Powders For Rifle Reloading

[Dick284]

Over the years I’ve tried a host of different powders while rifle reloading, and I’ve pretty much got things down to 3 powders now.

Here’s my 3 maybe 4, and why I’ve gone to them.

Varget; from .223, 22-250, .243(light bullets), 25/06(75gr), 260Rem(light bullets), .270Win(light bullets & reduced 130’s), 7mm-08(139’s). 30/30, .300Savage, .308, 30/06(150’s), 303 Brit, .358Win.
Short kernel extruded powder, able to be purchased in bulk from a couple dealers.

H4350; 243(mid weight) 260Rem, 6.5x55 .270Win, 7mm-08(140-160), 284Win, 30-06(165+), 300WSM. Short kernel extruded powder, able to be purchased in bulk from a couple dealers.

IMR7828; 243(100+), .270Win(130-150), 270WSM, 300Wby.
Not the SSC either, but again able to be bought in bulk.

Yes there’s one other that maybe I could add, that being IMR 4831, but it could possibly be replaced by with the H4350, or the 7828, if I cared to re do the load development in those rifles, but the results are so good why bother.
Those are 85’s in the 25/06, and 150’s in the 280AI.

What’s your go to powders?

[catnthehat]

I can load all of the cartridges I currently shoot with Varget and be happy - in fact I do!
Now, I could add 4350 and 4895 for a bit more velocity in a couple or a ball powder or two for easier measuring but I don't worry about it . Varget dies everything I want it to .
Cat

[marxman]

Most of my reloading is tinstar, n110 , imr 3031, n140,n160. Also I use win. 748 for 30 30 and 32 40 but I could use 30 31 for that. Also I have imr 4831 just let's me load up my creed a bit over the n160, also reloader 22 and25 ...oh never mind

[obsessed1]

Varget
H4831
IMR 3031
Imr 4064
Leverlution
Red dot

These are my most used powders. I probably have a .5 lb or so of 10-12 different powders that have been tried for different loads.
Currently I load for
44 mag
223
22-250
243
270
7mm08
7mmRM
30-30
308
30-06
303 Brit
35rem
300wm
45-70

I generally try to stick with what I have in stock for new load development but would rather get the performance I'm after for each caliber than settle on poor accuracy/ velocity just to use a powder I have on the shelf

[catnthehat]

For shotguns I am mostly using 700X and Longshot and of course FFG!
Cat

[elkhunter11]

At this point, I am loading four powders, for four rifles. The case capacities go from 12 gr to 78 gr, so one or two powders would not be optimum for the four cartridges. I tried to help develop loads for two friends 7mmrem mag rifles a few weeks ago, and each shot best with a different powder, so two powders it was.
And I use two powders for two shotgun gauges, because that is what works best with those two gauges.

[prarie_boy1]

Varget/H4350 will pretty much get me through with everything. As a luxury I like to have some benchmark laying around and some r22 for my newly acquired 6.5x55.

[colroggal]

Varget - I put that stuff in Everything!

Except for H110 in the .44's and I also use H4891 with the heavy hard cast 45-70's

Also use Trailboss, both in the 45-70 And in the .44.

I'm not loading for many cartridges right now, so it's nice to keep things simple: .223, 30-30, a couple of .308's, lots of 45-70 and. 44 mag. My recent .35 Whelen purchase found it's sweet spot with Varget on the first try.

It's hard to mix powders when you only have a few on the shelf and you can tell them apart (aside from Varget and the 4891) by touch.

Colin

[Jerry D]

Varget has been working great for me in the .223 shooting 69gr match kings.

Varget has also been doing well in the .308 based cases.

In the .30-06 cases I've been using IMR 4350.

I would say the loads are more accurate than the shooter so I havent bothered to get into the fine tuning of loads.

Most factory guns really are 1.5moa capable with any ammo.

If our guys can smash 4" clays at 100 yards or hit the 6" gong at 200 yards or the 10" at 300, that makes them happy.


Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk

[pikergolf]

Varget/.243 .... Benchmark/.223.

[urban rednek]

IMR4350- 30/06 and 300WM
H414- 22-250

[260 Rem]

IMR4198 - 30BR
Varget - 6 Dasher / 30 Dasher / 308 / 30-284
H4350 - 6.5X47 / 260 Rem / 6.5 SLR

[CNP]

Varget
CFE 223
RL22
H4831
H4350
IMR4350

I want to narrow this down from 6 to 3 also. In fact I have not used CFE 223 for some time and after the RL22 is done I'm done with it too.

[honda610]

I use imr 4350 in a lot of my rifles.
Varget in my wifes 308
I have used 4064, 4831 both types
4831sc. H1000
700x when we loaded trap shells.

[Dean2]

Many years ago I tired the many guns one powder method. I came to believe in using the optimum powder in each cartridge. Since I am going to go to all the trouble of developing a load for each gun, I want the highest possible velocity with very good accuracy that will give me peak performance with the specific bullet I want to use for what is being hunted. I am okay with having to have a bunch of different powders to accomplish a no compromise load for each gun. Otherwise, at least in my opinion, I might just as well shoot factory ammo. Doesn't make the rest of you wrong, just not how I do it.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Many years ago I tired the many guns one powder method. I came to believe in using the optimum powder in each cartridge. Since I am going to go to all the trouble of developing a load for each gun, I want the highest possible velocity with very good accuracy that will give me peak performance with the specific bullet I want to use for what is being hunted. I am okay with having to have a bunch of different powders to accomplish a no compromise load for each gun. Otherwise, at least in my opinion, I might just as well shoot factory ammo. Doesn't make the rest of you wrong, just not how I do it.

I do the same. Different powders, different case capacities ,different bullet weights, different load densities and different barrels equals different burn characteristics for any powder.
Somewhere there seems to be an optimum powder for each combination. but it's a shortcut to the poor house if you load for multiple cartridges.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Many years ago I tired the many guns one powder method. I came to believe in using the optimum powder in each cartridge. Since I am going to go to all the trouble of developing a load for each gun, I want the highest possible velocity with very good accuracy that will give me peak performance with the specific bullet I want to use for what is being hunted. I am okay with having to have a bunch of different powders to accomplish a no compromise load for each gun. Otherwise, at least in my opinion, I might just as well shoot factory ammo. Doesn't make the rest of you wrong, just not how I do it.

I was heavy into this, and still have all sorts of part jugs of powder kicking around, it’s just that over the years and all the different rifles, I keep getting good results with the same 3-4 powders, so the part jugs sit for the most part.

[32-40win]

I keep H4831, RE22, RE19, IMR4350,IMR 4831, for the 30R, 300H&H and the 7RM, some is leftovers from the 338WM & 450-400NE

I have H4350, ww760, Varget and RL16 & 17, IMR4320 and 4064 for the 6.5CM and 7-08Rem.

For the 218Bee & 223Rem, I have AA1680. L'il gun, AA2230, IMR4198, BLC2

For cast I have Trailboss, SR4759, AA9 and AA5744

For misc, I have some 700x,ww540,IMR 3031, ww748, h1000, titegroup, VV N560 & 565, TU7000 & 8000, may even have some IMR7828 & H870 still.

A lot of it got acquired over time, some in stuff people gave me or as extras in a deal, some was bought to try out. I can cover most of the stuff I'm inclined to buy for gun and cartridges and bullet combos.

[David Henry]

I would be content with IMR 3031 if I had to chose just one, works very well in my 250-3000, 303 and 30-30 and a good variety of other cases. D.H.

[fordtruckin]

Power Pistol
IMR 4064
LeveRevolution

Would try Varget but can never find it. Next year I will try IMR3031 since I can find that about as easily as 4064. Don't reload alot of pistol as I've been able to get decent deals on bulk 9mm and work provides me all the .40S&W I need.

[Bergerboy]

H4831 - 280AI, 6.5x284, 7RM
IMR 4350 - 3006, 325WSM, 270
Benchmark - 223
Superformance - 22-250


4 main powders for 8 cartridges. Works ok for me.

[Glenn D]

Varget
H 4350
Imr 4831
Work good for me.

[titegroup]

.223-- Benchmark.
.22-250-- IMR -4166
.243-- H-4350