Well it time to reload---Multiple Caliber...

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Bill2e

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In the early stages of planing to reload.

Interested in pistol & rifle loads.

Will I need a different type of pwder for each one? Or will many share the same powder?
 
Bill
Don't over look reloading manuals....but the keyboard is the quickest way to answer your question...do a search at the powder makers sites for your calibers and see what is common between them. I think you will find it takes 3 or 4 powders at least to do much of a difference in calibers. Several each for pistols and several each for rifles.

Jimmy K
(40 yrs of Reloading)
 
Thanks. I would figure with out looking I would need at least 3

one for 9mm/38

and then one each for 308 & 30-06

Time to hit the books
 
Alright this is gonna be fun.....

However, I got a lot of reading to do, but the process seems easier than I thought.

But here is something I found crazy. While looking on the Alliant sight for both the 308 & 30/06 using the same bullet the recipe was the same, same powder, charge, velocity ect......

Kind of ends that which is better debate.

No I understand that was one example of ofe course there are many combinations to get teh max performance out of a load.
 
Each powder company makes a very basic manual which used to be free but is probably a couple of bucks by now - certainly less than the $30-40 you'll spend on a Hornady book. I like books over the online stuff but that's just personal pref. Back to the powder companies. They will list by calibers, then by bullet type and then by weight. For each they will then list a minimum load and a maximum load. You work up your loads incrementally to find your sweet spot. If you create equal intervals between the low and the high weight and the same for velocities you can get an idea of your velocities. As I create a chart I keep it in the book for reference.
 
I use one powder for all my rifle loads.

30-30
.223
.303 British

I use one powder for my pistols.


The answer in your question resides in your ability to find a combination that shoots to a standard you are happy with. Of course I am speaking of powder, primer, bullet, brass.

To begin, get the ABC's of Reloading. Use some load data from bullet and powder manufacturers. Stick to their guidelines, until you have read the ABC's at least 6 times. :)
Then you can start using tools such as a Chronograph to substitute components.
 
The process is easy... but it is tedious... take your time, think through each step, and do not be afraid to double or even triple check your work.

The best thing I read to keep this in perspective is that we are literally playing with dynamite. There's always something that comes up from time to time that reminds us to keep things in perspective.
 
Same here Win 231= HP-38 for my .380/9mm/.45ACP reloads. Works just fine.

+1 on buying a good manual or three. I use the Lee, Lyman, Loadbooks and Hodgdon, plus the Hodgdon reloading data center online.
 
Unique does quite a bit as does W231.

4895 or Varget may cover your rifle.

If you want to get the most out of handloading, I would dial in what your particular firearm likes to eat. To me, that search is most of the fun, although i try different powders as much as I used to. I kinda found my favorite's for the calibers I have so now if I want to experiment, I just buy a new firearm and found out it's favorite food. That's what I'm doing with the 40 S&W now.

LGB
 
I love Winchester 231 for almost all of my pistols. Except for the big magnums. As for rifle, I use more Hodgdon 4350 than anything. That is in the 243, 6.5x55. 30-06, and 300 Win. Mag. Pistols include 32 acp, 38 spl, 357 mag, 9mm, 9mm mak, 40 s&w, 45 acp, and even the 45 colt. There are definitely alot of other powders to play with and experiment with, but these are my favorites.

good shooting
 
BullsEye or Red Dot do well for cast slugs in pistol 'practice or target' loads. when you load jacketed pistol slugs and of course rifle rounds powder selection is more specialized but Power Pistol is good for jacketed in many pistol chamberings.
most loaders have a preference for a different powder for each rifle chambering and bullet weight.
 
I used to use different powders for each caliber, but switched to Bullseye for all my handguns several years ago - 380 acp, 9mm, 10mm, 38 spl, 45 acp, and 45 lc. Seems to work fine and simplifies the reloading bench.
 
+1 on The ABC's of Reloading as your first "primer". IMHO, it should be required reading for everyone thinking about reloading, BEFORE buying any equipment. A good second manual is Richard Lee's Modern Reloading, (biased toward Lee products, but an excellent primer nonetheless). Lyman, Hornady, Speer and others publish reloading manuals filled with individual load data that also have good reloading reference sections.

There are several multiple-caliber powders out there. Unique comes to mind for pistol, Varget for large rifle. You will need several reloading manuals anyway, so you will be able to see for yourself which powders are recommended for several calibers.
 
However, I got a lot of reading to do,
Click to expand...

And when you're done, you'll have a lot of re-reading to do. Glad to hear someone who knows they don't know it all.

The Lyman manual and the ABC's of reloading are good. The Sierra manual is also very good.
 
Bill2e,
The more info you can give the better. 9mm .308/.30-06.
What type of shooting and type of .30-06 is it? Garand or bolt gun?
I find a big thing with reloading is the advice received is better if you define the context. This may also include the type of equipment you have and quantity/quality expectations of ammo. Plus keep in mind other calibers you will move into next.
I'm kind of new to reloading and have found powder (& component) selection to be a bit of a hairball. My suggestion is to pick several powders that seem to have widespread success for you caliber. That way you have a larger group of guys to get info from. Secondly you have several powders to fall back on when Varget or IMR4895 is just not available at the time. Reloader15 or IMR3031 might be available. (Look it up in a manual - that way if I am off on the numbers you would not be at risk) Always have your manual at least in your car if you are buying locally. Factors affecting powder also include how well it meters and if it burns clean. Another thing will be bullet weight & type. Whether it is a gas gun or bolt gun may come into play. Even your climate may come into the mix - Varget is temperature stable. In pistols a powder that can't be double charged is often what is recommended to start with.
In your reloading manual there is often a load that is highlighted in bold that was the most accurate.

I have found that in my case all the fretting, hand wringing and nashing of teeth over powder selection has been worth it. Reading/Posting on the internet has been a wealth of info. At times it is info overload but then later (after you've slept) alot of things make sense at once. It gets easier with each new caliber as you are not on a learning curve about every aspect of loading.

On rifles start thinking about lubing, sizing, trimming & gauging.

Good luck,
WNTFW
 
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