IMR 4451 vs H4350

goldeneagle

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Minuteman
Mar 29, 2011
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Been working up loads with 4451 with pretty good success and getting ready to hop on an 8 lb for $212, Then I found some H4350 8 lb'ers but they want $277 shipped. My mind is saying that is way to flippin expensive but still intriguing. Is it that good or just been the go-to for so long that it's what everyone knows?
 
I guess people don't like change or don't like to do a whole lot of testing. Because you can use a slightly slower powder than 4350 in a Creedmoor and get better barrel life with a better case fill.


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I have been impressed with 4451 so far. I have only been testing with Nosler 140 RDF and had good results. I have matches coming up, so I am going test more there. My sources of 4350 has dried up so I am looking for an alternative. I am wanting to try Reloader 16, but have not located any.
 
I've made the switch to powders other than H4350 because of its lack of availability. There are powders that will give you equal results, if not better, that are readily available. 4451 has shown excellent results in 6.5 Creedmoor, 260, and other calibers. Reloder 16 has been so impressive to me that it's all I use now for my 6.5 loads.I get a slight bump in velocity while still maintaining excellent temp stability.
 
Been using 4451 in a 6 creed with 107MK's and have had great success with it. I have 9lbs of H4350 that I have not opened because of the 4451. It is a touch slower (around 30fps) but I can live with that.
 
Been working up loads with 4451 with pretty good success and getting ready to hop on an 8 lb for $212, Then I found some H4350 8 lb'ers but they want $277 shipped. My mind is saying that is way to flippin expensive but still intriguing. Is it that good or just been the go-to for so long that it's what everyone knows?
The difference in price you are talking about is not much more than a box of Berger bullets. H4350 is in demand because it just plain works. I would recommend buying at least 16 pounds of H4350 at a time to keep the cost per pound down. Ray

 
Any updates on this? I'm using 4451 for my 260 loads and I'm pretty happy. But then again I have never used any H4350....So no other point of reference. With 42.9 gr of 4451 in a 26" Bartlein blank chambered in 260 with 147 ELDM I'm getting 2812 FPS (SD 5 ES 15).
 
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I switched to 4451 a while back for my 260.
no complaints
42.5 of 4451
140 ELD-M
cci#200
243 Winchester brass.
This is from the old barrel.
New barrel is looking promising as well with 4451.

5 shots at 100
IMG_8384.JPG
 
You are lucky you are not buying it in Canada. 8 lb H4350 at Cabelas, $349.99 CAD, works out to $283.78 USD.H4350 is hard to find, let alone 8 lb jugs. Its expensive no matter where you buy it. Gotta pay to play up here I guess.
 
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