IMR4831 for 5.4 Creedmoor?

[geezerhood]

I know from searching the web that the go to powder for the Creedmoor with heavy bullets is 4350. Though I have absolutely need for a 6.5 Creedmoor, I picked up an AR10 platform BA Precision 22" barrel for a price that was too good to refuse so now I am forced to reload for it.

I don't have any powder even close to the burning rate of H4350 but I lucked into a supply of fresh dated IMR4831 for only $20 a pound delivered to my door if I buy 8 pounds of it. If I can get some friends to go in on the purchase the price drops to $17 / pound for 32 pounds of the stuff. If it was H4831 SC or H4350, I would be buy it without hesitation. I would have gone ahead and loaded some stuff with H4831 SC just to see, but I am totally out and will be paying significantly more for it over this IMR4831. Hodgdon gives some decent looking loads for the IMR4831, some are faster than H4350. Have any of you had gopod luck with the IMR4831 in the 6.5 Creedmoor? I am definitely getting some as it is $9 cheaper per pound at $17 net than buying elsewhere, but they are almost sold out so I was thinking I should get more of it as it can likely be used in several other rounds I like to shoot.

Any comments would be appreciated.

[98dyna]

I have been reloading for a 6.5 and a .260 AI. H4350, IMR4350, H4831sc, IMR4831, RL 22,17,19,15, N165, etc. I have found some sweet loads with IMR4350, H4131sc, n165, RL17, RL22 so far for my rifles. The sleeper load was N165, couldn't find any load specs until I got onto a old load program I have. Program configures loads by casing capacity, works really well. I get 2751 fps with an ES of 7 out of my load of N165 in the 6.5. But that powder is expensive and sometimes hard to find. I try to buy 8 pounds at a time of anything because I will find a rifle I can shoot it in and its cheaper.

[geezerhood]

I have been reloading for a 6.5 and a .260 AI. H4350, IMR4350, H4831sc, IMR4831, RL 22,17,19,15, N165, etc. I have found some sweet loads with IMR4350, H4131sc, n165, RL17, RL22 so far for my rifles. The sleeper load was N165, couldn't find any load specs until I got onto a old load program I have. Program configures loads by casing capacity, works really well. I get 2751 fps with an ES of 7 out of my load of N165 in the 6.5. But that powder is expensive and sometimes hard to find. I try to buy 8 pounds at a time of anything because I will find a rifle I can shoot it in and its cheaper.

Were you unable to get decent results with IMR4831? At this point that is the only powder I am interested in trying simply because of the price. I don't really want to buy any if my chances are low of getting good accuracy at the higher velocity levels with 140 to 147 gr bullets.

[Texas10]

Unless you're shooting in high level competition, I see no reason it won't work as well as any other comparable powder. I say go for it! The worst it can do is add valuable information to the data base here!

[geezerhood]

I ended up buying 8 pounds of it. Basically getting 2 pounds for free. I was able to get several 3 shot groups in the .75 to .85 inch range at 110 yards in freezing and windy weather on a wobbly portable bench, nothing over 1" while breaking in this brand new barrel. The bullets used were some 25 year old 140 grain Sierra Match (Not labeled Match King). Definitely shows potential. I also used some 30+ year old Remington 7 1/2 primers (small rifle primer Lapua brass). From the looks of it, the firing pin on my rifle is too pointy and I got three pierced primers out of 20. No problems with Hornady factory ammo. I am going to try a different firing pin since I have thousands of these 7 1/2 Remingtons. I was surprised by that since I remember reading that the 7 1/2 Benchrest primers supposedly had thicker cups.

The source just announced they have Retumbo for $18 a pound....I don't need any but that price is hard to pass up, particularly since I get less than 80 loads / pound with my 338 Lapua.

[98dyna]

I get good groups with H4831SC, I was just saying the N165 performed way better on the chrono than most others in the 6.5. H4350 and H380 also were in in the teens on es. FPS were all in the 2740-2750 range.

[geezerhood]

I get good groups with H4831SC, I was just saying the N165 performed way better on the chrono than most others in the 6.5. H4350 and H380 also were in in the teens on es. FPS were all in the 2740-2750 range.

Thanks 98dyna. I will definitely put the N165 in my notes as a great performer in the Creedmoor for when I run out of this 4831.