IMR 4895 what calibers is it best suited for?

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farshot

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Given the rarity of powder, I came across a jug of IMR 4895 and bought it.

Now, I have used H4895 with 150 gr in my 8x60S to great effect, but my searching the books and online indicates a best use is for lighter bullets at relatively slower speeds in "smaller" calibers like 308 or 30-06.

I cant find a manual that shows IMR4895 as the recommended powder for any round.

I have many rifles that needs reloading --- anyone with any best uses for this powder?
 
Right now I use IMR4895 in the following calibers:

7.62x54r (150,174 grain bullets)
.303 British (150,174 grain bullets)
8x57 Mauser (150-220 grain bullets)
6.5x52 carcano (140 grain bullets, .264 bores only)
7.5x53.5 Swiss (150 grain bullets)

I've experienced sub moa accuracy with every round except the 6.5x52 carcano which will shoot but likes a faster powder. I've tested my 4895 handloads from +35 to -35 and they seem very consistent in all weather.

IMR 4895 is my go to powder for all of my military cartridges.
 
Both 4895 and 4064 work great in 30-06 for Garand loads using 150-168gr bullets. It also works pretty well in 22-250 with the 50gr bullets. As Tinman204 notes, it works quite well in a lot of milsurp calibres, too.


Mark
 
I use it in:
.303 British
.30-30 Winchester
.45-70 Government (heavy bullets only; 500+ grains)
.308 Winchester
8x57 Mauser
7.62x54R
.223 Remington
.300 Win Mag (reduced recoil loads mostly)
6.5x55 Swedish Mauser (prefers 4831 but 4895 works in a pinch)

I have been having a hard time finding it due to the shortages so am using more H4198, Benchmark, and IMR 4064 lately. Benchmark may become my new regular powder for .308 and .223.
 
I see that it can be used, and I understand that it can be accurate, but from the charts, it appears that many times you are giving up significant velocities compared to other powders.

.308 and 8x57 would be good for me - what size bullets are we talking about? 150 for the 308? 165?
The 8x57 I suspect the 170 area is the best for this powder..
 
Its worked well for me with 150, 165 &180gr bullets in the 308. Faster and more accurate than Varget, with the 165. My goto load is a 165gr IB, 44gr imr 4895, and a 210M primer.
 
"...cant find a manual that shows IMR4895..." You're looking in the wrong kind of manual. IMR4895 has been a staple powder for eons. It was the powder used by the U.S. military for .30-06 from the mid 20's too.
H4895 and IMR4895 are very close to being identical. Not exactly the same but very close. Suspect you should re-read whatever manual you have.
 
To Sunray - thanks for your input - I meant that I can't find a manual that lists that powder as the "*" load or the suggested "best" load like the Sierra book does.

It is listed in plenty of places, but as I stated, it appears to produce significantly slower results when compared to many other powders.

I am looking for opinions and suggestions from those to have found effective velocities and accuracies with it.
 
IMR 4895 is a very good all around powder for many medium cartridges.

I use it almost exclusively in .308, but also lots in .303 British and 30-06.

I don't find you are giving up velocity in .308's. I'm getting 2750 fps with 165's in 22" bbls.
 
For any semi auto, IMR4895 will work wonders. Just look at the burn rates and you should see that IMR4895 is an incredible versatile powder. I have tested many confirmed loads, safely substituted IMR4895, worked it up and found great results, it's a great great powder !
 
For any semi auto, IMR4895 will work wonders. Just look at the burn rates and you should see that IMR4895 is an incredible versatile powder. I have tested many confirmed loads with different powders, safely substituted IMR4895, worked it up and found great results, it's a great great powder ! It's all about doing it safely !
 
Mike Walker who designed the 222 rem his pet load was using imr 4895, if your shooting a 223 with a 8 twist or less try 80gr & 90gr with Imr4895 better speed than Varget and others and very very accurate
 
farshot said:
Given the rarity of powder, I came across a jug of IMR 4895 and bought it.

Now, I have used H4895 with 150 gr in my 8x60S to great effect, but my searching the books and online indicates a best use is for lighter bullets at relatively slower speeds in "smaller" calibers like 308 or 30-06.

I cant find a manual that shows IMR4895 as the recommended powder for any round.

I have many rifles that needs reloading --- anyone with any best uses for this powder?
Click to expand...

A jack of all trades and master of none, IMR 4895 is a very good powder for a broad range of applications from the .222 to the .460 Weatherby. If you prefer to keep a minimum selection of powder on hand, its a good choice because you can do so much with it. But if you are looking for the highest velocity with any given bullet weight in any given cartridge, it might be overshadowed by other powders that work a little better within a specific application. It shines on medium capacity cartridges, but in overbore situations, slower burning powders usually produce higher velocities. The burning rate of 4895 is within the ideal range for the .308 and .30/06 in the M-14 clones and the Garand.
 
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