H450 - What is it good for?

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gunrunner8

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Retired friend left me more or less 4lbs of 20+ years old H450 powder still looking fresh. He was useing it for his 270W and 300WM. I have neither, (good for 260?,7-08?, 30-06?). Reloading data is scarce and I need opinion whether is it worth experimenting with that powder. Any experience shared would be greatly appreciated.
 
My older Hodgdon Data Manual 25th edition lists loads for the 7MM-08 and .30-06. It doesn't have the .260 but the later 1997 manual lists it for the 6.5x55 which is fairly close.

6.5: 140 gr, 48 grs H450 = 2797 fps

7MM-08: 140 gr, 52 grs H450 = 2729 fps

.30-06: 150 gr, 63.5 grs H450 = 2825 fps

These are all MAX loads.
 
My older Hodgdon Data Manual 25th edition lists loads for the 7MM-08 and .30-06. It doesn't have the .260 but the later 1997 manual lists it for the 6.5x55 which is fairly close.

6.5: 140 gr, 48 grs H450 = 2797 fps

7MM-08: 140 gr, 52 grs H450 = 2729 fps

.30-06: 150 gr, 63.5 grs H450 = 2825 fps

These are all MAX loads.
 
I have some of the old Higginson equivalent surplus that still smells good and I used 760 data. The scoop at that time (20 yrs ago) was that it was temperature sensitive and some recommended magnum primers if used in extreme cold. Dont use it for reduced loads.
 
A great powder with quite a few loads available in older load manuals - use it up, then miss it....

H450 and H870 are the two obsolete powders I miss the most.
 
H450 powder is NOT the same as W760 or H414. It is slower than those powders. If you check the powder burn rate charts you will see that H450 is sandwiched between W785 on the faster side and Accurate Mag Pro on the slower side. That puts all three of them very close to the burning speed of H4831. I have used all three and they are very similar . If you can't find data for H450 contact Hodgdon and I'm sure they will help. As already mentioned this is not good powder to use in reduced loads. Note powder burn rate charts can also be found on the Hodgdon load data site.
 
rokoro said:
H450 powder is NOT the same as W760 or H414. It is slower than those powders. If you check the powder burn rate charts you will see that H450 is sandwiched between W785 on the faster side and Accurate Mag Pro on the slower side. That puts all three of them very close to the burning speed of H4831. I have used all three and they are very similar . If you can't find data for H450 contact Hodgdon and I'm sure they will help. As already mentioned this is not good powder to use in reduced loads. Note powder burn rate charts can also be found on the Hodgdon load data site.
Click to expand...

This is correct! I have burned up at least 25 lbs of H450, and still have a couple of lbs left.
It is almost a dead ringer for H4831 in burn rate.

I used it in several 308 Norma Mags and it always performed flawlessly.
I can even remember my pet load....75.0 grains behind the 180 partition for 3060 fpsavg.
I also had great success with it behind 180's in the 30-06, 60 or 61 grains depending on the rifle.

Higginson's more recently marketed a WC 852 Slow lot that is very close to H450 in burn rate.
I believe I have 6 or 7 lbs of it here.

These ball powders are so nice to meter accurately, even if they display some temp sensitivity.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
[
Higginson's more recently marketed a WC 852 Slow lot that is very close to H450 in burn rate.
I believe I have 6 or 7 lbs of it here.

These ball powders are so nice to meter accurately, even if they display some temp sensitivity.

Regards, Eagleye.[/QUOTE]

There are 2 lots of WC 852 out there. There is a slow lot that Higginson was selling and a fast lot that is close to W760 and H414 in burning speed. I have found the slow lot of WC 852 to be faster than H450 /W785. Very close to Ramshot Hunter. Just be carful.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I think H450 will be usefull for 260R with 140gr+bullets, for 7-08R with 160gr+bullets and for 30-06 with 200gr+bullets. It's the slowest burning powder in my collection of doz or so choices and if I stay with starting loads for H4831 and working up in those cartridges I should be A-OK. I will also use magnum primers b/c I hunt with them in Nov/Dec high in the mountains sometimes in -20C. I plan to build myself 308NM in the near future and that powder will be perfect match!.
 
rokoro said:
[

There are 2 lots of WC 852 out there. There is a slow lot that Higginson was selling and a fast lot that is close to W760 and H414 in burning speed. I have found the slow lot of WC 852 to be faster than H450 /W785. Very close to Ramshot Hunter. Just be carful.
Click to expand...

I'm well aware of the two lots of WC852, but do not have any of the "quicker" lot at present.

I have both H450 and WC852 (slow lot) and in comparing them in my 2 30-06 rifles
the difference in burning rate is about as much as one would see lot-to-lot in one type.
In other words, not much. [I also have Ramshot Hunter, and it is a bit quicker, for sure]
Still good to be cautious, so your warning is noted.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
gunrunner8 said:
O-O. That info tells me that H450 is faster burning than H4831 and I am confused now. Well, I have to be extra cautious with starting loads now....
Click to expand...

It is faster than H4831, more like IMR4831.

Even that isn't a good comparison.

H450, likes a full but not compressed load in a case.

Comparing extruded powders to ball powders can be a huge mistake, waiting to do some serious damage. Volumes are all wrong. H4831 loads will leave way to much space in the case.

This powder wasn't designed for magnum cartridges. It is best in cartridges with bullets 30 calibre and under in cases with 308 Win capacities. It works OK with slightly larger cases, like the 30-06 or slightly smaller. I like it with heavier bullets in the 7.62x39, being shot out of a strong bolt action rifle. NOT SKS.

Either use Hogdon's data off their website or start with low end loads of W785 and work up from there.
 
It's well established that H450 is slower than H4350 and faster than the 4831's, so I recommend testing to find out where the powder you have fits for the cartridges in which you intend to use it.

30-06, 180 gr bullet

Load five with 54.0 grs of your H4350
Load five with 54.0 grs of your H450
Load five with 54.0 grs of your 4831 (IMR or H)

Compare MV's to see where it fits for that cartridge and bullet, e.g. if H450 MV's are slower than H4350 MV's, then it's a slower powder than H4350 and you can safely use H4350 loads, if faster, then it's faster and you can't use 4831 max loads.

Try it and report back.

Measure the MV's
 
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