Powder selection

[GoldieMI]

Have my pistol powder all figured out and stocked since it came back to being on the shelf.
BE86-Unique-Power Pistol are all bought and sitting on my shelves.
between the three I'm covered for my pistol needs
38SPL/357MAG/357SIG/380/9mm/10mm/40S&W/45ACP

my question is consolidating down for rifle. Just paper punching at the range and clubs.
I have 300BLK/5.56/7.62x51 in AR platforms and 300WM/308/30-06 in bolt platforms.
Currently I have Benchmark and Reloader 15 as they were the powders I started off with. Hodgdon/Alliant/Winchester powders I can get/order through LGS pretty easily. Really want to just focus on 2-3 powders to cover my needs without buying a bunch of 1# to partially use and test with. Looking for some wisdom as I venture more into the rifle side of things.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

That's a pretty good spread to try and cover them all with just a couple powders. I would recommend H335, Varget and IMR4350 to cover most of these. I do not have a 300BLK or 300WM so I can't recommend a powder for these. Without knowing bullet weights you would be using I wouldn"t be able to say which powder I would use for the others. I use a lot of Varget and H335 for .223, 308 and 30-06. This is from someone that has a dozen cans of powder that are setting on the shelf 3/4 full.

 

[GoldieMI]

I see....let me see if this helps on the rifle desires-

300BLK- subsonic 190-220 intended range for bullet weights for suppressor and reading

300BLK- super 140-175 intended range for bullet weights based on reading and factory ammo

308/7.62 147-168 intended range for bullet weights (have sierra 165/8s from a trade)

5.56 is 55-62 fmjbt (shoots the best so far for me) using factory ammo to gauge by. Have not shot any of the heavier rounds at all though

30-06 have not selected a bullet at all and my club is only a 300 yard range
300WM have not selected a bullet at all and my club is only a 300 yard range
I already had the above two before starting my handloading so I know at 300 yards, the 7.62/308 rounds will compete just as well.

I only punch paper, I do not hunt so it's target only
hopefully that helps.

thanks

 

[oldpapps]

The .300 Blackout is more of a mag pistol powder user. None of your pistol powders are suitable for use in an AR platform. As you are wanting both sonic and sub-sonics, I would favor either Lt'Gun or 2400, your choice. (I favor 2400 but is does top out with sonics at a lower velocity. This doesn't hamper my needs but may yours.)

Moving on to the .223/5.56, 748 or either of the 4895s (IMR or H - close to being the same but not).

Moving to the .308/7.62 and .30-06. I use 748 for both but 748 is not ideal for the .30-06. Again, either of the 4895s will work well.

And finally to the .300 Win Mag. A big case and works better with a slower powder. And yet again 4895s work well.

If I had no stocks or loading worked out, I would go with Lt'Gun for the Blackout and H4895 for the other long guns.

This is all your choice.
Do load with care.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

Varget should work in your .223, .308 & 30-06. You might want to check the reloading guide at the following link:

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

Just enter the caliber, weight of bullet you decide on and leave the powder checked "all". Do this for all you wish to load and it should show what powders will cover most of your needs. Hope this helps.

 

[Sunray]

"...308/7.62 147-168 intended..." IMR4064. Varget will do. Despite the Internet rhetoric, they're the same thing. 147's are the NATO Ball weight. 168's are match bullets(for .30-06 too). 165's the best hunting weight for both .308 and .30-06. They're ballistically identical with like bullet weights. Difference of about 100 FPS only.

 

[LiveLife]

For .300 BLK, I use H110/W296, A1680, H4227, H4198 (super/sub sonic loads)

For .223, I use H335

For .308, I use H4895, Varget, R15 depending on bullet weight (147-168 gr vs 175 gr as I prefer R15 for heavier 175 gr)

 

[GoldieMI]

R15 listed every caliber except 300BLK which is the reason I initially picked up a 1# container to start with. Even 300WM was listed on the recipe sheet for this powder.

Some of the local guys at the club recommended Benchmark for the 5.56 as it is easily obtainable in my area. Benchmark and H322/335 are stocked up pretty tight as is R15/17/19 powders.

definitely not tied into any powder on the rifles however. I will look for some of the recommended ones for the 300BLK. Especially for the suppressed rounds as my Osprey 45 and Omega units are ready for pickup at the local LGS.
Thank you one and all.

 

[GoldieMI]

Thanks to Powder Valley have the following coming in to test with:
H4198 - H4895 - Longshot - LilGun - AA#7
to join the Benchmark and RL15 I have

so despite trying to narrow down the powders, it looks like I have 5 new ones coming to join my shelves lol. Now to figure out the bullets

 

[bluetopper]

I have discovered an old powder, new to me that has been around for decades and wow, I love its performance in 223, 22-250, and 7mm-08 and its metering on my progressive. Very versatile........BLC2.

 

[GoldieMI]

the one I'm most concerned with is the 300BLK, I 'm planning on loading for both super and subsonic. However, with the Omega coming in, probably more subs than anything else.

 

[Reefinmike]

In my experience, h110/w296 works well in my 300blk ar pistol with supers(150gr fmj) and subs(230gr lead cast) as well as 357 mag loads.

I havent used little gun in 300blk yet but in terms of velocity, it really shines in 357 magnum giving you an honest 200fps increase in velocity over h110/w296 in both revolver and carbine barrels. Im pushing a 164gr PCLSWC 2,000 fps from a 16" barrel with a max charge of lilgun. Some warn against excessive use of lilgun in revolvers due to excessive wear. I reserve it for rifle loads because the more accurate max loads start showing pressure signs in my revolver.

 

[GoldieMI]

I bought 1# of lil'gun, 1# of H4895, and 1#of H4198 based on the recommendations of others here to test with. Hoping to find a good starting place once powder valley delivers