Changing from H4350 to IMR 4350

[Wannashootit]

Snagged a few items at the local reloading shop yesterday (including some 162 Amax's )...

No H4350 (surprise), but said he's getting in some 1 lb IMR 4350 next week.

He has 8 pound jugs, but didn't want to commit to that without knowing how this stuff might shoot in this rifle (7-08) compared to the H4350 I'm using.

He said IMR has been more "available" (whatever that is these days) than Hodgdon.

For those that may have made the switch, results?

 

[JB02]

They are not the same. Back off your load a grain or two and work back up

 

[mtrmn]

They are not the same but IMR is every bit as good IMO. Just back off a little and work back up. You will find a load with the IMR that performs just as well as the H. Hodgdon makes them both now, but they may actually come from different plants or something since it does SEEM that the IMR has been more readily available.

 

[BuzzBoss915]

What he said^ Yes, slightly different burning rate but the results velocity and accuracy should be very close, except for splitting hairs. I use both IMR 4831 and H4831 and in most situations, prefer H4831; oh hell, I admit that I prefer H4350 as well. But, the way things are, you have to improvise. I just bought 5,000 Remington primers that I seldom use but, Hey? I will use them if I have to. So, same thing here, buy what you can and if and when this crap blows over, you can buy whatever you prefer, but in the meantime, a reasonable substitute comes along, jump on it. BB

 

[Wannashootit]

Yeah, 10-4.
I'll buy a 1 pounder next week and give it a try.

Bad enough that Hornady dropped my bullet of choice, then can't find the right powder... yada yada...

So much for one-time load development.

 

[JeffinTX]

Similar burn speed but not the same. IMR was the original, and is now made in Canada, while H is made by the Australians. FWIW, my .243 and 7x57 shoots best with IMR4350. My 6XC shoots well enough with the H4350 that I never bothered trying something else.

 

[PharmShooter]

I have had great results with IMR 4350 loaded for a 6.5 creedmoor. My gun loved 40.8 grains with a 140gr SMK.

 

[robp5t]

I have got the best results with group size, ES and SD with IMR 4350 in my 260. I tried a few primer types and found WLR primers worked the best for my setup.

 

[8mmDale]

Post your results for this! I'm running really low on H4350 and might have to switch to IMR4350 as well. I can still find it and H4831, so I plan on testing them before the snow hits.

 

[shoot4fun]

Lucky me. I just snagged an 8 pound jug of H4350. It is my "go to" for 260, 7mm08, 243 and 6.5CM. Got one of AA2520 as well for the 223 and 223AI heavy bullets. Price was reasonable too.
As for IMR4350 v. H4350, they stack right together on the burn chart. Just do like suggested and back off to start.

 

[robp5t]

My last trip out to the range I got these numbers.
My Load is 41.9g of IMR 4350, Lapua brass, 139 scenar seated .010 off the lands with WLR primer.
84 degrees out no wind and 75% humidity
2718
2716 ES 11
2707 SD 6
2711
2714

 

[cjbailey]

For what it's worth, I prefer the H4350 to the IMR due to metering issues with the IMR; I accidently bought a pound of it once and I sat down last winter and loaded 22-243 shells til I ran out of it. This is through a RCBS powder measure, the one in the Rockchucker kit. And if any of yall are looking for H4350, or other types of Hodgdon powder, Gene Sears in El Reno, OK, supposedly got a big shipment in today. I called and bought three pounds of H4350, not sure what all came in the shipment though. Might look them up, they have a website, if you don't see what you want there just call tomorrow. Hope this helps!

 

[ZiaHunter]

Since H4350 is nearly impossible to find, I have been using IMR 4350 in both a 6.5 CM and 300 WM ( bullets<185 gr.) with excellent results. It is somewhat temperature sensitive and need to check velocities at various temps.

 

[Foweis]

Wells it's gotten worse since this thread started. Anyone with good data for imr4350 using 139 lapua scenars for .260?
Thanks.

 

[myownman]

I've got H4350, IMR4350, varget. My 7-08 loves the IMR.

 

[Foweis]

Problem Is I only found a couple pounds of aa4350 and found 1 8pound imr4350 and just snatched the IMR since it's an 8 pounder and left the AA, but now I feel like I should've maybe went with AA, seems to be the closer one to h4350. I understand that these days you should get what you can find but still!

 

[Clark]

AA4350 and IMR4350 show up on the internet often.
Checking... yes both are in stock at a dozen major suppliers.
Checking.... no H4350 on the internet, and I have not seen any in a long time.

I have not used AA4350, but both the IMR4350 and the H4350 I have are slower than the Quickload library model.

 

[Foweis]

Maybe reloader 17 would be a better option than both.

 

[richidaho]

If I go to any gun store or place were they have reloading items I now carry a gunpowder burn rate chart. This way I can buy powders and not run out like I did last year. Comparative Powder Burning Rates This allows me to buy powders with similar burn rates without have to look up loads for each powder listed. I load for .223, .308, 30-06, and .338 LM. I always try to buy two lb's at a time this way I get some shooting out of this type of power; and it gives me some to develop a load. With the .338 LM you need to buy 4 lb's. You will get some inconsistency but you might find something you like. I bought 15 lbs of H335 this spring and man does it work well in a lot of loads.

Rich L

 

[Foweis]

Well according to your chart looks like AA4350 is the closest to H4350, anyone switch from h4350 to AA4350? How did it compare?

 

[Foweis]

Any news on h4350? Anywhere in the country have any?

 

[6brshooter]

Dude just backorder some. I got down to 6 lbs a year ago, i backordered some from midsouth in March13'. Also backordered some from another outfit, both 8 lb jugs. I got low enough in the summer that i switched a couple 243s over to imr4350, which is plentiful. In those two rifles it took exactly .5 gr less to equal velocity and accuracy of my h4350 loads. In a 6.5cm the load went from 42.4 h4350 to 41.5 imr4350. A buddy ran across a couple 8 lb jugs of h4350 in nov, we bought one for me and one for himself. That was good as i was down to less than one lb of h4350. A couple weeks later both my bo 8 lbs came in, talk about when it rains it pours. I still shoot imr4350 in one rifle, might keep using it in that stick. shot several 2.5-3" groups with it at 1 k.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Well according to your chart looks like AA4350 is the closest to H4350, anyone switch from h4350 to AA4350? How did it compare?

I've used AA-4350 a lot in the 260 Rem and it's pretty close to what I get with H-4350 and works well as a substitute, except for it's a very long stick, so it meters 'not so great.'

It should be cheaper, however, if you can find it.

Chris

 

[JGorski]

Have no problem finding H4350, just bought the last pound Hodag Gun & pawn had last friday, they also has many lbs of IMR so I bought both, I'm confident IMR will work just fine in my next 6 Creed. Also just bought some IMR4064 at Scheel's yesterday cuz I can't find any RE15, again, very confident 50grs of IMR4064 will work just as well as 50grs RE15 for my bro in laws 30-06 under 165SSTs. IMR4064 metered quite well thru my Hornady measure, btw.

 

[Cascade_Sherpa]

Thanks for the input guys, I've had this same question as the OP for some time now. Its very common to see plenty of IMR4350 at my local gun stores but haven't seen the H4350 in a long time.

I'm curious about how sensitive the IMR is to temp changes as I plan on reloading and testing a 6.5 CM load here on the mild and humid wet side of WA and then traveling over to Eastern WA for a rifle match end of May. Temps and elevation will be significantly higher than here.

 

[Foweis]

Also interested about imr4350 and temp change.

 

[JGorski]

Some info on that temp sensitive question.
IMR-4350 temp sensitive??? - Long Range Hunting Online Magazine

 

[6brshooter]

I worked my loads up in the summer with chrony data. I planned to get the one remaining rifle that is using imr4350 out when it was 30*, 0*, &-20*. I got busy and forgot, it's now in the 50-60 range. Not sure their would be much difference at that temp compared to 90-95* initial workup data.