What Powders Are You Using For The Following Calibers?

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BigBoreBubba

BigBoreBubba

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Since powder is so scarce around my area, I’m trying to compile a list of ones to be on the lookout for that might be useful in the calibers that I reload for. The following is the list of calibers that I have that I currently reload for. If you guys have a pet powder or load for any of them, I would greatly appreciate you sharing. Components are very hard to come by in my area, so having a list at hand would be of great help if I run across something I don’t have or am not familiar with. Thanks guys.


460 S&W
44 Mag
38/357
50 AE
500 S&W
40 S&W
308
30-30
30-06
45-70 (1895 Marlin)
50 Beowulf
375 H&H
223/5.56

Sometime down the road I may also start loading for 9mm, 45 ACP, 32 H&R, and 7.62x54r.
 
During these times after exhausting go-to's its the opposite process for me. I see what I can get and then investigate if I can work with it for my needs.
2400 is a go-to, cant find it
308 as a parent case; 4064, Varget, R17, H4350
Pistols: HS-6, Titegroup, Target, H110, Lil'Gun, 4227, CFE, seems to be more widely available locally and on the web.
 
Last edited:
.44 Mag - N-110 or AA #9
.38/.357 - WST or Competition, BE-86, 2400
.40 S&W - W-231
.308 - RL-15
.30-30 - H-335
.30-06 - IMR-4895
.45-70 - Don't have one, download .458 Win Mag with AA-5744 to .45-70 levels.
.223/5.56 - TAC, H-335, SRB-118, H-322

These are by no means the only good options.
 
BigBoreBubba said:
460 S&W
44 Mag
38/357
50 AE
500 S&W
40 S&W
308
30-30
30-06
45-70 (1895 Marlin)
50 Beowulf
375 H&H
223/5.56
Click to expand...

I've used red dot for 9mm, 55acp and 357 mag as well as 2400 in 357.

3030, 308 imr 4064, 3006 I've used a lot of different types imr 4064, imr and h 4895, h4350, imr 4350, blc2, superformance, and ramshot hunter.
223/5.56 blc2, imr and h 4895.
 
A better option would be to look in a reloading manual and see what crosses over well with multiple cartridges.
Here are 14 powders that I could use with all of your rifles. I may have to run heavier or lighter bullets than I normally would.
3031 is a classic. Look at 4895s and 4064s.
Benchmark, w748, H380, cfe223, imr8208, varget, reloader 15, and ar comp.
Shooters world offers powders that I've had good success with. I am just now preparing for testing their faster burn rate rifle powders.

Your varied choice of pistols makes you need 2 powders.
I can't offer much help there.
 
30-30 - LEVERevolution, H335, 2400 for reduced cast loads soon. H335 is ok for lighter 110 and 150 grainers, but produces a large fireball from my 336 and is no longer preferred.

308 - IMR 4064, CFE 223. IMR seems very good for this caliber. I haven’t used CFE 223 nearly as much, but I found a couple pounds so that will change.

223/5.56 - CFE 223, Ramshot TAC, IMR 4064, H335. Powders here may get tried in 308 and 30-30 depending on need and availability. TAC and H335 are nice for FMJ loads in my 20” and 16” barrels.

9mm - CFE Pistol, Winchester 231. I’m currently working on cast loads and 231 is preferred. For higher velocity SD loads with XTP and Lehigh XD bullets it’s CFE Pistol. 231 seems more accurate but I’ve not used it very much compared to the CFE Pistol.
 
Looking at what you’re shooting 3031 will cover 223,308,30-06,45/70, 30-30. It’s usually available. Actually it’s in stock on the Hogdon website right now. HS6 is about as useful as a Swiss Army knife in your 38/357,44. H110 would cover the bigger pistol cartridges but 2400 would be a little more flexible. Personally I can’t take much more than the medium burners with 270 grain bullets.
 
I don't load most of those calibers but for the ones I do:

44mag- hp38 for special level, Unique for mid level, 2400 and H110 for full power
38/357- hp38 for special, power pistol for spl+p, and 2400 H110 for 357
.223- Varget
 
Of the rounds listed, I have extensive experience with the .44, .357, .38, .500, and .30-'06.

I prefer IMR 4350 for the '06. (I do enjoy loading the old war horse with 220 grain bullets, and have found nothing better for the purpose than RL 22, but that probably is not helpful for most folks...)

In the handgun rounds, Unique is one powder which I have used in all of them. It is not ideal for some, but good results can be had with it in all of them. I also have had good results with 2400, but it is not perfect in the .38 unless you are willing to push the limits, and then only in the large frame guns. For maximum loads in all but the .38, H110 can also be used. The trouble there is that H110 really prefers to operate at high pressures and therefore is a somewhat specialized powder - and while it can be made to work in the .38, I personally consider it wildly inappropriate in that cartridge.

There are a number of other powders which are more-or-less suitable, but these are the ones which have given me best service.
 
I'm loading what I can get - not always my first choice, but in times like these...
308 - IMR 4064, AA2520, BL(c) 2, Norma 202
30-30 - Leverevolution
223/5.56 - VVN530, AA2230 (I also use many of powders listed for .308WIN in .223/5.56 with 68gr and 77gr bullets)

9mm - Vectan BA9 (got a smoking good deal on this back in November, so I have a lot of it)
45 ACP - WIN244, AA No. 5, Ramshot Competition
 
Some good stuff here guys. Here’s a complete list of powder that I currently have on hand. Mostly a pound or so each.

H335 (9 pounds)
IMR 4064 (1 pound)
Ramshot Competition (1 pound)
IMR 3031 (1 pound)
VV 3N38 (1 Pound)
H110 (1-1/2 pounds) wish I had a lot more!
Benchmark (3/4 pound)
Unique (1 pound)
WSF Ball (1 pound)
Varget (1/4 pound)

I may have left a couple out, but I’m at work so this is from memory, lol.
 
These are the powders I use. I'm not saying they are the only powders that will work but they work for me.

460 S&W - Don't load
44 Mag - IMR4227 (for a family member)
38 - W231/HP-38 or the fairly new W244
357 - HS-6 and W296/H110
50 AE- Don't load
500 S&W - Don't load
40 S&W - W231 or AA#7
308 - IMR-4064 or Varget (when I did load for a family member)
30-30 IMR-3031 and Hodgdon LVR
30-06 - H4350 and H4895
45-70 (1895 Marlin) AA5744 and IMR-4198
50 Beowulf - Don't load
375 H&H - Don't load
223/5.56 - H335 or TAC (if loading for an AR style rifle I'm told AR-Comp works well)
 
When powders were scarce before, I wanted to obtain and develop loads for powders that were usable across several calibers. They might not be the best in those calibers but there was load data for them.
W231/W244, Universal and 296 can take care of most pistol calibers.
H335, IMR4895, IMR4350 for rifles I have which doesn’t include that big .50.
The other brands have similar burn rate powders and load data as well, these are just what I ended up with. When the shortage was over, I felt like a kid in the candy store with a wad of cash, went a little too crazy and have many more. Good luck.
 
BigBoreBubba said:
Some good stuff here guys. Here’s a complete list of powder that I currently have on hand. Mostly a pound or so each.

H335 (9 pounds)
IMR 4064 (1 pound)
Ramshot Competition (1 pound)
IMR 3031 (1 pound)
VV 3N38 (1 Pound)
H110 (1-1/2 pounds) wish I had a lot more!
Benchmark (3/4 pound)
Unique (1 pound)
WSF Ball (1 pound)
Varget (1/4 pound)

I may have left a couple out, but I’m at work so this is from memory, lol.
Click to expand...
Your basically out of powder...
Rat hole Varget, H 4895, you can swap for whatever you need
 
460 S&W - n/a
44 Mag- n/a
38/357 - BE-86 AND H110
50 AE - n/a
500 S&W - n/a
40 S&W - N320 AND N330
308 - VARGET
30-30- n/a
30-06- n/a
45-70 (1895 Marlin) - n/a
50 Beowulf - n/a
375 H&H - n/a
223/5.56 - H335 and VARGET
 
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