Okay every winter I say I’m going to get started reloading and I’m bound and determined this time it’s the truth! I have all the needed equipment. Now I want to keep it simple to start. I’m going to be loading 308/307 win and 375win, what powder should I buy to start?
One powder for all my needs?
- Thread starter HChammer
- Start date
Hi HChammer,
Primary, it will dependent on the bullet weight you are going to be using (light bullets vs heavy bullets).
Check out hodgdonreloading data webpage and plug your date. It should help to narrow it down.
htt**://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle
Cheers,
Primary, it will dependent on the bullet weight you are going to be using (light bullets vs heavy bullets).
Check out hodgdonreloading data webpage and plug your date. It should help to narrow it down.
htt**://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle
Cheers,
Last edited:
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
H4895, unless you are wanting to shoot light bullets
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
So welcome to the world of reloading. This is your call but curious; why do you want to stay with one powder? A second can of powder doesn't take much room, and you won't save any money buying two pounds of one powder compared to a pound each of two different powders. As far as safety, I get that. My own rules for reloading mean I only ever have one can of powder on the bench at a time, and after I fill the hopper I put the can behind the hopper so I know exactly what is in the powder hopper.
Only my suggestion but a bit of reading will show you the better powders for different calibers and bullet weights, without choosing a lesser compromise.
You say you have all the needed equipment but you really don't.
You need at least 2 reloading manuals and preferably 6. Check each manual and note the preferred powder for each of the rounds you want to build. It is easier if you make a chart. Write them all down then make a note of which powder shows up the most and is it the "best" for that round? That will tell you which powder you should get. Don't be surprised when you find you need more than one powder . That is life.
You need at least 2 reloading manuals and preferably 6. Check each manual and note the preferred powder for each of the rounds you want to build. It is easier if you make a chart. Write them all down then make a note of which powder shows up the most and is it the "best" for that round? That will tell you which powder you should get. Don't be surprised when you find you need more than one powder . That is life.
Almost impossible to find one powder that fits all loading situations.
The recommendation about loading manuals is a great starting point.
My favorite manuals are Nosler and Sierra as they list most accurate powders and loads.
When looking for an accurate 270 Winchester load for 150 grain bullets, Nosler's load was 52.0 grains of H4350.
I had never used H4350 but once found the first 3-shot groups measured 1.4" at 200 metres.
Sierra lists most accurate loads for target and hunting. Not too surprising but occasionally the two are the same.
This accuracy phenomenon does not require you to use their bullets as the Nosler load worked with Sierra and Hornady bullets.
The recommendation about loading manuals is a great starting point.
My favorite manuals are Nosler and Sierra as they list most accurate powders and loads.
When looking for an accurate 270 Winchester load for 150 grain bullets, Nosler's load was 52.0 grains of H4350.
I had never used H4350 but once found the first 3-shot groups measured 1.4" at 200 metres.
Sierra lists most accurate loads for target and hunting. Not too surprising but occasionally the two are the same.
This accuracy phenomenon does not require you to use their bullets as the Nosler load worked with Sierra and Hornady bullets.
I actually have a multiple reloading manuals, I just haven’t put in enough reading time yet lol (own a construction business and have two young kids time is a rare commodity lol) Just was looking for opinions to keep it simple and maybe get the ball rolling this winter .. guess I’ll read first.
Thanks again everyone!
Thanks again everyone!
I reload for a number of surplus military rifle calibers that will give me anywhere from 2 inch to 5 inch groups at 100 yds depending on the condition of the rifle it is fired in. My choice for a general powder to use with FMJ bullets is IMR 4895. Easily available and it was the powder used for US 7.62mm NATO & Caliber .30 (.30-06) National Match ammunition in the past.
A medium speed powder is best for 308/307. BLC2, H335, 748, 4895, Varget. Varget would work in 257 Roberts
A medium speed would work in a 375, although a slightly faster powder would be better, like 4198 or 3031.
But for 25-06 you want a slow powder, like 4831.
There is some convenience and safety by having as few powders as possible. But handloading is about getting maximum performance (velocity and accuracy) and a big part of this is selecting the appropriate powder.
There is no cost penalty in buying 2 or 3 different powders.
A common cause of blown up rifles is contaminating powder by pouring the powder thrower powder into the wrong can. Ball powder are notorious for this, because they can look identical. So when you buy your 3 powders, I suggest that only 1 of them be ball powder. Win 748 would be a good ball powder for your 308/307 and 257. And some kind of 4831 would be best for your 25-06.
A medium speed would work in a 375, although a slightly faster powder would be better, like 4198 or 3031.
But for 25-06 you want a slow powder, like 4831.
There is some convenience and safety by having as few powders as possible. But handloading is about getting maximum performance (velocity and accuracy) and a big part of this is selecting the appropriate powder.
There is no cost penalty in buying 2 or 3 different powders.
A common cause of blown up rifles is contaminating powder by pouring the powder thrower powder into the wrong can. Ball powder are notorious for this, because they can look identical. So when you buy your 3 powders, I suggest that only 1 of them be ball powder. Win 748 would be a good ball powder for your 308/307 and 257. And some kind of 4831 would be best for your 25-06.
Hah, I had a similar idea when I first started reloading.
I found that even if you find one powder that covers many bases, they might not shoot the way you want.
As you get deeper into reloading and want to improve your loads, you'll start trying diff powder and you'll end up with a shelf full.
I reload a lot of pistol, and I pretty much have a diff powder for each one, even tho I could probably cover them all with 1 or 2 kinds.
How do you say . . . "You find out your kids have different favorite foods".
Now mind you, this question is very relevant by virtue of finding a good powder to start off with that you can use to cut your teeth on all the calibers you want to reload for. Thing things will snowball from there.
I found that even if you find one powder that covers many bases, they might not shoot the way you want.
As you get deeper into reloading and want to improve your loads, you'll start trying diff powder and you'll end up with a shelf full.
I reload a lot of pistol, and I pretty much have a diff powder for each one, even tho I could probably cover them all with 1 or 2 kinds.
How do you say . . . "You find out your kids have different favorite foods".
Now mind you, this question is very relevant by virtue of finding a good powder to start off with that you can use to cut your teeth on all the calibers you want to reload for. Thing things will snowball from there.
Barnes_270
Regular
- Location
- Langley, BC
Like others have said, buying more than one powder is inevitable, but looking for a good all-rounder to start with is a good idea. But you're going to need to try a few.
H4895 would be my one-and-only if push came to shove, but the pair of H4895 and H4350 covers my needs well. That said, I have many powders to choose from...
One rule you must adopt is that you only have one powder on the reloading bench at a time. Only one. This is especially true if you start loading pistol cartridges and have pistol powder around. A pistol powder that looks visibly different from your rifle powder is also a good idea. A case full of pistol powder in a rifle cartridge is a pipe bomb.
H4895 would be my one-and-only if push came to shove, but the pair of H4895 and H4350 covers my needs well. That said, I have many powders to choose from...
One rule you must adopt is that you only have one powder on the reloading bench at a time. Only one. This is especially true if you start loading pistol cartridges and have pistol powder around. A pistol powder that looks visibly different from your rifle powder is also a good idea. A case full of pistol powder in a rifle cartridge is a pipe bomb.
