Powder brand loyalty

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RE-15

RE-15

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Oct 6, 2009
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Location
Western Missouri
Do any of you find yourself favoring one brand over another? I find they all perform well. I don't use Hodgdon products since I'm not fond of anything from Kansas. With So many to pick from I got to narrow down my choices some how. I Lean towards AA/ Ramshot products due the container shape. Anyone else pick products this way?
 
since I'm not fond of anything from Kansas.
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Get over it.

You guys started it in the first place with your slaves and all!

Then you come over here and burned Lawrence down and killed all the men & boys.

And then, you MU pulled out of the Big 12 conference, which was the final straw!!!

rc
 
I use what does the job best for the best price and is easily accessable in my area. I could care less what state it's made in or the container shape.
 
I thought of you RC when posting it. I can't help it, 4 gen from Missouri. One grandpa is from Prairie Village if that helps.
 
Brands, no.

individual powders yes--both use and avoid.

Many reasons not the least of which are my idiosyncrasies.

Availability has some to do with it at times.
 
I kindly have a preference for IMR, but I use several from Hodgdon, Alliant, Accurate, and some WInchester. I think my IMR "bias" probably stems from reminescence of a bygone day - many years ago when I started reloading shotgun shells, I used IMR7625, and that just stuck with me through the years.
 
There is Hodgdon, IMR, Alliant and Winchester on my shelf. I have never tried Ramshot, mainly because it's not readily available here, and I've never tried Vihtovori or however the hell you spell it, because if I'm getting moa groups, with $23 a pound powder, why would I want to spend $30+ on a pound?
 
I'm partial to Alliant powders. Partly because I had a good relationship with Hercules back when I had the AF munitions program, and partly because their powders simply work for me. I've also had good luck with several Winchester powders. No need to try others.
 
I could care less who makes a powder as long as it performs for me in a given application.

I have and use powders from Hodgdon, Ramshot, IMR, Alliant, Vihtavuori, Accurate, Scott, & Winchester. Basically from all over the world.
 
Alliant is my number one brand, since most of my reloading is for handguns. Bullseye, Red Dot, Unique and 2400 are my favorites. I do like WW 231 for some autopistol loads, and I find Trailboss to be useful in .45 Colt target loads, but mainly Alliant for me.
 
Almost five years in, and I am still in the experimentation stage. I have Red Dot, Green Dot, Blue Dot, 2400, Bullseye and Unique from Alliant. From Winchester, 231, 296, 748, and 760. HS6 from Hodgdon. Alliant Power Pistol and IMR 800X on order from Powder Valley. Hey, that is in Kansas, right? :)

I don't use Vihatoi because I can't spell it.
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Dang, you got that right...:)
 
I use primarily w231, though it is a might dirtier than some it seems to work well for all the calibers I reload for, kinda my "universal" powder if you will. It is also harder to make the mistake of using the wrong powder.:rolleyes:
 
Shoot straight and live free

I use Unique for my 9mm, .45 ACP,...AA for some .44 mag and .454 casual loads. I like the Hogden and IMR powders for most bottleneck cartridges.
 
After finding some powders hard to get at times I figure I might as well get on to plan 'B', 'C' and even 'D'. Most of what I shoot is so main stream that path is pretty well beaten. So I now do load development for a backup powder or 2. Plus some times you hit a better load.

In the beginning it is hard to buy more than one pound of a powder not knowing if you will like it. I was drawn toward Ramshot for the price.
 
I can't afford to experiment. I go with a general consensus and then look for the cheapest powder that will get me to where my accuracy goals take me. It just so happens that it has taken me to Hodgdon. HP-38 for pistol. Varget, H335, H322, H4350 for rifles. I have common calibers.
 
Pistol:
List ALL the good attributes a powder brand CAN have: Not Temp Sensitive, cool burning, easy metering, clean burning, most can't double charge, little/no muzzle flash, etc etc .

Vihtavuori's single-base powders fill my pistol requirements on all counts. You get what you pay for. I guess that makes me LOYAL to Vit.
AA is plan "B", but my powder system doesn't like it, easy to double charge.
231/Hp-38 is plan "C", but it burns dirty with light comp. loads.
 
Availability is a factor in California. Not every hardware & big box store carries supplies here. I don't buy enough to justify $25 hazmat fees from internet sources.

I started reloading during the Great Ammo Drought of '09. The drought also affected supplies. Alliant powders were the most readily available from multiple sources in my area. There is also a ton of data available online for Bullseye & 2400.

FYI Green Dot is a great substitute for Bullseye in .45ACP & .38 SP. Found that out when I couldn't find any Bullseye. ;)
 
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