I'm finally going to load up some .32 Special with 170 gr LFN GC. I grab Speer #12 and I see a starting load of 33gr of 4895 and max of 35 gr., so I load up a box. And because the lead bullets should come out at a lower pressure, I go ahead and load up 5 rounds at 34 gr. (still under maximum doncha know). Something made me check again and I see it's 33 gr. of IMR 4895, not the H-4895 I have on the shelf!

Hmmm. . . Lyman#46 is handy -- they show 28gr to 33 gr of IMR 4895. OK, dig out Hodgdon # 25 -- they're at 31gr to 33 gr for H-4895. Now, lets get real serious -- out comes good ol' Speer #8 -- showing 33gr all the way to 37gr of just plain 4895. So I look up powders in the front of #8, and they're telling me that IMR and H-4895 identical - in 1970, anyway. . .

So what's the latest theory? Are IMR 4895 and H-4895 the same?

They are not the same. IMR 4895 is made in Canada, H 4895 comes from Australia. Hodgdon data for .30-30 (they do not show both flavors in .32 Special) allows about a grain more IMR than H. Hodgdon tried to get H 4895 made to match the surplus IMR they started out selling in the 1950s, may have missed it a little or the lot they chose to replicate was a little different from what is being made for retail many years later.

But you may have worse problems.
A near top load for a jacketed bullet will be very tough on a cast bullet; you may see poor accuracy and barrel leading, even with gas check. I'd try something down around the 17.5-21 grains Hodgdon lists for 160 grain lead .30-30.

To make a long story short, they are two different powders and the load data you use must correspond exactly with the powder you have. The same holds true for H4831 and IMR4831 as well as the various 4350's. There are also others.

Bruce

I think I'll pull those 34 gr loads -- they're not crimped, yet. This is my first time loading for the .32spl and first with cast rifle bullets. I'm going to have to back off and try again. Was hoping to get something loaded up for deer hunting (hence the tending toward a bit heavier load). Guess I'll save that for next year.

I suggest writing or calling Hodgdon and asking them the charge range for IMR4895 using the bullet you have. I've found them to be extremely helpful with load data in the past. I'm sure they will provide you with what you need...

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SWCA #3437

for lead bullets, trail boss is a good one. also 5744 and sr 4759 (not the same as sr 4756)