Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Competitive Shooting H4895 vs IMR4895 in 308

Is H4895 a better powder for 168-175 gr match bullet use than IMR 4895?

What kind of load are you wanting to put together with a 168?

I have been using 43 grs IMR4895 and 168 gr Hornady hpbt, but I see on the Hodgdon website that H4895 delivers similar velocity with less pressure. Thought one of the crew may have some knowledge on this. Been shooting 300 and 600 yd F Class, with 168's.

When I played along those lines I tried both in my M1As. I simply used whichever gave best accuracy and consistency. Typically it was IMR. But I have many cans of H around too and it one of the guns it was definitely what it preferred.

Of course any time you get same speed for less pressure, assuming you don't loose performance in other areas, I take less pressure.

Even though the thread is about the 4895s i'll offer: 42.5gr RL15 with either bullet and your golden to 600. With the 175 your golden to 1k. Least this works in my F-TR gun, 95Palma chamber, 29" 1:12, three groove. Jump both bullets 0.015-0.018" if the name on the box is Sierra MK. I use Fed GM primers. Plans to go the the Nats at Lodi Luke?

I really haven't thought about the Nationals, but I sure would like to get better, especially at 1k. Last summer I tried RL17 and then switched to XBR8208, and even though I had good numbers, (sd&es) with XBR I did not score better than good old 4895. Our little group does not mark each shot. So after your sighters, it's 15 downrange and you don't know where in the hell they are going. This year we plan to mark targets after each 5 shots, so that will help, especially at 1k. I have been shooting off a rest, but I am going to a bipod this year. My competitors use them with good results and it's less stuff to carry around. If I don't compete in the Nationals,I would at least like to come and watch the show, and learn something in the process. This 1000 yard thing is a quandry! Luke

RL15 is not bad either. Varget is not bad. Have you tried 4064... sometimes thats a sleeper.

Going to a bipod from a rest will play with your accuracy a bit usually...

I'll do my practice with the bipod and see how it goes. Which bipod works best?

I would use the H4895 if for no other reason it is one of the extreme powders

The better shooters I've seen run sinclair... I"m still shooting Harris because its whats on my combo hunting/F class attempt of a gun... you gotta be right in all things to make it work though. Consistency from shot to shot. The front rest is a LOT easier.

I think I'll borrow one and try it before I buy one. Thanks, Luke

Just to clarify - for those who are unfamiliar with Hodgdon's "Extreme" powder series they are temperature insensitive. I do not believe IMR 4895 is.

But it might be the case that your rifle likes the IMR powder better than H4895. If that's the case why change? I would just test it and find out.

I bought a pound of H4895 yesterday, and will test it out.

H4895 is one of my favorites. It doesn't meter through my Redding thrower very well but there's no arguing with the results or its versatility. It works great in my 223 Remington and 260 Remington. Consistent sub 0.5 MOA groups with each. My brother reports better results with his 22-250 and 308 Palma. Just a great all around powder.

I have tried both and sometime IMR will give a higher velocity than Hod, but not much, as far as accuracy i can't tell any real difference in my rifles between the two powders

My favorite load in either the Service Rifle or Match Rifle for 200-300 yd. rapid fire in NRA HP Comp was 40.5 grs. IMR4895 with a 168 Sierra HPBT using a F210M primer and Winchester cases. Shot many 8-9X 'cleans' with that load from these distances and a few 10X cleans!