IMR 4895 - Good "Universal" Rifle Powder Choice?

Have been digging through reloading data as of late. Trying to decide on powders.

I noticed that IMR 4895 shows up in a lot of applications.

What really caught my eye is that it shows up in C.E. Harris' article on cast bullets for milsurps in the 25.5 gr. range... and in other sources tops out around 46 gr. for '06. (As always, check the books, I'm talking off the top of my head here.)

That's a pretty good range of loadings.

For me I'm thinking of zeroing in on it for the following calibers, anyone think this is a bad idea?

1) 30-30
2) 30-06
3) 7.62x54r
4) 7.92x57 / 8mm Mauser
5) 45-70

Admitted, for 45-70 and reduced loads, maybe 2400 or Unique would be way cheaper to use. But I have to admit, not sure how I feel about using double base powders in rifles. (Thinking it's awful hot for that, leading to barrel erosion, possibly.)

Your thoughts?

Like is usually the case, something that is good for a lot of things may not be the best choice for any. When it comes to 4895 it does really well for several calibers and great with some. When you could still find surplus powder I bought lots of 4895 because I could use it in a lot of different guns. Just be careful on either end or pushing it to much and you should be good to go. Bill R.

It's my first choice. I use it in all my rifles from .223 to 45-70. Saves having to stock several other types.
B

You could also try IMR 4064 It's Aussie AR2208, IMR 4895 is our AR2206H

1) 30-30
2) 30-06
3) 7.62x54r
4) 7.92x57 / 8mm Mauser
5) 45-70

It wouldn't take long to come up with 10 powders in the 4198 to BL-C(2) range that would "work" with all of those cartridges, and for a wide variety of bullet weights, but for most of them, they would be far from optimum.

30-30 and 45-70 will likely need their own powders for best results. The other three can probably be loaded effectively with 4895. (I use 4064 as my GP ~.30 caliber rifle default powder.) WHich isn't to say that I don't have plenty of other choices on hand! The more exacting the load requirements, the greater the need for flexiblity in choosing the optimal components for a particular firearm.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MilSurpFan

Have been digging through reloading data as of late. Trying to decide on powders.

I noticed that IMR 4895 shows up in a lot of applications.

What really caught my eye is that it shows up in C.E. Harris' article on cast bullets for milsurps in the 25.5 gr. range... and in other sources tops out around 46 gr. for '06. (As always, check the books, I'm talking off the top of my head here.)

That's a pretty good range of loadings.

For me I'm thinking of zeroing in on it for the following calibers, anyone think this is a bad idea?

1) 30-30
2) 30-06
3) 7.62x54r
4) 7.92x57 / 8mm Mauser
5) 45-70

Admitted, for 45-70 and reduced loads, maybe 2400 or Unique would be way cheaper to use. But I have to admit, not sure how I feel about using double base powders in rifles. (Thinking it's awful hot for that, leading to barrel erosion, possibly.)

Your thoughts?

---

It gets my vote for the single most useful rifle powder out there.
Just like Unique is the single most useful pistol powder.
At least it is true for my purposes.

Ditto to what Merle is saying on IMR 4895 and for me its Bullseye in pistol, although Unique is also very useful. IMR 4895 is the most useful in my .30 caliber loads, and works well in the 7.62 Russian. Can work in .45-70 but perhaps not optimal.

Bullseye, the powder used in the original .45 ACP loads, for me has been the most accurate across the widest array of bullet types, lead or jacket. Also very good in 9mm, .38 Spec, etc. (Don't tell about the danger of double loading, use proper precautions, and several premier pistol powders are subject to same risk. Yes its dirty, so I clean the gun, big deal.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gun Surfer

Ditto to what Merle is saying on IMR 4895 and Bullseye. IMR 4895 is the most useful in my .30 caliber loads, and works well in the 7.62 Russian. Can work likely in .45-70 but perhaps not optimal.

Bullseye, the powder used in the original .45 ACP loads, for me has been the most accurate across the widest array of bullet types, lead or jacket. Also very good in 9mm, .38 Spec, etc. (Don't tell about the danger of double loading, use proper precautions, and several premier pistol powders are subject to same risk. Yes its dirty, so I clean the gun, big deal.)

---

Back when I shot a light loads for 38 spl & 45 ACP Bullseye was my powder of choice. Nowadays I choose Unique, as I mostly shoot mid to upper loads & mostly larger calibers. Unique works better for that.

One std .45 ACP load is the 230 gr FMJ with 5.0 gr Bullseye, one of the most accurate I shoot & not a light load.

I use Imr 4895 in .223, 308. 3006 and 7.62x39 and I tried it in 7.62x54r when I was trying to get it to shoot decently. If I can't get that then I try to find H 4895 or Varget. They are all so close together in burn rate it really doesn't matter. the only rifle cartridge that gets anything else is the M1 Carbine and I use WW 296 for them. All pistol cartridges get a dose of WW 231 from .380 to .45.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TDH

I use Imr 4895 in .223, 308. 3006 and 7.62x39 and I tried it in 7.62x54r when I was trying to get it to shoot decently. If I can't get that then I try to find H 4895 or Varget. They are all so close together in burn rate it really doesn't matter. the only rifle cartridge that gets anything else is the M1 Carbine and I use WW 296 for them. All pistol cartridges get a dose of WW 231 from .380 to .45.

---

For handguns I find Unique to be the most useful, it works for mild to moderate loads. I seldom load powderpuff nor bear busters, so it is more than suitable!

Right now it is difficult to standardize on one powder for multiple cartridges, given the shortages.

For pistol ammo I use HODGDON clays. I load 25 auto to 45acp. Works especially well with my 357 and 9 mm.

I keep both 4895 and 4064 on hand. I use both for jacketed loads. For cast, I use Red Dot or Unique and 4895 for heavier loadings.

IMR 4895 for all my jacketed stuff in .30-06. I mostly load cast. 17.5 of 2400 is my goto load. 11.5 of unique is also one of my pet loads. I use the unique in all of my pistol loads except .38 special. 3.5 of bullseye for those. I have a small supply of 4895, unique, and 2400, and one lb of bullseye. Wish I could find more of the 2400 and unique. Starting to get a little concerned about those two. BTW, I have a few loads for cast bullets that use 26grains ( I think) of the 4895. If anyone is interested I can look it up.

People that sell powder and bullets will try to show their product used in as many different applications as possible.

IMR4895 is one of the most popular and flexible propellants. How it is good in most of the rounds that you name. However it is generally too slow for best use in the 45-70 unless you are going to develop loads with higher pressures and higher velocities than the SAAMI loads. If you chose the lighter loads a faster powder will leave less unburned powder.

I have great success with Varget for the A303, Garand, and M1A. Both 4895's are fine too!

From over 40 years of reloading Military Calibres ( from 6,5 Japanese to 30/06 in case capacity) I have found that IMR4895 or its Aussie Analogue (AR2201, then AR2206, Now AR2206H (for Hodgdon) was the Best all round Powder, although the smaller 6,5s liked IMR 3031 Better.

Horses for courses...If I had to have only One "Rifle" Powder, it would be AR2206/IMR4895...This would of course, exclude all the Small capacity ( 5,56 and M1 Carbine and 7,62x39) cases, and the Very large cap. cases ( .45/70 etc).

Doc AV
AV Ballistics Technical Services
Down Under....

4895 has worked the best for me in my Garands. I find that the best powder for me in my 94's with the 30-30 is 3031. In the 45 ACP Bullseye has worked well, but Red Dot also does a good job with a wide range of bullet weights. J. Cooper

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jerome Cooper

4895 has worked the best for me in my Garands. I find that the best powder for me in my 94's with the 30-30 is 3031. In the 45 ACP Bullseye has worked well, but Red Dot also does a good job with a wide range of bullet weights. J. Cooper

---

For the 30-30 and 32 Special I slightly preferred 4198. :wave: