What is a good all around powder for several 30 cal rifles? I have a 30-30, .308, 30-06, 300 wheatherby mag, and plan on casting a lyman #311291, 170 grain boolit, as well as jacketed store bought projectiles. I would like to use the same powder in each rifle. Later on I will experiment and get powders for each rifle that they like best. But for now I would like to just have one powder. Anybody got any suggestions?
Bulseye worked great for me for a light load using a 32 pistole bullet. 3.2grains and shoots like a good 22 lr. I have used it in 303 30/06 308 it’s a really good plinking load. Thev130 to 180 gr cast bullet I have used 5 to 7 gr of bulseye and it worked good also
3031 4198 4895
Your Wetherby Mag is going to make short work of a pound of powder,but if you are set on one for all I reckon IMR4350 would be alright,probably a hair slow for the 30-30,but would work well with the magnum
BLC2 hodgen is as close to a universal powder I have found it works good in 223 303 b 308w 7.52x39 7.52x54R don’t know about the mag with blc2 but the others calibers I have loaded shot very good for me
Same powders I would have mentioned. I tend to go with 3031 the most.Quote:
Originally Posted by pworley1
These three are my most used lead projectile powders too in the midrange to heavys.Quote:
Originally Posted by pworley1
Imr4064
Whatever you can find right now. Folks are going crazy again.
Personally, I would never buy just one powder for all those rounds. You will find one is super inefficient for a round (too much powder to hit same velocity as another powder).
Also, depends how you are loading... progressive? Ball powder. Trickle? Stick.
No one powder will do everything for all cartridges.
The .30/30; .308, .30/06 will all be served well with either #2400, or H4895. Unique and even RedDot (Promo) will work for mouse fart loads.
For the 300Magnum however, you’ll be better served by buying some surplus powders from Jeff Bartlett of GiBrass.com. WC860, WC857, or WC872 can be bought for about $6-8lb in 8lb kegs. You can buy pull down or second bullets and shoot full power loads for less than th3 cost of shooting the .30/30.
I bought 16lbs of WC860 in 2005. Haven’t opened the second keg yet, but also bought a .257Wby to go with the .300RUM that thinks the WC860 is nectar... Still working on 1000 PPU 165gr BTSPT and 1000 Remington 180gr CorLokts and 1000 Speer 120gr HotCor .257’s. Bullets are blems bought on sale. Look and shoot like perfect stock. Especially the 180gr Corlokts.
Serious long range heat for mere pennies.
throw out the 3030 and I could get by with 4350 or re19. 3030 throws a wrench in the mix. Anything fast enough burning for it will be borderline to fast for any magnum. At least if you want mag velocitys.
H4895 works well with cast and jacketed bullets over a wide range of speeds. Search on "Hodgdon reduced rifle loads" for a PDF on light loads. Excellent loading data are available here:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
4895 either flavor will do
Reloader 15. I bought 10 pounds a while back and wished I had bought more. Running at cast velocities 1600-2200 fps and a not full case (ie. lower pressure) my other bulk powders H335 and BLC2 have had more variation in speed and accuracy. My experience is primarily 30-30. I got rid of the 340 Weatherby and that ate only full cases of 7828. I still have 10 lbs of 7828 in the metal cans.
If you are talking about cast bullet loads only I"ll suggest IMR4227. I've had excellent results in many chamberings. I haven't tried it in the 300 Weatherby as I don't own one but it works well in my two 338 Winchester magnums. It is helpful that I have an IMR data pamplet from about 1990 which shows data for all the cartridges listed except maybe the Weatherby.
Good Luck,
Rick
I4350 and Unique .
I've run 4350 with cast and jacketed in all but the Weatherby , don't know anyone with one .
If we are strictly just talking powders for cast boolits, my choices would be RL7, A5744, and H4895. Throw in the need for jacketed bullet loads and IMR 4064 or RL15 would be my choice for all but the 300 Weatherby. For optimum performance with that one you'll want a slow burner, I like IMR7828 in my 300WM.
4895 is the Unique of rifle powders, it will work in everything. It's going to be fast in the Magnum, but will be fine for cast, and can be a bit slow in a 30-30, but it will work. If I had to stick with one rifle powder that would be it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RU shooter
Ditto!Quote:
Originally Posted by goryshaw
I got a question while we ate on the subject. I don't wanna hijack Tazlaws thread but my son in law and myself are on the search. What's a good starting load with H4895 and a 150grn gas check boolit?