H4350 vs. IMR4350

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Picked up a jug of H4350 yesterday and plan to use for loading 115NBT in my .25-06. According Nosler’s load data, IMR4350 is the most accurate powder for this round, but I’ve read h4350 has the same burn rate and is virtually interchangeable. Does anybody have any side-by-side experience with these two powders? There is a .25-06 75 grain Amax recipe right on the front of the h4350 jug, and I have 200 75 grain Hornady HP laying around. Just wondering if the h4350 will perform similarly as IMR4350.

I also have an old can of IMR4831 that I know is good for the lighter bullets.

 

[Erict]

Tried both in my 30-06 w/150 TSSX and 165 Accubonds and they were nearly identical in accuracy. They are next to each other on the burn chart and I found powder charges for the most accurate loads may have varied by a grain or fraction. I mostly use 150 TTSX and when powder got scarce I had to decide on one so went with a big jug of H4350.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Tried both in my 30-06 w/150 TSSX and 165 Accubonds and they were nearly identical in accuracy. They are next to each other on the burn chart and I found powder charges for the most accurate loads may have varied by a grain or fraction. I mostly use 150 TTSX and when powder got scarce I had to decide on one so went with a big jug of H4350.

Thank you and this is exactly what I was hoping to hear!

 

[Roguemountainhunter]

Following

 

[Axlrod]

I would go to Hodgdon's load data site. They distribute both, and their data shows they are NOT interchangeable.
25/06 75 gr. bullet max loads:
H4350 58.5gr= 3700 fps 50,900 cup
IMR4350 55 gr 3493 fps 51,000 cup

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I would go to Hodgdon's load data site. They distribute both, and their data shows they are NOT interchangeable.
25/06 75 gr. bullet max loads:
H4350 58.5gr= 3700 fps 50,900 cup
IMR4350 55 gr 3493 fps 51,000 cup

That's a great call, and I don't know why I didn't simply check my Hornady app. My bad!

However, it may be closer than it appears. According to the Hornady app, for 75 grain HP and V-Max, to achieve 3600fps it has 56.7 grains of IMR4350 at a max load.

I plan to back it off and follow Form's painless method, and I'll update this thread with the results. I'm shooting a Tikka T3x with factory 22" barrel, so I won't achieve the max fps anyways.

 

[rayporter]

what happens in a test barrel may not be anything like your barrel.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I get more speed from the IMR variety.

 

[A382DWDZQ]

They're pretty close. For IMR-4350, probably reduce the charge about 0.1gr from an H4350 load for a medium cartridge. That said, H4350 is temp stable, so varied conditions is probably where you would notice it.

I’ve been think about this some more and I think I am going to delete my reply. It’s bad advice. I agree with @Axlrod, use the published data from Hodgdon. My mistake was forgetting that powders can vary and it the safe approach is to work up from a safe starting point when switching components. Even if similar weights of the two powders can produce similar results, that does not mean they will. Still best to work up from a safe starting point. If results are identical, great, but that should not be assumed and a quick series to check velocity and pressure shouldn’t be a big deal.

 

[ZAK13]

I use both, depending on availability, and go by Hodgdon's website, use in 243Win, 270Win, 30-06, & 338WM. I like the H4350 a bit better because of temperature stability, but have honestly not noticed a huge difference between the two accuracy wise or velocity wise.

 

[Rich M]

Shooting 243 and 3006, I prefer the W760 but have some IMR 4350 just in case I run out.

 

[eaglemountainman]

I find IMR 4350 to usually have a bit better velocity. And I like the temp stability of the H4350. Both produce excellent accuracy in the chambers I load for. Since I recently got an 8# jug of H4350 for a steal, I'll be going that way for awhile.

As others have said, I would not consider them interchangeable. Be safe and work up loads for each.

 

[RuggedYogi]

I also use both based on availability. H4350 is my preference due to temp stability, which is a concern where I live.

 

[30338]

Kids used IMR4350 and 115 combined technologies on bull elk, mule deer, whitetails, antelope and mountain goat. Nothing took many steps at all. Nice old cartridge and need to knock the dust off ours sometime.

 

[Romans828]

I have both H4350 and XMR4350. My perfected 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x47L loads were created with H4350. When I was running low, I scored some older XMR4350 in a private party deal. I said what the heck and loaded up the same exact loads with XMR as I did with the H4350. I don't know what the velocity was with the XMR, but they shot almost as well and to almost the same POI as the H4350 and were safe. I don't recommend doing what I did, but that was my experience.

 

[PurpleDriver]

They are 127 and 130 on the burn rate chart for this year. Definitely don’t interchange.

https://hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-burn-rate-chart.pdf

 

[Unckebob]

The temperature stability of H4350 means it has a different formula than IMR4350. They are different.

Although the load data can be useful for estimating the performance of the other, it cannot be counted on other than to give you a good idea where to set your minimum as you work your way up your own safety testing.

I do that if I have load data for one powder, but not the other for a bullet I want to use for tge first time.

 

[PoudreCanyon]

48.5 grains of IMR 4350 and a 117 grain Hornady SPBT Interlock has been my deer/antelope load for over 20 years. Accurate and lethal. Never tried the H4350, mostly because it has been next to impossible to find in my neck of the woods for as long as I can remember. For the 75 grainers in 25-06, I’ve had great luck with RL-19. 1/2 MOA in my gun and devastating on varmints.