Dennis,
Originally Posted by dennisinaz
Ok: 54.0 grains R17, 200 grain Accubomb, Russian primer, avg velocity was 2780.

56.2 grains IMR 4350 produced 2928 fps with 178 ELD-X and the Russian primer. I did not try R26.
57.4 grains of Hunter with the same 178 ELD-X was only 2890 so the 4350 was the faster load with equal accuracy.

25" barrel


You're comparing apples to oranges. Hunter is considerably slower-burning than IMR4350, more like IMR4831 or RL-19.

The latest data from Hodgdon for IMR4350 and 175-180 grain bullets lists 56.5 to 57.0 grains as maximum, for velocities in the mid-2700s from a 24-inch barrrel.

The latest Ramshot data shows maximum charges of Hunter from 58.5 to 61.0 grains with the same weight-range of bullets, for velocities in the 2800s, up to close to 2900--again from a 24-inch barrel.

Have been using Hunter with bullets in the 180-grain range in the .30-06 for around 15 years, with excellent results in both velocity and accuracy in several rifles. As with the other Belgium-made Ramshot powders, loads close to maximum usually result in finer accuracy--and less fouling.

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