Now THAT was 8lbs of Powder!

I just purchased an 8 lb container of H4895. When I went looking, Brownells had the best price I could find: $210.44 delivered. Brownell’s cancelled the order right after I placed it. I guess somebody finally got around to looking on the shelf and realized they were out. Graf’s was only $10 more.

It replaces an 8lb jug I purchased from Powder Valley in 2006, about this time of year. I probably won’t have to do much more in the way of loading before deer season, but I was down below a pound, and with all the shortages, I decided it was time. I got to thinking how much I’d accomplished with that 8 lb jug

* North of 36 deer in the freezer
* Supported myself and two sons through their formative years as deer hunters, plus KYHillChick’s plinking.
* Loads for more than a dozen rifles in 8 chamberings from .223 REM up to 35 Whelen.
* I can’t tell you how many different loads.

I just can’t think of any more fun I’ve ever had out anything I’ve ever bought.

In 2006, my company had been bought out, and I knew that eventually I’d be laid off. I started economizing in 2005. That was what led to the decision to go down to 1 rifle powder. When I ran low in 2006, I bought my jug of H4895 and hunkered down and waited.

In 2008, I finally got laid off.I finally got back to work over 2 years later, and it took a couple more for things to get back to normal. The powder shortages hit somewhere in there too, and I’ve been nursing that 8 lbs as best I could.

H4895, if you had to pick a powder, was not all that bad for the purpose. Here is a sample.

.223 REM –> nothing spectacular, but it made good, fairly accurate Mini 14 fodder.

25-06 –> H4895 worked, but it was not efficient. I tried H4350 and then H4831

30-30 –> When the kids were small, I loaded them light, and then switched to a near-MAX load before switching them off to a 30-06. Even near-MAX, H4895 was easy on a kid’s shoulder.

308 WIN –> Varget worked better, but I ran out after a couple years. H4895 did okay with 165 grainers, shooting at hot 300 Savage velocities. I shoot these out of my Savage 99.

30-06 –> It was great for 30-06 Yute loads. I just loaded about 5% off MAX for myself and got easy and accurate deer loads.

7.62 X 54R –> With 180 grain Speers over H4895, #2 son, Angus has been cleaning up the farm with his M44.

35 Whelen –> I use 200 grain Remmie CL’s over a slightly reduced load. Velocities are like a 358 WIN out of my Rem 7600. This combination in the Whelenizer has accounted for more dead deer than any other at camp over the past 10 years. I’m now using H4895 with my 200 grain cast bullets. It turns the 35 Whelen into a hot 35 REM, but it still promises to be a decent deer whacker

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