IMR 4320/Hornady 178 BTHP
- Thread starter savageshooter86
- Start date
I tried it last year with the 175 SMK. IMR-4064 and RL-15 both won in accuracy, by a little bit, SD/ES numbers, by a good amount, and in velocity, by a wide margin. The only thing I have ever gotten good results with IMR-4320 are medium .30-06 loads and 7.62x54R.
i have had pretty good luck with imr-4320 in 308, 7x57 and 30-06
During this last shortage, it was pretty much the last stuff on the shelves. I was pleasantly surpised with the results. Not your exact bullet weight, but I have tried some 175 smk and 178 amax with good results as well. Stuff loads up like Varget (verify your loads)
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-reloading/244396-imr4320-308-sure-why-not.html
During this last shortage, it was pretty much the last stuff on the shelves. I was pleasantly surpised with the results. Not your exact bullet weight, but I have tried some 175 smk and 178 amax with good results as well. Stuff loads up like Varget (verify your loads)
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-reloading/244396-imr4320-308-sure-why-not.html
I have tried it with the 185s side by side with Varget. The 4320 gave very close but ever so slightly higher velocity than Varget on an equal weight basis. ES/SD numbers looked similar. The 4320 gave me a blown primer at the highest load, whereas Varget showed no obvious pressure signs, even though the velocity was close for the same charge weight. So although the 4320 is generally listed as slightly slower than Varget, it seems to develop pressure a little faster in my hands. The vertical with the Varget was also just slightly better at 300 yd. The final Varget load was Lapua brass, Fed 210 primer, 44.4 gr Varget, 185 Juggernaut seated .020" off, .002 nk tension, MV ~ 2770 fps out of a 30" Bartlein SS 5R .299/.308 barrel. My impression is that the IMR4320 would have worked almost as well at something like 44.1-44.2 gr. I'd use it in a heartbeat if I didn't still have some Varget left.
Thanks. I only have 7# of Varget left and saving that for my big matches. So found 4320 and N140 to use with 178 BTHP to save on my good components. I use 185 LRBT with Varget and am right there where your load is. But I am getting 2755 fps. I just need to back off my 4320 load slightly and re work the test. I read a lot that the 178 load is very close to the 185 load in most rifles.
