From 24HourCampfire.com

leomort
Campfire Ranger
 
Loc: Indiana     
Hello shaman,

I seen your post regarding H4895 on the Gunwriters section and on your website.

I’m brand new to reloading. Only have two cartridges: 223rem and 308win. I’m looking to simplify my reloading by only stock one powder if possible.

What can you tell me or what have you found out about H4895 that you like it over the others?

I have some Varget which seems to be a 24hourcampfire favorite as well as some Blc-2.

Appreciate your feedback and help that you can provide.

Leo

09/27/14 10:08 AM Re: H-4895
shaman
Loc: Neave, KY
I think there is somebody here that claims to put Varget on his cornflakes. I’m kind of that way with H4895

Start here, and let me know if you need more info.
Making the switch to H4895

I’ve used H4895 in both 308 and 223 REM. In just about all cases (223 REM, 308Win, 30-30 WIN, 30-06, 76.2X54R, 35 Whelen), I’ve seen H4895 be an accurate performer with moderate recoil. The one round I don’t use it with is 25-06. It works, but it was somewhat anemic in the velocity department. I’m the kind of guy that does not want to push any envelopes. I get a new chambering, I load up starting loads (5%off MAX or thereabouts) and if the load is accurate enough for hunting, I stop right there. I figure that it saves rifle barrels, saves powder, saves my shoulder, and if I wanted to push envelopes I’d transfer to the mailroom.

I had one 308 WIN rifle that was not accurate at all with H4895. I switched to Varget and got good results. I went back this year and tried H4895 after I’d treated the barrel with Dyna Bore Coat and now it shoots the best ever with H4895. Go figure.

If you don’t mind, I’ll post this conversation on my weblog. I need to do a piece on H4895, and this would be a good start.

_________________________
Genesis 9:2-4 Ministries Lighthearted Confessions of a Cervid Serial Killer

  09/27/14 10:32 AM Re: H-4895
leomort
Campfire Ranger

Registered: 04/04/02
Posts: 1572
Loc: Indiana     
No problem with posting on your blog. That’s where I originally found info on H-4895. I like your idea of using lighter chargers of H-4895 while keeping bullet weight up. The recoil programs I use show it recoils around 243wn levels.

Hodgdon website for youth loads drop bullet weight down to 125-130gr. While that may make sense in other caliber, it doesn’t make sense for 308win. Why not drop loads down to 30-30win or 300savage as it makes more sense since the bullets where design to still expand at those reduce velocities.

09/27/14 11:05 AM Re: H-4895
shaman
Campfire Guide

Loc: Neave, KY
It’s amazing how much a 5% off-MAX load does to the recoil.
I have a 35 Whelen that shoots like a 358 WIN
I have a 308 WIN that shoots like a 300 Savage
I have a Mosin Nagant that shoots like a 30-30.

It’s great.
_________________________
Genesis 9:2-4 Ministries Lighthearted Confessions of a Cervid Serial Killer

 09/27/14 12:50 PM Re: H-4895
leomort
Campfire Ranger
 
Loc: Indiana     
I seen that you’re not keen on the idea of 223rem for deer hunting?

It seems pretty popular here on the ‘campfire. Never hunted deer with 223rem so I can’t comment on its effectiveness.

09/27/14 01:59 PM Re: H-4895
shaman
Campfire Guide

Loc: Neave, KY
I actually started working up a 223 load for deer, and was intent on doing it, but I got sidetracked by other projects. I finally realized after a few years that I hadn’t done anything with the 223 project and realized I had lost interest.

Can it work? I’m sure. Am I going to do it? Prolly someday. Am I hot on the idea? Last year I got a 25-06. I load it to shoot like a 257 Roberts (see a pattern here?) I’m going to slowly work my way down. I figure 35 Whelen was my high-water mark. By the time I’m 90, I’ll probably have given all the 30-06’s to the grandkids and be singing the praises of 223 REM.

Right now, my interest is in getting all my 358 pistols and rifles shooting cast lead. I hope to convert my Whelenizer to a 35-Rem-ish pump shooting 200 gr hard cast.

_________________________
Genesis 9:2-4 Ministries Lighthearted Confessions of a Cervid Serial Killer

  09/27/14 02:24 PM Re: H-4895
leomort
Campfire Ranger
 
Loc: Indiana     
Hmmm, not sure if you noticed this or not but I’m seeing a trend here on the campfire of people being divided into two camps.

One side is taking a larger centerfire rifles then downloading for their purposes.

The other side uses smaller centerfire rifles then handloads premium bullets if they want to increase performance to take smaller size medium game.

I can see the merits of both views. Yes, I can see your pattern smile

In handguns, I’m trying my hand at down loaded 44mags to 44specials. Will see how that goes. I’ve tumbled about 100 once fire 44mag brass I shot earlier this month. Now I’ve got to deprime, etc.

09/27/14 02:46 PM Re: H-4895
shaman Online content
Campfire Guide

Loc: Neave, KY
Yes! That’s the spirit. The 44 mag brass will last longer, and you don’t erode the throat the way you would using 44 Special in a 44 Mag chamber.

For me, it comes down to cost mostly. A 300 MAG downloaded to 30-06 levels is a HECK of a lot cheaper to shoot over the long haul than a 30-06 pushing up into 300 WM territory. I can use cheap bullets too.

So many people spend gobs of money for performance that only manifests itself on the far side of the deer. I’ve never been all that invested in making the forest floor fly.

BTW: I stepped outside, and someone just handed me a nice AR-type in 223, and I shot a magazine into the pond . Don’t worry, there’s a berm to catch the strays. Anyhow, I noticed that I was making plumes of spray every bit as high as shooting my buddy’s 300 Win Mag last fall. Hmmmm. Makes you think, donut?
_________________________
Genesis 9:2-4 Ministries Lighthearted Confessions of a Cervid Serial Killer

  09/27/14 03:07 PM Re: H-4895
leomort
Campfire Ranger
 
Loc: Indiana  

I didn’t start hunting until I was 30. Didn’t grow up in a hunting family or one that really believe in firearms so it wasn’t until an adult that I tried it. Got in with some guys from my ex-wife. Didn’t learn a darn thing about hunting other than pay my lease money and sit in a deer stand for 14hours.

While I definitely enjoyed the venison, waiting all year to shoot one deer during a two week firearms season didn’t do much for me.

Now I like shooting! Since I don’t have anyone to really show me the ropes to hunt, I figure I’d try my hand at varminting. Just ask some farmers, etc. and go shoot some ground hogs. Figure expand from there if possible.

So for me, I think a bolt actin 223rem would have more merit than my 308win.

I can get cheap once fired Lake City brass, and bulk bullets for 223rem on the cheap. The 223rem is meager on powder which helps in these trouble times.
Yes, I can definitely relate to cost and being cheaper.

Figure about the biggest think I’d ever hunt would be whitetail and possible pigs/hogs. My current thought process is just load up a premium bullet such as tsx for 223rem for those times and in the mean time have cheap fun shooting the hell out of my 223rem.

I figure I might eventually get around to downloading the 308win to 300savage levels but what I’m going to hunt with it? I have no connections here in Indiana and it’s only whitetails.

So while I like the 308win and think it’s a great round, it has limited uses for me. Kind of disappointing but probably the truth for right now.

 09/27/14 05:03 PM Re: H-4895
leomort
Campfire Ranger
 
Loc: Indiana     
Step out to see if I could get some horseback riding in, no luck! smile

No to play devil’s advocate! : D

If you take out the long range requirement for varmints and coyote, one could pretty much make do with a 22lr.

As easterners, we don’t have gophers/ prairie dog colonies needing 300yr shots

If one still wanted to hunt coyotes, the 308win can definitely handle that. And 308win is definitely better on hogs and deer than 223rem.

Plus if one handloads, one can always tone down those 308win loads to 300savage and not lose too much effectiveness

Yesterday at 04:55 PM Re: H-4895
shaman Online content
Campfire Guide

Loc: Neave, KY
. . . and in IN, 308 WIN will be legal for deer, but .223 won’t.

BTW: While you’re figgerin’, look at the 30 cal Speer TNT for coyote.

_________________________
Genesis 9:2-4 Ministries Lighthearted Confessions of a Cervid Serial Killer

  Yesterday at 05:42 PM Re: H-4895
leomort
Campfire Ranger
 
Loc: Indiana     
Yes, indeed! I seen Indiana game commission has proposed allowing high power rifles for deer hunting of 24caliber or larger. Not sure if it passed or not.

I’ll take a look at those 30 cal Speer bullets for coyotes! Thanks for the heads up!

Hornady’s 150gr round nose looks like the perfect option to download my 308win to 30-30 levels. The 30-30’s max load of 2300fps is the 308win starting load for the 150g RN! So I’m happy camper! smile

This post has already been read 316 times!

Views: 3