4895

R

roundgun

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Messages
120
Reaction score
101
Location
Colorado
I found some reduced load data for 4895 in 30-06 on Hodgdons website. I have no experience with 4895, and promptly ordered some 4895. After doing some more reading I found out there are 2 versions of this powder, IMR 4895 and H4895. Of course I ordered the IMR version not knowing there was more than one option. Are they interchangeable?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Register to hide this ad
No, but very close. Both are probably among the most versatile of rifle powders (along with IMR 4064), i.e., good for most "normal" calibers from .223/5.56 through 6.5 Creedmore, 270 Winchester, 7X57, 30-30, 30-06, 308, etc. All the way up to the 300 Winchester Mag level!

Lots of load data from Hodgdons, bullet manufacturers, etc.

Do some research and start low and work up.

Cheers!
 
Here is some real life data on the 2 powders. I load to around 2700fps for my M1 Garand and both are very accurate powders with 1 MOA using wartime sights. Don't assume that they will work the same in your rifle and take the time to work up loads until you get the proper velocities for your rifle.

150 FMJBT - 4895 - 45g - 2717fps
150 FMJBT - 4895 - 46g - 2717fps
150 FMJBT - H4895 - 45g - 2725fps
150 FMJBT - H4895 - 46g - 2791fps (too fast for me)
 
Too bad that you did not pick up the Hodgdon powder instead.

It is the powder ment for reduced loads.............
and there is lots of data out there for many calibers.

IMR is a good powder for light target loads but not real light "Reduced loads".

In my 30-06 with a 150 ball with IMR I can get a nice target load at 2590fps.

In my 22-250 a 55 gr fmj with IMR 4895 at 2996fps works for me.
 
Last edited:
Thank you everyone. Looks like I need to scrape together some more cash for the actual H4895.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
roundgun said:
I found some reduced load data for 4895 in 30-06 on Hodgdons website. I have no experience with 4895, and promptly ordered some 4895. After doing some more reading I found out there are 2 versions of this powder, IMR 4895 and H4895. Of course I ordered the IMR version not knowing there was more than one option. Are they interchangeable?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
No, they are not interchangeable. There is Hodgdon, IMR and Accurate - my favorite by far is Hodgdon's H4895. I've used it to do reduced loads for 308Win and it worked excellent.
H4895 is a very short stick so it meters nicely.
 
Try your IMR4895 and you may be just fine with it. In recent years, the “newer” powders like H4895 and H4350 have gotten a lot more attention, but IMR4895 and IMR4350 still do a great job. I agree with not trying to interchange the data, but there is still plenty of good data available for the IMR version. Nothing at all wrong with IMR4895. I wish I had an 8# keg of it sitting around right now. ;)
 
These days we use what we have, but I haven't bought any IMR4895 or other IMR powders in years. There's nothing wrong with them, but H4895 like other Hodgdon Extreme powders is pretty resistant to temperature fluctuations. Also, as already mentioned, charge weights can be safely reduced a considerable amount. This doesn't mean much for many handloaders, but for cast bullet shooters, it's a big advantage.

Many like Hodgdon's Varget and it's an excellent powder for many uses. The burn rate is very close to H4895. However, after using a lot of both Varget and H4895 for years in a number of rifle cartridges, I've found overall from an accuracy perspective, H4895 frequently has a slight edge on Varget. From a velocity standpoint, Varget is often a little better.
 
H version is somewhat faster than the I . H4895 can be safely reduced to 60% of a max load , not only for cast but jacketed too . Both versions are quite flexible , easy to work with , quite accurate . Like Unique you can find a load for dang neigh anything & it plays well with cast bullets . If you like milsurp stuff it & 4064 are hard to beat . I shoot it with cast bullets in 6.5 X 55 , 7.5 X 55 , 7.62 X 54R , 30/06 , 303 Brit , 8 X 57 . Give Hodgon's a call & speak with them about downloading I 4895 , I suspect it's possible . Neither are hard to light & exhibit linear progression pressurewise . At one time IMR published loading data for every powder they made in just about every caliber with velocity & pressure data .
 
A lot is made of the temperature sensitivity thing. I’m sure it’s important to some, particularly our military that stores and uses ammunition in all sorts of climates, but for me, it’s almost a non-issue. 95% of my shooting will be done between 50 and 90 degrees. I’m not too concerned about performance at below zero temps. I won’t be there. :D I’ll take all the IMR4895 (and IMR4350) anyone can spare. :)
 
As you see above, they are not the same. Hodgdon has tested H4895 with the 60% reduced loads and they are safe. They haven't tested IMR4895 and they do not recommend using it for reduces loads.

At least you didn't waste money on the IMR version because it's a very good powder for standard 30-06 ammo and of course others too. IMR4895 used to be THE 30-06 powder. I now use H4350 for standard 30-06 ammo.
 
I use lots of IMR4895. I've had excellent results in 308 at 10-15% below starting load in both bolt action, AR 10 and particularly an M1A. I do shoot a fair amount of reduced loads in bolt and single shot using cast bullet data from Lyman, just substituting jacketed or plated bullets. Several pistol powders work but AA5744 is amazing.
 
I've had great luck with 52 grains of IMR4895 behind a Hornady 150 BTSP. It is one of my go to loads for deer hunting and shoots into an inch at 100 yards with my 700 Remington. That load is near the max so kick it back about 5% if you are thinking of using it. I've killed a ton of deer with it and not one complained.
 
I would not worry if you want to use the IMR4895 powder for deer hunting or target work..........
even with a reduced 150 fmj bullet at only 2590fps, at 400 yards it will have 1,063 ft/lbs of energy.
A factory Remington 150 gr core/lokt doing 2880fps at 300 yards has 1,488 ft/lbs of energy with a poor BC of .338.....................
if you are loading for a 308 or 30-06 rifle.

Slow is not always a bad thing.
 
I am a big fan of H-4895. Never tried the IMR version. It is to rifles what Unique is to handguns - not the best in specific applications, but works good enough in most.

I use it for reduced loads in my .35 Whelen and .358 Winchester with cast bullets, and for my M1a with 150 grain FMJ's.

Larry
 
I've burned up a dump truck full of 4895 shooting an M1a, and M1 Garand in Service Rifle competition. It was for years "The" powder for both of these rifles. In my experience, the H4895 grouped a tiny bit better than the IMR, the S.D. over a chronograph was a bit less. But I've used both, sometimes it just came down to what was available. Charge weights for any given bullet weight are very close, but not exactly interchangeable. But I doubt you'd get in any trouble using the same data for either. As always, load a few, check for pressure signs, and of course accuracy, and have at it. Works very well in a 5.56/223 also, by the way. One of just a few powders I only buy in 8lb jugs.
 
Last edited:
The powder used for military loading of the .30-'06 for use in the M1 Garand was essentially IMR4895 under a different name. And it is excellent for that application and will not damage the M1's OpRod. Slow powders such as 4350 should never be used to handload .30-'06 for use in the M1 as its pressure curve is incorrect and can result in bending the M1's OpRod. While H-4895 and IMR4895 are not exactly the same, there is not much difference.
 
Nothing wrong with your IMR 4895. I use it for much of my rifle loading. Check the loading manuals, you can slow that 150 grain bullet down quite a bit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

7
M1 Garand 30-06 reloading results
Replies
16
Views
738
6string
6string
G
7.5 swiss data, bullet & powder recommendations
Replies
9
Views
539
GrayGhost99
G
Kiwi cop
How Low Can I Go?
Replies
11
Views
381
Eddietruett
E
S
The "perfect" rifle powder?
2 3
Replies
44
Views
2K
Nevada Ed
Nevada Ed
S
Help with a 44 Magnum Load, PLEASE!
Replies
17
Views
1K
Eddie Southgate
Eddie Southgate

Latest posts

Back
Top