RotoMetals2WidenersTitan ReloadingLoad Data
MidSouth Shooters SupplyReloading EverythingSnyders JerkyInline Fabrication
Lee Precision Repackbox
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Question about powder

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub EMT480's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Posts
    32

    Question about powder

    Looking through one of my old books. Speer # 5 from 1967. I have a 4831 question. I don't use a lot of it but have some. Data in the book simply lists 4831. Does not specify IMR or Hodgdon. On page 27 a brief description is given. It's listed there as Hodgdon IMR 4831. I've looked at 3 different burn rate charts and have 3 different listings. Can anyone enlighten me on this?

    Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    1,541
    Some "4831" history here;
    https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=62930.0

    If (now) close to 60 years ago that Speer#5 would have been talking about IMR4831 -- as it existed then

  3. #3
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Posts
    15,877
    4831 started out as a Military powder. After WWII, it was sold to reloaders as Mil Surp.
    Anyway, Use the current data for the powder you have.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    SE Pa
    Posts
    133
    Many older reloading manuals have loads that are way over max compared to the newest manuals. Whether this is due to the change from measuring pressure in CUP vs PSI or corporate lawyers can be debated but it is a good idea to start at max -20% if the charge seems high. I have used loads from the older books that clearly maxed out way before getting to the older published max. And others for a 7mm Mag where I use 8 grains! over the new books max with no pressure signs and the correct velocity (and it could be 4831). Turns out some 7mm mags were made with short throats so every reloading manual drastically dropped their max load but since mine has a longer throat the old loads are OK.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master fredj338's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    kalif.
    Posts
    7,245
    IMR 4831 & Hodgdon are NOT the same. H4831 is a bit slower so data is NOT interchangeable. Why I cross ref several data sources. The Hogdon/IMR website is a good source for cross ref with any manual.
    https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/
    EVERY GOOD SHOOTER NEEDS TO BE A HANDLOADER.
    NRA Cert. Inst. Met. Reloading & Basic Pistol

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Lake Havasu City, Arizona
    Posts
    21,326
    Cannister IMR 4831 was not available to reloaders in '67. All "IMR" 4831 was military surplus Back then. It wasn't until the '70s when stocks of milsurp 4831 began drying up that Hodgdon contracted for newly made 4831 with the same burn rate as the original milsurp IMR 4831. Hence the "H" designation for Hodgdon's 4831. A few years later Dupont began making their own cannister version of 4831 for sale to reloaders...Hence the different IMR 4831 designation on that powder. New IMR 4831 burns a little faster than does newly manufactured, or the original milsurp [I still habe 8 pounds of original milsurp 4831 in excellent condition] so the load data is not interchangeable with data for H 4831.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  7. #7
    Boolit Master 243winxb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,844
    Do NOT use old Speer data. Many over pressure, maximum loads.

  8. #8
    Boolit Bub EMT480's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Posts
    32
    I don't ever start with maximum loads. I start low and work my way up till I get my desired results.

    Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    1,005
    Somewhere in GONRA's Junque Pyle
    is a loose leaf folder of WW II era IMR 4831 data,
    lot nrs, charge wt. etc. for is original application:
    20mm Oerlikon auto cannon.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy Gobeyond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    NorCal
    Posts
    444
    If both imr and hodgdon is listed the data must be good for both. I would use it myself. But try a newer manual.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Eureka MT
    Posts
    2,532
    If you start with the starting loads and work up like you are supposed to it won't matter which 4831 it is. The starting load on either one will be low enough you shouldn't get in trouble. I have seen a few max loads listed in old Speer manuals that won't even fit in the case. So if the load in the older manual is a lot higher than a new manual I would start with a start load in the new manual.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check