4350 and 4831 IMR or Hodgdon for a hunting load?

[gilream]

Hodgdon or IMR? What are the differences? What do you like and dislike? Trying to decide on a hunting load with 95 grain Ballistic Tips in a 243 Winchester. Factory gun..old model 788 Remington.

 

[jlmurphy]

The Hodgdon powders would be from their Extreme line which designed to be temp insensitive. I use H 4831 , 4350, and 1000 with good results

 

[stringer]

I currently own 4 different .243 caliber rifles from factory Rems, Rugers, and custom guns. I have used IMR 4831 in all with great results. Its odd that I use mainly Hogdon powders in my benchrest guns. An old friend told me that .243 Winchesters would always shoot IMR 4831 and in 15 years I can't prove him wrong. Either powder would function well for hunting, I would try them both and go with the one that provided the best results. I use 43 to 46 grains depending on the bullet weight. Hope this helps.

 

[Larry Elliott]

Aside from the Hodgdon powders being less temperature sensitive they also have shorter length granules than the IMR powders which makes them a little easier to load in a small caliber case due to less bridging in the powder funnel. The charges still need to be weighed to give best results though. Anyone who says he can meter any of these powders ± 0.1 or even 0.2 gr is REALLY good or, uh, well I won't be impolite here.

 

[Stephen Perry]

Either IMR or Hodgdon in the same number powders work just fine. Stay away from the max published loads . Those loads are for the gun you don't have. Each gun and each chamber are indivduals kinda like women, some load you can get away with in one gun might seize in another. Be safe do it right.

I have loaded all major cartridges from .222 to .338 with both IMR(Dupont) and Hodgdon powders, they all work . Check Sierra , Speer, Nosler and Hornady manuals for .243 loads, or whatever manual you have.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

 

[okbob51]

For whatever reason I've always had good luck with IMR powders in hunting rifles and Hodgdon in competition rifles. My 270 really likes 57 grains of IMR 4831 behind a 130 Sierra Spitzer. As always start low and work your way up looking for signs of pressure....this works ok in my rifle but, it might be too hot in yours!

 

[gilream]

I had lots of IMR 4350 on hand so I loaded up some test cartridges and headed to the range yesterday with my 788 Remington. New lapua cases, CCI 200 primers, Nosler 95 gr. Ballistic Tip seated .005 short of the point where the rifling marks begin. Started at 40 grains of powder and got a 1.2 inch, 3 shot group. Same ho-hum results until I hit 43 grains and wham...3 shots .262 inch. 44 grains was .694. At 44o hard bolt lift, no shiny mark on case head. I realize that you benchrest guys never liked this action because the rear locking lugs on the action allowed headspace to grow. I have shot this same powder and 42 grain load with the 100 grain Sierra pro hunter and the 107 grain matchking with good results. I plan to try a couple of groups at 42.5 grains and a couple more at 43. My manual says that 42 is max so I think I'll hold at 43. Is this group a fluke?

 

[Stephen Perry]

Not a fluke.
What caliber. You shot in a condition that allowed the true accuracy of your 788 to be exposed on 43. Load had a small part to do with it, all the other powder loads would have shot like 43 if they had been shot in the 43 conditions. l looked at your other groups a powder load is not going to help those groups.you don't know how to read conditions, simple but true.

The BR guys, I am one, for the most part have never owned a 788, I have 2 of them. My 788 with Hart barrel and canjar trigger has shot .25 agg at 100 yd in competition, moving backers. The caliber is 6x47 remington. My other 788 is a .223.
Keep at it put out a couple wind flags and watch them, that will close up those other groups and make them look like more 43.Later.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

 

[alinwa]

I agree with Elliot's assessment..... except that IMO getting wrapped up in "temperature insensitive" powders can get you in trouble. I'm not finding them to be very temperature insensitive myownself.