Powders

[Matt_G]

I could get by with bullseye, unique, 2400, 335, 4350. But i prefering having a cabinet full of differnt ones. Getting by doesnt mean ideal.

+1 with one change. Instead of 4350 it would be 4064 for me.
4064 will work in my .270 Win (4350 is better) but it really shines in my .308 and the 7mm-08.

[Mark]

I prefer to shoot handguns with cast bullets. I can do a lot with WW231/HP-38. 296/H110 next for magnum loads (but if I were on a tight budget, 2400 goes farther with minimal loss of fps). For the little rifle I shoot, 4198 and Reloader 15 do well. If I handloaded more shotshells, I could swap 231 for 700x and still stay in your 4 powder criteria. Of course, I would rather keep 231.
Mark

[tuckerdog]

unique,2400,imr4350,imr3031-with these I can load every thing I own or plan to own

[RugerFan]

Well I could narrow it down to 6 anyway:

IMR 3031
IMR 4064
H335
H4227
H4895
Unique

These would easily handle all my cast, J-bullet and 12 ga shotshell needs.

[excavman]

If I was that limited I'd go with 231, Unique, 2400, 3031 or Re10x, 4320 or Re19.

Larry

[Beekeeper]

OK here is what I presently have.
So what do you suggest I change or add and what quanities would keep on hand.
I think I am only going to get one more buy as things are starting to get a little tight around here.
Nothing to worry about but need to start squezzing down some.
I have IMR 4895, H4198 , Red Dot , Herco , unique. and a couple of 45 year old unopened 1 lb cans of IMR3031.
Have about 1 lb of Green dot I bought 45 years ago ( in a 1 quart paper ice cream carton and that is the full lot.
what do you suggest I add and what quanities?


Jim

[technetium-99m]

I could do with just 2-3 powders.

I use Solo1000 for all my pistol loads, jacketed, moly coated, or cast.

For 223 I use Tac, and for 308 I use Varget, the beauty of this is that Tac will work just fine in 308 as well (no cast in the rifles for me).

The only reason for me to pick up another powder would be making major PF with 38super or 9mm.

[Matt_G]

what do you suggest I add and what quanities?

What do you shoot and how much do you shoot of each caliber/gauge?

[sundog]

Green Dot
Herco
IMR 4227
IMR 4895
H 4831

[Crash_Corrigan]

Unique
Clays
Accurate 2700
Accurate 2230
Swiss 1 1/2

Are the ones listed above enuf.....no! I like trail boss for my .45 Colt and W 231 along with AA # 2, #7, #9. 4895 for my M-1 along with the 2700, 4064 also and Varget works good in my 6.5 x 55 Sweede.

I load for 380 ACP, 9 MM, 327 Federal Magnum, .38 and 357 Magnum, .44 Special, .45 ACP and 45 Colt. .223, 8 x 57, 30-06, 6.5 x 55, 303 Brit, 30-30, 30 Carbine and for a Sharps 50-90.

I have outgrown one Canon gun safe and now I have a few long guns in other places..... sawn off 12 gauge behind bench seat in Pick Up, Model '97 in corner of bedroom, 303 Brit in broom closet, .44 Special on my hip most times and my beloed M-1 as a wall hanger with a few clips in a bandolier closeby.

My kitchen is my casting room and stores a lot of molds and brass. My living room is a large repository of a ton of reloading gear, presses, dies and such and my bedroom has a set of commercial floor to ceiling shelves for storage of powders and primers and sundries.

This hobby which I started with 16 years ago has taken over my life and home.

The next step is to get a trailer to tow behind the motorcycle to take some of this stuff with me to the range and for road trips.

When am I gonna start to save some money?

[Changeling]

44mag & 45LC - 2400, 296 if I want all the velocity + accuracy

22 Swift - Reloader 15, H380

6 mm rifles Reloader 19

7 mm rifles - Reloader 19

Not enough expertise in revolver powders ( 44mag, 45 LC) to know a really good low to medium velocity powder yet.

9mm commercial, 22 RF CCI SGB

[cephas53]

Unique- handgun and shotgun, tried but keep coming back to it.
2400- heavier handgun and light rifle with cast
H414- started using this in my 22.250 but has taken over most of my rifles. Meters great, just a tad "quicker" than IMR4350
5744- started using this last year with cast in 45/70 and am finding it works well in all my cast rifle loads.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Lots of good powders listed, but I have to agree with Lloyd Smale.

My thought really comes down to, what do you expect or are willing to settle for with your firearm.

Do you want a load that will relyabley kill a truck load of game over the years, OR do you want the optimum velocity and groups your rifle is able to produce while killing those critters???????

If you desire the latter, you WILL almost certainly end up with a goodly number of powders and bullets even if you are searching for the magic load in only one rifle.

I on the other hand have quite a few different powders on hand because over the years I have done load development for a nice number of different rifles.

Currently I am working towards "hunt worthy" loads with cast bullets in a RUGER #1s - 45/70. I have already tried at least 4 different powders, have another on the shelf which might be good and will buy another that I keep reading good reports about. This isn't even counting the other powders which I don't currently have, but which in some circles find favor.

For a usable hunting load in everything from my .243 up to and including my 300 win. mag. I could hunt the rest of my days with a supply of IMR or H 4831.

But then, what about the .270 that my son had that just wouldn't group with the 4350s, 4831s and other powders in that range. Well, finally all the common knowledge went out the door when it was found that this rifle liked 4064, a powder much faster then what I'd normally use in a 270.

So, considering the fact that I like my rifles to give good velocity and good groups, I probably could get by with a short list of powders, but like Lloyd, am sure glad I don't need to!!!!!!!!

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[leadman]

AA#2 for small pistols and revolvers
2400 for magnum revolvers, Hornet cast, and cast rifle loads
WC680 for Hornet jacketed, 300 Whisper, heavy 44 mag.
H4895 for most rifle loads with jacketed and cast
H4831 or IMR7828 for magnum rifles with jacketed

[pmeisel]

Sounds to me like you need a magnum pistol powder, like 2400 maybe.

with 4895, 4198, and 3031 you have a lot of rifle territory covered, I think, but I am not a rifle expert so maybe there is a niche you could improve on.

[Beekeeper]

In poistols I have 9 mm , 40S&W and 1911 45 ACP
In rifles I have a house full from223 to 45/70 in a handi rifle
in between the 223 and the 45/70 there is 7MM
308
30/06
8MM
7.62x54R
8x56R
30/30
A couple of BP in 577/450 and 577
and a half dozen 22s
That is the enventory and why I wanted to stay with a few reliable powders.
I do a little range shooting, mostly for fun, and some hunting.
Mostly I shoot to proof some of the old junkers I rebuild.


Jim

[pmeisel]

No magnum revolver cartridges I see. To what defect in yourself do you attribute that?

[pakmc]

powder that i use Unique, WW231, for pistols,4895, will work with just about any rifle. I shoot mil. surpluss rifles(ok, all of them) and 2400 and/or red dot for cast loads in above guns.
Pat

[Randall]

4 and 8 pound kegs are 231,unique and H4895
231 for self loading pistols
unique for revolvers
H4895 covers .223 to 30-06
occasional use of 2400 or AA#9 in 1 pound cans

[wiljen]

H322 would be a good addition to your list. H322 is a good fit in .223, 30-30, and 45-70. (Granted 3031 is close to 322 but 322 meters so much better especially when dealing with the little bitty neck on the 223 that it is worth it). Besides, if I could only have one powder for the 45/70, it would be H322.

The midsized stuff you go pretty well covered with 4895 and 3031.

Reduced loads 4198, unique, and Red dot have pretty well handled.

Pistol loads you have well covered for the autos.

The other addition might be either 5744 or Trail boss for the big BP cartridges. You can cover some of the same ground with 4198 but I find TB and 5744 awfully useful in those situations.

In poistols I have 9 mm , 40S&W and 1911 45 ACP
In rifles I have a house full from223 to 45/70 in a handi rifle
in between the 223 and the 45/70 there is 7MM
308
30/06
8MM
7.62x54R
8x56R
30/30
A couple of BP in 577/450 and 577
and a half dozen 22s
That is the enventory and why I wanted to stay with a few reliable powders.
I do a little range shooting, mostly for fun, and some hunting.
Mostly I shoot to proof some of the old junkers I rebuild.


Jim