IMR 4895 Military Surplus

[Downhill]

Does anyone have any experience with this powder in 308. I seem to be getting unusually high velocities with no pressure indicators. 43.6g pushing a 155 Nosler CC is showing 2860fps ES 19 SD 6 from a 20 inch 10 twist barrel. Verified with a friend's chronograph as well as mine.

 

[2506]

I have been shooting it for a number or years and still have 3 eight pound jugs of it and for me I can't tell any difference in it and new IMR 4895

 

[chkunz]

I bought a significant quantity about 20 years ago and used it for the M14, 41 grains with the 168 SMK. I shot a lot of ammo with that load over the years and found that it was equivalent to the new IMR 4895 canister powder.

 

[DRNewcomb]

IMR 4895 pull down powder could be rather long of tooth by now. Have you examined the grains under a jeweler's loop for any signs of degradation?

 

[watercam]

It would seem your results speak for themselves! Excellent to say the least. My neighbor has a five gallon steel bucket of IMR 4831 his Grandfather purchased decades ago. I tried it in my 6.5x55 and it was stellar. He uses it for his hunting needs with pretty much 100% success every year. It still smells of ether or what ever that chemical smell is.

 

[Downhill]

I picked it up in the late 90's with the intention of using it for Garand loads. But later found a screaming deal on 8,500rds of Lake City M2 Ball and never got around to using it. Had not been opened until 2 weeks ago. Looks like it will be the 308 powder until the jug goes empty.

 

[spencerhenry]

i bought a bunch in the late 90's. wish I had more.

 

[danny]

Does anyone have any experience with this powder in 308. I seem to be getting unusually high velocities with no pressure indicators. 43.6g pushing a 155 Nosler CC is showing 2860fps ES 19 SD 6 from a 20 inch 10 twist barrel. Verified with a friend's chronograph as well as mine.

What is your lot number and where did you buy it? Some of us could have fired the same lot. I have fired a bunch in my .308 rifles and have experienced the "like commercial" results others have, though I have not chronographed it. I am going by that I was able to load the same load charges as listed in many reloading books.

Danny

 

[rcol317]

I just tried it and found old powder is definitely different than the new. I just loaded first load with IMR 4895 in 308 shooting 175 SMK's. Hodgden website start @ 42 gr. My first round was 43 gr. and blew the primer and the extractor off the bolt. Was surprised to say the least. Verified the loads @ 43 grain then went to OLD load data in manuals printed in the mid 60's and found max load is 42 grains. My powder is old for sure the sticker on the can says I paid $3.25 for it, looked at a couple other cans I have and it say's $1.95. I'm sure the burn rate on the powder you're using has a different burn rate than the new powder that's why high velocity.

 

[DRNewcomb]

...My powder is old for sure the sticker on the can says I paid $3.25 for it, looked at a couple other cans I have and it say's $1.95....

Some of the IMR powders I have were bought in the '80s and '90s @ ~$13/lb bought at a discount. The oldest powder I have is some Unique I bought in the mid-'70s for $5.20. So that powder must be pretty old.

 

[rcol317]

I think I bought it in the mid 60's I took a couple pictures to show the cans and stickers