Author Topic: powder ? (Read 991 times)

kawie · « **on:** February 07, 2013, 02:44:23 PM »

im just getting into reloading.im trying to keep it simple.i want to reload for, 35rem, 30-30,260rem,44mag,357mag an 9mm.i would like to keep it to as few of powders as possible.i just bought a pound of little gun for the pistol calibers an was thinking about picking up some varget for the rile calibers.is this a good start or is there others that would work better.
thanks
Kawie

kynardsj · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2013, 02:53:55 PM »

Can't say about the Varget as I've never used it but Lilgun is great for hot loads in pistol rounds. I would not put it in a 9mm. I doubt if there is any load data for it in that caliber anyway. I only load two powders in my pistol rounds, Lilgun and Unique. Lilgun for the hotrods and Unique for mild on up to kinda sorta hotrod loads. All the other reloaders have their favorites but those two are just mine. Good luck and good shooting with your choices.

PowPow · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:04:09 PM »

If I were going to have one powder to "do it all", it would be Varget.
Used it in 223, 30-30, 270, 30-06.
If Hodgdon has published recipes for your calibers, go for it.
Reasonable-to-good accuracy in the calibers I tried.
Not sensitive to summer temps.

zero · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:43:12 PM »

+1 on varget. One of the most versatile and accurate powders i have. For pistols i've used unique in 9mm and 44 mag, and everything in between. May not be the top dog in some, but it's good and reliable in most

Ranch13 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2013, 05:41:57 PM »

One powder for all sounds good, but seldom works out real well.
But for the rifle cartridges I'ld sure take a look at data for all of yours using 4895. For the handguns unique.
Now for reality, H322 for the 35, rl15 for the 30-30 , no real experience with the 260 so I'll skip that.
2400 for the 44 and 357, and unique for the 9 sillymeter.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2013, 05:53:16 PM »

it's kind of funny .
i pretty much agree w/ ranch13 on the h4895
w748 is a great powder
aa2520 is right there
unique is a must have, and to me 2400 also

i say funny because a few decades ago, when i
had started out, i told myself that same thing
that i wanted to use as few powders as possible.
it never has worked out yet - maybe a few more
decades if i live that long.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2013, 06:14:11 PM »

Ranger I really like 748 and along with the 30-30 it goes into the 223 and 308 real well and light bullets in the 3006.
Then in the handguns there's bludot, 231, 110......

Keeping it simple always sounds good , but that voice in the back of your mind always buggin about, what about this powder or that one, or those bullets,,

It's just to easy to get carried away and end up with a dozen or so different powders in the powder locker..

Ranger99 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2013, 06:53:21 PM »

it started with me to find that one golden
powder and have a goodly stock of it and
have no worries about future hunting and
shooting ammo. when the klintons came along,
we had one of those ammo and component
panics and that threw me for a loop about
trying to come up with primers and a golden
magic do-all powder. but it all worked out
and i found ways to work around it and
came up with good loads for different powders
j.i.c. if i had it to do nowdays starting fresh
i'd have likely found a good factory load with
good bullets for each and bought 1/2 pallets
of each loading and not give it any further thought.

oh well. . . . .good luck kawie

tomtomz · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2013, 07:24:46 PM »

For rifles, some say H4895 works for everything.

Newer extruded powders use Varget up to a certain medium size bullet,
and H4350 for medium sized bullets and larger.

It works for me in many calibers.

A lot of guys use Universal for a broad range of pistol bullets.

zero · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2013, 08:46:48 PM »

The powder i've had the best accuracy with overall has been imr 3031, but for some reason i don't use that so much. It's not as versatile as some others.

4895 is a rather good mid range all around powder, but i pretty much save any of it i have for my garand. I'd say just check your book and see what works well in all the calibers you load for and start with that. I say start, cause you'll end up getting just about everything at some point, for more specific loads. But there are some good all arounds to use in the meantime

lrrice · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2013, 08:50:48 PM »

+1 for Unique and 4895 they may not be the best for any but you can usually make a decent load for all. It won't get much simpler unless you do reduced rifle loads, then all you need is Unique.

buffermop · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2013, 09:10:14 PM »

anyone use red dot for a shotgun load, .357mag and 9mm. Is there any recipes out ther for these loads?

kawie · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2013, 10:00:45 AM »

thanks guys.today i found a pound of H4895 an bought that.also bought a brick of federal large rifle primers.ive also bought a bunch of the CCI magnum pistol primers.now im on my way out to pick up a set of 357mag dies.for now i dont shoot the 9mm that often so i dont think i will be reloading for that.all the other calibers that i use will just be hunting rounds.my thing is that i want powders that meter well an dont have pressure spikes that ive read about.30-06 is another that my buddy wants me to work up for him.hes haveing promblems with recoil of the factory 150 an 180 grain loads so he wants me to find a reduced load for him.which will work out for me cause hes willing to help with the supplys.i was thinking 125 grain ballistic tips for him an for my sons handi rifle in 30-30 also.
thanks
Kawie

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2013, 10:13:33 AM »

Varget works well it is one of the newer powders that are not effected by temp. swings which is good in a hunting gun.
as for handguns , sell the 9mm and use H110 or Win 296. just kidding .

Like others I use several powders , one reason is avaiblity second is cost sometimes there are sales or surplus powder . I shot H322 for years , it was a surplus powder that cost 6 bucks a pound when other powder was 9 bucks.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 08, 2013, 10:29:14 AM »

i still have 2 unopened cans
(cardboard and foil containers)
of unique with the 8.00 price tag
still on them

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2013, 10:34:05 AM »

In about 1976 I got bullseye for around 4 dollars and unique at the same price along with a pound of 2400 . I still have some .

Ranger99 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2013, 10:41:54 AM »

well. . . . .in '76 i was still in
skewell and more worried about
the face powder on the gals
than gunpowder.
back then, i'd have laughed at
someone that told me to reload.
of course, 10.00 worth of store-bought centerfire
rifle ammo would fill all your jeans
pockets with a couple left for your
shirt pocket in the common calibers.
( and all the savage calibers were a
common sight on the shelves too, and
a few odd boxes of peters brand ammo too)

lrrice · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2013, 03:15:24 AM »

Buffermop- Its all here http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalo...ntPowderSM.pdf

lrrice · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2013, 03:16:19 AM »

Buffermop- Its all here http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalo...ntPowderSM.pdf

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2013, 08:57:01 AM »

Win 748 and 2400

BF

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2013, 12:01:01 AM »

trying to make one powder work for everything is usually a loosing cause. Take your lilgun for example. it will work fine in the 44 and 357 alothough i dont use it anymore at all due to the fact it just burns to hot and will eventualy burn out your forcing cone. For the 9mm its way to slow. Varget is a great powder in the 3030 and 35 rem but is a bit fast for the 260 and wont get you top velocitys. Look at say 4 powders. Something like 2400 for your 357 and 44s, maybe something like 231 for your 9mm, varget or 335 for your lever guns and 4350 for your 260. For the most part theres no such thing as a one size fits all powder.

Old Syko · « **Reply #21 on:** February 11, 2013, 06:18:31 AM »

The short answer is you can come up with a powder that will work in many different calibers but will likely not be the optimum powder to use in any of them. The idea for me behind reloading is to achieve optimum performance and accuracy. If you think you're going to reload to save money you're sadly mistaken. I at least have examples of practically everything offered just as some others here and am willing to try them all if need be. Don't limit your choices. You'll find yourself not realizing your full potential. If you're just starting out or short on expendable funds, just be patient and watch your collection grow along with your experience. It will make more sense in the future. Used to keep all my reloading supplies in a shoe box. Not so any more.

oneoldsap · « **Reply #22 on:** February 11, 2013, 06:27:48 AM »

W-748 would be my first choice , I've used it in three of the four rifle cals. you mentioned (no .223 , hate the cartridge) with good results ! Not much of a pistol shooter , other than .44 Mag , which I load with W-296 .