Author Topic: What is your favorite all around powder? (Read 1325 times)

deltecs · « **on:** May 20, 2008, 07:47:56 PM »

Tough question and I don't think there is an all around powder, per se. However, I've used many varieties of powder in .243 Win, 6mm Rem, 270 Win, 280 Rem, 30-06, 308 Win, 35 Whelen, 9.3x62, and a host of other cartridges in between those. I've found IMR 4350 to be the most consistent with regard to accuracy with good velocity for almost all bullet weights with a sectional density around .250 and above in almost all weather conditions. What other good powders do some of you like for the calibers listed or those in between?

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2008, 12:03:21 AM »

I truly do not have a "favorite powder" nor have I ever been one to try to minimize the number of powders used by compromising on some general use powder that will get me by. I prefer to try a variety for every gun and select what works best in that one gun and that load I chose for it. I can't even really give you a brand name of powder that is a favorite as I use powders labeled Winchester, Hodgdon, IMR, Alliant and Accurate all regularly. I've not used any Western yet cuz no one in this area seems to sell it and ordering powder and paying the HazMat fees makes it quite expensive unless you buy in large lots and with no experience with it I hate to do that.

The old now discontinued H450 was a real favorite when it was around as it is basically a ball powder duplicate of 4350 and performed about the same but was a ball powder so it metered beautifully. I HATE and DESPISE loading big stick powders cuz I don't like to waste time weighting each charge and much prefer to drop them with my RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure. I have solved that problem however by buying a Lyman DPS 1200 from a GBO Member here and soon will have it in hand to dispense and weight my charges for me. When it arrives I'll no longer cringe at the thought of loading those stick powders which perform so well but are such a pain to dispense.

As a result of my preference to drop rather than weight I tend to lean toward ball powders or those stick powders with very tiny size that meter better. I'll use a ball powder tho every time in preference to any stick if it works well in my application.

Some of my most used powders in rifles are in no particular order other than as I think of them: AA2520, AA2230, AA2460, AA2700, Magpro, W748, W760, H380, BL-C2, Varget, IMR3031, RL-15, RL-22.

Oldtimer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2008, 12:44:09 AM »

The most versatile powder I use is Unique. It does the job from .32 Long to cast bullet loads in rifle calibers. Like Graybeard, I like the ball powders for their ease of use, and use 748, 450, and 870. In stick powders, I like 4831 in overbore cases and it does a good job in large, straight-walled cases, too. I made up an amazingly accurate load for a .40-82 using 4831. 3031 does a good job for me in medium sized cases. For pistol powders, besides Unique, I use either 110 or 296, its twin.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2008, 12:57:40 AM »

I have no favorite either. For one thing I do not load for any large capacity cartridges except for the 444 Marlin (and it takes some of the medium burning powders). So I keep several powders on hand that are in the quick to medium burning rates. I try different powders until I find one that works for that particular rifle or hand gun. Like Bill, I used avoid the stick powders because I could not get them to meter worth a darn. I now have an electronic scale and a dispenser so stick powders are not much of a hassle any more. For an example I have a 223 that loves VV N133, but another 223 that loathes it. Go figure, but that is the way it is. Some of the powders I have on hand are WW296, WW748, BLC2, Varget, Bench Mark, IMR 4198, H4895, Reloader 7, H322, Unique, Lil'gun, VV N133 and Blue Dot to name a few. I really wanted to work out one powder or a couple to do the bulk of my loading with, but that is just not the way it has worked out for me. I know we are not talking about bullets here, but I wanted to work it out so I did not need to keep several on hand; like powder. I have several .224 guns. I wanted a bullet that would work for all of them, that has not worked out very well either. Each gun seems to prefer their own bullet, so I have to keep several brands and weights on hand. Life would be much simpler if I could get by on 1 or 2 powders and 1 or 2 bullets that would work out for all my guns, but that is not the way it has worked out, at least for me.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2008, 01:38:19 AM »

My favorite powder is that which gives me the best accuracy in a particular gun so I have a bunch of favorites. The powder that has filled this role for me in the most rifle cartridges is Varget.

warrior1 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2008, 03:10:58 AM »

deltecs, i've noticed one powder in the manuals that might be the jack of all trades powder,
imr4895. dan

AtlLaw · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2008, 05:19:33 AM »

Asking a reloader about an "all around" powder is like asking a hunter about an "all around" cartridge.

Interesting subject to kick around, but not likely to bring to light any earth shattering revelations

As for myself, having tried every permutation of primers, brass, and bullets with powders that start with IMR in the cartridges I load for, I have now begun anew with the "H" varieties of propellants...

LHitchcox · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2008, 08:31:23 AM »

I don't have a favorite powder, but if I had to pick one for pistols it would be Unique. If I had to pick one for the rifles I shoot, it would be H4895. thankfully, I don't have to. Currently I have about 12 powders on the bench that I use regularly and another 6 or 8 that are there because they didn't do what I wanted them to.

Leon

Dave in WV · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2008, 02:27:53 PM »

For my rifles H4350. For handguns Hodgdon Universal.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2008, 02:31:16 PM »

Varget for rifles, and for handguns I have not used anything but Longshot and 2400, so I am not a good judge of handgun powders.

-Matt

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2008, 02:35:45 PM »

For me h4895 is used most by far.That is only because the two rifles I shoot most have great loads using it.Next most used are h335, imr4350,varget,and h4831

Cheesehead · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2008, 04:27:00 PM »

My favorite all around powder must be Reloader-15 since I recently bought another 5 pound jug.

Cheese

221fireball · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2008, 04:49:00 PM »

I use IMR 4198,IMR 4350 and rl-22 load for .221 fb, 6mm rem and 7mm rem. I can use the last 2 either way for the 6mm or 7mm and get good results.

buffermop · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2008, 02:12:21 AM »

Alliant's RED DOT

John R. · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2008, 06:01:21 AM »

I'm with Graybeard on this one, i use what works best in the cartridge i'm loading for. Here's the list Handguns: W231, Titegroup, HS-6, H110, Lil Gun, Rifles: H335, Benchmark, IMR4350, H4831, Varget, IMR7828, H1000, Retumbo, RL19, RL22, RL25. That's all I can think of off the top of my head. (I'm not at home)

SharonAnne · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2008, 09:26:11 AM »

Johnson & Johnson

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2008, 09:48:12 AM »

Quote from: SharonAnne on May 22, 2008, 09:26:11 AM

Johnson & Johnson

Sounds like a good one but what is the burn rate ?

stimpy

deltecs · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2008, 10:58:52 AM »

Quote from: SharonAnne on May 22, 2008, 09:26:11 AM

Johnson & Johnson

That's the attitude.

davem270win · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2008, 11:00:15 AM »

H4350 and RL15

The Johnson & Johnson burn rate depends on haw bad the rash is...

MnMike · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2008, 04:39:04 PM »

I don't exactly have a favorite powder but I guess I have some "first tries". For rifle, Varget is usually the first one I try. For smaller pistols, Universal Clays is my first try. For the big pistols 296 is the first try.

mike

AtlLaw · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2008, 06:42:25 AM »

Quote from: MnMike on May 22, 2008, 04:39:04 PM

I don't exactly have a favorite powder but I guess I have some "first tries".
mike

If you put it that way, I guess I do also. 3031, Varget, 4350 and 4831 and Unique. I do try to fight the "favorites" urge though. Like skipping 3031 in the 30/30 to start out load development with Ball C 2.

Tom W. · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2008, 08:01:10 AM »

Varget is my first choice for most of my centerfires, except my 7mm Rem Mag and '06 a.i. For my hand guns, it's whatever works best, From H 110 to Green Dot.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #22 on:** May 26, 2008, 07:51:14 AM »

I've probably burned more IMR 4350 just for the fact that the rifles I had for a while liked it. Stocked up on it so still use it, but have been trying several others as well. Picked up some of the Western powders, but haven't tryed them yet. Used to use H-110 alot in the 357, 44mag and hot 45 Colt rounds. It's so fine that it tryed to bind up my Lyman 1200 DPS but I tryed H-LilGun and that goes through it well. That has started to be the first one I go to for what was all H-110. Check out Hodgdon for the 357 mag and that powder, gives same speed at lower pressure, or step it up on the 158 g. to about 19.0 gr. LilGun and run that over your crono. Looks to be tops in the 22 Hornet as well. Started to build some loads with Titegroup now and waiting for the rain to stop to try them out. DP.