reduced loads

dunki

dunki

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Hogdgon's website discusses using 60% of their maximum listed charge of H4895 for a reduced load in big boomers. I've emailed them more than once but have not received any response. Does anyone know if this can be done with IMR4895 as well? The IMR version is listed as being slightly slower, so should be okay, but I'd like advice thanks!
 
For reduced loads I use data from the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook but just use jacketed bullets of the same weight. So far in my 300WM I have had superb results using this method in terms of accuracy.

Coincidentally the cast bullet reduced loads actually do use 40-60% less than a max charge of H4895.

The main problem with the burn rate table is it doesn't tell you by how much one is slower than another. Two adjacent powders could have less than 1% difference in burn rate while two others right beside each other might be a 5% difference; there is no way to tell. I have read that H4895 and IMR4895 are almost interchangeable (unlike H/IMR 4831 which the two are quite different) so I would go ahead and try it if I where you.

I have swapped IMR4895 for H4895 (starting loads only) several times when I can only find data for IMR and have never had a problem.

For .300 Win Mag:
Hodgdon website lists H4895 for a 150gr bullet as 57-61 grains (lead core bullet)
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook lists the same as 33.5-47.2 grains
For a 180gr bullet 32.7-53.5 grains
 
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Don't you get badly smoked cases if you load way down with 4895? Sometimes when working up a load for a new rifle I've gotten badly smoked cases at just 10% below max due to insufficient pressure to seal the chamber.
 
I think Hogdon only recommends H4895 for the reduced loads and only in cartridges that list H4895 as being suitable. Its hard to beat Trailboss for reduced loads with jacketed or cast.
 
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762shooter said:
Don't you get badly smoked cases if you load way down with 4895? Sometimes when working up a load for a new rifle I've gotten badly smoked cases at just 10% below max due to insufficient pressure to seal the chamber.
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I've gotten really dirty cases and chambers from reduced loads of H4831 and other slow powders but not with any book values of H4895. Even the 35gr load from the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook produces enough pressure to expand the case. I have gotten really dirty cases from "mouse fart" loads for my 44 mag lever gun as well. 3 grains of Unique under a 120gr .433" round ball doesn't produce much pressure.

fwm said:
I think Hogdon only recommend H4895 for the reduced loads and only in cartridges that list H4895 as being suitable. Its hard to beat Trailboss for reduced loads with jacketed or cast.
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I would assume so. It's hard to use a 60% max charge of a powder when there is no listing for that powder but you do bring up a good point that this perhaps isn't obvious to all. As for Trailboss it is one of my favourites to work with; it's just so easy to use.
 
dunki said:
Hogdgon's website discusses using 60% of their maximum listed charge of H4895 for a reduced load in big boomers. I've emailed them more than once but have not received any response. Does anyone know if this can be done with IMR4895 as well? The IMR version is listed as being slightly slower, so should be okay, but I'd like advice thanks!
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What are you calling a big boomer? A big case .375 does well with a charge of Unique, pushing a 300 gr bullet from 1200-1600 fps. In calibers from 6.5-.30 caliber I like SR-4759, but don't use it as much as I use Unique. I think its fine to use 4895 for slightly reduced loads, like 150s @ 2400 in a .30/06, but I prefer to use a faster powder if I go much slower. In some cases I've gone the other way for reduced velocity loads, by choosing a powder that is too slow to produce much velocity; an example is 30 grs of Win-760 under a 190 gr cast bullet in the .30/30.
 
It seems to me when I was shooting reduced loads using Hogdon's on-line data, (or perhaps it was in their manual), they were fairly explicit in stating "H4895 only."
 
I have used several reduced loadsin the past 4-6 years and hands down the easiest best powder is trailboss no chance of accidently double charging next would be h4895 then the rest boomers slow powder method is ok too
 
I like Trailboss as well, in my 44 handgun. I was looking for loads for 458 Lott, and have been using 458 Winchester loads since there is so much more information available. Hodgdon does list a Trailboss load, but I was looking to use up some IMR 4895 that I have on hand. I phoned Hodgdon and they just say they haven't tested the IMR version.I will take a look at my Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, hadn't thought to do that. Thanks very much everyone!
 
This has worked for me too:

"For reduced loads I use data from the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook but just use jacketed bullets of the same weight."

Try calling the powder company during business hours. I have received good help from Hodgdon's by calling directly. Or, if you have a specific bullet (projectile) you are looking to use, try calling that company. I've had great success in speaking to Hornady and Sierra.

I've loaded thousands of reduced jacketed 222's with Unique with tremendous accuracy. SR4759 had also been very good in the 222 also.

Just starting to develop reduced 338 WM loads now. Unique will be my first choice to start development.

Good luck!

SD
 
superd222 said:
This has worked for me too:

"For reduced loads I use data from the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook but just use jacketed bullets of the same weight."
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X3. This is the way to go IMO.

I have never found a reduced load of H4895 to be anywhere near the most accurate, and the same applies to Trail Boss. Trail Boss's attraction seems to be its "no brainer" element, i.e. that it can't be double-charged. I prefer to use my brains and double-check. That having been said, it works well, it's just too bad that so many go no further after having tried it.

For me, the best combination of accuracy in the MV range I usually seek (typically 1200-1500 fps) has been SR-4759. For subsonic loads (600-1000 fps), for me Red Dot rules. Unique gets an honourable mention for bridging the gap (800-1200 fps).
 
Hmmm, for ALL my reduced loads, Bullseye is my powder of choice. 7 Gr of BE in my 30-30, for instance, using my hand-cast 113 Gr soupcan boolits get me a very accurate groups. Loads like these allow you to take small game with minimum meat loss, using the same old familiar rifle. Plus it makes it real cheap to shoot too!

Just be care ful that you never double-load your case! 7Gr of BE will disappear in a 30-30 case. Double-load that and I think you're going to be in for a nasty surprise!
 
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