Historical reloading data.

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MusicianShooter

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Hello all.
New to reloading, read a ABCs of reloading cover to cover, time for research into powders.
My goal is to find a powder to load 303Br and 762x39. This is just for blinking and hunting at the farm max 250 yards I’ll probably find a basic load that is reasonably accurate and then just stick with it. Nothing approaching a max pressure load.

Here’s the question though I’ve paid a dollar apiece for the Hornaday app on your phone with update data for both calibres, with no common powder listed. However I have a older Hodgson reloading manual from 2003 that lists H4895 in both calibres.

I have multiple sources for H4895 for .303 br

Does anyone have another source for H4895 in 7.62x39 besides Hodgdon’s?

Is there any reason not to trust historical data from an older manual, if I’m starting at the minimum load?
 
I say load it, use caution where necessarily and see where it leads. I often use old manual data with new powder lots without issues. Some manuals, Nosler for example, never seem to change their data. Two of my manuals are 20+ years apart and nothing has changed except for a few newly added cartridges and powders. That's it. My old Hodgdon manual is a great resource for load data where it can't be found elsewhere.
 
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Several loadings that I still use today - RL-15 with 165 Speer in our Model 70 Winchester in 308 Win, for example - I worked up in 1990's (?) From the reloading manuals then - I have never re-done that development work when a new manual gets issued. But I do notice many manuals - first or second page - will disavow anything that they previously published - and I have found errors both on websites and in manuals - so is well worth to confirm with more than one source. To see one such error, look up H1000 powder, in 7 mm STW on Nosler website or Nosler #9 manual - is same Start to Max loads for 160 grain or 175 grain bullets. As currently published, that Start load is higher than the Maximum loads for 175 grain bullets given in their previous manuals that listed that cartridge.

At the moment on my desk is Nosler #9, Speer #14, Sierra V, Hornady #9, Western Powders 5.0, Hodgdon's 2011 Annual, VihtaVuori Oy 4th, Lyman 49th and 50th. So is likely that many are "out of date". I also have older versions - No. 1, 3, 5, 7 for Nosler, and many (not all) earlier by Speer. I am familiar with "ABC's", Richard Lee's book and others - I do not consider those to be "real" reloading manuals (for loading data) since they typically do not do any pressure testing - just repeat stuff already out in public domain. But they usually have decent step-by-step instructions how to do hand loading, so are better to have, than nothing.

For someone new to the game - pay attention to details - that powder you mention - there was 4895, H4895 and IMR 4895. I have no reason to know they are interchangeable. Someone might or might not tell you that they are, but you would want to know how they arrived at that.

It is alleged by some USA writers - John Barsness, for example - that early reloading manuals by bullet and powder makers did not do pressure testing either. Is some loadings published in "old days" - that today would be questionable - again in a Barsness article, he says that Wooters (?), Hagel (?) said they wished they could "call back" some of the loads that they had previously written, based on what they know now.
 
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Potashminer said:
Several loadings that I still use today - RL-15 with 165 Speer in our Model 70 Winchester in 308 Win, for example - I worked up in 1990's (?) From the reloading manuals then - I have never re-done that development work when a new manual gets issued. But I do notice many manuals - first or second page - will disavow anything that they previously published - and I have found errors both on websites and in manuals - so is well worth to confirm with more than one source. To see one such error, look up H1000 powder, in 7 mm STW on Nosler website or Nosler #9 manual - is same Start to Max loads for 160 grain or 175 grain bullets. As currently published, that Start load is higher than the Maximum loads for 175 grain bullets given in their previous manuals that listed that cartridge.

At the moment on my desk is Nosler #9, Speer #14, Sierra V, Hornady #9, Western Powders 5.0, Hodgdon's 2011 Annual, VihtaVuori Oy 4th, Lyman 49th and 50th. So is likely that many are "out of date". I also have older versions - No. 1, 3, 5, 7 for Nosler, and many (not all) earlier by Speer. I am familiar with "ABC's", Richard Lee's book and others - I do not consider those to be "real" reloading manuals (for loading data) since they typically do not do any pressure testing - just repeat stuff already out in public domain. But they usually have decent step-by-step instructions how to do hand loading, so are better to have, than nothing.

For someone new to the game - pay attention to details - that powder you mention - there was 4895, H4895 and IMR 4895. I have no reason to know they are interchangeable. Someone might or might not tell you that they are, but you would want to know how they arrived at that.

It is alleged by some USA writers - John Barsness, for example - that early reloading manuals by bullet and powder makers did not do pressure testing either. Is some loadings published in "old days" - that today would be questionable - again in a Barsness article, he says that Wooters (?), Hagel (?) said they wished they could "call back" some of the loads that they had previously written, based on what they know now.
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OP. This is WAY better advice then what I gave. :)
 
Potashminer gave you good advice. I would have no issues using data from old manuals, and often do. (Hey, I'm an old guy) Just start low and work up, observe what happens. There are pressure testing systems you can biy, where you epoxy a strain gauge wire to the chamber, and that would give you usable data. Dont see many of them around though. - dan
 
H4895 is sooooo easy going just start low and work up. It can be downloaded 60% of the max load without issue so there is tonnes of room to play with.

Ive used it in my 43 mauser and its less then half a case full and gives full burn at like 28k psi

So if you are worried start at 20% below max load and watch velocities as you increase the charge.


H4895 and imr3031 are by far my favorite powders.

I have no real magnums other then 375hh and 460 weatherby they both use h4895. So does my 500 jefffery, 303 british, 43 mauser, 6.5x53R

Hell ive even use it in my 25-20
 
My reloading manuals as well as Hodgdon Online list Accurate 2015 powder for both 303 and 7.62x39. The online Hodgdon is a great resource IMHO
 
I use hodgdons online first for any ammo i load, if i cant find the powder or cartridge i want i move to others. But hodgdons online is always first.

Their data has never steared me wrong and i find its also pretty conservative

But always start low and work up.

Id use the next heavier weight bullet if they didnt list the weight i was looking for (as long as is the same type, cast vs jacketed vs solid)
 
wasa said:
My reloading manuals as well as Hodgdon Online list Accurate 2015 powder for both 303 and 7.62x39. The online Hodgdon is a great resource IMHO
Click to expand...

Thanks for catching that. Good advice all around, like I said I'm going to start low and go slow.

Now if only I can find some H4895 or Accurate 2015 around here....
 
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