New Surp 4895

[sundog]

4895 is one of my favorite powders. This is new mfg surp IMR 4895 I got a few months ago.

I've been messing aroung with loads for a 700 VS LH in .308 (listening Chargar) for awhile. Simmons mil-dot scope.

Today was range day - overcast, 36dF, intermittent showers, and if a wind sock had been posted it would not have had a wrinkle, 15 knots plus from the west and gusting, shooting north from the all wx shooting building (nice and comfy inside!). Sailman, Oksmle, Clamity Jake, Felix, and few other have been to my club range and will appreciate what I was up against. The all wx building faces north with a 20 ft plus tall berm on the west (left) out to about 75 yds. The rest of the way out past where that berm cuts back west to inclose the pistol range next door is WIDE OPEN. So, shooting north, protected to 75 yards, then a 15 knot gusting from the left for about 25 yds.

I tested 5 boolits with 29.0/(surp)IMR4895 w/dacron wad, 10 rounds each, all WQ or HT.
Lee 312-185-1R
Lee 309-170-FN
RCBS 308-165-SIL
RCBS 40-180-SP
Ly 31141

I could not get my 311291 to seat good (too large in nose) and my Lee 309-160-1R is .298 on the nose and I didn't even consider it. All were FWFL except the 308-165-SIL which was Ly OM (had already had them done otherwise they would have been FWFL too).


Well the short of it is the 312-185 appears to have done best at under 2" followed by the 31141 and 30-180-SP almost as small a group (5 shots). That 31141 hit the wet berm really hard spraying mud up very noticeably.

I was very disappointed in the 308-165-SIL, but in all fairness it will be retested with FWFL. It's worked well with other powders (4227 for one) with FWFL.

Observation about the 312-185-1R. Typical Lee design with noticeable angle changes on the ogive. Last one out on the nose flattens real easy with a flat top punch when seating. Makes a very uniform, but small, meplat on every round. More testing with this'un!

I shot a few of the 309-170-FN at 200 and got a horizontal string about 2" tall and 6-8" wide - about what would be expected in that side wind.

Cases and bbl are very clean. All in all, a fun, but rather short range trip. sundog

p.s. I think I will be buying a 312-185-1R as a 2-cavity when it becomes available.

[felix]

It is extremely tough to judge conditions in a gusty 20 mph environment. I'd say you can call those groups a flat out 2 inchers in something more friendly and especially with flags to catch the real oddball gusts. ... felix

[swheeler]

SD; I bought a 312/185 a few months ago, already had one, the new one cast .298 on the nose, it got a lapping - might be a few more on somebodys shelves NOS?

[sundog]

My 312-185-1R is very close to round and .312 x .302 x 1.021 sans GC. I'm slowly becoming attached to this lil ole single cavity cheapo from Lee. It weighs out at 178 with what I've get them cast in right now.

All those loads I mentioned above were loaded out to lightly etch, soft camming action on bolt close. I don't remember for sure, and I had no notes on the 31141, but they were probably AC WWs from 3 or 4 years ago. Those in particular were not HT or WQ, not that I think about it. All others were, and were so noted.

Felix, about the groups, funny thing is the one that shot good, 312-185 (and the 31141 and 30-180-SP) shot a good round group. Those three will be reloaded and tested again, for sure. Kinda curious about putting them over a chrono, also - later. sundog

[PatMarlin]

4895 mil surp has pretty much dried up everywhere hasn't it?

[Buckshot]

4895 mil surp has pretty much dried up everywhere hasn't it?

.............Yupper. But check around. All the usual suspects were out and then I was told a week or so later Natchez or Mid-South had it for the same price as the surplus guys ($70/8lb). I figured it wasn't gonna get any cheaper or pleantiful so bit the bullet and got 4 jugs. I feel more secure :-) but am a bit broker then I'd like to be!

.................Buckshot