IMR 4350, ACCURATE 4350 or A-XMR-4350

[Offspring]

Please, for a newbie, is there a big difference between the 4350 powders or can I pretty much use the same load with any of them? I think there is an H4350 also. What do you all think? I appreciate your experience and the great answers I have always gotten here.
Thanks for your time.

 

[steve4102]

NO, or put more politely absolutely NOT. They are not the same powder and load data is not interchangeable. There are several powders with the same name, different manufactures, they are not the same. What loading manuals do you have, this powder name similarity confusion is covered and explained in all the ones I have read.

 

[Offspring]

Thanks for the prompt answer Steve, I have the Lyman 49, Speer #14 and the Modern Reloading by Lee. I'll go back and hit the books some more. Thanks again.

 

[Slamfire]

I believe the differences found in loading manuals is due to lot to lot variation. Powders are blended, and according to Accurate Arms, the industry standard was 10%. So as long as the blended lot ended up being within 10% of the mean, that lot was shipped.

Back in 1982 (I think) H4350 was advertized as being identical to IMR 4350. Well I have one lot and it takes one grain more powder to get the same velocities as IMR 4350. One grain is not much powder when you think about it.

When Accurate Arms introduced AA4350, I called and they told me it was a ballistic copy of IMR 4350.

I have a lot a AA4350 and can't tell much of a difference across the screens.

These powders have the same long sticks and shoot about the same.

Of course manufacturers can change the mix any time they want, so follow the loading data from the manufacturer at the time of purchase.

And buy by price.

 

[Rokman]

As with all powder that have the same number designation from different manufacturers they are not intercahangeable and you do need to follow the advice of your manual. I agree with Slamfire that my .30-06 loads take about one grain more of H4350 than IMR4350 with my bullet choice. That's not much, but when reaching max loads, you could have a problem.

 

[TonyT]

I have only used IMR-4350. Powder from different manufacturers are not the same.

 

[azar]

Well, Accurate has changed the prefix a few times. AA-4350, XMR-4350 and Accurate 4350 ARE actually the same thing (although I believe they prefer you use the Accurate 4350 nomenclature now). IMR 4350 and Hodgdon H4350 are different. So you have three powders that use the 4350 nomenclature that are all different and should use the official published load data for each individual one.

IMR 4350
Hodgdon H4350
Accurate 4350 (XMR-4350, AA-4350)

Clear as mud now?