Recommend powders for rifle reloading

IMR 4064 and Varget are 2 that come to mind quickly.

For .223 look at h-335 and IMR 3031

I've got a 257 Roberts and a couple of 7mm-08's.

Powders that I've developed successful loads in both calibers include:
Hodgdon BL-C(2) - 75 gr 257 Roberts and 120 and 139 gr 7mm-08,
Ramshot Hunter - 100 and 117 gr 257 Roberts, 154 gr 7mm-08,
Alliant 2000-MR - 87 gr 257 Roberts and 145 gr 7mm-08.

I also had moderately good results from H414.

I count a load as successful if I get a 3 shot group at 100 yards that a quarter touches or covers all three shots and if the velocity meets my goal if I have one for that bullet.

For me I've had better luck with the spherical powders but lots of people report good results across calibers with Varget, IMR4064, the 4350's, and others.

Good Luck.

Dan

4895, when available, covers a lot of rifle territory. Varget and 4064 are two of my other favorites.

im a Big H4350 fan

4895 is the classic powder for loading .30-'06 for the Garand, and .308 for the M1A. It has also worked well for me in the .223 with 69gr bullets fired in an AR.
4350 is a great powder for loading .30-'06 for bolt action rifles with 180gr bullets, but probably will damage a Garand's op rod.
Varget was made as a ballistic twin of 4064. Lots of people really like Varget in the .223 using 69/75/77/80 grain bullets in the .223, fired in an AR. Varget has never worked well for me in the .223 in an AR.

Some favorite powders for the calibers you have listed:
748 with 52gr bullets in any .223 AR.
Reloader 15 with 69gr bullets in 1:8 or faster twist .223 AR.

Varget good for everything great for nothing , well I have been told it is great in 308win , H414 and H380 work great in 308 and 7mm-08 I'm also a fan of IMR4831 , H4831 H4831sc, IMR4320, MagPro , Hunter and BigGame.

seeing as you have Varget I'd start with that , a lot of load data books will list loads buy best choice and some will be marked best hunting load and most accurate load

if you fine a load in one book but not in any other books , I'd steer away from that one , most good choices will show up in multiple books , and you will fine lots of data for Varget not always the best pick , but it just works

.223 Ramshot TAC, Varget, Accurate 2015,
.243 IMR-4064, IMR-4350, H-4831
.257 Roberts
7mm-08 Varget, IMR-4064
.308 H-4895, IMR-4064, Varget
.30-06 IMR-4895, Accurate 2700, IMR-4064, H-4831,

and possibly:
6.5x55 IMR-4064, Reloder 22, IMR-4350, Accurate 3100

Click to expand...

You could conceivably load all of them with Varget, IMR or H 4895, IMR 4064, Reloder 15 or Accurate 4064. OF course, it would not be the best choice for any one of them (although it could be for one or more). Ultimately your individual rifle will tell you what it likes the best and each one will probably like a different powder if you are looking for the absolute best load for each of them. I have listed my favorites for those I load or have loaded in the past. Sometimes different powders are used depending on the bullet weight in a given cartridge. Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

Another vote for Varget. I load for .223 and .308, 60gr and 150gr bullets, respectively.

BL(C)-2 and H414
the bigger the case, the more I'd lean to the H414,
but those will meter a lot better in a drop measure..
Someone said on these forums that Varget "meters like sticks"
and I hate that..

Being a newb and only into this for a couple of months I'll throw some advice a friend who set me up have me as he was teaching me. This guy used to work for John Linebaugh making guns and has been into reloading for close to 40 years so I listen when he talks.
He said to take one step at a time, start with a balance beam to learn the equipment and how to measure properly with one. He also said when developing loads to load three at a time and setup a target at 25yds, he said you can pretty much learn what you need to know about a load at 25yds. I've been following this practice since I started and have had great luck with the yardage. I wasn't sure at first about 25yds as a test point but anything I've tested has translated out to a 100yds with no problems. I've found that anything that I can cover a three shot group with a dime at 25yds works out to somewhere around a quarter to a half dollar at a 100 yds.
As for powder I've been using stick powder: IMR 3031 for .223, IMR 4895 for .270 as well as H4831. Granted these are all stick powders and don't throw very well but I like to weigh each charge trying to go for consistency more than anything.

H-4350 is THE powder for 30-06 in a bolt rifle. Unless I couldn't find any that is what I'd use and never look back unless I needed to keep pressures lower to use in an auto.

I feel the same way about Varget and the 308. Both of those rounds are easy to load for and many powders will work, but you already have those 2. No need to look farther.

You can probably make them work well with other chamberings too. 4350 is supposed to be great in 243, but I don't load for it so no personal experience.

4064 and 4895 are very good as well, I'd have no problems using them in 30-06 or 308, but wouldn't use them if Varget or 4350 were available.

it sounds like you are well on your way. Good luck and have piles of fun!

multiple powder choices will "always" give a reloader more flexibility, and allow them to refine each cartridge more definitively.

bpl said:

Thanks all!

I don't have a complete setup yet, but I'm probably gonna order the RCBS Master kit. Still have to build a bench as well. I bought RCBS dies for most cartridges maybe 4 years ago. I've moved and had some kids since then, so me-time is limited. Been saving some brass though.

I'll probably start with .223 and varget. Maybe try the 7mm-08 and/or .308 with varget as well. Not sure how far 2lbs will go though. I'll use the H4350 in my 30-06 bolt.

I was hoping to "do it all" with 3-4 powders. Maybe that's unrealistic though?

I was interested in the H4895 because I read about some good reduced recoil youth loads using it and because I have an M1 Garand and I believe this is a good powder for the M1 Garand? Correct me if I am wrong.

Another question, are powders with the same number like H4350 and IMR4350 interchangable?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

no IMR and "H" are not interchangeable , stick with printed and tested load data , I see a lot of folks just put 4832 or 4350 ect ect ...on here . but they are not the same .

I've used VV N550 in both 30-06 and 7x57 Mauser with very good results.

Varget, CFE 223 and W748 in 223

H414, IMR 4831, IMR 4350, and RL 19 in 257 Roberts. I've also used VV N160; though I was experimenting at the time.

Varget and RL 15 in .308

savanahsdad said:

no IMR and "H" are not interchangeable , stick with printed and tested load data , I see a lot of folks just put 4832 or 4350 ect ect ...on here . but they are not the same .

Click to expand...

^^ that.
No. They're not.

4895 is a good powder for many calibers.

flintlock62 said:

4895 is a good powder for many calibers.

Click to expand...

H or IMR both are good powders , but just putting 4895 and not H-4895 or IMR4895 can be dangerous for a New-bee , and remember we all started somewhere , I know when I started I almost used data for H-4831 when my powder was IMR4831 I made a phone call to find out if I could , glad I made that phone call ( no interweb back then )

H4350 is great in .243. It's all I use.

Powders that I've developed successful loads in both calibers include:
Hodgdon BL-C(2) - 75 gr 257 Roberts and 120 and 139 gr 7mm-08,
Ramshot Hunter - 100 and 117 gr 257 Roberts, 154 gr 7mm-08,
Alliant 2000-MR - 87 gr 257 Roberts and 145 gr 7mm-08.

4895 is the classic powder for loading .30-'06 for the Garand, and .308 for the M1A. It has also worked well for me in the .223 with 69gr bullets fired in an AR.
4350 is a great powder for loading .30-'06 for bolt action rifles with 180gr bullets, but probably will damage a Garand's op rod.
Varget was made as a ballistic twin of 4064. Lots of people really like Varget in the .223 using 69/75/77/80 grain bullets in the .223, fired in an AR. Varget has never worked well for me in the .223 in an AR.

Some favorite powders for the calibers you have listed:
748 with 52gr bullets in any .223 AR.
Reloader 15 with 69gr bullets in 1:8 or faster twist .223 AR.

These two gave very good info as you will find the twist rate of your barrel will determine the range of bullets to shoot. The weight of bullets will help you determine if a faster or slower burn rated powder would be more appropriate. But with component shortages like they are now, take what you can find and make do.

bpl said:

Thanks all!

I don't have a complete setup yet, but I'm probably gonna order the RCBS Master kit.

Click to expand...

I hope you will get a couple reloading manuals as well. The Master Kit probably comes with the Speer manual. Lyman #49 is a good, all around manual. Most of the bullet manufacturers have hard bound manuals. Most of the powder manufacturers have a good on line presents or produce printed information. Hodgdon publishes an magazine each year with articles and current loading data for powders they distribute. I get the new one each year.

Many of your powder questions can be answered by looking at the data for each cartridge.

Many powders will serve you well. Each reloader, including me, have their favorites for what ever reason, real or perceived. Nothing wrong with that, if you feel better about our reloads, you will shoot better.

Welcome to the reloading hobby. Many here find it a rewarding activity.

After trying almost all suitable powders for my rifles I've decided to use Varget for everything. Varget works very well or best in all the rifles I shoot : .243,.270,30-30, .308 and 30-06.I tired of having a 1/2 dozen or so powders .IMHO Varget meters as well as any powder out there and is at or near the top of the chart on all my rifles. All my rifles will shoot 1 1/2 inch or better and my .243 and .270 will shoot 1 inch on good days Varget it is from now on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hdbiker

4895 again !

H and I

While not interchangeable grain for grain, its close enough that you could buy either, and be well served with either purchase.

Everything I've used H4895 in, i've now used I4895 in.

I like H4895, mainly because of the smell. Weird preference, but there it is.