Favorite Powder

imr 4350

H4895/IMR4895

Edit to add:
W231 for handguns

H4895. I use it to push 150s in my .30/06, 170s in my .30-30, and 60s in my .223, with more-than-acceptable results. I picked it due to its versatility and temperature insensitivity, and it has worked great so far.

W231. Use it in for all my pistol rounds.

H335 and HS-6.

Unique and IMR 3031

Keyfer 55 said:

After looking at my notes over the years and tring new powders ,I always count on
IMR 4064 for good results.

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Depends on the rifle and cartridge. IMR4895 used to be my everything for rifle powder, but as I started to load for different rifles and bullets (think cast vs jacketed,) I've largely abandoned it for other powders. I've moved to IMR4064 for, really, only my .308 long-range bolt gun, and dropped down to IMR3031 for pretty much everything else. All 3 are excellent powders, mind you, but specialization requires I think outside the box.

Ironicaintit said:

Unique and IMR 3031

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If I had to limit myself to a rifle and a pistol powder... that would be my choice. I can successfully load everything on the bench with those two powders.

IMR4064 is my go to powder for most of my rifles. Win 760 is second on my list.
If you can't get an acceptable load with either or both, you miss matched bullet to twist rate, or you have a garbage rifle.
IMR3031 and H1000 are honorable mention.

I've found 4064 to be very accurate in my 308. But the temperature swings from 90* down to single digits during a season of hunting will see velocity change by 150-200 fps depending on the temperature. Not ideal for hunting in a wide variety of climates. I've settled on Varget for 308 and H4350 for 30-06 and 6.5 CM. Temperature changes over the same ranges will only result in 30-40 fps velocity change and if there is any difference in accuracy my measurement tools aren't accurate enough to note it.

You know, I posted one above but in reality I use a different powder for each rifle cartridge I load and most times more than 1. The primary powder is different for each with overlap in second/third and more powders.

For example:
30-30 = LVR and IMR3031
45-70 = AA5744 and 4198 and 3031
30-06 = 4350 and 4895 and 4064 and Varget
.308 = 4064 and Varget and 4895
.223 = H335 and BL-C(2)
303 British = BL-C(2) and Varget and 4895

There are more but those are some examples.

H4895 is a great powder but I have really started to like 8208XBR.

WC 846 military surplus.

I use H380 for 22-250, 4350 for 30-06 and .270, Titegroup for 9mm and .45, and I am about to start loading for a .243 autoloader, so I will start with Varget.

Another fan of IMR 4064 ( 30-06, .308, 22-250, and .30-30). I also use H4895 in a lot of loads.

Most every gun I have have a preference for 1 powder. There is no 1 powder that will cover all unless you compromise for lack of accuracy. In some case it just does not work at all.

I have shot kegs of IMR 4064 in 30 caliber rifles and it is a great powder. But, it is long grained so I have used more IMR 4895/H4895 and AA2495 is the same, and used to be cheaper. The 4895 series throws better in a Dillion 550B measure.

But, I recently discovered that IMR 3031 is now short grained. It used to be long grained and all charges had to be individually weighed. This short grained IMR 3031 was an accuracy champ in the 30-30 and should be dynamite in the 223. I know the long grained stuff shot very well in a 308 Win M1a. I hope IMR does the same thing with 4064, been over seventy years since the powder came on the market, it is about time they improved it.

Another vote for H4895, H335 for rifle powders.

For pistol powders, W231/HP-38 and now Sport Pistol and Promo (Yes, Promo for not only practice pistol loads but pistol caliber carbine loads for 100% case fill loads with low muzzle velocity variance for tighter 50-100 yard groups)

mljdeckard said:

I use H380 for 22-250, 4350 for 30-06 and .270, Titegroup for 9mm and .45, and I am about to start loading for a .243 autoloader, so I will start with Varget.

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I would look at starting with the 4350 with the .243. Much better velocity numbers particularly with the heavy bullets compared to Varget. Varget is probably my go to powder for 308 but I like h4350 or IMR 7977 in .243, 25-06, and 30-06. I've developed some great loads in 308 using IMR4064 and some great loads in 243 using hybrid 100v and IMR4831 among others. Like Jmr40, I try to use temp stable powders now as much as possible. I just don't want to deal with the changing point of impact because of the difference in temperature from Summer to winter here in Kentucky. I also shoot a lot when it's cold as well as doing load testing and frequently find my most accurate load near or above Max charge weights and I don't want to have an unpleasant surprise (kaboom) shooting a winter developed load in the middle of summer.
For pistol shooting, especially my 40s&w, I'm partial to True Blue and accurate #2.

H4350 and Unique are the heavy hitters on my bench.

.223 TAC, A-2015,
.243 Big Game, Data 86 (A-3100 cannister)
6.5x55 IMR-4064, IMR-4350
.270 Win Alliant 4000-MR, H-414
.270 WSM RE-17, MagPro, H-1000
.308Win IMR-4064
.300 Win Mag H-1000
.338 Fed IMR-8208XBR
9mm Tite Group, Power Pistol
.38 Spec Unique, Universal, Power Pistol
.357 Mag Power Pistol, W-296, Unique
For most centerfire rifles, I could load all of them reasonably well with IMR-4064 and one of the 4350's (for the larger case capacities)
For handguns, I could load all of mine reasonably with Power Pistol

I’d have to claim HP-38 as my favorite - I use it for .380 ACP, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Haven’t tried it for 38 SPL as I still haven’t attempted that cartridge, or 357 Mag.

The powder I’d like to use a lot more of is VV N320, as it does everything HP-38 does, with less.

I’ve just started loading .300 AAC Blackout, and have a selection of the most likely suspects...but haven’t loaded enough, or dialed in my rifles enough to have a favorite. I’ve loaded and fired A1680 and CFE-BLK. I’ve produced ladders loading IMR 4227 and VV N120 but without shooting any yet. I have H110, IMR 4198, and VV N130 unopened on the shelf.

Retumbo, and h4350......which should tell you a lot about what I shoot primarily.

I've got a decent spread of other powders tho, and rl-17s getting to be my 4350 replacement.