In your opinion, which company has the best overall powder line-up

[XD-40 Shooter]

For reloading pistol and rifle calibers, which company has the best overall line-up of powders, in your opinion?

I'm a big fan of Alliant, with Unique for pistol loads, and Blue Dot or 2400 for magnum loads. 2400 gets really close to 296 in velocity, although it is a little dirtier, but that doesn't bother me.

 

[snuffy]

It's no contest. Since Hodgdon is distributor for their own line up, the IMR line up and now winchester/olin, how could another company compete?

 

[BsChoy]

I gotta say Hodgdon cuz I love Varget, 4895, and 4350...but alliant is a very close second especially with RL17 coming out (close burning rate to the 4350's I guess) i loved RL22 in 6.5x55 and RL15 in 223 so I might have to try it

 

[col_tapiocca]

Vitavhouri has a large range of product for pistol and rifle rounds.
Few months ago I use N320 from Vitavhouri to load 9mm. But I switched to swiss made "Wimmis" powder. Hogdon and other US stuff are more expensive here.

 

[Crimp]

It's pretty obvious that Hodgdon/Winchester/IMR has the widest range of powders, but I've become a Ramshot fan. Enforcer, True Blue, Silhouette and ZIP are dandy pistol powders. I only load for one rifle caliber, and I'm using Hodgdon's Varget for that, but I'll probably try Ramshot's TAC next time.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Easily Hodgon! Varget alone makes a large number of other powders of similar burnrate all but obsolete

 

[dakotasin]

i think alliant has a real good thing going and if/when ramshot ever gets their stuff together w/ the various reloading manuals, especially speer, nosler, and sierra, there may be no stopping ramshot...

 

[USSR]

I agree with dakotasin. Alliant's RL15 and RL22 powders are two tremendous rifle powders that cover almost all applications.

Don

 

[Walkalong]

They all have something good to offer. AC

 

[db_tanker]

as Walkalong said, all have something to offer...you can look in my powder cabinet and find examples of each in there.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

I agree with db_tanker. I use all different kinds, so I don't have a favorite. However, Hodgon gets a lot of my business, Alliant second, followed by IMR.

 

[scrat]

Hogdon hands down.

H4895 good stuff.

but then i still like W748

Then there is GOEX oops thats for another forum. pyrodex still better than 777

 

[K3]

I started out with IMR4895 and IMR4831 for the rifles I shoot. I then added H335 and Varget. Then I picked up some RL15, RL22, IMR4064 and H4198. I have not used the RL15 or 22 yet, but I plan to develop some loads pretty soon. I also have 2# of H1000. I don't know why I picked it up, as I really don't have an application for it at the moment. The IMR4895 works well in most of my long guns, and my hunting rifles really like the IMR4831. So, I have larger quantities of these on hand than all of my other powders combined.

For pistols I use either 700-X or Blue Dot.

So.... most of my stuff is IMR, quantitywise. I started out figuring I'd use nothing but IMR and didn't want to. When I tried the Varget, I decided that Hodgdon did indeed make excellent powders. When I heard about others' success with RL15 and 22, I just had to get some. My powder cabinet is now very diverse.

I am happy with all powders so far. I'd say my favorite is the IMR4895. I have several bobcats and raccoons that succumbed to a bullet pushed by this old powder.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hodgdon /Winchester /IMR without a doubt.

Almost every powder I use is made by them but for 1.
W231/HP-38
Clays
HS-6
Longshot
Lil'Gun
W296/H110
IMR 4895 & H4895
H4350
Varget
W748
Power Pistol