Your Best Reloading Powder?

[theboyscout]

I have recently started reloading ammo and I was wondering which of the many powders you like most? which work best? some old timers I know express a liking for the IMR 700x. or the dupont hi skor 700x.

Please note:
I am looking to Reload 30-06, 30-30, and .308
I am also looking to get the most reloads out of my powder but have the best bang for my buck. (no pun intended).

Thanks for your help
Boyscout

 

[rcmodel]

IMR 700x. or the dupont hi score 700x are fast burning pistol powders.
They are not at all suitable for use in the three bottle-neck high pressure rifle calibers you want to reload.

(you would Certainly get 'a lot of Bang for your buck' though, for one shot!!!)

My first suggestion to you would be to buy the Lyman # 49 reloading manual, or about Any Reloading Manual.

And read it from front to back enough times to memorize it!

Only then, pick a one powder that will work in your three rifles.

rc

 

[jwrowland77]

I've only loaded .308 out of the bunch.

My preference is:
-2000MR
-IMR 4064
-IMR 4895

A lot of people use Varget as well for .308.

 

[Hypnogator]

AR-Comp for .223 & .308, H-110 for .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .30 Carbine, Clays for 12-ga trap & skeet loads, 9mm, .45ACP.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like already said, 700x is a very fast shotgun/pistol and not at all suitable for the rifle cartridges you list.

I am looking to Reload 30-06, 30-30, and .308

I use 3 different powders for those 3 cartridges, 4350 in the 30-06, LVR in the 30-30 and IMR4064 in the .308. Just because I'm nuts and love different powders doesn't mean you have to.

IMO you can use Varget, IMR4064, IMR4895 or H4895 for all 3 and do a good job with each. All those powders will deliver good accuracy and velocity in each. You can also use one of the newer powders out there, CFE-223 if you can find any. I mentioned that last because I have not used that powder before so I can't personally recommend it but the data and reports say it's a good choice too.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

IMR 4350 would be my choice for those rifles.

 

[rcmodel]

IMO: 4350 is Way too slow for use in 30-30.

4064, 4895, W-748, Varget, etc, would be a much better choice in all three calibers then 4350.

rc

 

[gamestalker]

Ya, it sounds like someone needs to invest in some books.

As RC stated, you would definitely get a lot of bang for your buck using the wrong powders to that extreme, one time.

Bottle neck cartridge use a completely different range of powders, than do handgun cartridges. About the only exception would be shooting low velocity cast loads, in which case there is some very specific data that applies, but those loads should not be construed as the typical bottle neck load make up. It should also be noted that cast loads with bottle neck cartridges don't reflect the average or standard velocities for a typical high pressure bottle neck cartridge, such as those the OP referenced.

And just as a heads up, even when referencing bottle neck cartridges and their perspective powders, there are definite published guidelines that dictate what can be used, in which cartridge, and with which bullet weights. In other words, there really isn't much of a one powder does it all approach to reloading, be it high powered rifle cartridges, or handgun straight wall cartridges, though the latter is probably more universal in some respects.

GS

 

[JMDeeDeeDee]

Ive had great results with H4895 and AA2495 in 30-30, and a friend of mine uses H4895 in his .308 and 30-06 (amongst others) and swears by it.

 

[J_McLeod]

I haven't really shot enough of those cartridges to say. Here's what I would suggest for buying powder though. Get a loading manual, or reference the data that the powder manufacturers post online. I like Hodgdon the best. Look at loads for the bullet weights you want to shoot in each cartridge, and make a list of the powders that work in all three. Use that when you go to the LGS or shop online.

 

[jwrowland77]

One thing I look for in my rifle powder for the cartridge I'm looking at reloading, I like as close to 100%+ case fill. I do have a couple of compressed loads that shoot great and gave me what I was looking for in both accuracy and velocity.

 

[LAGS]

I stocked up on IMR-4064 because it will load everthing I shoot from .308 to 35 Whelen.
That way, in this Powder Shortage, I dont have to be searching High and low for my rifle powder.
For pistols, I went with Unique for the bulk of my loads for the same reason, and it too works well in a variety of my shotgun loads.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Imr 4350 is not a catch all for those rifles. It will work but is not the best option. Imr 4064 is a great powder in .308 and 30-.30. Otoh the 4350 works well with the -06.

 

[kerreckt]

W748 is a good powder for 30-06, 30-30, .308 certainly, not the best for all weight bullets but good in certain weights. It can also be used with .223 and others. H4895 is another pretty versatile powder.

 

[Airgead]

You will find that your guns respond differently to a load than how the same recipe shoots in anyone else's different gun. The manuals will either mark best-performing with a variety of powders (e.g. Lyman's) or will only list powders that they feel perform the best (e.g. Hornady). Only you can eventually find your go-to choice.

All that being said, for .30-06 I am very partial to IMR4895 and am very happy it's available again.

I am going to try some IMR4831 I picked up in the shortage as an alternative but haven't yet needed to use it.

 

[HKGuns]

I4064 and I4895 are two of the most useful rifle powders on the planet.

 

[jkhammer]

Ditto to HKGuns. IMR 4064 and IMR 4895.....maybe even H335 hits the list.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

This is like asking what is my favorite beer, to which I respond: The one I am drinking right now.

 

[Eb1]

for .308 and 30-30 you can get good results from H4895, but for .30-06 you will be looking for something like IMR 4350.
Although if you wanted a good go to for all of them IMR 4064 should work for you.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

for .308 and 30-30 you can get good results from H4895, but for .30-06 you will be looking for something like IMR 4350.
Although if you wanted a good go to for all of them IMR 4064 should work for you.

In the 30-06 you will get equally good results with IMR4895 as with IMR4064. After all, IMR4895 was the original 30-06 military powder.

 

[Reloadron]

I am looking to Reload 30-06, 30-30, and .308

I am in the IMR 4895 and IMR 4064 group. I also use the H4895 and like it.

Ron

 

[HKGuns]

Ditto to HKGuns. IMR 4064 and IMR 4895.....maybe even H335 hits the list.

Yep, only it is messy on my bench, that stuff goes everywhere!

 

[Potatohead]

This is like asking what is my favorite beer, to which I respond: The one I am drinking right now.

LOL

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If those were the only 3 calibers I was loading for and I wanted to use only one powder it would be H4895. Great stuff.

Do yourself a favor and do a lot of reading before you start loading. I'm not just saying this to you, that is sound advice for anyone beginning in this hobby.

 

[Potatohead]

^^Yup. Read, read, read, those manuals. That's what these same folks told me to do a yr or so ago, and I'd have to say I agree.