Powder nightmare

bandit86

bandit86

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I have 3 powders narrowed down for buying in bulk. The manufacturers website (hodgons) offers a very detailed list per caliber/bullet and made narrowing my choice down very easy. However trying to double check with different sources the proper powder or load range I can't get the same answer twice. For example the Hornady volume8 lists only one powders for the 7.62x39- then hodgon site lists 2; the h4198 and h4895. For the 30-30, 270, 45-70 gov, 450 marlin neither of those powders are listed in the Hornady manual. For pistols the hornady doesn't list titegroup for 9mm, jacketed 357 mag, 44mag or 460s&w yet hodgon lists it as a light charge for every caliber.

I would think its safer to go with the hodgon data for hodgon powder, but then is there a more comprehensive book than the hornady? Should I just get and read in every book till somewhere I find the data I was looking for to support my opinion? That sounded religious ;) but it applies
 
Should I just get and read in every book till somewhere I find the data I was looking for to support my opinion?
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Yes. The manuals all have completely different reload data to work with. I use multiple manuals just for this purpose.
 
I have said it soooooo many times; reading all of the many reloading books causes so much confusion in new reloaders that they soon don't even know what day it is.
Go by Hodgdon's on line loading charts, load up and shoot away.
Further, don't buy a lot of bulk powder until you have used a few kinds of the various powders, to see which you like the best.
 
When I started reloading I tried the "one powder for all of my cartridges theory". What I found was what works in one gun may not work in another. And a great powder for one caliber may be terrible in another.

Use one book and go from there. Buy a pound at a time and work on one cartridge and one gun at a time. If you're loading for accuracy you'll find tha no matter what you do you're going to end up with at least 1/2 a dozen powders in your reloading room. If you aren't super fussy about your groups then you may find a powder that is good in some and great for others.

And yeah, every reloading book seems to have different specs, powders and charges. It's the nature of the beast some would say.
 
There will always be powders that will run "okay" over a large variety of cartridges, but you'd be hard pressed to fine a single "great in everything powder". Half the fun is getting there, right?? It's almost some kind of weird voodoo when a powder just won't shoot in a certain caliber, then goes on to shoot great in another.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
There will always be powders that will run "okay" over a large variety of cartridges, but you'd be hard pressed to fine a single "great in everything powder". Half the fun is getting there, right?? It's almost some kind of weird voodoo when a powder just won't shoot in a certain caliber, then goes on to shoot great in another.
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I'm looking to load 223 rem, 7.62x39 and 54r, 450 Marlin, maybe a few rounds for 357 mag. I like the hodgons site for being user friendly and informative, I'd like to stick to their powders if I could.

Who here has a favourite Hodgson powder recipe?
 
bandit86 said:
I'm looking to load 223 rem, 7.62x39 and 54r, 450 Marlin, maybe a few rounds for 357 mag. I like the hodgons site for being user friendly and informative, I'd like to stick to their powders if I could.

Who here has a favourite Hodgson powder recipe?
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Thats the thing those calibers are so different. You're going to have very hard time loading all of them with one powder. As far as I know and I don't load .223 but .223 is a fast twist caliber and is usually fired from shorter barrels. Therefore you need a fast powder that will burn up before the bullet leaves the barrel.

If you really want 1 powder and you're only target shooting then you may want to look at casting your own bullets and loading reduced charges. As long as you trust your ability to be VERY safe and do your research, shooting cast can be a very simple and effective way to cut costs and simplify your powder needs.

Right now I'm loading cast rounds for 8x57, 7.62x54r and .303 british. I'm using C.E. Harris' "the load", google it and you will find lots of info. But still that will not cover your needs for your .357 mag or your 440 marlin.

Like I stated earlier what works in on caliber usually won't work in another. I use IMR 4895 in most of my .30 cal military rifles, IMR4198 in my short barreled carcano as it seems to like a fast powder and red dot for my reduced plinking loads.

I'd love one powder to do everything but the more I load the more I know that will never happen.
 
I use IMR 4198 for 7.62x39
There are better powders for the other calibers you are looking at reloading.

The up side to using different powders is that if you run out of one powder you do not run out of all powders.
 
bandit86 said:
I'm looking to load 223 rem, 7.62x39 and 54r, 450 Marlin, maybe a few rounds for 357 mag.
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I can tell you now that you will end up with 5 different powders. The "best combining' I can seem to do is one powder type per bullet diameter, regardless of caliber or rifle. In other words, one powder for all .308 (308 Win), another powder for all .311 (303 British), another powder for all .224 (223/5.56), and so on... and that isn't always getting the best groups. In the end, the best performance and best accuracy comes from a seperate powder per firearm. I have found noticeable difference in groups from IMR4350 and H4350 at the same charge in the same firearm (and same cases, tips, primers and loading technique).

As for books: I usually reference the bullet manufacturer and the powder manufacturer only. Anything more is confusing as heck. If you are using Hodgedon with Nosler then just review their two books only. Wait until you get some experience under your belt.

I have been reloading over 15 years and have just started using a load not in the books in one gun: but I worked up to it over a couple of years of trials.

Good Luck.
 
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thump_rrr said:
The up side to using different powders is that if you run out of one powder you do not run out of all powders.
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That is sound advice. There are a lot of reloaders, myself included, that have put too many eggs in one basket and are now scrambling to find alternatives to their favorite loads.
 
bandit86 said:
I'm looking to load 223 rem, 7.62x39 and 54r, 450 Marlin, maybe a few rounds for 357 mag. I like the hodgons site for being user friendly and informative, I'd like to stick to their powders if I could.

Who here has a favourite Hodgson powder recipe?
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I think you'll be able to find useful loads for everything but the 357 with H-335.
H-335 might not produce the fastest or most accurate load in any of them, but you should find something that will at least work decently.
RL-7, IMR 4198, H-322, there's a bunch of powders in that range that should work well.
 
There is a reason many of us long time reloaders have more different powders in the cabinet ... than Carter has pills. LoL!.

Depends on your purpose.
If "bang" is good enough, have at 'er, and enjoy, with a "do all" powder.
If speed and/or accuracy count ... test quite a few of 'em, and then specialize.
 
bandit86 said:
I'm looking to load 223 rem, 7.62x39 and 54r, 450 Marlin, maybe a few rounds for 357 mag. I like the hodgons site for being user friendly and informative, I'd like to stick to their powders if I could.

Who here has a favourite Hodgson powder recipe?
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B
What you are going to find is that the powder that works great with you 50gr bullets in 223 ain't so good with 40gr bullets, same for your x39 or most any other case. Unless you only plan to ever use the same brand and bullet weight in all of your calibers. FS
 
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