Is there such a thing as powder sampler packs?

[briannmilewis]

Was just wondering if any powder manufacturer offers powder sampler packs, with say 4oz of 4 different powders?

In other words, do we always have to buy a pound of powder to try it out in say 20 rounds?

Can you tell I haven't been at this reloading thing for very long.

[Tom W.]

I believe
Hodgdon tried that approach once, but I don't know how well it went. It must not have been too popular, as I haven't see such in a while..

[LaOtto222]

I do not think any powder company has samplers for sale. For one thing what would they pack? What powders would they put in a sampler? Say four powders with similar burning rates or four with greatly differentiating burning rates? 4 ounces will only get you 70 shots at 25 grains a shot. If you are using say 35 grains it will get you only 50 shots. I need more than 70 shots to figure out if it is going to work for me. I generally load up 10 rounds of every charge weight in .5 grain increments. If there is a 4 grain difference from low to high that is 8 different loads at 10 shots each - 80 rounds. After shooting them up, I then load up 20 in the most likely powder weight. If that looks good, I then load up 20 more in 5 shot lots at different distances from the lands. I then pick the best and load up 20 more (4 - five shot groups) in that length to verify bullet seating depth. As you see I can go through quite a bit of powder before I get my ideal load. I have not even mentioned using different bullet weights, which would add even more testing. I do not think that 4 ounces would be enough to get it figured out. Of course, I have tried powders that I can tell in 20 - 25 shots that it is not going to work for me. I do not have any guns that take slow burning powder, so I do not have any of those on hand. I do have several in the fast and medium burning ranges. I do not have any magnums. I have in the neighborhood of 8 fast burning powders and 8 or so in the medium burning range - depending on where you make the cut off. I generally buy my powder 2 pounds at a time in the medium range and 1 pound in the faster burning powders. That is a little over kill, but once I figure out what I want I do not want to be out of powder either. If does not work out then I generally have enough left over to try in a different gun or a different bullet weight later and if does work out, I buy a 4 pound or 8 pound keg of it. Good Luck and Good Shooting 

[BCB]

Yep, Hodgdon did it some time ago and it never caught on...BCB

[Hairtrigger]

Hodgdon had the powder priced high enough I never tried it

[Tommyt]

 With all you do too get a correct load I'd say save your money sell the Handi's and buy a good rifle     
I read your post and got Burnt out 
I'd guess you shoot competition that's a lot of work up IMHO
But I don't mean to be snide to me its just a lot
If I ever get a Gun that is uncontrollable I just may try to hire you out to do the loads for me
Safe and Straight Shooting
Tommyt

I do not think any powder company has samplers for sale. For one thing what would they pack? What powders would they put in a sampler? Say four powders with similar burning rates or four with greatly differentiating burning rates? 4 ounces will only get you 70 shots at 25 grains a shot. If you are using say 35 grains it will get you only 50 shots. I need more than 70 shots to figure out if it is going to work for me. I generally load up 10 rounds of every charge weight in .5 grain increments. If there is a 4 grain difference from low to high that is 8 different loads at 10 shots each - 80 rounds. After shooting them up, I then load up 20 in the most likely powder weight. If that looks good, I then load up 20 more in 5 shot lots at different distances from the lands. I then pick the best and load up 20 more (4 - five shot groups) in that length to verify bullet seating depth. As you see I can go through quite a bit of powder before I get my ideal load. I have not even mentioned using different bullet weights, which would add even more testing. I do not think that 4 ounces would be enough to get it figured out. Of course, I have tried powders that I can tell in 20 - 25 shots that it is not going to work for me. I do not have any guns that take slow burning powder, so I do not have any of those on hand. I do have several in the fast and medium burning ranges. I do not have any magnums. I have in the neighborhood of 8 fast burning powders and 8 or so in the medium burning range - depending on where you make the cut off. I generally buy my powder 2 pounds at a time in the medium range and 1 pound in the faster burning powders. That is a little over kill, but once I figure out what I want I do not want to be out of powder either. If does not work out then I generally have enough left over to try in a different gun or a different bullet weight later and if does work out, I buy a 4 pound or 8 pound keg of it. Good Luck and Good Shooting 

[stimpylu32]

Like LaOtto , I go through a bunch of powder to work up loads , the last was a 223 for a buddy in his Rossi , I'm at 300 rounds right now and thats just with a 50g bullet  , that cheap singleshot is shooting 1/2" groups though . 

Some rifles never find a sweet spot , had a 450 Marlin that after 1500 rounds went BY-BY , and those were ave. 55g of powder per load ( over 11 pounds of powder ) and yes it was a Handi . 

stimpy

[LaOtto222]

Tommyt - I like to reload and testing loads is a good way of making empty cases to reload. The pay-off can be very rewarding. Below are a couple of pictures of my latest load developed, in a 22 K Hornet Handi rifle. I do the same for others as well however. I think I just nailed my Remington 700 221 Fireball a couple of days ago, but I have to do a little more testing to be sure. I am getting sub 1/4" groups with the Remington. Just a little more shooting to confirm it is not going to stray on me when I load a new batch - that it is repeatable.





Good Shooting and Good Luck to you Tommy

[FourBee]

Was just wondering if any powder manufacturer offers powder sampler packs, with say 4oz of 4 different powders?

In other words, do we always have to buy a pound of powder to try it out in say 20 rounds?

Can you tell I haven't been at this reloading thing for very long.

Back in March of 2008, I purchased a Sample Pack of Hodgdon Powder.  It was a pack of four 1/4 pound canisters of H Bench, H335, H322, and Varget.  I tried them with my CZ 527  in .223 caliber.   I like the Varget, but still haven't tried the Bench powder.
4B

[stimpylu32]

4B

The Benchmark does very well for me in 223's provided I stay with 50g and lighter bullets , anything above that and either Varget or IMR4895 work better .

stimpy

[FourBee]

4B

The Benchmark does very well for me in 223's provided I stay with 50g and lighter bullets , anything above that and either Varget or IMR4895 work better .

stimpy

Hey stimpy:
     I was wondering why I never opened the Benchmark.  It must be that I read something similar to what you posted.   The 50gr and under is a bullet I haven't used either.   I'm thinking that the IMR4895 and Varget are very similar powders, is that correct?
4B

[stimpylu32]

4B

Their close , most of the burn rate charts show IMR4895 as being a tad faster but both are very versital powders that can be used for a bunch of different rounds from little to big .

stimpy

[Halwg]

I do not think any powder company has samplers for sale. For one thing what would they pack? What powders would they put in a sampler? Say four powders with similar burning rates or four with greatly differentiating burning rates? 4 ounces will only get you 70 shots at 25 grains a shot. If you are using say 35 grains it will get you only 50 shots. I need more than 70 shots to figure out if it is going to work for me. I generally load up 10 rounds of every charge weight in .5 grain increments. If there is a 4 grain difference from low to high that is 8 different loads at 10 shots each - 80 rounds. After shooting them up, I then load up 20 in the most likely powder weight. If that looks good, I then load up 20 more in 5 shot lots at different distances from the lands. I then pick the best and load up 20 more (4 - five shot groups) in that length to verify bullet seating depth. As you see I can go through quite a bit of powder before I get my ideal load. I have not even mentioned using different bullet weights, which would add even more testing. I do not think that 4 ounces would be enough to get it figured out. Of course, I have tried powders that I can tell in 20 - 25 shots that it is not going to work for me. I do not have any guns that take slow burning powder, so I do not have any of those on hand. I do have several in the fast and medium burning ranges. I do not have any magnums. I have in the neighborhood of 8 fast burning powders and 8 or so in the medium burning range - depending on where you make the cut off. I generally buy my powder 2 pounds at a time in the medium range and 1 pound in the faster burning powders. That is a little over kill, but once I figure out what I want I do not want to be out of powder either. If does not work out then I generally have enough left over to try in a different gun or a different bullet weight later and if does work out, I buy a 4 pound or 8 pound keg of it. Good Luck and Good Shooting 

The powder companies certainly love you!