wally
Member
At the present time, we are in take what you can get mode. If its at all suitable for your caliber buy it before its gone 
Choosing powder
- Thread starter hughie
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redneck2
Member
I'm fortunate that I travel for a living. Cover 12 counties, so I accidentally stop in a lot of different shops. Powder supply is starting to come back. You just may have to go to a variety of places to find exactly what you want, or close to it.
FWIW...I've probably got 20# of Varget, along with H-380 and some others. Once you find what you like, might ought to stock up
FWIW...I've probably got 20# of Varget, along with H-380 and some others. Once you find what you like, might ought to stock up
Arkansas Paul
Member
If availability isn't an issue, I like to choose a powder that does a good job in a lot of different cartridges.
I could get by with nothing on my shelf but Unique for shotgun and handgun loads and IMR4350 for rifle stuff. They are both very versatile, giving excellent results for a wide range of calibers.
Now if you're just getting started during the shortage, or you weren't well prepared before you may just have to use whatever you can find. But that's okay, this thing won't last long and you may find a new favorite powder before its over.
I could get by with nothing on my shelf but Unique for shotgun and handgun loads and IMR4350 for rifle stuff. They are both very versatile, giving excellent results for a wide range of calibers.
Now if you're just getting started during the shortage, or you weren't well prepared before you may just have to use whatever you can find. But that's okay, this thing won't last long and you may find a new favorite powder before its over.
Availability has put a hitch in what we choose, but a shooting buddy recommended to me a long time ago to scan a reloading manual for the highest velocities in the starting charge section, then pick a powder between the first 3 or 4 powders. May or may not give you the very best accuracy possible using this method, but I have found that powder is secondary to bullet choice in my best groups. If your rifle doesn't like a particular bullet, the powder is not going to make a huge difference.
BaltimoreBoy
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I am not an expert and don't claim to be.
That said, this is what I did:
Took a copy of Lee's Modern Reloading
Looked at calibers I was interested in. Let's use 38 SPL as an example
Lee lists loads by decreasing velocity for a given bullet type at MAX load.
Instead of worrying about the MAX load, I look at the starting load.
I look for powders that give best velocity with the starting load.
I look at bullet types I am likely to shoot in that caliber.
I select a 'winner' that is a powder that gives high velocity with starting loads over the bullets I am likely to use.
My goal is to get the best velocity with the lowest pressure.
This is not exactly getting the most bang for the buck, more like getting the highest velocity for the smallest bang.
I don't worry much about availability. I am lucky to live near a fine reloading supplier that cheerfully puts in special orders if the powder is not a widely popular one.
I note that Lee in his front matter to the book says he usually just shoots starting loads.
That said, this is what I did:
Took a copy of Lee's Modern Reloading
Looked at calibers I was interested in. Let's use 38 SPL as an example
Lee lists loads by decreasing velocity for a given bullet type at MAX load.
Instead of worrying about the MAX load, I look at the starting load.
I look for powders that give best velocity with the starting load.
I look at bullet types I am likely to shoot in that caliber.
I select a 'winner' that is a powder that gives high velocity with starting loads over the bullets I am likely to use.
My goal is to get the best velocity with the lowest pressure.
This is not exactly getting the most bang for the buck, more like getting the highest velocity for the smallest bang.
I don't worry much about availability. I am lucky to live near a fine reloading supplier that cheerfully puts in special orders if the powder is not a widely popular one.
I note that Lee in his front matter to the book says he usually just shoots starting loads.
thump_rrr
Member
For rifle I go with temperature stable powders whenever possible such as Varget, IMR 8208 (XBR). For other rifles such as M-14's I go with what is recommended due to the gas system such as 4064, 3031, 4895.
For high volume pistol shooting I go for economy so as little powder needed as possible, this increases the risk of a double charge so I use an RCBS lockout die.
I usually use Titegroup, or Win231/HP-38.
For high volume pistol shooting I go for economy so as little powder needed as possible, this increases the risk of a double charge so I use an RCBS lockout die.
I usually use Titegroup, or Win231/HP-38.
1911 guy
Member
I look for a few things and choose what i believe to be the best compromise between them. I want the most velocity, at the lowest pressure, with the largest volume I can get. It gets rather involved when trying to find one powder to do it decently for several calibers. For .223 and .308, I chose Hogdon Varget.
Kernel
Member
Back in the early 1960's the Ballistician Homer Powley did develop a purely mathematical technique for selecting an ideal powder. It resulted in the famous "Powley Computer", which simplified the calculations. The equations were published by NRA in the old "Handloading" book by William C. Davis.
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