Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters H4895

I have been reading old articles on reloading the 222. H4895 is being referred to in some articles. It’s been quite a while since I have seen 4831, 4895 sold in bags and at less cost than a Can of pop/coke/soda today.
I have shot groups with old H4895 and new H4895 which over-lapped in ‘06 reloads, so I believe the difference isn’t great in some circumstances. But when I read old articles Or old reloading manuals where the author refers to H4895 I wonder...Especially if the author doesn’t mention old vs new.
Brings me to the point of this thread, “When did new H4895 come out?”

Thanks.

There have been more than one new H4895. I don't recall the dates.

H4895 was originally war surplus, then manufactured by Hodgdon, and the Extreme line came out, 15? 20? years ago.

No doubt there's been other changes along the line. Different manufacturing plants in different countries, also.

I don't believe Hodgdon ever manufactured any.

Hodgdon doesn't manufacture H4895?

Or do you mean Hodgdon contracts with smokeless powder manufacturers to Hodgon's specifications?

That's it with respect to H4895.

Most powders are manufactured for different powder brands to their specs by other plants around the world. Vortex doesn't manufacture optics, either.

Which is why I said Hodgdon didn't manufacture H4895. I know they originally marketed 4895 that was surplus which had been made by Dupont. They marketed H4895 made in Scotland, and now in Australia by ADI. I don't know if there were other versions.

On the same theme, I've always used IMR 4895, but lately I come across H4895 more often. What is the main difference and how will the loads transfer over to the H4895 in the real world. I've read data, but I've never tried it. Anyone with any experience?

I was wondering the same thing. Don't use much H4895, but I have almost a full pound of it here. Got 8 pounds of IMR-4895 and the way things are going I don't expect to be making very many powder purchases any time soon. I can read the loading data for each one but just curious as to some folks real world experience.

The Aussie H version is all I’ve ever used. Had some stunning groups from a Kimber Longmaster .308 and 46gr with a 150gr NPT is a favorite ‘06 load. Have also used it a bit with 70gr .243 loads and IIRC, .223

Very versatile stuff. I try to keep some on hand, JIC. The Hodgdon manual has loads out the wazoo.

I have two old pounds of the H and have no idea why. Need to look at the notes.

Found some H4895 just last Friday, along with some H380. Plan on working up some 22-250 loads for a new Bergara rifle. All they would let me purchase was a pound of each.

Geeeez....

Hodgdon, the powder company, has actually manufactured very little powder in the 70+ years the company has been around. Instead they've sold powders made by various factories. Originally they were all military surplus, but these days they come from a lot of different sources.

The orginal H4895 started as a DuPont product, IMR4895, which co-evolved with the M1 Garand rifle, which required a moderate pressure at the gas port near the muzzle.

That powder was produced and used for ALL military .30-06 ammo through WWII. After the war there was so much on hand that Bruce Hodgdon could buy it cheaply by the box-car load. THAT was the "original" H4895--but it was really DuPont IMR4895.

After that started running out, the same basic formula (with some modifications) to make more IMR4895. This was made by DuPont for a while, but eventually they got out of the handloader-powder business. It is now made, with a similar formula, in a plant in Quebec--but also by the Australian factory that produces the Hodgdon Extremes, including today's H4895. Which is the Extreme powder that comes closest to the burn-rate of the original, and Canadian, and Australian-made IMR 4895.

God bless them all!

lol.......Amen!

According to Hodgdon, when the surplus 4895 ran out they contracted with a Scottish company to manufacture it.

They did that as well with H4831, but it only lasted a few years.

I've always had stellar success with H4895
no matter what boat it came off of

I acquired one of the cardboard canisters of H4831 when I bought out an older gentleman's reloading bench. It indeed says "Made In Scotland". It still had a few tablespoons of powder in it. The powder was pretty dusty though.