My question is other than a slight difference in burn rates and apparent temp stability, do these two powders actually perform all that differently? I target shoot and hunt, all year in all weather. Should I just make up a bunch of rounds from both powders in .5 grn increments and hope I can find the most accurate load. I guess the problem is each powder will perform differently in my rifles considering bullet weight and barrel length etc. I reloading for 338 win mag, 303B, 243 win and 8mm Mauser.
H414 vs H4350
- Thread starter hannibal
- Start date
...H414 vs. H4350...
...no, there is not much difference in the burning rate between the two...but H414 is a spherical (ball) powder that will meter more uniformly than H4350 (extruded)...the decision will be made when you find out which powder that your rifle will prefer.....
...no, there is not much difference in the burning rate between the two...but H414 is a spherical (ball) powder that will meter more uniformly than H4350 (extruded)...the decision will be made when you find out which powder that your rifle will prefer.....
I believe ball powders are a little dirtier burning & a little harder to ignite, but cannot confirm that. It does meter better if that is important. If it was me I'd use whichever gives you best results. It is one of my favs with the 22-250
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I have tried both for years and find the 414 is a good powder, but H4350 works better in all temperatures and accuracy is better for me. I weigh each charge,so metering isn't a problem for me.I will take accuracy and velocity over volume of rounds loaded.
I tend to lean to Varget or H4831 for most applications. Varget being a hair faster than 4350, and 4831 being a hair slower. I've never found an application where Varget or 4831 haven't been as good or better than 4350. Which means one less powder I have to keep around
H414 (AKA W760) is a great powder, and is one I have burned a lot of over the years. In my 303 P14, it is my go-to powder for 180 grain and heavier bullets. With the Sierra 180 SFB, I get good velocities and moa accuracy, the 200 Redgwell Mk9 also is a winner with H414. It is true that it displays some temp sensitivity, but unless you are shooting targets, it is a non-issue in most hunting situations. For example, in my P14, the H414 load with the Sierra 180 is 2" lower at 300 yards when it is -20ºC than when it is +18ºC That is not a lot to get stressed about, IMHO. I quit using Varget after experiencing lot-to lot variances that I felt were excessive. H4831 is considerably slower and will not work well in the 303 Brit, if you are looking for any velocity. Your 8mm Mauser should love this powder. It's a tad quick for the 338, but will work fine for bullets up to 210 grains. The 243 will be fine also with it. If you are making a choice between 4350 and H414/760, it boils down to which shoots the best. As has been mentioned, Magnum primers usually work best with sperical powders. Regards, Eagleye.
MapleSugar
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If you want good stability at all temperatures then Varget or any suitable Hodgdon Extreme powder would be the best to consider. Aside from Varget, I've read that any Hodgdon powder with 4 numbers in it's name is formulated to be temperature insensitive (ie. H4895, H4198, etc.)
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The posts above cover all the points.
4350 is a big stick powder that does not meter very well, so you pretty well have to measure evry charge. Not a big deal, unless you do a lot of shooting. H414 (which is the Hodgen name for Winchester 760) meters very well and there would be no need to weigh charges.
If you have an accurate rifle, I suggest you try some of each and see if the rifle has a strong preferance. Make sure you use a ball powder primer, such as the Winchester standard Large Rifle.
If I was making hunting ammo I would prefer the 4350 becasue it is easier to ignite and less temperature sensitive. I have had incidents caused by both problems when using ball powder.
A number of powders made by one manufcturers are sold as cannister grade powders by other manufactures. Varget and H414 being two examples. Although the powders are the same, I cannot say that the cannister specs are the same.
When powders are made, each batch is tested. each batch varies quite a bit from previous batches. A batch that happens to be clsoe to the cannister spec can be packaged as the commercial powder you know as 4895, Varget, etc.
It would be possible for two commercial sellers to chose specs from different parts of the powder variation spectrum of the same powder and sell them under different names. The powders in that case would be similar but not the same.
4350 is a big stick powder that does not meter very well, so you pretty well have to measure evry charge. Not a big deal, unless you do a lot of shooting. H414 (which is the Hodgen name for Winchester 760) meters very well and there would be no need to weigh charges.
If you have an accurate rifle, I suggest you try some of each and see if the rifle has a strong preferance. Make sure you use a ball powder primer, such as the Winchester standard Large Rifle.
If I was making hunting ammo I would prefer the 4350 becasue it is easier to ignite and less temperature sensitive. I have had incidents caused by both problems when using ball powder.
A number of powders made by one manufcturers are sold as cannister grade powders by other manufactures. Varget and H414 being two examples. Although the powders are the same, I cannot say that the cannister specs are the same.
When powders are made, each batch is tested. each batch varies quite a bit from previous batches. A batch that happens to be clsoe to the cannister spec can be packaged as the commercial powder you know as 4895, Varget, etc.
It would be possible for two commercial sellers to chose specs from different parts of the powder variation spectrum of the same powder and sell them under different names. The powders in that case would be similar but not the same.
GANDERITE makes a good point on powder lot variation.There are always compliants on Bofor(Reloader,Norma) and ADI (Hodgdon's Varget)powders.I have even had a slow batch of the Canadian made IMR-4350! A trick I used with various lot# of N-47 was to chrony the load and work up to the 30-06's sweet spot for 165s of 2620f/s.
