Which powders to keep

[balderclev]

I'm 2 months into reloading and have been somewhat lucky in getting powder. I am still light on primers. I need some advice on which powders I might trade off for primers.

I have the following pistol powders that I have never used:

WST (1lb)
Hodgdon International (1lb)
Autocomp (1lb)
SR7625 (2lbs)

I am using Unique and 700x in my 38spc, 45acp, and 40s&w and have several pounds of each.

In rifle powder I have done some reloading with BLC2, Varget, and H4198 in 223 and 308.

I have not tested these powders as yet:

N133 (8lbs), imr4064 (2lbs), Benchmark (2lbs), RL15 (5lbs)

Any suggestions on what I should look at getting rid of? I know the two pistol powders I have been using will last me for years as I have several pounds of each. Don't really know how they compare to the others I have not tried.

The rifle powders I have tested are giving me <MOA accuracy in the few loads I have been playing with. I've read good reviews of N133 for both 223 and 308 and RL15 for 308.

 

[noylj]

If you haven't used and don't plan to, then sell 'em.
WST--I have been very disappointed in terms of accuracy at 25 and 50 yards in .45 Auto and .38 Spl. However, lots of action pistol folks love it, so it is easily sellable.
International (International Clays) could be a great pistol powder, but there is no data for it. It is a shotgun powder and Hodgdon doesn't print pistol loads for it. Burn rate is similar to 700X, Green Dot, N330, and PB. Should be great for 9x19, if load data is available.
Auto Comp--designed for compensated guns. Never used it. Might be great. Might not. I have little data for it--go to Hodgdon for data. I would sell it.
SR7625--great for 9x19 and .40. Right in burn rate with Power Pistol, HS6, and Silhouette. For near full power loads.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I would keep using the Unique and 700x if they work for you, especially Unique.

For rifle I would get rid of the H4198, its too fast for most auto loaders. I really like Varget even though it doesn't always meter so well. And I also get great results with Benchmark and it meters better than Varget. But really all of the rifle powders you have (except the H4198) are supposed to be great powders for anything that isn't a magnum cartridge or something tiny like .22 Hornet (which the H4198 is good for, as well as for .300blk). If you can afford to, keep all of those rifle powders and work up loads for your calibers. They'll all work at least to some extent and you'll have data in case you can't find your preferred powder in the future.

 

[oneounceload]

WST and International are both good shotgun powders - trade them for something you want

 

[FROGO207]

If you do not plan on ever using the surplus cans do sell them or trade them for what you want. Now with the shortages you should have no problems doing this. Me I have a lot of partial cans of many different propellants hanging around. If I see a load that looks promising and see that I have no notes on it already I usually can reach in and find that propellant then go try the load. Also in these times of less supplies the added diversity on the powder shelf could get you out of a mess if you run out of a favorite can of whatever and you have a good second choice in hand already. Not like it is going to spoil in the next 20 years anyway.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have the following pistol powders that I have never used:

WST (1lb)
Hodgdon International (1lb)
Autocomp (1lb)
SR7625 (2lbs)

I would trade off all except for AutoComp. AutoComp works great in the 45 Auto and the 40 S&W.

In rifle powder I have done some reloading with BLC2, Varget, and H4198 in 223 and 308.

I have not tested these powders as yet:

N133 (8lbs), imr4064 (2lbs), Benchmark (2lbs), RL15 (5lbs)

Sorry I don't know anything about VV powders but the other 3 are good for the rifle calibers you're loading. I especially like IMR4064 in the .308 and from what I've read RL-15 is also very good for both the .308 and the .223. Lapua only lists data for N133 in the .308 for bullets lighter than 150gr. They do list load data for bullet up to 60gr but no heavier with N133 in the .223.

If it were me I would trade off the N133 and keep the rest especially IMR4064 and RL-15. Even the Benchmark can go if you can make the trade for primers IMO.

 

[balderclev]

Now if I can just find someone in central Arkansas that wants to trade primers for powder.

 

[Miata Mike]

I love WST for my .45acp 200 grain lead semi wadcutters. I have a larger jug on order for the last several months from my LGS.