IMR4895

Has anyone found a reliable replacement for IMR4895 yet?
I'd love to find a load in CFE223 that replicates a 48.5 grain IMR4895 load in a 30 calibre with a 54/55mm case that I'm reloading for.

I'm being lazy and hoping not to have to start again with the chrono, lazy bugger that I am!
I used to use H4895 in my 308 with 130g bullets and have since changed to N135 as a similar alternative. Unfortunately you will still need to work up the load so perhaps dusting off the chrono might be sensible!
 
I used to use H4895 in my 308 with 130g bullets and have since changed to N135 as a similar alternative. Unfortunately you will still need to work up the load so perhaps dusting off the chrono might be sensible!
Interesting. I too shoot 130gr TTSX out of my .308 with IMR4895 and bought VIT N135 to try as a replacement (yet to do - summer project) but found it to be great in .270 with 110gr TTSX when I discovered that my IMR4350 load was opening up greatly beyond 100m.
 
Have a play with the online internal ballistics simulator P-Max and try other powders virtually for no cost! What you are looking for is a powder that gives good working pressures when the case is filled and is just all-burnt when the bullet exits the muzzle.
The great strength of programs like this is finding a suitable powder for your particular cartridge/bullet/barrel combination and giving a good idea about the performance.
Enjoy...
I second P-max. It's saved me a lot of money and trial and error in picking powders. Just have to accurately check the Usable Case Capacity with the bullet seated, but that's a once only job. Apart from finding the UCC it's a doddle to use. And I now have fox loads that don't white out the NV with muzzle flash.
 
That’s news to me - so glad I didn’t go down that route when I used up my stocks of IMR4350 :oops:

Yes, Hodgdon announced a few weeks ago that the entire range (IMR-4166 / 4451 / 4955 / 7977 / 8031) has been forthwith discontinued as the supplier (General Dynamics Canada Division at Valleyfield in Quebec Province) is unable to provide a reliable supply.

I suspect there is more to it. The 'Endurons' seem to be relatively poor performers pressuring out in many applications at lower MVs than competitors. In this day and age where MV figures sell, that's a major weakness. They had a reputation for consistency and good precision, small ES/SD values etc in many applications, but that doesn't sell powders to many American handloaders nowadays.
 
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