H4350 Powder Specs

[fishdoggydog]

I started to load up some rounds for antelope hunting with a couple boxes for prairie dogs. I do not shoot a lot with the .243 anymore, so my frame of reference goes back to the early 80's. My Hodgdon book said 45 gr. of 4350 with a 85 gr bullet. I decided to take a look on-line to compare IMR4350 with the H4350 and saw they say now do not go over 40 gr. with H4350. So my first box of loads is junk? My antelope rounds were with IMR 4831 and that is still the same load, 43 gr. under a 100 gr bullet. Any one know what changed in 35 to 40 years?

[wrenchman]

i have not loaded in a couple year but i thought 4350 was a real good powder for 30 caliber like 3030

[Dan Morris]

My dated Speer 13 calls for 46 gr of H4350 to be MAX with a 85 gr and std primers recommended start is 42. I have never loaded the 243....this probably does not answer your question.
Dan
www.ask.com
can probably answer your question.

[Adam Helmer]

fishdoggydog,

What are you loading IMR or Hodgden powder? Your initial post goes both ways! I suggest you buy a CURRENT reloading manual and be guided accordingly FOR whichever powder you load.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

I would refer to a current reloading manual. The load you mentioned appears to be a bit over maximum. The link below will provide useful reloading data. My recommendation would be to pull the bullets, save the powder and find a suitable load. You are correct, some reloading manuals have reduced powder charges over the years. Not sure why, but I follow their load data. All the best...
Gil





http://hodgdon.com/

[fishdoggydog]

I have both IMR and H4350 powders, what is strange to me is how a load listed 35 years ago is now considered unsafe. Yes I am going to pull the bullets, I fired one round today and I could see a case crack, and the primer was popped on ejection. The link to the Hodgdon site is where I went for the latest info. Thanks you guys.

[Jack]

Powders change over 40 years, just like people do.
So do methods of measuring pressure - some of the old manuals estimated pressure by looking at primer flatness and maybe miking expansions rings. Neither method is anything like precise. Then came the copper crusher method, which was better, but not perfect. Copper crusher could only be done in test barrels, too - not possible to use the method in a real world rifle.
Now the ballistic labs use much more accurate equipment - usually a strain gauge set up that measures in PSI, and can be used on the same model rifles that people can buy over the counter.
Some loads have been lightened over the years, and people claim it's "because of the lawyers". Nuh uh. Powder changes (and bullet and brass changes, too) and more accurate measuring capability now give us much better info on what's a safe load.
Fish, your old load might be fine, with the components you used at the time. If you have some left, they should be safe to use.
On the other hand, if you're going to do some loading now with new components and powder, use current data.

[skeet]

What Jack said. Pressure measuring is MUCH better these days. Doubt the 100 gr load is an overload though