Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters AA4350

All of a sudden, IMR4350 has become very hard to find in my area ... and of course H4350 has been scarce for quite some time. Anybody use AA4350 on a regular basis and if so, how does it compare (accuracy/velocity) to the other 4350's ? I've also been told you have to use about 1 or so more grains of AA4350 to get the same velocities as the other 4350's, but have no idea if that's true or not. Ben

With my presents batches of IMR4350, H4350 and AA4350, AA is indeed slower-burning. Whether it will be "a grain" depends on whether the cartridge is, say, the .243 Winchester or .300 Winchester Magnum.

Accuracy is usually about the same as the other two 4350's.

I've been using it for a few years now.It is very close to IMR-4350 and is like the other two 4350 powders,very accurate.I ran a test in a 30-06 with the three 4350 powders loaded @ 58.0grs using a 165gr bullet.
AA-4350 2917fps
IMR-4350 2911fps
H-4350 2890fps
Groups were 3/4 -1" ,so purty much just pick your flavor.I also use AA-4350 in my 300 Win Mag and see about the same results.

I haven't used any AA4350 in a while and I'm sure it will vary slightly from lot-to- lot like other powders. However, I posted (I believe it was on this forum) some time ago that I checked it against an H4350 load for a .30-06. It took 56 grains AA4350 to get approximately the same velocity as 55 grains H4350 using a 180 grain bullet. Granted, that's pretty close, but it's still best to work up a load.

Here's a test I ran of all three powders, using recent lots, in an accurate .257 Roberts a year or so ago:

100 Nosler Ballistic Tip, IMR4350 45.0 grains, 3083 fps
100 Nosler Ballistic Tip, A4350 45.0 grains, 2917 fps
100 Nosler Ballistic Tip, H4350 45.0 grains, 2980 fps

Groups varied considerably as well.

I ran similar tests when Accurate Arms Powder was a separate company, before it was acquired several years ago by Western Powders (the company that offers Ramshot powders). In that test AA4350 was essentially identical to IMR4350 both in performance and appearance, no doubt because Accurate Arms bought surplus powders from various sources, both military and commercial---the reason Accurate Arms powders often varied considerably from lot to lot.

Western Powders is having Accurate powders (they're not Accurate Arms powders anymore) made to their specs, and Accurate Arms 4350 and today's Accurate 4350 are definitely different powders, both in performance and appearance. Today's A4350 is a short-cut powder like H4350, unlike the Accurate Arms 4350, which had long granules like IMR4350. The present Western Powders loading data for A4350 also indicates it's considerably slower than IMR or H4350.

Have also run numerous tests in IMR4350 and H4350 over past 15+ years, and while their burn rates are usually very similar, in different manufacturing lots H4350 can be either slower or faster than IMR4350. Of course, burn-rate will also vary somewhat depending on the specific cartridge and bullet as well.

I have used many pounds of IMR 4350, always have great results.

John Thank You for bringing that to my attention.The AA-4350 I have was made by Accurate Arms.I purchased it around 2012.The IMR-4350 I used in my test was purchased around 2008.The H-4350 was purchased around 2014.Shows you that powders can change.

Guys, thanks for the quick replies. MuleDeer ... it almost sounds like the new A4350 has a burn rate somewhere between the old AA4350 and the now discontinued AA3100. I wonder if that part of the reason AA3100 was discontinued ? Ben

If you want a good alternative to H4350, try the new IMR Enduron 4451.

It's readily available & I don't think you'll be disappointed.

MM

I'm shooting aa4350 in my 243. I'm a grain higher than I was with h4350 before it went extinct.

Are you using Accurate Arms 4350 or Accurate Powders 4350?

Hello,

Since 5 years ago, some Accurate Powders were imported here in Argentina. A 2460, A4064, A4350, and A3100. Two of them was sold under another name...
All are the short cut version as MD said.
My question is: Have any of these powders had any problem with their short term stability? Like decomposing in some way, liberating acid vapors or so? Have been some recall by the Company?

Thank you!

PH

A3100 has been discontinued. Seems like there may have been a recall on it before it was discontinued...

Yup. A specific lot was anyway. Looks like a particular lot of A4064 was recalled as well.

Powder Type: 3100

Lot Number: 12002 (lot number on bottom of can)

If you have this lot number, please call:
1-800-497-1007 or 1-800-416-3006

Powder Type: 4064

Lot Number: 14202 (lot number on bottom of can)

If you have this lot number, please call:
1-800-497-1007 or 1-800-416-3006

Thank you Azar. Down here there have been problems with some lots of ALL the four A Powders imported.
I have 4064 (2 canisters), 4350 (4 canisters) and 3100 (3) but only one of the 4350s presents some acid smell. All the others are still OK and are 4 years old. I have friends, living in warmer and humid zones, who have had more serious issues like decoloring the plastic canisters that, when opened, some colorful gases erupted...! And, corroded brass that was stocked one year since loaded...
Anyway, I like this short cut A Powders. And are, indeed, slower than the IMR versions. About 1-2 grains in my 7x57, 30-06 and .375 H&H.

PH

Sorry, I'm using Accurate Powders 4350 everyone had it in stock a couple years ago so I snagged 8#.

Thanks, that clarifies things.

I had some go bad, but it was not current or even recent production. Back when Accurate first came on the scene in the 80s (think they were located in TN then), their prices were very low in order to get a foothold in the US market. I tried it with great success and bought several 8 lb jugs of 3100 anticipating fairly quick price increases. I shot the heck out of the stuff over the years and was down to my last jug. After using a coupla lbs out of it, I first noticed the odor change and then poured some out on a white sheet of paper. Kaput!

Now, this early product was military surplus that had been repackaged. There is no telling when the powder was manufactured. I think their powders have been newly manufactured from various sources for quite a while. Sure did hate to pour out the end of my stash, though.

If it is available in your area, I too would check out IMR4451.