah baby! Back before I wore my 243 out, I used to use it under the little 60 gr. Sierras when they first came out. Talk about exploding the chucks. Groups were iddy biddy up around max. Wonder why that barrel wore out. jd

 

[Brians356]

I just picked up my Hodgdon 26th Edition and noticed this:

"H4895 is the most versatile of all rifle powders."

Q.E.D.
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[Evlshnngns]

I've read some folks in MT. Like to put it in their BRA...... Sounds durty

 

[Barlow]

I'm going to work up some 150 gr bullet loads for my Son in laws new Tikka 308. First and probably last powder tried will be H4895. Barlow

 

[Lone Hunter]

I run H4895 with 175 SMK's and Berger 185 Juggs with pretty good accuracy out of the .308. Use it with 165 SGK's for deer. Also like it with 69 gr SMK's in the .223 also. Great powder..

 

[Northridge]

H4895 has set many long range records yes

 

[hikfromstik]

Bruce hodgdon bought 25 tons of this powders that started his powder selling career in the 1940s . He stored it in a box car in a pastor . Then, you could buy 150lbs for $30 . This is from the Shooters Bible .

 

[Bart B.]

Reducing loads 40% so 60% of maximum is used?

I've measured fired 308 Win case headspace using loads 15% below max that was almost .010" less than before firing. Primers stood proud from case head that much.

 

[Brians356]

Reducing loads 40% so 60% of maximum is used?

Yep. Believe it.

Hodgdon Powder Company has found that H4895 can be loaded to reduced levels. H4895 was chosen because it is the slowest burning propellant that ignites uniformly in reduced charges. To create reduced loads, the 60% formula is recommended. Find the H4895 load in the Reloading Data Center for your caliber and bullet.

PS Bart, what powder was in that 308?
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[Bart B.]

Yep. Believe it. PS Bart, what powder was in that 308?

42 gr. of IMR4895 and 44 gr. of IMR4064 with 168 grain bullets for max loads. Starting about 12% less ended up with shoulders set back and primers proud of case head. More so with nickel plated cases than brass ones. Quit the test when 15 percent reduced charges in nickel plated cases' primers were about .010" past case head, brass ones' primers about .006".