Popular Rifle Powders?

[DonMountain]

I am relitively new to shooting cast lead boolits through my collection of antique military rifles, and wonder what is the best performing powders for cartridges like the 7.5 x 55 Swiss, 7.62 x 54 Russian, .303 British, 7.64 x 54 Argentine Mauser, 6.5x 55 Swedish Mauser, 7mm Mauser, 7.7 Japanese, .30-40 Krag and similar rifles. I have 140, 160, 180 and 200 grain gas checked bullet molds for the various calibers.

[Calamity Jake]

Tops on my list is 2400, 4759, unique, 4227, red dot and 4895

[zomby woof]

Don't forget 4198, 4064, 3031 and Varget

[atr]

I shoot many of the same kinds of calibers you shoot,,,my favorite powders for reduced loads are 4895, 4227, unique, and 2400

[462]

Unique, 2400, IMR 4227, AA 5744.

IMR 4759 and Red Dot are on my wish list.

[stubshaft]

SR4759 is not an IMR powder, 2400 and either RE7 or IMR 3031.

[DonMountain]

I have tried 2400, Unique, and 4895. I commonly use 2400 in 44 mag loads using heavy cast boolits. And I have heard good reports for the SR-4759 in rifle loads, but have not tried any of it yet. I will have to purchase a pound the next time I can find a store that sells it. Thanks for the help.

[John J]

SR4759 is not an IMR powder

Hummmm.....My jug of SR4759 says IMR on the lable.

[MtGun44]

The IMR confusion is that the powders used to be Dupont and a certain number of Dupont's
powders were Improved Military Rifle powders. They had other powders that were not IMR
powders.

Now the COMPANY is named IMR so all of the powders are "IMR powders" in the sense that
they are made by that company, but there are some individual powders that are not members
of the Improved Military Rifle powder line, like IMR 4064, 4230, 4350, and 3031 are all members
of the IMR powder type. SR47XX are not a IMR powders from a powder technology/chemical
makeup standpoint, but it is now made by the IMR company.

So - technically - both of you are right.

Bill

[462]

Oops, slight brain f@#t . . . I know better.

[fixit]

Oops, slight brain f@#t . . . I know better.

that would be a neurological flatulence!!;)

[Bullet Caster]

I vote for 4895 for rifle powder esp. in the .30-06 BC

[mpmarty]

Reduced loads I like Red Dot and 2400 as well as Unique. Standard loads I tend to prefer 3031 and 4895 in medium cases and 4350 in the big ones.

['74 sharps]

H4895. Went through about 20# this summer and seems to burn clean, and have great
case density ....

[zomby woof]

H4895. Went through about 20# this summer and seems to burn clean, and have great
case density ....

I must have got a bad lot of H4895. I bought five pounds to try out and what ever I tried it in, it would not give me good results. I tried it in 223 and 30.06 jackets and several cast loads. I finally narrowed it to the powder. I love Varget, but I think I'll stick to IMR 4895.

[400short]

I'm curious. How do the SR powders differ from the IMR powders chemically, physically? I know that the IMR powders are progressive burning and single based stick powders. I've never used the SR series.

[wrench]

I shoot lots of reduced loads with cast in nearly all those calibers. My favorite powders are 2400, Unique, and SR4756.

[geargnasher]

The IMR confusion is that the powders used to be Dupont and a certain number of Dupont's
powders were Improved Military Rifle powders. They had other powders that were not IMR
powders.

Now the COMPANY is named IMR so all of the powders are "IMR powders" in the sense that
they are made by that company, but there are some individual powders that are not members
of the Improved Military Rifle powder line, like IMR 4064, 4230, 4350, and 3031 are all members
of the IMR powder type. SR47XX are not a IMR powders from a powder technology/chemical
makeup standpoint, but it is now made by the IMR company.

So - technically - both of you are right.

Bill

...and now the IMR powder company is owned by Hodgdon, to further confuse things.

I miss the DuPont powders.

To the OP, Unique, Reloder 7, and 748 are some favorites of mine depending on the velocity.

Gear

[MtGun44]

Gear,

I am friends with the Hodgdons, so I have known this since they bought IMR, but I left
it out to avoid confusing the issue even more.

Bill

[runfiverun]

for those you list.
2400,h-322 or aa2230, and the 4895's will do everything you need.
pick one and go with it.
i'd just throw 16 grs 2400 in them all to start and go.

[DonMountain]

So, where may I find reloading data for SR4759 and SR4756 for cast boolits in medium size rifle cases? I have the Lyman and RCBS cast bullet handbooks and they must have been written before these powders were available.

[JeffinNZ]

I suggest 2400 for mid teens loads. H4350 for top end.

[rintinglen]

Surely you jest.
Are the manuals published overseas different from ours here in the states?

The SR4756 data is more limited , but a quick glance at the 4th Edition Lyman Cast boolit handbook shows loads usin SR 4759 for 6.5 x 55 Mauser, 7mm Mauser, 7.62 x 39, 7.62 x 54 Russian, 308 Winchester, 30-06, 303 Brit, 7.65 Argentine mauser, 8 mm Mauser,I and many more besides. It would appear to be the most widely used powder in the book, at least for rifles. IIRC the third edition listed even more loads for it.

[1Shirt]

Just my 2 cents after all the others in my own personal Priority Sequence: 2400, 4759, red dot, unique in the fast burning pdrs, 5744, Varget, 4895, Bl-C, 4198 in the slower ones. And then there is Trail Boss which is an a catagory by it self in my opinion.

It depends on calibers and ctgs you are loading for, and what your disires for outcomes are. There is a big difference between your needs for plinking and for accuracy, for revolvers and autos in hand guns, and for semi autos and bolt action rifles.

There is current reloading data up the wazoo available today much of it free in Mfg. handouts. There is a wealth of free data on line from the major powder Mfgs. as well. And of course there is also a lot of flatlulance on the web as well, sooooo!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Harter66]

I like Unique ,4895,4350.

I'm working 7,8x57 ,30-06' ,7.62-39, 32 Rem.

[Wolfer]

Once you try 16 gr 2400 you might not bother to look any further.
Most of my stuff does prefer 17 to 20 grs though.

[DonMountain]

Is anybody using some sort of case filler with any of these medium size rifle cases for deer hunting? I have been trying to shoot a deer with the Argentine Mauser in 7.63 x 54 and wondered when sitting in a tree stand pointing the gun down to the ground the powder may flow forward before shooting.

[calgunner]

Currently using 4350 in my 303's.

[DonMountain]

There is the trouble I am having. My Lyman manual is too old for these modern powders. I don't think there is any SR series powders listed in mine. But my wife is rather reluctant to let me spend enough money to buy much reloading stuff. As long as her .356 Winchester has jacketed bullets loaded for it during deer season, she is happy. And she wouldn't allow me to buy her a bullet mold for her to do some target loading or deer hunting with it.

[mpmarty]

Don the SR series (Sporting Rifle) is not a "new" powder. It predates most of the "IMR" series (Improved Military Rifle) by several years like before world war 1.

[wills]

So, where may I find reloading data for SR4759 and SR4756 for cast boolits in medium size rifle cases? I have the Lyman and RCBS cast bullet handbooks and they must have been written before these powders were available.

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Hodgdon%20Basic%20Manual.pdf

Ever hear of C. E. Harris’ “the load”?
Thirteen grains of red dot, in most any mid size rifle case.

Alliant reloading data.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

[KYCaster]

Tops on my list is 2400, 4759, unique, 4227, red dot and 4895


Pretty good list right there.....but I'd sub Reloader 7 in place of the 4227 and add WC860 or similar mil surp on the slow end.

I've found 4227 to be very position sensitive in some loads and WC860 will work in most any mil surp cartridge in the 2000 fps +or= range, especially with heavy for caliber boolits.

Jerry

[miestro_jerry]

I use most of what has been listed and a few others. I like WW 748 for a lot of my rifle loads, but also 2400. It depends on which cartridge, what bullet, what the load is for and which rifle.

Jerry

[adrians]

in medium size milsurps ,,, 2400,,unique ,,,re-7 and 4895 (either brand), for bigger (i.e 45-70 trap ,,,43 mauser. ) i like trailboss for it's ability to almost fill cases without excessive pressures developing.
i'm off to the range with my 91 argie :evil:[smilie=s::twisted:

[Shiloh]

There are many.

My familiarity are with 4198, 4227, AA5744.
I have good experience with surplus SR 7641 with is 4759 clone. I'll be experimenting with canister
4759 this spring as my supply of inexpensive surplus has dwindled.

Shiloh