Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters H4895

The Sierra manual takes the 125 down to 2700 FPS w/ 52.8 gr of RE 17.

Speer #10 lists a 130 at 2508 FPS w/ 38 gr of Re 7.

Hodgdon #26 shows a 125/130 at:
2410 FPS w/ 56.5 gr H 4831.
2521 FPS w/ 57 gr IMR 4831.
2690 FPS w/ 54 gr IMR 4350.

Of course the classic and popular down load is H4895 at a minimum of 60% max load, which would be about 32 grains and probably around 1900 fps.

I recently saw a chart on this forum which says H4895 is identical to IMR 4895. While that may be true of recent production since Hodgdon has acquired IMR. I do not think it was true prior to the acquisition.

Perhaps you can find one of these available somewhere.

I believe you saw a burn rate chart that put it on the same line.

This chart from "Ask the gunwriters" is what I saw. But I have no idea of the source or veracity of the chart.

Note IMR 4896 and H4895 are identified as ADI AR2206H

try 4064.. from IMR or AA 4064.

RL 15 if you can find it.

3031 is a little quicker, but can equal H 4895 loads at times, depending upon bullet weight.

you can also use slower powders and just not use their max loads. a burn rate chart will also tell you what powders are in a similar burn rate range. I've been trying other powders that are available on the shelves, that are close to the burn rates of powders that seem unobtainable.

A couple of things about that chart. If you look at the kernels of Benchmark and 3031 you'll see they're completely different. I just looked at my latest 8-pound jug of IMR 4895, Lot #8055 with date 04/28/2023. It is marked manufactured in Canada.

I got a can of H4895 years ago to try out in one of my rifles, don't remember which one. Thing I found is I couldn't find a decent load anywhere for it. Not I've got most of a box of 70gr Nosler BT's left over I couldn't get to shoot. So few days ago decided to try that old can of H4895. Now I need the snow to stop a while so I can get to my shooting place and try it.

Seems to me I read years ago that the powder's that got Hodgdons going were surplus military powder's, H4831 and that H4895. have usually had good luck with 4831 but that 4895 just never worked for me!

H4895 is one of my favorites. I use it in all my 22 cal centerfires. 4064 was an old favorite but 4895 is faster, more accurate and easier to load. I doubt I will live long enough to use up my supply. 3031 also seems to be good in the bigger .22 centerfires, when they went from the metal cans to round plastice, I picked up 11 pounds of 3031 for $11/pound. I still haven't shot it all up. Tough break if H4895 is gone. Few if any of the replacements are found in my area.

The M1 Garand is tuned perfectly for use with H4895. Which leads me to guess it was the original military powder used in WW II battle rifles. Many sources state 30-06 destined for machine guns was hotter.

I just bought 2 lbs. of H4895 at a LGS last week. Didn't realize it was hard to get. I'll go back and see if the other 2 lbs. I left on the shelf is still there this week and grab it if it is.

Wonder if this ^^^^ is a factor in component shortages?

I was down to a pound and a half and it's my most used powder in .223, .22-250 and .308. Yeah, I'm responsible for component shortages. Rolls eyes.....

More likely it's these rich clowns that think they need to shoot tens of thousands of rounds of centerfire per year. I only shoot a few hundred per year myself. The vast majority of my shooting is rimfire and air rifle as it's always been. I never could afford to piss away thousands of rounds of centerfire ammo a year.

Absolutely it was formulated in the late 30's for that very purpose. .30 Ball M2 ammo throughout its service life was all loaded to the same performance level, whether for use in M1's or Browning machine guns. To have done otherwise would've been a logistical nightmare and a real problem for riflemen and machine gunners out at the tip of the spear who found themselves in a hot corner and conceivably would need to share ammo.

Now I feel really bad, I usually buy 8lb jugs. It kinda annoys me, always wondered why they didn't make them 10 pounders..

There was some at my little gun shop last week, bought two lbs.

I haven't seen this on the shelves for years

My hobby is shooting. That’s what I do whenever I have time and the weather permits. In the winter or bad weather I’m reloading or working on a rifle. I wish I could spend more time hunting. I would dearly love to hunt coastal bears in Alaska and Cape in Africa. But at my age that’s not likely.

I dont think I’m the cause of the shortage. I don’t think I’m in the “wealthy” category either. The wars and the build up of armed forces globally is what I blame the shortages on. I wonder also if the threat of lawsuits has kept the munitions manufacturers from expanding production for the civilian market. No such worries for them selling to armed forces.

Odd that when there’s a Democrat in office there’s a component and ammo shortage. Nope, I’m not the reason for the shortage.

Its not the original powder...the original powder was IMR1185 and IMR 4676. IMR 4895 wasn't loaded until ~1944.

There is no such thing as MG loads.

Is there a difference between pressure levels and velocity between M2 AP and M2 Ball? Where does 30 M1 Ball fit?

All in the same range and they overlap.