Most common non magnum rifle powder?

Cleftwynd

Cleftwynd

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What would you guys say is the most common powders that you yourself use in the 243 to 30-06 range. Things like 7x57, 6.5x55, 270 Win, 308, 30-06, 260 Rem, 280, etc...

I myself use a lot of H4350, H4831SC, IMR 4350, and RL-19. There are many others but those are the ones I use the most.



Also, I have always bought powder in person, I am looking to pick up 20 lbs+ of powder here soon. My fuel cost to pick it up would be at least 120-150 alone plus a FULL day for driving, shopping, eating etc... since I have at least 4 hours each way. There are 13 different powders I would like to purchase, some in up to 8 lb jugs, would the shipping cost be much more than than my fuel costs? I will be needing a few bricks of primers as well, BR2's and Fed 215M's.
 
I load a ton of different loads and I find that one of my main powders is IMR4895. I can load in my 243, 270, 308, 30-06, 8mm mauser and get great performance. I am sure everyone has their favorite or their most often used.
 
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For me:
H4831 - 300WM, 6.5x55, 7.62x54R (174gr+)
H4895 - 308, 30-06, 303B, 8x57, 7.62x54R (<174gr)
H4198 - 45-70, 223
H110 - 44 mag

There is data for H4895 for all the cartridges except 44 mag so really I could use just that one powder for almost all my metallic reloading. I find I get significantly better performance with the 3 powders though so don't really want to reduce it to 1. Of course my reduced loads, cast bullet loading, and shotshell reloading means I also use Reddot, Bluedot, Unique, Trailboss, and SR-4759 but that's more special purpose than regular reloading.
 
According to sales figures, IMR 4350 takes the top spot in reloader's choices.

I use it a bit, but I use many different powders to get what I want from a specific round.
I have not subscribed to the non-temp sensitive need that some seem to have.

I have always felt it is important to see what your load does in the conditions you are using it.

One of my all-time favorite powders is Norma MRP. It just works well in so many applications.

Regards, Eagleye
 
Eagleye said:
According to sales figures, IMR 4350 takes the top spot in reloader's choices.

I use it a bit, but I use many different powders to get what I want from a specific round.
I have not subscribed to the non-temp sensitive need that some seem to have.

I have always felt it is important to see what your load does in the conditions you are using it.

One of my all-time favorite powders is Norma MRP. It just works well in so many applications.

Regards, Eagleye
Click to expand...

Eagle
I had heard the Reloder 15 is the same thing as MRP, have you heard this?

I too use a different powder for each caliber.
Reloder 22 for 6.5x55, 25-06
Win 748 for 308
IMR 4350 for 243, 250 Savage
Reloder 19 for 7x57
LiLgun for Hornet
AA 1480 19 Calhoon.
Varget for 204 Ruger
4831 for 270
Benchmark for 223,
Reloder 7 for 222
 
Interesting, It's great to see that everyone uses such a wide variety of powders for same or similar cartridges! I would hate to see the powder makers reduce the variety offered.

I will be placing an order soon with Higg however there are still about 5 powders I need to replace that they do not offer. Thanks for all the input fellas!
 
Higginson gives free shipping on 21lb powder orders, you still have to pay for Loomis $25 hazmat fee though.

I use a lot of Varget and IMR 4895 among others.
 
Fassteel said:
Eagle
I had heard the Reloder 15 is the same thing as MRP, have you heard this?



FS, actually, there are some who claim Reloder 22 is the same as MRP.
Likewise, Reloder 19 = Norma 204.
and, Reloder 15 = Norma 203b

However, I am not quite so sure they are the same, since the load differences in the same rifles are greater
than one would find with lot-to-lot differences in one powder only. { I have all these numbers in my powder selection}

They do originate in the same Bofors plants, they are double-based powders, and are similar, but I would stop
right at that statement - similar.

Each needs it's own load development starting from a known safe level.

That said, they are great powders in their respective niches.

Eagleye.
Click to expand...
 
I try to stay away from extruded powders, since they often don't meter easily (accurately, yes. easily, no).

H335 and W748 I've been playing with in 30-30 and .375 winchester (planning to standardize on one or the other for most of my stuff)
Reloader 7 for 45-70, loaded for the sharps, since it fills up the case nicely.
2400 is an old standby for Economy loading, since charges are lighter. Was using that in 30-30 and .303, mostly to use up old stocks.
Unique for smokeless loads in the 50-70 rolling block. Kinda lousy, though, since charges are so light that you need to get the powder to the back of the case before firing to get good ignition.
SR4759 either on its own in the big straight walled cases, or as a base for a duplex load with black powder. (I'm just going to suck it up and shoot duplex in the 50-70 from now on)

Interesting note. This fall, at near zero C temps, I was getting very poor ignition and far too many squibs with IMR 4198 in the 45-70. They were older reloads, but it was a charge that would always work fine on a warm summer day. That day I was getting poor ignition, unburnt powder left behind, and several ignition failures that left bullets lodged in the throat of the gun.
 
Sounds EagleEye beat me on this!

I wouldn't try to swithch from Alliant to Norma powders without load developement neither. While some Reloder and Norma powders are made in the same plant, it seems they use slightly different additives (anyways, that's what is thouhgt).

Anyways, some are close enough such as;

Reloder 22 / Norma MRP

Reloader 15 / Norma 203B

Norma 204 is closer to IMR 4350 than RL 19, but we all know they are all similar (but different).

Before switching one or the other, just double check the datas of each brand.
 
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