I have worked up a perfectly satisfactory reduced recoil/velocity load for my Krieghoff single shot rifle chambered in .30R Blaser. It is with H4895 powder, and the mild load turns the rifles "standard" 300 H&H level of power into something more like a .308 Winchester. 150 grain cup and core bullet at 2800 fps is about perfect for me while I'm hunting deer with such light rifle. I don't need or want that bullet to go 3100 fps.

My problem is that I can't purchase either H or IMR 4895 anywhere.

With the current powder shortages being what they are, is there another medium burn rate powder that is recommended or generally considered safe to load at about 70% of maximum charges? I know I shouldn't try to load <90% charges of very slow burning powder like H4831, but what of Benchmark? or IMR 3031? Or IMR4064? Or N140? Or Varget? or RL15?
I have some of each of the above on hand, but no data for reduced loads.

Can you offer a practical suggestion?

I have no insight on your dilemma, but I gotta say that 2800fps being a mild reduced load did take me aback!

How big is the case compared to common 300 magnums? I have some old IMR3031 data for 300 H&H and 300 Winchester.

Accurate 5744 can be used for reduced loads in bigger cases, but its availability is spotty.

Yeah, I would suggest Accurate 5744 as well, partly because like H4895 it's also an excellent powder in the .223 Remington, .308 Winchester and similar rounds. But just checked several Internet sites I regularly buy from, and none have any.

.30R Blaser case capacity is 76 grains of water, a fair bit less than the .300 Winchester magnum

Thanks for the Accurate 5744 suggestion, but I've actually never seen it for sale here in Canada, even before the current shortages. I was hoping one of the powders I have on hand would serve.

I would use 30-06 starting loads using the components you have on hand.

That's just about the same water capacity as the .300 WSM. You might check that data for the powders you have on hand.

IMR/DuPont used to publish reduced loads for IMR4198. H4198 would probably work as well.

3031 will work for reduced loads . Lyman has listed cast bullet loads as low as 11-14000 psi with that powder

For the 300H&H Lyman lists starting loads for 150gr as follows:
Win 760 61.0gr @ 2633
IMR 4350 63.0gr@ 2799
RL19 65.0gr @ 2779
IMR 4831 65.0gr@ 2809
Interpolate accordingly.
Hope that helps.

Blacktailer,

As I mentioned earlier, the .300 WSM has just about the same case capacity as his .30R Blaser--and also just about exactly the same as the .300 H&H. I suggested using .300 WSM data because it's far more likely to include a wide variety of powders these days than .300 H&H data, but either will work.

In fact I published an article some years ago (part of which is included in the first BIG BOOK OF GUN GACK) about an experiment Charlie Sisk ran for HANDLOADER magazine. He chambered a rifle for the .300 H&H, and ran both velocity and pressure tests with various loads. He then removed the barrel from the action and rechambered it for the .300 WSM, using the same chamber throat--which of course required cutting off a little of the chamber end of the barrel. He then ran the same tests, using the same handloads, and both velocity and pressure were just about exactly the same. There's a chart with the test's results at the end of Chapter 41, on the .300 H&H.

The old IMR reloading manual has data for 300 H&H you could use. This is for 150 grain bullet. They say to start 10% low and work up.

IMR3031 60.0 3100fps
IMR4064 64.0 3170fps
IMR4198 44.0 2715fps

You apparently don't have 4198 but I'm listing it because that might be the perfect powder for reduced loads.

Recently this load manual disappeared from the web but I have a PDF copy I can share if you need. PM me with your address and I will send it.

Thanks to JB for sharing this info in various ways over the years!

You have 3031? Then reduce it by 2 - 3 grains from what you'd use of IMR 4895. And it's typically lower pressure than IMR 4895, so you may be able to use the same amount, but I'd start a couple grains lower.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

Me, as well...

Accurate 2495 is their version of 4895, why they numbered it 2495 who knows, was made to duplicate imr 4895 results. It's made in Canada so maybe available.

Kent

I’d recommend getting on Midway and setting up a product arrival notification for H4895. It does come up, and it even was available for a couple hours the last time or two it’s been in stock. I’m sure you could load H4895 to even less velocity than you’re getting now.

A couple years ago, I was hunting deer exclusively with my 300WM in a 700P with H4895 and a 165 SST. 3000 fps was still too much of a good thing, but the load had a mild report and in that rifle, very soft recoil. I may have to revisit that idea and slow things down quite a bit more.

Varget?


The old Hodgdon or IMR (forget which) annual booklet that was free every
year used to list almost every possible powder in the listed cartridges.

Not just the best ones.

Gonna look around and see if I can find one.
If I'm not seen in a day or two, request a welfare check please!

Found several, none listed loads like I remember. These are some of the
newer ones, maybe that's why.

Consult a cast bullet manual, find some powders you can get or have some yourself...

My recommendations would be 4198, RL7 or 3031....

find those, and work up until you find something you like...

I do that sort of stuff a lot..

Thanks for all the advice, I have several good suggestions to follow up. I really appreciate it!

https://shop.hodgdon.com/hodgdon-h4895/ In stock for now

6 minutes later and it's not. Love me some 2022......

I probably still have 10lbs of 4895, but I still had to look.

Speer 13 has reduced loads with IMR-4198 for: .30-06. 300H&H, 300 Norma, 300 Winchester, and 300 WBY. Should be able to find something in that line up to approximate water capacity of your cartridge...

Another comment: Looking at ONLY reduced velocity in these suggestions does NOT necessarily result in the accuracy castnblast is looking for.

Plus, apparently many did not comprehend that the OP is only looking for a SLIGHTLY reduced load, as in 2800 fps, which can easily be accomplished with the .30-06 these days with various powders, even with the 60,000 PSI SAAMI maximum average pressure. I have handloaded for several .300 H&H rifles, and as with many centerfire big game rounds, found the best accuracy with loads at least near maximum, with powders that mostly filled the case.

He is NOT looking to turn the .300 H&H into a .30-30, .300 Savage or even .308 Winchester....

What John just said goes hand in hand with why guys who play in the 1100-2000 fps range with cast bullet smokeless loads in the quest for accuracy and in shoulder to shoulder match shooting resort to small capacity cases that barely hold the requisite small powder charges. You won't see people utilizing .300 Magnum cases when doing that but you will see cases based on such things as .357 Magnum brass necked down at the low end and .30-30 - capacity brass at the high end of that velocity range.