A good powder for .308 Winchester and .44 Remington Magnum...

[VVelox]

Any one have any suggestions for a good powder for .308 Winchester and .44 Remington Magnum?

Been reading though my copy of Lymans Reloading Handbook for a good powder that I could use for both and I've not really found any.

There is Unique, but from the load data in it and the opinions I've found on it, is that it tends to lack any real performance when used for .308 Winchester.

I am not opposed to having two powders, but I would not mind the supply chain simplicity of just using one, if possible.

 

[cfullgraf]

Unless you are looking for reduced loads for your 308 Winchester, you will not find one powder that works for both.

Reduced loads in rifle cartridges with pistol powders require special and specific knowledge to load them safely. Sorry, it has not been on my list of things to learn at present.

 

[Grumulkin]

For some rather anemic low recoil loads, Trail Boss would work in both.

For full house loads, you're going to need 2 powders.

 

[USSR]

VVelox,

The two cartridges are completely incompatible when it comes to powders. Plan on two powders.

Don

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Been reading though my copy of Lymans Reloading Handbook for a good powder that I could use for both and I've not really found any.

You may find one that will work, but your rifle loads will be anemic. There is no "good" powder for both. If you're gonna be loading for rifle and pistol, you're almost going to have to stock at least two powders.

 

[gamestalker]

High powered rifle powders and pistol powders are two completely different animals. You'll need 2 powders to make that boat float.

GS

 

[VVelox]

Awesome. Thanks for the input.

 

[TheCracker]

You will need 2 powders. This is apples and oranges

 

[TheCracker]

Since you asked for powder recommendations:
308= varget, imr 4064, or imr 8208xbr

44 mag= 2400

 

[56hawk]

On the other hand I have loaded 44 Magnum with H4198. It's was pretty wimpy and I wouldn't recommend it, but it did prove that you can load 44 Magnum with rifle powder.

 

[James2]

Yes, two powders.

44 2400
308 Varget or IMR 4064

Would be good choices, as others have said.

 

[CraigC]

You'll need two different powders and you really need to be doing a lot more reading about handloading.

 

[JLDickmon]

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Please - Please - Please read the front part of that Lyman manual you have, it will explain powders and powder burn rates. Also, a copy of the ABC's of Reloading would be a good idea. I am not bashing you in any way but if you think you can find a powder that will work well in a rifle round and a handgun round you really need to do some reading. Again, I'm not bashing you at all and I'm very glad you asked the question but for safety please do the reading I suggested.

Welcome to reloading...

 

[moonzapa]

The best powder that I have used for a bolt action .308 Winchester is IMR-4064, especially for the 165-168 grain bullets; the best powder for the 44 magnum is Elmer Keith's favorite, Alliant 2400, 240 hollowpoints. IMO, there is no single gunpowder that can span both cartridges.

(for semi-auto rifles, I would opt for IMR-4895 as the go to powder, i.e., the M-1A/M-14). Hope this helps out.

 

[Walkalong]

AA 5744 or SR 4759 will give 90% or so performance in .44 Mag and 70% or so performance in .308. (%'s are guesstimates from memory), if you just gotta have one powder for both.

That said, everyone is right, for full performance you absolutely need two powders, and they are also right that you really need to read more about reloading and powders, as that is a fairly simple part of reloading, and covered in all the reloading books. The small price of the book is well worth the immense amount of information that will keep you safe.