What factors determine powder selection?

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LiveLife

LiveLife

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Consistent metering and accuracy of charges?

Burn rate and related recoil (snap vs push)?

Economy (more rounds per pound and/or lower cost powder)?

Whatever is available/on hand and select the charge/OAL to make it work?

Powder specific loyalty regardless of price due to past performance experience?
 
I like speed and tend to push the limits. I use book and pressure ratings to find which direction to go in. Price is a non factor as I found that hand loading only pushed further into my wallet.
 
It depends....

For my competition pistols I want reliability, consistency, cleanliness.

For my plinking pistols I want velocity and accuracy.

For my rifle I want cleanliness and economy.
 
I look for powders that offer a good range of velocities for said bullet weight, as well
as good load density. Then most importantly, the powder should be good for another
couple of bullet weights in the same caliber.

Lastly, if a particular powder meets this criteria AND can load another caliber as well....Perfection!
 
Maybe it's because I'm still fairly new to the game but reguarding the burn rate/related recoil, I've been unable to notice any real world difference. As I said, this may be because of my limited experience on the matter.
So far, I look in the manual and see what gives the highest velocity with the lowest pressure. I try to find a happy medium. It's worked good so far. Luckily for me, my Vanguard doesn't seem to be picky. It shoots em' all better than I can.
As far as economy, they're all close enough price wise to not really make a difference. Around here the rifle powders all range from about $24 to $29 a pound. Not a lot of difference there.
Consistent metering is something I definately pay attention to. H414 was the first powder I tried for the ol '06 and it's terrible. The granules always stick to the inside of the powder hopper, the scale pan, and the funnel. I hate it and won't buy it again. Give me some Varget for the light stuff and IMR 4350 for the heavy stuff. There may be some product loyalty reguardless of price if that ever becomes an issue. Like I said, I love the Varget and IMR 4350.
My 0.02
 
For me, this depends on a couple of different things. Most of the time accuracy is the main consideration. Occasionally I load for show (large fireball and ridiculous bang) and because of that powders like 296 are my powder of choice for heavy magnum loads. Sometimes the two are even concurrent, I find with 296 my heavy .45 Colt is not only louder and with a more pronounced flash, but more accurate and with reduced recoil as well (when compared to Lil'Gun, the only other magnum powder I've yet tried).
 
For light load Handgun: In this order, with some waffling

Burn rate - muzzle flip vs bullet speed

Metering - consistency

Cleanliness

Accuracy

Availabilty

Cost

NO Loyalty, but some reluctance to start over comes into play
 
Load density, % combustion in the barrel, shape of pressure curve.
 
reguarding the burn rate/related recoil, I've been unable to notice any real world difference.
Click to expand...

For pistol, I found faster burning powder like Bullseye/Red Dot produces more "snappy" recoil and slower burning powder like HS6/WSF produces more "push" recoil.

For some pistols, I like the snappy recoil, but for some others (1911s), I like the push recoil.

W231/HP38 is a happy medium for me, but based on what I have read on THR threads, I am curious to try some other powders (there are 3-5 I plan to try out soon).
 
^ That would explain it. Most of my loading has been for rifle.
I've started loading for .45 Colt, but haven't loaded anything hot yet. Only some plinking loads.
Told ya I was a rookie. :)
 
bds
I am curious to try some other powders (there are 3-5 I plan to try out soon).
Click to expand...

Imagine Win 231 that burns clean with light loads, takes less powder and meters 99% as easily as the Win. Try some n320 with your 124gr 9mm loads.
The 330/350 might be better for the .45--slower burn for heavier bullet.
 
Try some n320 with your 124gr 9mm loads.
Click to expand...

Actually N320 and N330 were two powders I was looking to try - some match shooters talk about them as though they were magic dust and their shot groups are good too. Titegroup, Green Dot and Unique were others.
 
My first criteria is- velocity VS pressure. It's not worth getting an extra 30 FPS if it means I get an additional 20% pressure, too.
Second criteria is- will it measure easily in my powder measures?
Third criteria is- will it work in multiple calibers, multiple applications?
Fourth criteria is- availability- is it stocked? will it be around still in twenty years?
Fifth criteria is- price, economy of loading, cost per load.


I settled on Titegroup for all of my nonmagnum pistol loads, AA#9 for magnums. H335 for bulk rifle and Varget for precision rifle.
 
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