H335 temperature probs?

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1shot

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Location
S. Ontario
I've been offered some Hodgdon H335 for cheap, but reading about spherical powders and temperature/pressure changes has me wondering if this is such a good idea for our climate come wintertime?..

In the .223 I've used H4895 with fantastic results for years but its horrible running through the measure which is why I'm finally considering the switch to H335.
So is it good/reliable all-year round? Or best to listen to Hodgdons marketing hype on the "Extreme" powder brands..
Your own personal experiences please.
Cheers!
 
IMHO the 'extreme' line is not hype. My experience with H4895 and Varget mirror their claims of temperature insensitivity.

As you say, running ball powders can be a little scary - if you like to load hot.
If you find a 'node' on the lighter side, you will see velocity differences but your poi should hold ok
 
If you can get the powder cheap, go for it. I have used a lot of it in both 223 and 308.

If you use Winchester standard primers, you will get good ignition in the winter. Don't load it to the max, so that summer is not problem.
 
H335 is a fantastic powder for 223. I shoot H335, H380 and W748 in summer and winter in Calgary problem free. They are all great powders.

Who here has "blown up" a gun because they used their winter ball powder load in the summer? Answer: None.
 
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With H335 , I have found it was easier just to work up a load for summer as well as one for colder temps.
I like the Extreme line of powder from Hodgdon, no guess work and the load that works in winter also works work the rest of the year.
 
I have burnt alot of H335 and similar ball powders. They will change with temp. If you are making blasting ammo for an AR, just don't go near max or load up during the hotter temps.

If you are near max loading, then have a hot weather and cold weather load. The change can be as much as several tenths as you go from cool to hot. If right on the line, you stand a chance of locking up your bolt gun. Blow up, I doubt it but you will definitely see things like blown primers or needing to hammer open your bolt.

It will also really screw with your load tuning.

I no longer use any of these ball powders and have switched over to Varget. Life is just too short to keep tuning loads.
Jerry

PS consider using CCI 450 primers with these ball powders especially if shooting in the cold
 
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