[epijunkie67]

I'm new to all this and just getting my feet wet. I bought some basic equipment and then went shopping for components. Holy ^^&%&! There's like 500 different kinds of powder out there! I looked around and did a little reading and bought a couple of different powders that I could use for a variety of calibers.

Bullseye
Unique
Reloader 7

I'm currently only going to be reloading .357 mag, .41 mag, and 30-30. Future calibers will be 35 remington, 45 long colt, maybe 5.7X28. If I get crazy and decide I love doing this I could even consider the generics like 9mm, 45ACP, .223, .308, and 7.62X39.

And all that brings me back to powder selection. If you were just going to have a small collection of powders for reloading which ones would you chose? Say 5-7 powders total from any of the brand names. What would allow you to reload the widest variety of rounds?

[dakotasin]

rl-19, rl-22, rl-25, varget, h-380
power pistol, 2400

(bonus powders would be h-110 and h-4831)

[The Bushmaster]

What I consider my most versitile powders that I use:

W-231
W-296
W-748
H4831SC
2400 Alliant

With these I load a variety of 9mm Luger, .38 Special, three different .357 magnums, .45 ACP, .30-30 and .30-06...

[SpiderJohn]

For Handguns, Hodgdon's Titegroup. I use it for .380, .38spl, .40 S&W, .44spl and .45 ACP.

For .357 mag and some shotgun loads, I use Alliant's Blue Dot (I like Red Dot for Shotgunning too).

For rifle rounds such as .223, 7.62x39 and .308 I use Hodgdon's H335.

I have only been doing this a few years, so my knowledge is somewhat limited, but these 3 or 4 powders are my favorites by far.

[Steve C]

My list is:
Red Dot - 12ga trap and quail loads, light target loads in the .38 and cast rifle
W231 - Target .45 ACP, .41mag w/ cast bullets, and .38 spl
Unique - loads everything but great for full power .45's w/ JHP's and +P .38spl
Blue Dot - 125gr .357 mag and 2-3/4" baby Magnums in 12ga
2400 - .357 mag w/ 158gr and heavier, .41mag hunting loads
W748 - .223, 30-30, 308
IMR4064 - 8mm mauser, 303 Brit, .308

[caz223]

A quick look in my cabinet, a list of powders I keep around that I'd call versatile.
unique
2400
blue dot
power pistol
WSF
HS-6

I could prolly get away with using power pistol and 2400, and load all the pistol calibers I use, including .38 spl, 9mm, 357sig, .357 mag, .40 S&W, 10mm, .41 mag, .44 mag, .45 acp, and .45 colt, but I haven't tried doing it yet.

I'm phasing out H110, HS-6, titegroup, possibly WSF and blue dot.
I still haven't tried longshot, I really want to load up some .40 with it.

[only1asterisk]

You can load almost anything with these

Winchester 231
Alliant Power Pistol
Winchester 296
AA 1680
Hodgdon H4198
Hodgdon H4895
Hodgdon H4831

But I couldn't live like that!

David

[redneck2]

I think you can mostly answer your own question by finding a burn rate chart and picking ones that cover the fast to slow end. You need to pick one, then jump over the next few and then pick another. This will cover your required burn rates.

Dakotasin listed RL-22 & 25. I use RL-22. It's a slow powder and used for heavier magnum loads like the 7mm Rem mag. You don't have anything like that listed so it may not apply. RL-25 is even slower, so it's for even heavier stuff.

As an example, powders like WW-231 vs AA-5 are similar enough that they'd probably be close to a duplication. You'll see some guys that want to get into a fistfight over one place on a burn rate chart.

FWIW...from what I see, ball powders are very easy to meter but stick powders seem to be more versatile (particularly rifle). For example, I use Varget in .223, 22-250, and .45-70 with good results.

Trying to find the "perfect powder" will drive you nuts, and FWIW, I think the bullet itself has a lot more to do with accuracy than going up or down the burn rate chart by one powder. As long as the case is 85% filled (rifle) you'll probably be OK. Also, brand of primer can change pressures by more than three or four moves on burn rate.

[homefront]

Get and read as many manuals as you can. Some powders are more efficient in some calibers for particular bullet weights in certain guns. There is some trial and error here for you to explore :rolleyes: but it's worth it!

[trickyasafox]

imr 4895
win 748
Bullseye

those will load for 9mm, 45acp, 38sp 357 mag, 223, 22-250, 270, 30-06

[P0832177]

Handguns
Titegroup and Power Pistol
Rifles
Varget

[Glock9]

Accurate Arms AA#2 for 9mm & 45Acp, AA2230 for 223 and 308

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

After reading through the above list, I'm thinking it would be a good idea to copy everything mentioned once on a horizontal list, then everytime that powder is mentioned in the postings, put a tick mark underneath it's name. That'll probably give you a good starter list.

For my part:

pistol - Titegroup and W231

Rifle - IMR 4895 (I should note I've loaded mostly .308 and 30,06.) W296

Regards,

Dave

[Roadkill]

I load .32, 9mm, .38, .38 S&W, .357, .40, .44, .44 mag and .45 with Red Dot

I load .223, 30-30, .303, 30-06, .308, .30 carbine and .270 with IMR 4895

Two powders, two reloading set ups, easy to maintain. I started with Red Dot because it worked great with a finicky Luger and IMR4895 because of a Garand. I gradually shifted everything else over.

rk

[birddog]

for .44 mag (hunting and target), .357 mag (carry and target) and .45acp (carry and target):

Unique
Unique
Unique

Those three just about cover it. ;)

[Cherokee]

Two powders will cover all my needs, not the best powder for the specific application but very usable:

Pistol - 25acp-44mag WW231
Rifle - 223 - 30/06 H335

[bobaloo]

I use Titegroup for light pistol loads, Power Pistol and Blue Dot for heavy loads, for 9mm, .40, .45 and .357.

Accurate 2230C is a cheap surplus power that works great in .223 and OK in .308.

[bakert]

I only load for handguns. These powders suit most of my needs although I do have others for specialty loads. There is a whole lot of load combinations in these 6 powders.
231
AA5
HS6 & Hs7
Universal Clays
Unique.

[redneck2]

While the above may be true (for pistols), Universal Clays and Unique are almost identical and defeat the purpose of the original post IMO. HS-6 & 7 are also close.

All the posts prove the point I was trying to make. There are multiple powders that fill pretty much the same exact function. They're so close that it makes no practical difference and 5 guys that load will give 5 different answers and all are correct.

[dakotasin]

Dakotasin listed RL-22 & 25. I use RL-22. It's a slow powder and used for heavier magnum loads like the 7mm Rem mag. You don't have anything like that listed so it may not apply. RL-25 is even slower, so it's for even heavier stuff.


guess i should've mentioned most of my reloading is for rifles, and most of my rifle reloading interest is in 'magnums'.

[redneck2]

yeah, like that's a bad thing. Bigger is better and all that.

[Schleprok62]

What about Retumbo? I thought it was primarily made for magnums?

:confused:

[dakotasin]

haven't had a need for it, yet, though i do have a pair of 7 rums that might make use of it (sako and rem 700) that i haven't worked up yet.

however, rl-25 is a really good powder in applications where slow powders are called for.

[epijunkie67]

Although there may be several powders that are very similar to each other as far as burn rates are concerned when I read the lists everyone has posted I keep seeing some of the same names over and over again. Things like 2400, blue dot, and unique. I've got assume that if a random sample like this brings up the same names repeatedly there has to be a reason why.

[748]

For 5.7x28 you will want mag primers and AA No. 9 for your 33 to 45 gr bullets and Bluedot, powerpistol or HS-6 for 55 to 62gr bullets.
You will want AA No. 9 to load 33gr speer TNT HP's.
My favroite load so far.
Lets see I use,
Unique for every thing. Just about all pistols, and reduced power rifle loads.
AA No 7 is good for 45acp, It just burns so clean.
Blue dot is great for 45ACP+P+, burns a bit dirty
AA No. 9 light FiveseveN bullets all the way. Ultra clean burning. Insane muzzle flash.
H110/w296 44mag some what clean burning.
748, 223, 8mm and 30-30
H322, make the best 30-30 load with speer 150gr hot cores.
WST 12ga light to med shells
540 12ga Heavy mag shells
Re15 low power 30-30 and 223.
HS-6 5.7x28mm(FN) 55gr bullets
I use more powders then most people. I also have pyrodex and black powder.
I back in the day I only had the big 3. WST, 748 and H322. So much for trying to keep it simple.
That's 11 powders if you don't count the black powder and pyrodex and also count H110 and w296 as the same thing.

[only1asterisk]

Unique, Blue Dot and 2400 are all handgun/shotgun powders. They have very limited use in rifles.

If I read your question correctly, you want 5-7 powders for everything. My thinking is this:

A fast pistol powder: Bullseye, Red Dot, Clays, Green Dot, WST, AA#2

A medium-fast pistol powder: Win 231, HP-38, Unique, Universal

A medium-slow pistol powder: 800X, HS-6, N350, AA#7, Longshot, Blue Dot

A slow pistol/small rifle cartridge powder: L'il Gun, H-110, Win 296, H4227

A faster rifle powder: AA 1680, Reloader 7, H4198, IMR 3031

A moderate rifle powder: Reloader 15, Varget, Win 748, H4350

A slow rifle powder: Reloader 22, H4831, N165, AA 3100

These are just examples, not suggestions.

[redneck2]

I was going to copy a burn rate chart, but it's over 100 lines long.

There's a real good one at http://www.stevespages.com. Go into the "reloading" section and look under #3 in "data". It's kinda easy to use because the powders that are similar are color coded into sections.

There's also tons of good info on everything firearms and reloading related. You'll see why the above post has the powders that are listed.

Ones that I think are particularly useful but have goofy numbers are the IMR powders. I never could figure out any rhyme or reason to the numbering system

[Lancer]

Hodgdon's Titegroup for my .38, .357, .44 Spl, .44 Mag and .45 ACP.
Hodgdon H4895 or IMR 4895 for my .223 and .30-06.

[Mule]

I am loading for eight, so I try to keep it simple.

I load for myself, my ever indulgent Bride, two daughters, the father of my grandchild and three sons.

TiteGroup- 9's, 38's, 45's and .380

AA4350- .30-06, .270 Win, .243 Win, 7mm SAUM

AA2200- .30-30, .223 Rem, .308Win, 7.62 X39
my last jug is almost depleted and this surplus powder is no longer
available. Thinking about going to milsurp 4895. Open to suggestions.

REX-1- 12 gauge 7/8 oz & 1 oz

REX-2 12 gauge 1 1/8 oz and 9mm & 38 cast bullet loads

AA 5744- 45-70 Springfield

My collection includes other powders, but when it is time to make ammo, I use the powders I have confidence in.

[tube_ee]

only1asterisk -

What prompted your choice of categories? I'm a pretty inexperienced reloader (2000 - 2500 38 specials and 4 boxes of shotgun shells), but at least in a 357 magnum revolver, I'd lose the medium-fast pistol powder and add a slow pistol powder. The medium fast powders don't look like they do much the faster ones don't, while that's not true of a medium-slow and a slow.

Would a brass-chucker fan see this differently? Or do I just see it wrong?

--Shannon

[only1asterisk]

I was just trying help answer the question. As I understand it, epijunkie67 wants 5-7 powders to load the widest variety of cartridges, not just for magnum revolvers. The medium-fast powders are of great utility. Winchester 231 is good example.
You are right about faster powders being useful in smaller cases. Many times you can't squeeze enough slow powder into the case to bring it up to pressure.

David

[tube_ee]

I was actually wondering what the practical differences were between "fast" and "medium fast" pistol powders, other than a grain or so of powder. My mention of the 38/357 was only because that's the only handgun I reload for. Not trying to limit the discussion at all, just using a frame of reference I'm familiar with to ask my question. It seemed to me that your list (quite comprehesive, BTW) sacrificed a full magnum revolver powder for the medium-fast pistol powder, and was wondering what factors motivated that choice.

Sorry if that didn't come across the first time.

--Shannon

[only1asterisk]

It just comes down to the exact application. Let's say I want to load for a 38 Super and I want to keep to SAAMI standards. A medium-fast powder might give me an extra 75-100fps or more over a really fast powder.

But just picking a powder based on burn rate is oversimplifying things. Some powders need to operate in limited pressure ranges. Some powders are very dense, some are bulky. Some powders don’t meter well because of their shape. Some are sensitive to cold. Some produce impressive fireballs, others hardly any flash at all. Some don’t work well with cast bullets. Low powders don’t burn very cleanly at low pressure, some are just dirty.

For every application the may be 1, 2 or 3 powders that are perfect, 6 more that will be close as well and 10 that kinda, sorta work. The trick is to find powders that work for as many of your specific uses as possible without falling into that last category.


David

[nvshooter]

For my .357s and .45s, I use Accurate Number 5.
For my .223s , I used Accurate 2200 Data Powder but I'm running low on that and so have switched to BL-C(2).
My big, ugly, bench rifle gets only H4831SC whether it likes it or not.

[Lancer]

nvshooter, I was looking at your tagline. Can you imagine what WW2 would have been like with the anti-American lame stream media whores today? :fire:

[jondar]

epijunkie67,
I agree with your choice of powders. I am not familiar with the Reloader, as having never used it. In twenty years reloading pistol cartridges I have used only Bullseye, Unique and 2400. Bullseye for light-medium loads, Unique for medium to heavy and 2400 for the heavy to magnum loads. All three burn cleanly and my .45 ACP loads using Bullseye never result in the "sooty" appearance of the barrell after using Wolf and some other factory ammo. As to rifles, mine range from .220 Swift to .30-06 and I use IMR 4064 for all. It keeps it simple. Hope this helps.

[moxie]

Ditto what Jondar said. I only reload for handguns, and use Bullseye, Unique and 2400 exclusively. There's nothing they can't do. Lots of load data out there for these powders. They are consistent over time and available about anywhere.

[wolf_from_wv]

Unique: .45 ACP, .45 Colt, 9mm, .380, 12 gauge
got 4-5 empty bottles of it, 1 partially full
The Lyman book has Unique .222 loads for lead bullets.

IMR 3031: 22-250, .222

blue dot: haven't really used it

[griz]

If versatility was the main criteria, my powders would be:
Titegroup
Power Pistol
Lil Gun
4895
4350

That would cover most needs, but if you decided to load shotgun shells, the fastest magnums, 762X39, or the 22 Hornet you would probably want to add a few to the list.

Actually for the calibers you list your three powders are good choices.

[Vic303]

For pistol we swear by Bullseye and it meters well.
For rifle, you can find several stick powders that will do everything, (4895 imr and 4350 imr I think) and H335 does ok and it meters well as a ball powder.

[jondar]

While visiting in the capital of El Salvador I was permitted to use a pistol and small bore rifle range which had all the modern conveniences. As a courtesy I offered to reload 500 .38 Special cartridges for their courtesy in letting me use the range. Interestingly, the use of Bullseye was banned as a reloading powder. I told them I used a lot of it back home. They said yes, it was a good powder, but they had too many double charges occur and now only used Unique.