h4350 availability?

E

edfardos

New member
I haven't reloaded 30-06 in two years, and came to find h4350 is unobtainable. is this a temporary thing? going on for a while?

curiously,
edfardos
 
great thanks, I'll keep checking local retailers if it does, in fact, exist. Cabellas gave me a grim story about it today.
 
Not sure if this will be of any use but there has been some decent talk of using RL-16 and 17 in place of the 4350's. I still have about 3/4 lb left of my H4350 and gave my last 1/4 lb of IMR 4350 to a friend since I began using both 16 and 17. I would probably say 17 for the 30-06 but I would have to defer to the more experienced folks and those with Quickloads to confirm it. I have not loaded for the 30-06 yet so this is just a out loud sharing of thoughts based on burn rates etc. Thoughts?
 
I've done that Sacramento to Reno drive. It is very scenic.

I have used RL 17 in the 30-06 quite a bit and it is as good as H4350. Good velocities and accuracy.

I questioned a Tech at Alliant Powder and he said it is their equivalent to H4350.

Different load data though. I use it mostly with 180 grn bullets.

H4895 is my go to powder with 150 grn bullets.
 
This is hearsay but several folks at my range have had just as good of results with rl17 as with h4350 powder.

You can thank the 6.5c crowd for the run on 4350. Apparently they have noticed the demand and are producing more. I find it to be more available in my area recently.
 
IMR 4451...has temperature and anti-copper fouling properties. I have not used it but I do think it has similar burn rate and characteristics of the other 4350s
 
I see someone else has already mentioned MidSouth assuming they still have it. But check all the usual powder suppliers it one has it others will be shortly behind. But if you can't find it I would not go nuts looking for it, just load with what you can get


just speaking for the .260 Remington which uses a 6.5 - .264 dia bullet. Never loaded for any of the other 6.5 cartridges so the milage may vary.

I have found several powders which have wide load nodes which can get sub MOA out to 800 yards which is my limit for testing at the moment. Varget, H4381SC, RL17 and IMR 4350 coupled with the right bullet at the right seating depth have worked well for me with bullets ranging from 120 - 142 grains.

My rifles both like the Varget, SC4831, and RL 17 best with the IMR 4350 only working 120 and 123 gr bullets. However it delivers those bullets with better than good numbers. In my opinion 107 grain bullets are worthless for target shooting so I never really tried very hard to find a load or powder for them.

Ok now this is just second hand info but a shooter I know had zero luck with H4350 in his 6.5 Creedmore. He offered to sell me the biggest part of a 8 pound jug at a good price. I declined because what I have on the shelf works for me. He sold it to the next guy he asked and the guy did a happy happy joy joy dance

Not sure if this helps but good luck
 
Last edited:
"...difference between H4350 and IMR 4350..." Takes slightly more H4350 to get slightly higher velocities than IMR4350 with like bullet weights. However, the IMR uses compressed loads to get there. Not that those are anything to worry about.
IMR4064 gives similar velocities with more consistent accuracy.
They are not the same thing. Very close though. The 'H' is #117 on the burn rate chart. The IMR is #115. On Hodgdon's burn rate chart.
Anyway, I'd guess it's a local Cabela's issue. Their site shows no problems with H4350, but it is in limited quantities online. They will ship to your local store.
 
Along with 4350, I have found H4831 for 30-06 very good for bullets 168 grain and over. Actually more loads with 4831 for 06 though I am playing with H4350 now I have it. Works better in 270 for me but that seems to vary a lot.

Possibly 4831 will work under 168 but have not tried it down there.

Cabellas is pretty poor with powder but you should be able to order it. If they have it on their list it will come in eventually.

Sportsman at leas up here has better selection and vastly more in 8 lb containers.

Unless its a try powder I always get the 8 lb containers. More cost effective and I have plenty if the shortage hits again.

I think IMR4350 is as good a H4350, H is more desired as its temp stable but that really only matters cold to hot loads or match shooters.
 
The store local to me has plenty on the shelf. They are higher than most on prices by a few dollars, but they tend to have what I am looking for on the shelf most of the time. I look at it like buying a loaf of bread at a 7-11. It cost more up front, but it is right there, and do not have to fool with driving a half hour to Waco for it. So I will pay the extra $4.
 
H4350 is THE powder for the 6.5 CM. That is why it is in short supply. IMR4350 will give very similar performance with slightly different powder charges. You'll have to work up your loads again. The biggest negative is that the IMR version isn't nearly as stable over a wide range of temps.

I still have several pounds of H4350 so I haven't tried it yet. But some other hand loaders have highly recommended the new IMR 4451 as the best substitute for H4350. It is just as temp stable as H4350, and by all accounts delivers near identical speeds and accuracy.
 
Bruno's Shooting Supplies has it, too, both 1 lb and 8 lb. Very slightly more than Midsouth. But the point is, it's available. Whether or not they can ship it to CA is another matter. If not, you might want to cultivate a friend in Reno who would receive shipments for you. Ask Cabalas what they would charge to receive it for you?


Scoits,

I think the main difference that interests the long rangers over IMR4350 is that H4350 is part of the Hodgdon Extreme line, so it is temperature compensated, while the IMR version is not. The newer IMR number mentioned earlier might well prove equally useful. Hodgdon's load data tell you. For example, for a 180-grain bullet, it shows a compressed load of the newer, temperature stabilized IMR4955 outperforms either 4350 on velocity and because it has a maximum pressure listed that it closest to SAAMI max (50,000 CUP or 60,000 PSI), it outperforms the 4350's on velocity SD.
 
edfardos, Have you check Scheels in Reno. Were getting store here in Co. My nephew in Stockton and buys lot up there for reloading. I use H-4350 in both my 30-06.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top