Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Velocities for H4895 and H4350 in .308

My son's T-3 in .308 is fantastically accurate, nice to shoot and to look at. We found an accurate load of 42.5 grains of H4895 under a Hornady 150 FMJ that shoots .75" groups all day long. The books say velocities should be over 2700 fps from a 24" barrel (which his T-3 has). So when I put it over my chronograph I was more than a little surprised to see high 2400's. I've been much less velocity conscious as of late, but isn't this REALLY low?

I've got a keg of H4350 and found an old resource that listed .308 loads. For the heck of it, I did some load development and found 50.3 grains produced better accuracy than the H4895 and it was going 2750-2800 fps. So I know it isn't the gun. What's up with H4895? All resources say H4350 is too slow for the .308 but it flat smoked the H4895 in all respects.

I threw both loads through my 16" Oracle 7.62 and got similar results. The 4985 averaged 2250 fps and the 4350 was going a solid 2500 fps.

Also, I'm well aware that 42.5 gr of 4895 is a light load and 50.3 of 4350 is heavy, I'm going by listed expected velocities.

Has anyone else had similar results?

Your results are not that far off. 42.5 is a light load under a 150gr, and there are several variables, but if you need a faster load just add more H-4895 until you find a higher accuracy node.

I worked up a few loads using H-4350 behind 200-210 gr bullets, but I like my 308s because I can use 4895, considering how hard it is to find H-4350 right now I wouldn't use it in 308.

The Hornady FMJ isn't generally regarded as a particularly accurate bullet to begin with, so that rifle is likely capable of doing even better.

H4895 is the best powder I've found for the .308 using bullets in the 150 - 180 range, the only weight range I'm familiar with. I don't know what an Oracle is, but, comparatively, you lose a lot of velocity with a 16" barrel. With 43 grains H4895 and the 150 Hornady Spire Point, I've gotten just over 2,600 fps in a 20" barreled Savage 99 carbine.

I think H4350 is too slow for the .308, but with a heavily compressed load (probably maximum) and the Hornady 180 grain Spire Point, I've seen excellent accuracy and over 2,630 fps, about top velocity for the .308 with a 180 bullet. I get about 100 fps less velocity using a max. load of H4895, but accuracy is as good.

A lot of people prefer Varget to H4895. Varget works well and I've found velocities with top loads of each to be comparable. However, accuracy is generally a bit better with H4895.

Aren't chronographs great?

Almost as aggravating as concentricity gauges..........

But you could try a higher dose of H4895. If velocities are that low, it's unlikely you're anywhere near pressure limits.

Casey

You need more like 46g of that H4895. Keep adding coal to the fire...

Never used 4350 in the 308 but I am using 49g of R17 with a 168g Amax in a 22" Sako A7. Getting an incredibly accurate 2700fps. It's a mild load but I'm happy with where it is.

Your H4895 is very mild, I don't think I've chrono'd one that light.

I use 45.5 grains under a 150 Ballistic Tip with a CCI200 in WW brass and get ~2850 fps from a 22" barrel.

+1.
That is the same load I'm using with a 21" barrel and I'm right in the same ballpark.

When I begin load development with new components, I start at 4 grains under max and load 4 rounds each weight in 1 grain increments, watching for pressure signs until max (so 1 full box of 20 rounds). Then whichever load was the most accurate, I dance around it below and above in .2 grain increments, followed by .1 grain increments. So within 60 rounds, I've got it pretty much nailed down. With 4895 the closer I got to the 45 grain listed max, the larger the groups became. 42.5 grains is fantastically accurate in both of the rifles (4 rounds in a jagged one hole group at 50 yards out of the AR). I was just dismayed that actual velocities were lacking by almost 300 fps. A sniper I am not, but I'd still like to make the AR an 800 yard rifle or so and 2250 fps just won't allow that.

So I got some RE15 that I've begun development with, more of the 4350 as well as some of the 4895 loads. All are getting tested again for accuracy and velocity.

You are exactly right Sir, and I'll go further and say reloading in general! Hahahaha. Before all of this, I purchased ammo and fired it with complete enjoyment and oblivion!

Now (being the red-blooded, Tim Taylor wanna-be, "MORE POWER" American male that I am), my life has been a constant quest of trying to turn my perfectly adequate .40 S&W into a .44 magnum, my sweet little 6.5 Swede into a .264 WM, and my .308's into .300's.

But as I said in the OP, I'm successfully getting less velocity-conscious as I age a bit!

"Hi, I'm Greg, and I am a Velociholic".
"Hi, Greg!"