Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Help with H-4350, in a IMR-4350 load

I have been given a load from someone I trust. It's a whitetail load and has worked for him for years. Sierra Game King HPBT 165grn. Federal Std. large rifle primers, Winchester brass, and finaly 56.5 grns. of IMR-4350. I have a lot of H-4350 and I am trying to see if I can load it grain for grain, ie. 56.5 grn. of H-4350. He states the bullet has a lot of bearing surface which contributes to it's accuracy but can have higher pressures than other long pointed bullets. So can I use my H-4350 or am I going to have to buy IMR-4350? Is there a conversion ratio if it isn't one to one? Thoughts
I have reloaded for 5 years, a late starter but I really enjoy it and the range time getting ready for Deer season.
Thanks Buckfever

Why not load up a few starting a couple of grains low and work up.
You should be ok, H-4350 is a hair slower then IMR-4350 but I still would work up a load.

H4350 is an excellent 30-06 powder with 165 grain bullets. Just do a standard workup and you'll find a good load pretty quick. Hodgdon's data tops out at 59 grains.

IMR 4350 does not equal grain for grain to H4350. Stay safe and work your load up.

Assuming you're referring to the 30-06, I have found that in order to equal the pressures that a load of IMR 4350 generates you add one to two grains of H4350. In other words H4350 is slower.
Now that being said the aforementioned statement is not a panacea. Start at 53 or so and work up. You should max out at 57 or 58 grains.

And BTW your gun may hate the load or require IMR to shoot as well as his.

I don't care if my mother gave me a load to use that was endorsed by her mother.I would still not juus plop it in a case and use it with out first consulting a manual to see where it is in the range of a loading table.If it is in the close to max range, drop down and work up.

Ditto, H4350 is a tad slower in burn rate tha IMR 4359.However, that may even out if you get a faster burn rate in a lot of H4350 and a slower burn rate in a lot of H4350

Sounds like you're talking about a 30-06 load. I have found that H4350 is not quite as stout as IMR4350 and it usually takes a bit more to achieve the same velocity. My go to load for every 30-06 I've owned has been 57gr of IMR4350 behind a 165gr bullet @2800fps.
Assuming you own a modern bolt action rifle, I'd load up 3 at 56grs, 3 at 56.5grs, 3 at 57 and see how it goes. If you have a Chrony, you should be getting 2800fps or close. If not, try going a little higher. I wouldn't go over say 58grs of the H4350.

There are others who may have worked with more 30-06 bolt actions than me,but the count is now 9,almost always with 180gr bullets and usually IMR-4350 or H-4350. On the 9th,a P-17 factory sporter, I got a rude surprise,H-4350 got fast and ragged.Moral here,even if it's just a 30-06,start low and shoot over a cheap chrony.

My Sierra manual lists 46.8/2400-54.4/2800 & 48.2/2400-56.5/2800 as start/vel-max/velocity on H4350 & IMR4350, respectively.

Sounds like the general rule of thumb re: H & IMR 4350s (which I've also heard) doesn't hold true in Sierra's testing.

As others have said; work your way up. IIRC (PLEASE check this before assuming it true) Hogdgon's manual lists a max load of H-4350 and a Sierra 165 GK as 60 gr, but the HP version has a thicker jacket and is likely more sticky.

I love the '06 w/ 165s and the Sierra HPGK is a really versatile one. The 4350s are definately classic, but you might also try RL-19 which has been an incredible performer in my '06.

For the .30-06 with Sierra 165 gr. GameKings I go with 56 grs. IMR4350 or 57 grs. H4350 for near duplicate performance. That is with Winchester brass and CCI 200 primers. Ft/sec is 2830 or around there...don't have the data in front of me.

What do the books say? Period!! I'm fully aware that the IMR powder is slightly faster than Hodgdon's but I still wouldn't do anything without sourcing it to a manual. You do as you wish tho.
Bear in Fairbanks

Comparing different powders and lot numbers is never exact without chronograph testing, but 57.5gr H-4350 should be close to an equivalent load of 56.5gr IMR4350 in the 30-06 for the 165gr. When working close to max loads, anytime you change powder cans, even of the same powder, you should drop down a couple of grains and work back up. For future reference here is a link to [color:#3333FF]Hodgdon's Data Center[/color].

TC

I actually have run into lots of h4350 that were faster than lots of I4350. Just goes to show that you don't know....till you test and then you know.
I like working with h4350 best....doesn't fill the case as fast, shorter kernals meter better ...and supposed to be more temp insensitive.