Powder & Primers

[WNTFW]

Any recommendations on which primers or powders to get?
I need small rifle / large rifle / small pistol / large pistol
I went with WSR's & IMR4895 (.223) last time because that is what was available at the store and it is my understanding that 4895 would do well in all my rifle calibers. I will buy locally this time. I would like to have an alternative as the "Plan A" is not always available. Asking for CCI Small Rifle Military Primers #41 has gotten me a few looks but no intelligible reponses.

Main calibers:
.223 & .30-06 gas guns primarily. AR & Garand
.270 & .30-06 bolt guns
.45acp & 9mm pistols - semiautos

I know there are no bullet weights given, essentially I'm looking for a good all around pistol powder and also a rifle powder. I would prefer to have one fewer powders if possible.

So far I have successfully reloaded shotshell & .223. I need to start on my other rifle & pistol calibers. I am aware the possibility of overcharging on some powders and have some reloading manuals.

Thanks in advance.
WNTFW

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you're looking for a good all around powder for the 9mm and .45 Auto W231/HP-38 will serve you well. You can make light rounds to fairly hot ones using W231.

For your AR in .223 I feel there is no better powder than Hodgdon's H335.

For your .270 and 30-06 even though 4895 was the first powder made for the 30-06 I get great results with H4350 or IMR4350. (I like H4350 better because it produces less pressure than the IMR powder)

If you want only 1 powder for all the rifle rounds you mentioned I think Varget will do fine.

I like Winchester primers best but there's nothing wrong with CCI primers either. If you are short on cash (and who isn't these days) you can even use Wolf primers. Everyone I've talked to who has used Wolf primers has reported no problems at all with them. They are cheaper than the rest too. You can buy them online from Powder Valley and Widener's.

 

[Urbana John]

I use Unique for pistol and IMR 3031 for rifle and CCI primers.

I've got over a dozen reloading manuals and can find data on these powders for about any round.

I reload several pistol "loads" and 12 ga.shotgun with Unique and many rifle "loads" with IMR 3031.

Less "choices" means less "confussion".

UJ

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Less "choices" means less "confusion".

UJ

That may be true but sometimes less choices also means limited performance.

 

[WNTFW]

Thanks guys,
At least nobody gave me the what works in 1 gun might not work in another speech.
I do have a friend that uses Wolf primers in pistols & recommended them. I did find some info on primers cup thickness someone posted here on THR.
As far as economy goes the Ramshot line of powders looks attractive also.
Thanks,
WNTFW

 

[Slamfire]

My lot of Varget must be a particularly slow lot, but I got case head separations in my M1a during load testing with Varget. Consequently I don't recommend the stuff in gas guns. I have "heard" it is supposed to have a burn rate around IMR 4064, but maybe there are lots out there with a slower burn rate. It is a superb bolt gun powder.

As for IMR 4895. Any of the 4895 types of powder, IMR, H4895, AA2495, will just shoot bug hole groups in .223, 308 and 30-06. Maybe because it is not the "newest" thing folks do not appreciate what a good powder it is, but it is a good one, one of the best.

I remember being squadded with a HM at Perry, he was shooting surplus IMR 4895 in his service rifle and doing just great. He had been razzed because he was not shooting the “latest thing” , but I cannot say my N140 groups were better. I did test AA2495 (Accurate Arms copy of 4895) and 24.0 grains gave me excellent accuracy with 69 Sierra's.

While I have done limited testing with ball powders, stick powders just give seem to have a larger sweet spot. With IMR 4895 in the 30-06, I have shot cleans at 200 yards with 168 SMK and 42.0 grains, and then shot cleans with 168 SMK 47.0 IMR 4895 at 300 yards. It is a very flexible powder.

Still, if you want a back up, IMR 4064 does well in all the cartridges you listed. I have shot it in 30-06 and 270. It will shoot very well in the M1a and Garand, but it is as slow as I would go in those guns. I never tested IMR 4064 in the .223, it is long grained, and does not dump well through a Dillion .223 powder funnel. I have shot AA4064 in the .223 and 308. It is shorter grained than IMR 4064. It shoots bug hole groups, but I don't get the velocities I want in .223.

As for your pistols, Unique is about the most flexible pistol powder around. While I prefer Bullseye in the 9mm and 45ACP, I shoot mostly target loads. Unique does extremely well in a wide variety of calibers. I know, because I have tested the stuff in 32 S&W Long, 38 Spl, 357, 44 Spl, 45 LC, and 45ACP.

I shot at least 15 thousand nickel plated WSR’s in .223. Great primers. Then the “brass finish” WSR’s came out and the cups were softer. Those primers ate up a AR firing pin every match, with loads that never pierced a nickel WSR’s. Since firing pins ain’t cheap, and bolts cost even more, I stopped buying WSR’s. I bought a bunch of CCI#41’s, they don’t pierce, and they shoot great all they way out to 600 yards.

 

[K3]

I'm going to echo others here and say that IMR4895 is an excellent all around rifle powder. I've had good results in cartridges from .223Rem up to .300WM. Wonderful stuff.

From 60gr VMax bullts punching 'yotes under the red light to knocking down West Texas mulies with 180gr Gamekings, it's my favorite powder.

Nasty stuff in the 7.62X51 with a 168gr SMK.

 

[USSR]

I agree with SlamFire1's assessment of IMR4895. I bought up a "bunch" of the very last of the surplus IMR4895 when it was on the market a couple years ago. A very good and versatile powder.

Don

 

[wingman]

I use winchester primers, AA5, and Titegroup powder in 45acp,40s&W, 9mm,9x18 (Mak),38 sp and 380. By finding components you like and then work to minimize makes for safer reloading and less cost.

 

[DWARREN123]

I only use small pistol primers and use the least expensive I can find. Not had a problem so far with any brands I have used. Right now I am using MagTech primers.

 

[scrat]

i was never really fond of imr4895. however Hogdon H4895 is really good stuff