Standardizing, If you could only buy 4 powders........

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That's the interesting thing... I can't see myself going through thousands of full power magnum loads! I know you tend to use more powder through them, but 3000? I'd much rather shoot a box full of them and then 100-200 range fodder. Guess what I'm trying to say is, that one wouldn't be a Keg's worth.

My vote would be W231/HP38, Varget, H4895, and then a smaller amount of some magnum powder W296?

I just wouldn't limit myself to 4 powders though, I shoot 13 calibers and even just changing the weight of the bullet can affect the powder I choose.
 
I would actually put Unique on my list for handgun since I can consistently get very good accuracy out of nearly any handgun caliber with it. It many not be the absolute best for all of them but it usually is the best or close to it for me.

Bullseye would be a keeper. It is awesome in everything from .380 up to .45acp and meters excellently.

I would keep 300mp for all of my magnum loads. It offers velocities that are close to h110 and doesn't require magnum primers.

Since .223 is the only rifle caliber I reload for, I would be keeping h335 as well.


Honestly, if I was placed in a hypothetical situation where I could only have 2 powders for the rest of my life (and could still get magnum primers), I would keep Unique and 4227. Both require more attention to metering but those two powders would provide the accuracy and velocity for everything I reload.
 
Unique Benchmark IMR 4198 and IMR 4350
I think I can effectively load everything with these powders with the dies I have.

9mm, 38 spl, .357 mag, 40S&W 44 spl, 44 mag, 45 LC, 45 acp

.223 Rem, .22-250, .243 Win, 25-06, .270 Win, 30-30 Win, 30-40 Krag, 32 Win. 35 Rem.
.405 Win, 45-70 Govt
 
HS6 for ALL of the pistol calibers listed.

H4895 & H4831 for the rifle calibers.
 
I think the fun of reloading is the ability to test and develop your pet load for each firearm you own. This will require experimenting with various powders and components until you perfect that load. I would not set any arbitrary number for any component, including powder. This process will ultimately determine what components are essential. If necessary prioritize which firearms are used the most and start with one. As your budget and availability of components permit, move through each firearm until you develop those pet loads. At some point, you will know which powders are primary and secondary and overlap your firearms. Then you can purchase components when available. It may only be 3 or 4 powders but your testing will dictate the number.
 
...........or, you could save a heckuva lot of money and ask a bunch of people who have already done so which 4 powders they recommend most, and consider trying the ones that keep popping up; which is what the OP has done. ;)
 
Here is what I decided on;

8# Varget for all of my rifle loads

8# HS-6, for all of my magnum hand gun loads

4 1# bottles of W231 for my 38spcl and .380 Auto loads
 
Indeed my first post on page one if this thread I mentioned I would want a total if 7 powders. I have been rethinking this and I think I could do 3 rifle powders and 2 if I had to.

I load rifle cartridges that are very different. I load many but there are overlapping uses but the 45-70, .223, 30-30 and 30-06 are all very different. I can however use IMR3031 for loading the 45-70, 30-30 and .223. I could use only 4895 for the larger cartridges like the 30-06 but I do like 4895 for M1 Garand ammo and 4350 for all my other 30-06 ammo.

In the handgun if I had to I could go with W231 and 2400 even though I would rather W221, HS-6 and W296.

The bottom line is, if I had to use only 4 powders they would be 3031, 4885, W231 and 2400. If I couldn't find 2400 AA#9 would be the substitute.
 
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They are close, but not close enough. Varget is a bit slower and I get better results with it related to accuracy in both .223 and .308 Probably one of the reasons it's often hard to find is because it works so well.

H4895 has the flexibility to make low power loads.

You are correct, I don't load any pistol. Only own 1 (a 1911) and rarely shoot it.

I've only been loading for 3 calibers, .223, .308 and .30-06, however, I'm about to whack up some .358 Win for the first time. Looking forward to that.
 
I rarely answer these "If you could only have..." threads, but here goes;

1. Universal in one pound jugs.
2. Universal in 8 lb. jugs.
3. IMR 4895 in one pound jugs.
4. IMR 4895 in 8 lb. jugs.

But I have 8 other powders on hand...:rolleyes:
 
Well I went shopping today.....

Sportsmans warehouse had plenty of Varget in 1# cans but would not sell me more than 2# a day.

So more trips in the future. Hopefully the supply will hold up a couple of weeks. No one local sells Varget in 8# jugs.

I got two cans of HS-6 as well.
 
SARuger said:
Well I went shopping today.....

Sportsmans warehouse had plenty of Varget in 1# cans but would not sell me more than 2# a day.

So more trips in the future. Hopefully the supply will hold up a couple of weeks. No one local sells Varget in 8# jugs.

I got two cans of HS-6 as well.
Click to expand...
You would think they would sell you 8x 1lb bottles since they don't have the 8lb bottles in stock.
 
Well now if you are buying 1 pounders no reason not to have more flavors.:)

What's the gas cost to drive to Sportman's?

Might be cheaper to pay the Hazmat and have it all delivered to your door if you have to make different trips for 2lbs at a time.
 
You would think they would sell you 8x 1lb bottles since they don't have the 8lb bottles in stock.
Click to expand...

I argued with the Mgr about this to no avail. I really do not like Sportsmans Warehouse, Gander is useless. Our local gun shops are awesome but they don't stock a lot of 8#ers. I guess I will drive to Greentop in Richmond, 3 hours away, just to buy supplies. I guess I can write off the diesel as hazmat fees.....
 
Well now if you are buying 1 pounders no reason not to have more flavors.

What's the gas cost to drive to Sportman's?

Might be cheaper to pay the Hazmat and have it all delivered to your door if you have to make different trips for 2lbs at a time.
Click to expand...

Sportsmans is 5 miles away, Gander is 10. I have 4 local gun shops within 10 miles that cater to reloaders, just don't carry 8# kegs.

My Powerstroke gets 20mpg, Richmond is 150 miles away, that is 15 gallons of fuel at $2 a gallon plus my time.

The math is close on that if not losing a little.
 
For me, the first 3 are easy, HP38/WW231, H110/WW296, and Varget.

Its that slow burner that I use a few varieties with good results in various calibers. Its between IMR 4350, IMR and H4831, and just started fooling with Magpro. I suppose that if I had to choose I'd go with IMR 4831, mainly because how good it works for me in 6.5 x 55 and I've used it in 30-06 and 25-06.

Laphroaig
 
I don't have any IMR 4831. I need to try it.

RL15 has done good in my 30-06 but thats all I have tried! My first ladder tests had me shooting one ragged hole at 100yrds with a 165g SP out of a Ruger American. A rifle that should never see sub MOA but does!
 
SARuger said:
I argued with the Mgr about this to no avail. I really do not like Sportsmans Warehouse, Gander is useless. Our local gun shops are awesome but they don't stock a lot of 8#ers. I guess I will drive to Greentop in Richmond, 3 hours away, just to buy supplies. I guess I can write off the diesel as hazmat fees.....
Click to expand...

You say your local gun shops are great but no big jugs if powder. Why not ask one of them to order what you need in 8lb jugs? I'm sure they will if they are already sold and won't take up excessive shelf space. I did the same a while back, that's how I got my H4895 and H4350 in 8lb jugs.
 
Just purchased 8 lbs today to prepare for the mother of all component shortages. I only stock three powders but I don't have a large caliber rifle. I load 38 Spl. 9 mm and 45 ACP with one, 357 and 30 carbine with one and 223 with one. The last component shortage taught me that I needed to consolidate and stock more of everything which is what I did. Four powders will do anything you need, you can even make your shotgun powder do double duty as a pistol powder and it works just fine. Powder company marketing had us believing that we needed a lot more different powders than we really do but what good is 23 different powders when only 3 are available.

My choice is American Select, 2400 and AR Comp. I'm missing a big bore rifle powder here but one more powder would complete your basic 4 powder lineup.

Smart move.
 
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