**IMR 4320**

Baldur

Baldur

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Hello all.

I recently was able to get some IMR 4320 at mt LGS. Read up on it a bit for loading in 5.56 and it seemed like a good performing choice. So I loaded some up in some LC brass with 55gr pills.

Took some to the range today and it shot well. It seems rather sooty to me though compared to some factory ammo I also shot.

Does anyone have any experience with this powder? I know some shoot dirtier than others. Anyone else notice this?

Thanks in Advance

Baldur
 
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I've never used it for the .223. It is listed as an acceptable powder in several manuals so I would think performance would be OK. My go to .223 powder is Varget or in a pinch IMR 4895. Haven't tried any of the new powders to hit the market.

If groups were OK I wouldn't worry about a little extra grime. I clean all of my guns after shooting anyhow.
 
4320 is shown between Varget and Win 748 on the first burnrate chart I looked at. Should be useable. Don't ever remember anyone talking about using it for 223/556 match ammo(I'm a HighPower shooter). But these days you take what you can get sometimes. If you were loading on the light side that could make it a little dirtier. Also a primer change could improve the burn for a cleaner load. And a heavier bullet would also improve the combustion with this slightly slower powder.
 
That super short grain powder is a dream for me to load in my rifle loads from 22-250 to 30-06.
It fills the void between 4064 and 4350 nicely and though it can be used for light target loads , I have found that it worked for me at factory fps a lot better, accuracy wise.

In the .223 ......25grs might be a little dirty until you get around 27grs that is near the bullets base for a volume around 99% full. I never needed a magnum primer for this powder, it works well with all the standard primers, for me.

Good loading.
 
4320 is a powder that shoots in almost anything, is good in most but is excellent in very few. I like it in the 35 Whelen and 358 W.
 
I load a max load of it behind 55 grain fmj's for plinking loads. It fills the case completely, and therefore is easy to visually inspect each powder drop. It also meters well, and is fairly accurate in both my ARs as well as my mini 14.
 
*****************

Yes I know this thread is old.

I found it on a search looking if anyone who has posted about 4320. Why this many decades old powder is not more popular, I don't know.

I was given a partial can of it a few years ago and fell for it immediately. It is the same burn rate as Varget and BLC2 and I like it better than both. It's small extruded sticks flow great through a powder measure, it's very versatile, accurate and burns CLEAN. I use it in 223, 30-30, 35 Rem, 22-250, & 7-08. I can't speak enough of it's performance. Does anyone else use it?
 
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IMR4320 is one of the IMR single base powders that has been around forever. Slower than IMR3031, and a little faster than IMR4350. Back in the day, it was a popular choice for military surplus rifles like .303 British, 7.7 Jap, 7.65 Argentine, 8mm Mauser, 7mm Mauser with light bullets. Recently I found it quite useful in .308 Win.
It's a great powder for just about anything where its burning rate would be appropriate..
 
I use 4320 in my 17 Rem rifles. Great powder for that. I never pay any attention to whether a powder is dirty. In my view it’s a non issue in almost all cases.
 
I've had good results with 4320 in .223, but have only used it with several different bullets in the 60-64 grain range. However, I think it would also be worth trying with lighter bullets. Never noticed it as being particularly dirty.
 
As mentioned, in my 22-250 it was ok but BLC-2, w728 and H414 powders
did better in my rifle for accuracy with 52 to 70gr bullets.

However, it was a tack driver in my 1903, 30-06 with a 150 and 165gr bullet
out to 300 yards with light starter loads for target work..........
and yes it does meter quite nicely, vs other IMR powders.
 
I have never tried 4320 in anything. I always thought it was more suited for cartridges like the 300 Savage, the 35 Rem and the like. I guess it will work well in the .223 since its faster than 4895 and 4895 is used by some in the .223.
 
I’ve always like this burn rate chart the best, by Western powders which markets Accurate and Ramshot powders.
 

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Back in my bench rest days, I used to shoot a Douglas barreled custom Mauser in 6.5x55 in the sporter class. My best grouping loads used IMR 4320, and I burned through a lot of it. I'd probably use (and do use) something faster for .223 (which is IMR 4198). I use mainly 50-55 grain bullets, but IMR 4320 might work better for heavier bullets in the .223.
 
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