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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 141
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2013
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Just curious if anyone uses much 4320 powder. I have a couple of cans that were stashed in the back of my reloading cabinet. I used to use it many years ago, so I thought I'd try it in something I never shot it in before. I tried it in my 7mm/08 with 120 Hornady's. I couldn't find any loading data in any of my reloading manuals, but I had a IMR Basic Reloading Manual that I had picked up at the LGS, and it had a load listed for it. I used 43 grains of 4320 and 120 Hornady gave me 2969 fps thru my 22'' Tikka Hunter. 3shot groups @100 yards were under 3/4''. I went as high as 45 grains of 4320, velocity was 3050 and groups didn't change much in size. Seems like anything I shoot in my Tikkas always impresses me. I also have one in 6.5 Creedmoor. They both shoot great with nothing done EXCEPT replace the trigger spring. I shot 2 groups @ 200 yards and groups were very impressive, best one was 1.008. Scope was Leupold VX2 4-12 set @ 12 power. When I first started reloading back in the early 60's (I'm a dinosaur) 4320 was a very popular powder. I used it in my 30/06 which was the only rifle I had back then. Any body using it?
Mike DeLuca----wyomike
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Joined: Mar 2003
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Campfire Tracker
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Joined: Mar 2003
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It’s my powder of choice in the 17 Remington and the 35 Whelen. Great and consistent accuracy with both.
Last edited by mart; 09/26/20.
Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
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It has worked very well for me with 150/155 grain bullets in the 308. It is also quite good in the 250 and 300 Savages.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 580
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
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I use it in my .22-250s and my .250-3000s with excellent results.
Jackie Treehorn: Treats objects like women. Montana uses Ruger actions.
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 140
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Joined: Sep 2013
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I used 4320 for some load development in my 7x57. I carefully worked up to the max load of 47.0 grains as shown in the Nosler data for the 120 grain Nosler BT. My groups are shown in my notes to be in the 1 to 1.5 inch range. Velocity was estimated at around 2990 to 3000 fps. These reloads were not chrono graphed. These loads were shot in a sportified Peruvian Brno manufactured Mauser M98 of the mid 1930s era with the original stepped barrel. I have since added a second 7x57 to my gun safe; a Ruger 77 Mk II. This thread has energized me to work up some more loads with the remaining 120 grain Noslers; and see if this newer rifle likes them better. But I am not holding my breath. Both the Ruger and Mausers seem to have large throats, that do not favor the lighter bullets. In my two 7x57s I seem to do better with the heavier bullets in the 150 - 175 grain weights. When I say "energized me", that is saying a lot! At age 80, it takes a bit of coaxing to get this old body to move. ! CJ
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Joined: Dec 2014
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Campfire Outfitter
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Joined: Dec 2014
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4320 is a wonderful powder, much neglected. But, IMHO it is, in 4 out of 5 burn rate charts, misplaced. Not deliberately, not carelessly, just a function of it's unique chemistry. 4320 gets a rapidly faster burn as bullet weight goes up, as internal volume decreases, and as throat length diminishes. And when it gets near peak operating pressure the pressures rise steeply in relation to charge weight increases. I suggest anyone doing unpublished load development to use the Norma Burn Rate chart, which correctly places 4320 down between 3031 and 4895 rather than up with H380. Norma also has the added advantage of using a 2 number ratio of velocity vs pressure...the best burn chart in the industry IMO.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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My go to for 300 Savage. I don’t use it in anything else but I always keep a couple pounds around for my 300s.
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Campfire Tracker
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Got a pre64 243 that doesn't seem to like anything other than 4320 and 100gr Solid Bases.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 19,179
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2010
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It’s my powder of choice in the 17 Remington and the 35 Whelen. Great and consistent accuracy with both. Was fantastic in my 35 Whelen. Seems mostly replaced buy some powders but 4320 STILL works very well. Jerry
jwall- *** 3100 guy***
A Flat Trajectory is Never a Handicap
Speed is Trajectory's Friend !!
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Joined: May 2005
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Campfire Outfitter
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Joined: May 2005
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Very nice in the .250 and .300 Savages, as well as the 7x57. J O'C's load of 45gr behind the 140 Sierra (or 139 Hornady) does well for me, although JB's 48gr H4350 does well, too.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 516
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
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4320 is a wonderful powder, much neglected. But, IMHO it is, in 4 out of 5 burn rate charts, misplaced. Not deliberately, not carelessly, just a function of it's unique chemistry. 4320 gets a rapidly faster burn as bullet weight goes up, as internal volume decreases, and as throat length diminishes. And when it gets near peak operating pressure the pressures rise steeply in relation to charge weight increases. I suggest anyone doing unpublished load development to use the Norma Burn Rate chart, which correctly places 4320 down between 3031 and 4895 rather than up with H380. Norma also has the added advantage of using a 2 number ratio of velocity vs pressure...the best burn chart in the industry IMO. All powder companies should do this
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14 |
4320 is a wonderful powder, much neglected. But, IMHO it is, in 4 out of 5 burn rate charts, misplaced. Not deliberately, not carelessly, just a function of it's unique chemistry. 4320 gets a rapidly faster burn as bullet weight goes up, as internal volume decreases, and as throat length diminishes. And when it gets near peak operating pressure the pressures rise steeply in relation to charge weight increases. I suggest anyone doing unpublished load development to use the Norma Burn Rate chart, which correctly places 4320 down between 3031 and 4895 rather than up with H380. Norma also has the added advantage of using a 2 number ratio of velocity vs pressure...the best burn chart in the industry IMO. On your suggestion, I printed a copy of the Norma Burn Rate Chart. It does show some differences. JB has long written than burn rates can vary from application to application. Thnaks for that info. Not sure how fully I understand their Relative Velocity and Relative Pressure, but understand they're working against a standard, 43.2 gr. IMR 4350 in a .308 with 143 gr. FMJ bullet. I'm thinking about it. DF
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,192
Campfire Tracker
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The only cartridge I have used it in is the .375 H&H. It did well in both velocity and accuracy. I here it is good in the .338-06
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 115
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Joined: Mar 2020
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have been using 4320 for 30 years in my 1959 Savage 99 Featherweight.... 300 Savage with 150 gr Hornady Interlocks. Startted with it back then because that was what the data i had was using. Never tried anything else in that rifle. Will shoot 2 MOA or a little bit better often especially if the ballistics gods are with me that day. A Chrony test showed velocity about 2550 f/s. Took my share of deer with that load in east central minn brush places.
the small 'stick' size of 4320 makes it easy to measure. Goes thru a powder measure nicely.
When i started reloading a 223 first powder i reached for was the 4320 because that was what i had on my bench. Currently a consistent load is that powder pushing 55gr Sierra Varminters. Wont tell you my loads.....work up your own. My loads NEVER are at maximum.
Sporterized an old Mauser in 7 x 57 and i feed that one 4320 also. Have worked up respectable consistent mild loads with 140 gr Sierra ProHunters, 150 gr semi pointeds [ dont know if they are Winchester or Remington], 150 gr Partitions, and 165 gr Remington RN. Tried pushing the 150 grainer types with IMR4350. They did not play well together.
My current hunting load uses the 150 gr Partitions in a load which pretty much duplicates the 300 Savage load above. Will do MOA most of the time.
Even those ugly RN Remingtons will do 2" or 3" groups. And i havent really spent much time working up a load. [only reason i have these RN things is that a friend gave me about 200 of em, and i am too cheap to NOT use em. ]
right now I am hoarding what 4320 i have since lately its hard to find,. As are primers.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 580
Campfire Regular
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right now I am hoarding what 4320 i have since lately its hard to find, It's been discontinued.
Jackie Treehorn: Treats objects like women. Montana uses Ruger actions.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
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right now I am hoarding what 4320 i have since lately its hard to find, It's been discontinued. Didn't know. I guess my two cans will have to last a while... DF
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,270 Likes: 42
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,270 Likes: 42 |
Have mentioned this before here and there, but one of the best hunters (and running-game shots) I've ever known was one of my early mentors. He was also the ONLY handloader I've ever known who actually saved money by handloading.
He had two centerfire rifles, a Savage 99 in .250-3000 and a "sporterized" Argentine Mauser he bought for around $20 through the mail when he was in high school. Neither ever had a scope. The load he used for each was the "middle" charge of IMR4320 in the Speer manual of the say, with the cheapest 100-grain .25 or 180 .30 he could buy at the local store. He killed antelope, mule and whitetalls, and elk every year--and sometimes elk for other hunters in his group of family and friends, which was not unheard of back then if somebody got into a herd. Oh, and a pile of coyotes every winter the .250, back when the hides were worth a LOT.
Leaned a lot from him--and still miss him.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Campfire Outfitter
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I was ultra disappointed to hear of the demise of IMR-4320. It's my go-to 22-250 powder along with a 55 gr. Ballistic Tip. Have used it with satisfaction in a variety of other applications as well. I have burn rate charts. I know what other powders are in that ball park. But what's the best powder to use when I'd really like to get my hands on some IMR-4320 and it's unobtanium ? What a bummer. Think I only have about a pound left.
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Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 289
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 289 |
Have killed many whitetails with various charges and bullets in 7x57, 30/06, and 35 Whelen. Shot a nice South Dakota 5x5 whitetail buck with a 150gr Hornady Spire Point over 49gr of 4320 in my M700 30/06. Not a speedster, but a very accurate load.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,364
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,364 |
Have mentioned this before here and there, but one of the best hunters (and running-game shots) I've ever known was one of my early mentors. He was also the ONLY handloader I've ever known who actually saved money by handloading.
He had two centerfire rifles, a Savage 99 in .250-3000 and a "sporterized" Argentine Mauser he bought for around $20 through the mail when he was in high school. Neither ever had a scope. The load he used for each was the "middle" charge of IMR4320 in the Speer manual of the say, with the cheapest 100-grain .25 or 180 .30 he could buy at the local store. He killed antelope, mule and whitetalls, and elk every year--and sometimes elk for other hunters in his group of family and friends, which was not unheard of back then if somebody got into a herd. Oh, and a pile of coyotes every winter the .250, back when the hides were worth a LOT.
Leaned a lot from him--and still miss him. Growing up n the Thirties made people Uber Thrifty ! My wife’s guido (sp) Ukeranian for grandfather, was born just after the Spanish Flu in 1918. Never drove a vehicle, hunted some local to their farm, mostly geese which were plentiful. Ultra thrifty man. I miss him.
History May Not Repeat, But it Rhymes.
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