Consolidating Powder Types

[horsemen61]

IMHO I like having several different powders on hand it lets me pick and chose do I use an old stand by or do I go with something new I like that option especially since the components have been hard to find as of late

 

[PJSprog]

Same as many above. I've tried to limit myself to a select few powders, but always the same issues - can't get magnum power from HP-38, and can't push H4895 much either. The take-away here: Get what's useful, regardless of variety.

 

[brue182]

I try to just load using Unique for pistol and Varget for rifle. I did break down and buy 8 pounds of SR 4756 recently because Unique is almost non existent and will load my 9mm and 40s reliably.

 

[LiveLife]

Unique is almost non existent

Powder Valley has Unique in stock (1 lb/$15.65, 8 lbs/$106.80) - http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/

 

[FROGO207]

When I do load development on a new firearm I will not stop until I find three good loads using different propellant/bullet combos. That will save the day when the next shortage comes along. It is way easier to justify load development when components are plentiful IMHO. FWIW I just counted 20 different types of eight pounders and as many different 1 LB containers of propellant on the shelf. I just realized where the money I misplaced for that last cruise I did not bother to go on went.

 

[hatwerinrednek]

Why don't you just reload for the calibers you shoot most often and just buy factory for everything else? It's another way to consolidate and make reloading more manageable.

good answer/

 

[Potatohead]

the horror

lol

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This is a switch, some reloaders are looking for 1 or 2 powders to load everything and I use 1 or 2 and sometimes 3 different powders for each cartridge. Go figure?? lol

 

[buck460XVR]

I wouldn't care.
158gr XTP at 1200 and 158gr LSWC at 1100 are decent

You might see that from a 10'' test barrel like Hodgdon used, but I doubt if you'll ever see that from a 6'' or shorter revolver. Hornady maker of the 158gr XTP, doesn't even list W231/HP38 in their load recipes for it. This tells me something that many already know. Fast powders and heavy bullets in magnum revolvers is not the optimal choice. Getting optimal performance and accuracy is the reason most of us reload. Not getting that is counter productive. Cost is the other reason most of us reload. Difference in powder cost in minimal. With the small charge rates used for the .357, amount of cartridges per pound difference is not worth making non-optimal rounds. These consolidation/one powder for everything threads come up frequently. The general conclusion reached in everyone is, if you have the room to store more than one canister of powder, there really is no advantage to only having one.

 

[carbine85]

For what is worth I use IMR4895 for almost ever rifle I shoot. I reload 5.56, 30.06, 7.62x54R and 303. I haven't used it for the M1 Carbine since that's more like a pistol round. I can use it for the 30-30, AK, and SKS if I wanted. One of the best powders out there IMHO.

 

[Muddydogs]

As a difference of opinion to the guys that have 3 or more loads for each weapon they load so in a time of shortages they have choices I go the other way and only have one maybe 2 loads for each weapon and stock plenty of componets to not have to worry about any shortages.

For pistol I stock Unique and a few pounds of H110 for the few mag loads its needed for. Unique will load most all the pistol calibers, shotgun and is a great cast bullet powder in rifles.

For rifles I stock W748 for the 223 and 30/30, Re 15 for the 243, 308, 7.62x54and 7.7X58. Re 22 is stocked for the 7mm.

I don't use a lot of the Re22 so a few pounds is good, as for the W748 and Unique lets just say I like to keep a couple pounds on hand.

I have been reloading and shooting all my weapons this past year with no worries about componets. I have purchased a few things but never at inflated prices. I have also worked up about 10 new loads for new calibers and some cast bullets I have started to cast with what I have on hand so I would have to say that my choices of powders have worked great for me. There are a few other powders in my inventory like Steel for steel shotshell loads and a couple other powders I purchased to load slugs and buckshot but once I worked out the load and loaded some up I generally don't shoot many of these rounds.

 

[buck460XVR]

As a difference of opinion to the guys that have 3 or more loads for each weapon they load so in a time of shortages they have choices I go the other way and only have one maybe 2 loads for each weapon and stock plenty of componets to not have to worry about any shortages.

I have 2 or 3 loads for most of my handguns because I like to shoot them for different reasons. Most of my revolvers have 3 load combos. A heavy hunting load, a regular range load and a soft plinker, for when young or those new to to the sport shoot my firearms or I just feel like shootin' soft. Since hunting loads work better using a slower powder than the light plinkers, at least two different powders are needed for decent loads. But then, even tho the .357s shoot best with H110/W296, the .44s and the .460 seem to prefer IMR4227. Now I have at least three powders just for the magnum revolvers. Add the 1911s and now I have 5. I haven't even got to the rifles yet. Most of my loads have been tested and established long ago. I continue to use the same bullets and other components (when I can get them) for them year after year. Buying them in bulk generally is the most cost efficient anyway. It is not a matter of buying what I can get or trying new and different components, it's just for optimal loads in a variety of scenarios, ones needs a variety of powders to do it. Now if I was only loading for .45ACP using 230gr hardball and striving for 850fps, then one powder would do it all. There are many folks like that and they can get by with one powder.....but not me. IMHO, limiting yourself to one powder for multiple calibers and scenarios is just that........you're limiting yourself and the loads you can produce. Others are free to differ.

 

[Potatohead]

Is this about keeping less powder? Why would anyone wanna do that?

 

[Muddydogs]

Thats why I shoot Unique, works for cast light loads or full powder heavy loads. When Unique doesn't work a little H110 fixes the problem. I to have a couple loads for most my pistols, a light plinking load, a heavy load and a few have more due to different bullet weights. But what do I know as I only load for 15 calibers, most of them jacketed and lead including the rifles and I'm not happy unless my rifles are putting 5 holes touching in a 100 yard target.

To each his own but I just wanted to point out that a guy can end up with a powder that will load multipule calibers and while one pistol powder and one rifle powder won't get the job done you also don't need 20 different powders.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I wouldn't care.
158gr XTP at 1200 and 158gr LSWC at 1100 are decent
165gr in the 300 with 2900+ ft/s is no slouch either

Just because those are the numbers you see in the book doesn't mean you will see anything close in the real world. you will not get even close to those velocities from your guns and outside the lab. Hodgdon is using a 10" pressure barrel for the .357 Magnum data and a probably a 26" pressure barrel for the 300 Win Mag data. (I didn't check their site)

 

[jlucke69]

I find that I can consolidate powders somewhat. I buy Varget and Universal in 8lb tubs to handle most of my shooting, then some H110 for magnums and 4831 for the 25-06. I am not a precision shooter, but the Varget gets me great results in the guns I use. Universal will load about any handgun cartridge I own, H110 gives a little more thump. Not down to 2, but I do see economy of scales for the powders I shoot most.