H4198 vs. H4895

[mergus]

Every year the wife asks what she can get me for a Christmas present. Usually I tell her to get me a die set. This year will be a set of dies for 45-70 to load ammo for my Marlin 1895. I am in the process of looking into what is the right powder to by to use in moderate to heavy loads with 300 to 350 grain LSWC bullets. Even with all the reading I have done on this, I am still somewhat confused on which of these 2 powders to use.

In the Hodgen/IMR reloading manual it mentions 4198 as giving outstanding performance in 45-70, yet I see many recipes for 4595 also.

My question is this: Is there a majority opinion on which powder is better? If so, is it bullet weight dependent? Velocity dependant?

Thanks,
Mergus

PS. I plan on using Trail Boss for plinker loads, so that isin't one of my considerations.

[Stan in SC]

I use Reloader7.

Stan in SC

[Leverluver]

I concur on prefering RE7 but between the two you suggested, 4198 makes better low and midddle of the road loads than 4895. 4895 at lower pressures, where it was not designed to work, is not terribly efficient and can leave a lot of junk in the barrel; as much as 5744 in the 20K pressure area. Depending on what bullet you are using, 4895 does well at top velocities and pressures but so does 4198 but 4198 burns clean on the lower end also.

[mergus]

Thanks guys....I had not considered Reloader 7, mainly because as a relatively new reloader I am unfamiliar with it. Why do you like Reloader 7 better?

Mergus

[TedH]

Of the two you mention, H4198 would be a better choice. I agree with the others though, RL7 is what I use for moderate to heavy loads. IMO it is THE powder for heavy loads in the 45-70.

[wilko]

i tried realy hard to love H4198 in the 45/70 but i always end up with varget clean burning, fills the case just fine and low pressure.. oh, and OUTSTANDING accuracy.

[mergus]

Guys, thanks to all...This is what I love about this site!

Mergus

[Terry Murbach]

Guys, thanks to all...This is what I love about this site!

Mergus

DO NOT MAKE ANY---ANY!!!---DECISIONS FROM WHAT YOU READ HERE WITHOUT CONSULTING SEVERAL WRITTEN LOADING MANUALS FOR THE STARTING LOADS.

[Lefty Dude]

H4350 works very well.

Mike V likes this powder for the 45-70

[Buck Elliott]

H335... That's what I use exclusively in my .45-70... 56 gr. under a 405-gr. hard-cast bullet (Oregon Trail LaserCast) with a CCI standard Large Rifle Primer. Straight out of the Speer Handbook.

[Blaine]

I am using Remington 405s, 43.5 grains of H4198, mixed brass, a CCI standard large rifle primer. It is giving me 1675 to 1725 fps in the 1895 CowBoy and about 1600 in the Guide Gun. I have gone to 51 grains, which was 2000 fps +- 80 fps but really do not enjoy shooting it. Don't use these loads, consult your loading manual and work up to them with your rifle. I use a heavy crimp with the Lee Factory Die Crimp and it burns clean.

[JFE]

Another vote for R-7. I find its accurate across a broad range of velocities and its quite economical. H-4198 is similar in burning rate and performance.

You might want to consider using RNFP bullets over SWC styles in your levergun. SWC were designed for handguns and dont feed and cycle well in all leverguns.

[gary rice]

Every year the wife asks what she can get me for a Christmas present. Usually I tell her to get me a die set. This year will be a set of dies for 45-70 to load ammo for my Marlin 1895. I am in the process of looking into what is the right powder to by to use in moderate to heavy loads with 300 to 350 grain LSWC bullets. Even with all the reading I have done on this, I am still somewhat confused on which of these 2 powders to use.

In the Hodgen/IMR reloading manual it mentions 4198 as giving outstanding performance in 45-70, yet I see many recipes for 4595 also.

My question is this: Is there a majority opinion on which powder is better? If so, is it bullet weight dependent? Velocity dependant?

Thanks,


If the choice is between 4198 and 4895 ill go with 4895.
Mergus

PS. I plan on using Trail Boss for plinker loads, so that isin't one of my considerations.

[mergus]

insisting I consult several loading manuals before doing anything. When I said that's what I love about this place, in my brevity I neglected to mention that I meant that I love the advice for what alternate powders to consider. Right after reading the reccomendations for Reloader 7 I pulled out several current manuals that I have that are less than 2 years old and looked up as many recipes as I could find for Reloader 7. Then I looked up the powder burning rate chart to compare Reloader 7 to 4198. None of which I would have done without someone suggesting I consider using Reloader 7.

Again, thank you all.
Mergus

[Mike D.]

XMR 2015 is THE powder for HV .45-70 and .45-90 loads. I get 2300 FPS+ using this powder and Hornady 350 RN bullets. I have yet to load the 250 Barnes TSX with 2015, but that's next on my "try" list. 2400 FPS should be a piece of cake from a 22" barreled 1886 Winchester.

[Don McDowell]

If a person must defoul a 45-70 with jacketed bullets and smokeless powder, 3031.
Cast gets aa5744.
But the best is still 2f black

[JReed]

insisting I consult several loading manuals before doing anything. When I said that's what I love about this place, in my brevity I neglected to mention that I meant that I love the advice for what alternate powders to consider. Right after reading the reccomendations for Reloader 7 I pulled out several current manuals that I have that are less than 2 years old and looked up as many recipes as I could find for Reloader 7. Then I looked up the powder burning rate chart to compare Reloader 7 to 4198. None of which I would have done without someone suggesting I consider using Reloader 7.

Again, thank you all.
Mergus

Terry is just a big stickler for safety. Let us know what you decide to go with and how it works for you.

[TedH]

XMR 2015 is THE powder for HV .45-70 and .45-90 loads. I get 2300 FPS+ using this powder and Hornady 350 RN bullets. I have yet to load the 250 Barnes TSX with 2015, but that's next on my "try" list. 2400 FPS should be a piece of cake from a 22" barreled 1886 Winchester.

I've used 2015 quite a bit as well, and it is a leader where velocity is concerned, but I've never had it match RE7 in the accuracy department.

[Blaine]

XMR 2015 is THE powder for HV .45-70 and .45-90 loads. I get 2300 FPS+ using this powder and Hornady 350 RN bullets. I have yet to load the 250 Barnes TSX with 2015, but that's next on my "try" list. 2400 FPS should be a piece of cake from a 22" barreled 1886 Winchester.

I've used 2015 quite a bit as well, and it is a leader where velocity is concerned, but I've never had it match RE7 in the accuracy department.

Ouch, those loads will leave a mark on the front and back both.

[gon2shoot]

I use a LOT of 4198. Generally with 400 to 500 grain bullets, But I find good consistancy and good performance with cast loads.