One powder simplicity

Rob

Rob

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I've been reloading since 1980 and have experimented with a variety of approaches, loaded for many different calibers from .22 Hornet through to 45-70, cast a lot of different lead bullets for both rifles and handguns, (never done any shotgun reloading), tried many different smokeless powders, plus black, hunted with all my reloads, bought and sold a lot of reloading gear: dies, molds, scales and furnaces, etc. But complexity and endless experimentation has lost its shine. I started reloading just to save a few bucks and after decades of experimentation I now find myself back at the beginning, desiring simplicity and economy. I want to use one powder that will satisfy my needs and find that IMR 4064 is generally that powder. It seems to work fine, giving me good velocity and good groups. I use it in everything from my 9.3x62 to my .222. I was just wondering if anyone else is in my minimalist position and can confirm 4064 as a fine all around powder or if there is an even better all purpose powder.
 
I do not believe I could identify one single powder as an all-purpose item.
I load everything from 222 Remington up to 338 Win Mag, and there is simply
no one powder capable of giving me what I want in everything I own.
Possibly if you have only 2 or 3 rifles, it might be OK, but it would still
not be optimum, IMHO.
However, if you are getting what you want, then that is great!!
You might also consider Varget, IMR4895 and Reloder 15 for your purposes.
I started loading around 1961/2, so have had a long go at the process, lol.
Eagleye.
 
Rob said:
I've been reloading since 1980 and have experimented with a variety of approaches, loaded for many different calibers from .22 Hornet through to 45-70, cast a lot of different lead bullets for both rifles and handguns, (never done any shotgun reloading), tried many different smokeless powders, plus black, hunted with all my reloads, bought and sold a lot of reloading gear: dies, molds, scales and furnaces, etc. But complexity and endless experimentation has lost its shine. I started reloading just to save a few bucks and after decades of experimentation I now find myself back at the beginning, desiring simplicity and economy. I want to use one powder that will satisfy my needs and find that IMR 4064 is generally that powder. It seems to work fine, giving me good velocity and good groups. I use it in everything from my 9.3x62 to my .222. I was just wondering if anyone else is in my minimalist position and can confirm 4064 as a fine all around powder or if there is an even better all purpose powder.
Click to expand...

i'm an imr 4064 fan myself actually.
.204
.223
.308 for m14
30-06 for garand.
 
Aaarrrggghhhh!!!!!

I wish it was so simple to have one powder for all. I too have have found that some powders have a broad range of use but that there is no magical one or two powders. But we have a tendency to strive for perfection and are not satisfied with what we get.

But with barrels different personalities as to what they like to eat it will be interesting to see others pet powders are.

With out reviewing load data logs I have about ten powders that I use the most with about another 30+ powders used for searching for the perfect load in new aquisitions.

The following top powders comes to mind;

IMR 4064
RL 15
IMR 4350
 
My rifle favourites are H4831, H335 and RL-15
Varget, BL-C(2), 748, IMR 4350 and IMR 4895, Hybrid 100V and Retumbo are
all on the shelf as well.

Probably burned more H4831 since the mid-60's than anything other
than shotgun powder.
 
IMR4064 is a pretty good powder and works to some extent in everything from .223 to .458 but i'd hesitate to limit myself to that alone. My minimum would be at least three powders: IMR4064 (orIMR4895), IMR4350, and Unique.
 
I use Varget for my rifles (.303 and .308) and W231 for pistols (.38 S&W and 9mm). I'm all for simplicity.
 
I can't limit my loading to a single powder for a single rifle much less use a single powder for everything I own. LoL

There is an old saying about "A Jack of all trades but a Master of none............."
 
If you were to pick 3 "rifles" for all North Amercian hunting, chambered to the .243 Winchester, the 30-06 Spgfd, and the .338 Win Mag, then yes, you could get by with IMR4350 with no problem at all for all three cartridges....

Just my two pennies...

rojogrande
 
I reload for the following...
22 Hornet,222,223,243,6.5x55,270,7mm mauser,30-30,308,30-06,7.62x54R,7.62x39, 303 Brit,8x57mm,338 win mag,375 H&H,44-40 (Handguns 32ACP,38 S&W,44 Mag.

According to my personal records here are a few versatile powders I could use for several cartridges I have. That said I agree with Eagleye that no powder is optimum and would work the best for only a few cartridges.

Win.760 -243,6.5x55,270,7mm mauser,30-30,308,30-06,303 Brit,338 win mag,375 H&H
H4831- 243,6.5x55,270,7mm mauser,7.62x54R,30-06,338 win mag,375 H&H
H4895- 222,223,243,6.5x55,270,7mm mauser,30-30,7.62x54R,308,30-06,7.62x39,303 Brit,8x57mm,338 win mag,375 H&H
IMR 4064- 222,223,243,270,7mm mauser,30-30,308,30-06,303 Brit,8x57mm,338 win mag,375 H&H
IMR 4320- 222,223,243,270,7mm mauser,30-30,308,30-06,8x57mm,338 win mag,375 H&H
IMR 4350- 243,6.5x55,270,7mm mauser,30-06,338 win mag,375 H&H
IMR 4895- 222,223,243,6.5x55,270,7mm mauser,30-30,308,30-06,303 Brit,8x57mm,338 win mag,375 H&H
Varget- 222,223,243,6.5x55,270,7mm mauser,30-30,7.62x54R,308,30-06,303 Brit,8x57mm,338 win mag,375 H&H
BL-C (2)- 222,223,243,6.5x55,270,7mm mauser,30-30,7.62x54R,308,30-06,7.62x39,303 Brit,8x57mm,375 H&H
TAC- 222,223,30-30,308,30-06,303 British,8x57mm,375 H&H Magnum
Reloder 15-223,243,270,30-30,308,30-06,303 Brit,8x57mm,338 win mag,375 H&H
 
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