powder choices

[Troyboy]

Hello all, I have just started reloading and i am wondering if there some basic powders that will work for the majority of cartridges. You get to reading the manuals and it seems like you have to have a bunch of different powders. Cant you get a couple for pistol and a couple for rifle thanks.

                                          Troy

[Dave in WV]

IMR or Hodgdon 4895 works with many different cartridges. Not optimum for all though.

[stimpylu32]

Troy

A lot depends on the rounds to be loaded , for mid sized rifle , say from 223 to 30/06 , either IMR or H 4895 will do OK . for the small CF like 22 hornet up to 222 then BLC-2 , IMR4227 work well .

Now for handgun rounds like the 38 Spl , 357 mag , 44 mag and 45LC with cast bullets its hard to beat Unique , for Jacketed bullets in the same rounds ( except 38 Spl ) then H110 will do very well .

I know that this don't help much but there is not one truly magic do all powder , some rounds just do better with a diffrent powder than others . 

stimpy 

[Sweetwater]

Troy-

What you garnered from your reading is about the way it is. There are countless powders available with overlapping capabilities. However, Stimpy gave you the goods there per your question. Anything beyond his recommendations per your question becomes pure individual opinion and/or preference. Period. Follow his advice on powder selection.

Your reloading manuals will tell you how much to use for each application.

(Opinion) Your weapons will tell you, in time, if they like it or not. Listen to your guns. Later on, with experience, you can expand to other powders of interest. Don't get all paranoid and hyper about stuff. It is pure science, but not exactly rocket science. You are just getting started, so spend a bit of time on the basics, brass prepping and stuff, and having fun with your handloads. Keep notes (a notebook helps here) of your load, weapon, shooting conditions, target results, etc. I even make an entry if I need to try something again or move on. Sometimes you find a loose screw in your weapon or sights has made you think you had a bad load when essentially you just had a bad day. As your manuals state, start with the starting loads and analyze the results. Make it a fun thing. Take your time. Try to stay away from 'hot-rodding' your loads. Nothing you will hunt will need it. We, as a handloading fraternity, tend to use far more 'power' than we need to get the job done humanely. Whether you are hunting or punching paper, "the most you can get out of your weapon" will rarely be the "best load for the job". Placing the bullet where it needs to go is the name of the game. Your carefully prepared handloads (not referred to by me as reloads) will help you facilitate that. The rest is practice, practice, practice.

Reloads - cartridges that have had the primer, powder, and bullet replaced.

Handloads - cartridges that have had the primer pockets uniformed, flash holes uniformed, primer replaced, brass trimmed, powder carefully selected and measured for the weapon and application, bullet carefully selected for the weapon and application and seated appropriately - one at a time. Or something like that.

Guess I see reloading as 'basic handloading' and handloading as 'advanced reloading'.
I and most of my brethren are Handloaders, not Reloaders. 
(End Opinion)

Welcome to the Fraternity!

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Troyboy]

Thank you for your suggestions. I will have to get these next weekend. I loaded my 38 with accurate 2 and the 7mm08 with accurate 2520. I only bought a pound of each. I am building my bench today as per the ABC's Of Reloading chapter 18 This sure is a great website thanks

                                   Troy

[stimpylu32]

Troy

Another thing that I might add is that 4227 and H110 are nice cross-over powders for both pistol like the 357 mag & 44 mag along with small rifle like the 22 Hornet and 218 Bee , with 4227 being the less picky of the two .

stimpy

[BBF]

For rifle powder I would prefer H 4895 over IMR 4895 particularly if you plan on making low recoil loads and add Varget to the list of a broad range powder