IMR 4198 black powder Substitute

Lebel

Lebel

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In Cartridges of the world I have noticed IMR 4198 listed beside black powder cartridge loads, for example:
43 Mauser____________________
370 lead Black (FG) 77 grs
387 lead IMR 4198 32 grs

577 Snider________________
350 lead Black (Fg) 73 grs
350 lead IMR 4189 31 grs

28-30-120 Stevens________________
135 lead Black (Fg) 28 grs
135 lead IMR 4198 17 grs

In other loads where there listed together, IMR 4189 is always about ½ of black. Any one use these powders in black cartridges? Would detonation be an issue with this powder?
 
Doubt the 4198 load is without a filler. There's a cast 370 grain .43 Mauser load using IMR4198 on Reloader's Nest that indicates polyester fill(discount fabric shop or a place selling pillow making stuff) is required. Ditto for a 350 grain 4895 load. The guy says this.
"The .43 Mauser has a large case capacity. 35 grains of IMR4895 fills it up less then halfway. You will need to use a filler of some sort to keep the powder column at the base of the shell for consistant ignition. A half square of toilet paper plainly stuffed into the case mouth real tight will do the trick nicely. Bullet was lubed with RCBS resizing lube. Seat bullet to the highest lube groove. Heavy crimp if used in the magazine. Recoil is zero. You also get the confetti from TP after firing."
There are a few .577 loads using IMR4198 there too. Fill isn't mentioned, but it's likely required for the same reason too.
 
4198 is not just for old black powder cartridges. I've used it in my .218 Bee, .22 Hi-Power, .222 Remington for full power loads and for reduced cast bullet loads in my .30-30 and .30-06.
 
I use IMR 4198 in my .43 Mauser reloads. I find 32grs a little stiff, so 29grs works better for me.
390grs cast bullet (my own) from an RCBS mould (the best) over 29grs of IMR 4198, without any filler.
I used filler before, because everybody tells you that you need to, but it is really not necessary and doesn't make any difference whatsoever.
 
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IMR 4198 and H4198 are the "cat's pajamas" for the 7.62x39 as well.....and the 45-70....Harold
 
4198 is common for reduced loads with cast bullets. That's where I use the most of it. Never used a filler before even with around half case volume charges.
Do note that it will have a drastically different pressure curve to black powder and many say to not use it as a black powder substitute in old guns meant for black powder. Many others say they have done it for decades without issue so the choice is yours.

The Norma ballistic lab is the only one to get detonations/SEE's to happen with some reliability and actually report on it. They published a bit about it and it was the combination of slow burning magnum powders with 30% or less of the case filled and still only happened from time to time. The issue with many anecdotal SEE's is that there is no real way to prove the round that blew up wasn't a double or triple charge. With reduced loads you can fit it in without overflowing and the evidence has literally gone up in smoke. Even if the reloader was an old timer, really careful, and none of the remaining rounds had multiple charges, that still doesn't prove that the one that blew up the gun wasn't a multi-charge.
 
Have a look at XMP-5744, but I still think black powder is best for antiques and the suggested loads in the old copies of COTW should be treated with caution.
 
Some powders do have a percentage substitution for equivalent to black or cordite. RL15 for NE cartridges is an example of that. Possibly contacting Hodgdon may get you an answer on that for the 4198's. I've never looked for a contact nbr for IMR, but, a call to Hodgdon may at least point you in the right direction.

I have seen this info around, but how valid it is, can only be determined by contacting them and getting the parameters of its usage.

1.10x IMR 3031 = cordite
1.19x RL15 = cordite
1.31x IMR 4831 = cordite
40-44% IMR 4198 = black powder

Like I said---contact them before even thinking about using that info. And then consider what the gun you want to shoot will handle. There are a lot of guns that cannot handle the pressure curve change in smokeless powder, and were never even loaded with cordite.
 
I use it in my 17 Fireball and 223rem with 36gr varmint bullets.
I'll have to try it in a few other cartridges. Both my 17 and 223 loads are making one ragged hole 5 shot groups shooting from a rest at 100 yards.
 
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