H 4831

[lead chucker]

Hi guys. Just had a guy gift me 8 pounds of H4831. Its old, it was in the old fiber containers. Not sure what to do with it. I would like to use it with cast boolits in my 308 win and 223 H&R or my bolt gun. Not looking for real fast velocity just plinking at cans and such. I know its a slow burning powder. I have been making EPH25 primers so if the powder would work i can shoot it for next to nothing. I have 30 cal cast boolits from 150, 170, 200 gr. I have a bunch of 62 gr 22 cal bullets I swaged from 22 long rifle cases. I wish it was BLC2 I would really be in the tall cotton. Any Ideas. I haven't seen any load data for it.

[lead chucker]

I also have a couple 22 cal bullet molds

[toallmy]

I haven't found a more useful powder 4831 or 4350 pretty much work in everything I can shoot out of a rifle .

[michael.birdsley]

i use h-4831sc ( same as h-4831 just cut shorter) in my savage axis .243 with a 100 grain hornady btsp. i load 42 grains and get about 2800 fps. i can hold 1-1.5 inch groups @200 yards. doesn’t kick really at all. i’m a fan of it.


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[chriskendziora]

Awful slow powder for cast bullets? I looked at my lyman cast bullet hand book and no dice. That powder is for jacketed bullets bud. Get you some cheap fmj bullets from Everglades, RMR or Midway to plink with. There may be some old data out there somewhere.

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[Harter66]

On 4831 in 308 the heavies will have best results.
It's a full case situation.


The original powder design was for the Orclon 20mm canon and later in the larger bottle necked 20 mm.

It's toooo slow for anything in a case smaller than 22-250 , 250 & 300 Savage . It shines in 06' and up cases .

I recently shot the last of the H4831 marked WWII surplus repacked July 1972 .
Probably not the best choice in the 6.5 Japanese but it was good with the paper patch that made up for the .271 groove .
I will probably try it next in 275 Rigby with a 178 gr 7mm 168 .
It doesn't shoot any worse in a 25-06' with a 124-5 gr NOE 260-120 than the PB version over 12-14 gr Unique .

[Electrod47]

Its my fav for .243...and impossible to find for the last couple years. Lucky guy.

[slam45]

I've had good results with 4831 cast loads in 30-06... do more looking around than just Lyman...they are limited in the scope they chose to see... and a 215gn LFN at 1900f/s is handy in a rifle that shoots them well...

[lead chucker]

If you used a full 223 case of H4831 with a jacketed bullet would it be safe? Would you just not get the velocity you would get with say Varget.

[lead chucker]

I would use it in a bolt gun or single shot. Not a gas gun.

[lead chucker]

I have a 300 mag and a 375 H&H but as i get older im getting more recoil sensitive.

[jgstrug]

I agree with the .243 posts,2800fps great accuracy,no need to make more noise and push them faster.

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[MostlyLeverGuns]

Sometimes the slower powders work as well or better in the 308 for accuracy with heavier cast bullets(180-200+ grains). The slower start is easy on the bullet. I would use in my 308 if I had a bunch. H4831 is a top choice in .270, .243, .300 Mags, but it should will work well in 308. You should be able to use a case full without any pressure issues, might be a little sooty but should shoot accurately. 47 gr H4831 shows 45,000 CPU at 2300 fps with a 200 Sierra Match King in the .308.

[littlejack]

Before all these newfangled powders came along, we used 4831 for full house loads in our 25-06.

[kaiser]

Caution! Do not use loads below “published” Starting load data for any cartridge in use with this slow burning powder! It is an excellent powder for cases large enough to use its burning characteristics, which (in addition to the .243) 25-06, .270, etc. where top velocities can be derived. “Reduced” powder charges can cause a “double” ignition phenomenon that can raise pressures to dangerous levels where the increase of space in the cartridge causes pressures to “spike”! Fast burning powder use for Reduced Loads are more efficient and effective for cast loads; and is why there is a lack of data for H4831 for reduced velocity loading.

[Dom]

I have H-4831in cardboard containers from the early 1980's. Still works perfect!! *Unless there is a rust colored powder in the container, shoot it.

[Texas by God]

$FreeninetyFree is a great price!
It will work for lower than normal velocity loads in .223 and .308 with a full case of powder.
Long ago I’d compress it in 22-250 over a 70 gr Speer for deer loads. It worked.
I’ve used it for cast in 30-30 before, but used more of it in the 25-06 than anywhere else.


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[huntinlever]

My .338 WM powder for 225-250 gr Hornady's.

[dale2242]

"Just had a guy gift me 8 pounds of H4831. Its old, it was in the old fiber containers."

Congrats on the free H4831.
I was given 30# of it in a 50# cardboard container.
I tried it with cast in my 7.62X54R with cast.
it shot well enough, but to get it to burn clean I had to use enough to create more recoil than I liked.

[Budzilla 19]

If it was pre 92? H4831, it probably was Scot Brigadier 4831. Look on the cans, and if it reads, “ Made in Scotland” it is Scot Powder company Brigadier 4831. The loading data is out ther for this powder, for sure.

308? Case full, 150 grain bullets, cci 250 magnum primer, not fast, but way accurate. Never tried it with cast boolits in 308. 30/06? Oh yeah, it’ll hump a 200 grainer out at 2000+ FPS out of a 24” barreled Remington 700. Shot good enough for deer season one year.
Congratulations, that was a gift.
Good luck to you.

[lead chucker]

The price tag was still on the box $3.69 a pound.

[murf205]

The price tag was still on the box $3.69 a pound.

Considering that price, I would think that it is the original. If there is no rust on the top of the powder in the container, load a couple of rounds in the 300 mag you have and see if they get close to the manual speed. If it was stored properly (not huge swings of hot and cold), my guess is that it would be good to go. The Scotland H4831 is the go to powder in my 280 Ack, 308 Norma, 270 Win, and heavies in a 30-06 . It is flat out good stuff. BTW, the last lb of it I saw was $54.95.

[gumbo333]

If you can find an older Hogdon load manual from the 1970’s , they had h-4831 data for almost every rifle caliber.

[Shopdog]

From a cast standpoint;

Two of my "heavy hitters" with respect to accuracy at starting JB velocity,a straight 6mm Rem,and a 260R... both interestingly utilizing Saeco,Eagan inspired moulds respectfully; love 4831. And have used both IMR and H long cut versions. Not gonna say what groups are as most wouldn't believe it. 4831 can absolutely hammer with cast. One note is,at least in my examples above(6mm,260),it's been best to keep on top of carbon fouling "footprint". Not unburned powder...that's not what I'm referring to. This is the accumulation of black "sooty" carbon fouling. When at this level of power and precision,everything matters.... so try to keep a running check of it. Shoot 5,and then dry mop with a loose bore brush wrapped with patch. Really examine how much black. I'd check every 5 rounds... then go to 10,so on and so forth. On my examples... they're happy going 20 rounds. Then dry mop.

Sorry for the novel,and good luck with your project.

[Harter66]

An addendum to a previous post .

25-06' I have backed it down to about 47 gr under a 260-120 NOE that w/ lube and check is about 125.7 gr ready to load . I believe that is going to be the load that hits the rifles potential . It's below jacketed start for the 120 jacketed data but there's not any data in cartridge for 125s and I don't have Barnes 120 TSX data . No pressure signs and clean burn .

[MT Gianni]

I have a 300 mag and a 375 H&H but as i get older im getting more recoil sensitive.

H4831 is the perfect powder to download those 10-15%. You're in 30-06 territory with that.

[atr]

One of my favorite powders! Used to buy it in 20 lb. kegs. Does great in a variety of calibers, especially 30-06 and .303 British. Gives very accurate and stable loads.

[txbirdman]

Made up a 1 in 7 twist 22/250 a few years back. H4831 is my “go to” powder with a Berger 85.5 gr or Sierra 95 gr. Use it to ring 10” steel plates at 1000.

[300leonidas]

I4831 is my favorite and most accurate powder for cast bullets in my 30/40 Krag and my 270 Win.

[243winxb]

308 win, 200 gr jacketed bullet. H4831 From 44.0 grains to 49.5 grains. For cast, reduce starting 10% to 39.0 grs. Load and fire 1 round. What i would do. H4831 is not a double based powder, so safe to download.

https://stevespages.com/page8a.htm

Find 223 data also. Find bullet weight, reduce start load 10% Load fire 1 round.

[lead chucker]

Went out to the range to try out my H4831 with my 308. I tried 45 gr with a Lee 170 gr gas check flat nose with carnuba blue lube. It shot 1/2 inch group at 50 yards 8 shot string. I was impressed, had a good kick to it. Rifle is a Ruger compact with a Pa-Nor match 1/13 twist barrel. No idea what velocity im getting but shot about 3 inches lower than a 160 gr jacket with 45 gr Varget which is good for 1 inch or better at 100 yards.

[lead chucker]

I also tried 25 gr H4831 with a home made 62 gr swaged bullet out of 22 cases with my 223 and it shot real good also. Tried same with cast but not near as good. Even tried red dot with 4.5-7 gr with 55 gr cast just for fun and was disappointed with that. This was with a Mossberg MVP.

[white eagle]

that is a good powder
use it

[michael.birdsley]

If you can find an older Hogdon load manual from the 1970’s , they had h-4831 data for almost every rifle caliber.

thanks for that tid bit.


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[Barry54]

If you used a full 223 case of H4831 with a jacketed bullet would it be safe? Would you just not get the velocity you would get with say Varget.

FWIW, There used to be load data for 8700 powder in reduced velocity loads in cartridges it was “too slow” for with high case fill percentages...

[john.k]

I used 4831 for everything when it was $1 /lb..........Id think it would be OK in 223 with a 70 gr bullet.........probably less velocity to a correct powder ,and likely lots of unburned grains in the barrel.....Even in a 30-06 you need the heaviest bullets for top velocity ,but back in the day ,I used nothing else in my various 30-06s ....very accurate with all casefull loads.

[missionary5155]

We all should have bought a 55 gallon barrel of 4831 when it was still being sold in paper bags.