One Powder, One Bullet: Is it possible in multiple chamberings?

NL-Hunter

NL-Hunter

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Ok, so I have been shamed into starting reloading for an additional hobby and the logical part of me want to keep it simple. I shoot for hunting and practicing for hunting and like to practice with same ammo I hunt with. In my stable right now I use .30-06 (180 gr), 7MM Rem Mag (170 gr) and .375 H&H (270 gr), may also add .308 (180) to the mix eventually. I hunt mostly moose, but at times also Black Bear. Both at ranges usually between 50 and 300 yards.

Is it reasonable to expect to be able to load for these with one type of gunpowder and one type of bullet? I am not expecting Match Grade performance from each, Factory Chambering performance is more than sufficient. Bullet performance is crucial, not a fan of fragmenting (unless large bones are hit).

If this is at all possible, list your most and least favourite gunpowder type and bullet and explain your reasoning.
 
What do you mean "same type of bullet"? Same brand?
As for powder, just compare what your loading manual lists, I'm sure there are some that appear under all three cartridges.
 
You should be able to load all of those with w760 and I beleive you can get a number of different projectiles in the same brand/ product, but you won't get the same weight from 30-06 to 375
 
I've had great luck building loads with IMR4064 in both the 308 and 30-06 using the same bullets. I've read it's decent in the 375H&H as well. Not so much for the 7mm.

If you were looking for a powder to start off with that's pretty flexible 4064 gets my vote.
 
4350 will work reasonably well on those three cartridges, or 760 (or H414) which you might as well say is the ball version of the 4350 for application.

You could just pick a bullet type and use it in all the calibers, but there isn't any pressing reason to do so.
 
GMC403 said:
I've had great luck building loads with IMR4064 in both the 308 and 30-06 using the same bullets. I've read it's decent in the 375H&H as well. Not so much for the 7mm.

If you were looking for a powder to start off with that's pretty flexible 4064 gets my vote.
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IMR 4064 is a good one, so is IMR4350 - not so much in 308 but usable with heavier bullets.
 
Whether this is a good idea or not, it might not be possible. Finding powder, and projectile at all can be a challenge. One uses what you can find, also, finding a good load and hoarding a good supply of components for it.

Try Reloaders Nest. Look at the common powders for each caliber. Some may be usable for all, but, for example be better for light or heavy for caliber loads. My thinking is that you are most likely to eventually have several varieties of projectile and powder, just like the rest of us.
 
Great info on the powders, keep them coming.

With bullet type I am looking for a projectile that will perform on Moose and Bear. Like heavier projectiles in the chambering. I.e. 180 in .308 and .30-06. 270 to 300 in .375. May have to trade my 7MM for a .300 WinMag to further simplify things. I am throwing the .308 in the mix as I have plans for a full stock model for short range/bush hunting.

Type would be: cup and core, partition, bonded or solid. Specific brand and model. I.e. Nosler Partition etc...
 
The simplest and most foolproof moose/bear bullet in 30-06 and 308 is a 180 gr of almost any persuasion. You really don't need a premium bullet for these velocities, the Hornady interlock or Sierra prohunter are good at 308/30-06 velocities. If you want to use lighter bullets then 165 gr Partition is a good choice.
 
Could be hard to find one powder to work across all those calibres. 4350 could be good for the 30-06 and 7RM while something like RL15 could work for 375 and 308.
 
Winchester-1897 said:
H4895 or IMR4895
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Doing some quick searching these and 4350 seems to pop up a lot.

Question: is IMR and H with these numbers formulated similarly? Or are numbers in those brands more of a coincidence and call for different amounts.
In general, are numbers across different brands based on same formulas? Maybe I am overthinking this and just about any smokeless rifle powder will work.
 
NL-Hunter said:
Doing some quick searching these and 4350 seems to pop up a lot.

Question: is IMR and H with these numbers formulated similarly? Or are numbers in those brands more of a coincidence and call for different amounts.
In general, are numbers across different brands based on same formulas? Maybe I am overthinking this and just about any smokeless rifle powder will work.
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They are different and not interchangeable using same quantity of powder...
 
The best powder mentioned so far, at least for 308 and 30-06, and useable with lighter bullets in the 7mm mag, is 4064. I have never had anything to do with the 375 H & H, but going by sizes, 4064 is likely very useable in it also.
In the 1960s if you went into a good gun store in BC, especially, for ammo or components, the choice was either CIL or Norma. Norma had a complete line of everything and their # 203 is virtually identical to 4064.
I have both 203 and 4o64 and I can find no difference between them.
Looking at an old Norma loading chart it is noted that for well over half of the centre fire cartridges, the recommended powder is 203.
Norma loading charts are very accurate as to velocities. For many years my standard 30-06 load was with Norma 203, 50 grains for 180 grain bullets and 55 grains of 150 grain bullets. When I later got to chronograph them I found that the 180s were going what was advertised, 2700 fps and depending on the rifle, the 150s would go over the 3,000 mark.
 
Some powders to ponder ... I may end up getting a couple.

now, for dies, I have realized that most dealers in Canada stock few calibers ...

Which ones are best to get? 2 piece, three piece, four piece???

What are advantages and disadvantages with the various brands?
 
NL-Hunter said:
Some powders to ponder ... I may end up getting a couple.

now, for dies, I have realized that most dealers in Canada stock few calibers ...

Which ones are best to get? 2 piece, three piece, four piece???

What are advantages and disadvantages with the various brands?
Click to expand...

I like getting the three piece dies. I prefer to full length size so having the neck Collette die isn't crucial for me.
 
To keep it simple, I would start with H4895 or Varget and either partitions or accubonds....... You may encounter a rifle you have a hard time getting solid accuracy with and then you can buy a pound of a different powder to try just for that rifle...... This is what I did when I started out..... When you get a rifle that doesn't play nice with your powder, simply go to the nosler site and buy a pound of what they have listed as most accurate for your combination.....
 
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