Howdy!

4895 doesn't really lend itself well to heavy slow moving bullets, as it is really a faster burning powder.  You're not going to achieve 2000 fps with 4895 without extremely dangerous pressures - far in excess of what is considered safe in a Krag!  Hornady's 9th Edition lists a starting load of 30.0 grains for 1600 FPS, a medium load of 31.5 grains for 1700 FPS, and a absolute maximum load of 33.1 grains for 1800 FPS. 

My advice would be to use 4350 (either H or IMR).  The standard load, and what many of us use, is 40.0 grains with a 220 gr bullet, which gives you around 1950 FPS.  Anything higher, and you run the risk of a cracked locking lug, or worse!  This is the load I use in my Krag with Hornady 220 gr RN bullets, and I shot a 96-1X in the prone position at the recent Theodore Roosevelt Match at Camp Perry.  By the way, this is shooting at 200 yards too!

If you're still looking for higher velocities, then I would suggest using a lighter bullet with the 4895, such as a 168 gr or 150 gr.  I have a friend who routinely wins Vintage matches shooting his 1898 using 150 gr RN bullets... although he uses IMR 3031 (I can't remember his charge weight).  If you're just plinking, and not worried about feed issues (single shot), then you might consider a spitzer type bullet such as a 180 or 168 grain HPBT design bullet.  Just my $0.02

Happy shooting
Paul

H4350 is ADI powder, their AR2209. They have 30-40 Krag data on their website, also a good powder equivalent chart. They show a 40gr start charge and a 42gr max.  Velocity range of 1874-1950fps, out of a 24" test barrel.  H4895 is also ADI powder, but they didn't use it with a 220.

My old Hornady 3rd edition (1987) shows a max load of H4895 as 36.3gr@2000fps out of a 30" barrel.  Start charge of 30gr for only 1600fps.  It's always been known as a powder that works well for reduced loads. 

Paul,

I'm trying to confirm if its IMR 4350 or H4350 at 40 grains and a 220 grain RN FMJ bullet you're using. I only see loads for this projectile with H4350 in the various reloading manuals and websites I've seen.

If it's IMR 4350 I was just curious where the load is actually published so I know where to look. Also, is there any real significant difference between shooting 40 grains of H4350 vice IMR 4350 besides what I would assume would be a slightly lightly lower pressure with the H4350?

I'd like to replicate the characteristics of the original .30-40 USGI round as accurately as possible while also keeping pressure down to as low as possible to give my limited brass stash a break.

Thanks again.

Stretch

Paul,

Sorry for the delay but thanks for the reply.

I'll plan to reload using 40 grains of either H4350 or IMR 4350 when I finally find some locally. As I mentioned, I'd like to replicate the original load to the max extent practical but don't want to kill my brass after only a few reloads.

I'll look into annealing as well as you mentioned to try and alleviate some of the stress on the case necks when I'm reloading as well.

Thanks again,

Stretch

Bringing this one back up for some follow up questions.

I ended up buying  a 1 lb bottle of H4350 and had very good results with it at 40 grains with a 220 grain RN FMJ bullet. I was able to find load data in nearly all recent reloading manuals to back up my work as well and was very happy with the results.

I went to buy some more H4350 this weekend and all the local vendors were out of stock so I grabbed some IMR-4350 instead since that's all they had. Looking through a few reloading manuals on their shelves I didn't see any data for IMR-4350 loads using a 220 grain bullet, only H4350 (I will say the reloading manual selection was small). Some quick web research seems to indicate that newer IMR-4350 is not quite the same as old IMR-4350 (not sure why) and that H4350 is a "better" powder due to being more consistent and temperature stable. 

With all of this, I know a lot of guys here load up 40 grains of IMR-4350 with a 220 grain RN FMJ with good results. My question is:

Does anybody have reloading data from reloading manuals that are no more than about 3 years old they can post with IMR-4350 (not H4350) loads using a 220 grain RN FMJ?   

Thanks in advance.

Stretch

The Hornday 9th Edition is newer (within the last 5 years) and has been updated as well. 

FWIW, even though the H4350 and IMR-4350 are ever so slightly different, the 40 grain load should produce results that you couldn't differ without a chronograph.  I've used nothing but IMR-4350 for many years now... and I've never been unhappy with the results.

Paul

Lyman's data, which was pressure tested using crushers, shows 4895 is quite safe with the 220 RN. In my 30" rolling block, their recommended starting load of 35.0 gr made 2000 fps, a little bit over what one might get in extrapolating from Lyman's 24" test barrel.

Even though I chose to try 4895, be warned that 4064 is a safer bet. The old Dupont data showed 4064 would be very safe for 2000 from 30" with 220 gr RN, but I've never been able to locate their 4895 data for that bullet. Their 150 and 180 gr loads show 4895 to have much higher pressure than 4064. Perhaps they had a poor lot, or perhaps 4895 has changed over the years; Lyman's data is the more recent.

Karl

edit: Sorry!, that H before the 4895 in your question hadn't sunk in, so my comments above are not relevant.