Powder advice

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AlanZA

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Shawnigan Lake, BC
Hi guys,

As a newb to Canada, I was hoping some of you could give me a crash course on the reloading powder options.
In south Africa we have only manufacturer with few flavours in terms of burn rate. I knew where each stood in terms of speed and suitability for different cartridges. Now I find myself overwhelmed by so many different options in brand and burn.
If you could help guide me so I can understand.
Thanks.
 
One good option is to go to the various powder manufacturers web sites and browse their loading data for calibers that interest you.
There are very many options available but we sometimes make choices based on availability rather than choosing what is best suited.
A brief description on what calibers you shoot and what type of activities you are involved in will generate accurate answers to your question.
Cheers
BB
 
Check out the Hodgdon sticky, they have a bit of everything regarding calibers and bullet weights, I usually look at the powders that give the best velocity, ( usually 2 or 3 are close) and then see if there is any around.
 
Hey guys. Thanks, I did see the stickies but was hoping for rule of thumb if you could say that. In our powders the number tells you a lot. The first number tells you if it's ball or extruded, then the higher the set of numbers that follow the slower burning the powder. Do the names and numbers have that sort of signigance here?
If it helps, I'm looking at loads for 260 REM, wanna shoot 130gr or possibly heavier at longer ranges, so medium slow powder?
7mm REM mag with 168gr bullets for hunting power on big game, slow powder? 375h&h with 300gr for thumping things hard. Med fast powder?
 
When I got into reloading I it was for 30-06, 7.62x54r, 303br and 6.5x55. To save money I bought an 8lb keg of IMR 4350 because I found multiple recipes using this powder in all these calibers. I have found accurate loads using these calibers and powder. A quick check shows IMR 4350 would work for all the calibers you list. Might not be the best for any one caliber but will get you started and you save a bit of cash buying in bulk.
 
Thanks guys. All the help is appreciated.
It's a very weird thing to leave a life where you know stuff and start a new life and have to re learn. Even stuff as simple as what brand of soap, deoderant, laundry soap, etc. These are things that you kinda grow up and naturally gravitate towards one or other and over time you have this subconscious knowledge of where it is, what it costs, how much you need, etc.
It's so weird to stand in a shop and have to read the labels of things cos I just don't recognise them by brand.
Haha, but enough of my "sadness" for one day. I came to Canada for a better life and so far so good, every one of you that I meet is a great, and friendly and helpful. Looking forward to getting set up and actually meeting some shooters at a range.
 
Haha. Would you call that an upgrade or a downgrade.
You know what, Africa is a beautiful place, but I lost faith in the safety of my family, and once that seed is planted it's hard to ignore.
You absolutely must go and see Africa, book a hunt and go shoot exotics like kudu, gemsbuck, nyala etc. You can find some decent private land owners who won't just take advantage of you because you have dollars, and have an awesome hunt of a lifetime for reasonable cost
 
Hi Alan, and welcome. I'm just 20KM east of you.....

As for powders, I'm far from expert, but as far as I know there is no meaningful number system. YoMamma is right that Varget is great for several rounds. I use it for 6.5x47 Lapua and .308. I have some h1000 and some Retumbo as well for my .338.

Your local powder vendor choices are TNT gunworks, Prairie Gun Traders, Wholesale Sports, and Cabelas. TNT is really the only choice for specialty reloading stuff (Redding, bushings, etc), but x-reload is a great online seller for "fancy" stuff.

Keep in touch.

-J.
 
AlanZA said:
Hey guys. Thanks, I did see the stickies but was hoping for rule of thumb if you could say that. In our powders the number tells you a lot. The first number tells you if it's ball or extruded, then the higher the set of numbers that follow the slower burning the powder. Do the names and numbers have that sort of signigance here?
If it helps, I'm looking at loads for 260 REM, wanna shoot 130gr or possibly heavier at longer ranges, so medium slow powder?
7mm REM mag with 168gr bullets for hunting power on big game, slow powder? 375h&h with 300gr for thumping things hard. Med fast powder?
Click to expand...

No real code to follow. Each powder manufacturer follows its own rules so there are no real conventions to speak of. Some powders are kinda mimicking of each other in terms of burn rate. Like IMR 4350 is kinda similar to H4350, AA4350, etc. But they are NOT interchangeable!!

260 Rem? I'd recommend Hodgdon's H4350 which is a med slow burning powder. Reloder (RL) 17 & 19 are good ones too for 260Rem. In my 260Rem experience, H4350 was the best for 130 gr bullets followed by RL19. H4831 was also good, slower burn rate than H4350.

7 Rem Mag, mine really liked IMR4831 & RL 22 (Med slow burn rates - but slower than the RL19 and IMR4350 mentioned above). Many swear by H4831 for 7Rem Mag.

Can't help you with 375HH but would think that med powders would be best - like IMR4064, IMR4320, RL15, & Win760...??
 
The issue of powder is so often a issue of availability. I agree on buying a bulk common powder like 4350, 4895, or 4831. That, pick one, would find you with propellant that would be good for all, just not maybe the best for any specific of your rifles. The possible exception to that would be the 375 H$H, a slower powder such as H1000, Retumbo, or Reloader 22/25 would be better.
 
Wow guys. So great to have so much help.
I used to be on a site in south Africa very much like this.
Called gunsite south Africa, proof once again that the shooting community are decnett upstanding kinda people and not the crazy warmongers the media would have the man on the street believe.

I hope to be if some help to you guys as time goes on and my local knowledge of things hunting and shooting improves.
 
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