Newbie getting started

[ir3e971]

Hi All,

I am just getting started reloading, and have most of the equipment, and am reading several manuals.

Couple of questions that maybe you all can help with...

I am selecting powders to order.  I want general purpose type powders, as I am shooting Milsurp rifles (not looking to get max possible velocity, just good shooting rounds), and good practice rounds for the pistols.

For the rifles, 7.63x39, 7.62x54r, and 308win, I was thinking H4895.

Pistol, I am loading for 9mm, and 44 mag. I was thinking HS6.  Good choice?

Lastly, Pistol primers.  what size and type of CCI primers would I be using with 44 mag and 9mm luger?  

Thoughts or advice.

Thanks for the patience.

Bob

[Val]

The 44 mag uses large pistol primers and the 9 mm uses small pistol primers. I use bluedot powder with both the 44 mag and the 9 mm. Bluedot isn't the cleanest burning powder but it's the powder I use for my shotgun game loads. It works just fine in my pistols.

I can't comment on the powder for your Milsurps.

[ricciardelli]

Primers first:
9mm - CCI-500
.44 Magnum - CCI-350

Now, about your powder selection...

No one powder is going to work well in both 9mm and .44 Magnum with all available bullet weights.

Your selection of HS-6 will work okay in the 9mm with bullets from 88 to 147 grains.  In the .44 Magnum, it'll work okay with bullet weights from 180 to 355 grains.

H-4895, on the other hand, is kind of really reaching for a single powder for those 3 different calibers.

In the 7.62x39 you can use it with bullets between 122 and 155 grains.
In the 7.62x54 you can use it with bullets between 110 and 220 grains.
In the .308 you can use it with bullets between 100 and 225 grains.

HOWEVER ... it would not be the powder of choice (for me) in any of those calibers.

[ir3e971]

ricciardelli,

Thanks for the input.  What would you see as better choices?  I was hoping to avoid buying to many variants of powder, but am interested in what might be better options.

Bob

[ricciardelli]

Any particular bullets you are going to be working with?

[jgalar]

I think 4895 would be a good powder to try out in the .308 and 7.62x54. It works at least reasonably well in many cartridges. A good powder for first attempts.
For the 7.62x39 I would get Accurate 1680, Hercules Reloader7, or H or IMR 4198 (similar but not interchangeable). The 1680 and R7 have worked best for my guns.
Pretty wide range loading 9mm and 44mag with the same powder. For one powder I would choose something with the proper burn rate for the 9mm as it requires a range of pressure to cycle the action. The powder will be too fast for the 44 so although pressure will be high velocity will be low. I have used alot of Unique as a dual function powder in handguns, rifles and shotguns.

You will probably get a lot of different oppinions on your powder choices.

[ir3e971]

308                150gr  
7.62x54r         170gr
7.62x39          123 gr

44 Mag           270 gr
9mm              124 gr

For general shooting, have any bullet type recommendations.  These will not be hunting rounds, so FMJ is fine for the rifles.  

For the pistol, the 9mm is a semi-auto.  44m a revolver.  any recommendations on bullet type?

[ricciardelli]

IF I were not limiting myself to as few powders as possible, these are the powders I would use.

308 150gr
N-135 From 31.7 grains to 46.0 grains
 Remington 9-1/2 Primer

7.62x54r 170gr
H-380 From 41.5 grains to 56.3 grains
 Remington 9-1/2 Primer

7.62x39 123 gr
H-4198 From 17.2 grains to 26.8 grains
 CCI-200 Primer

44 Mag 270 gr
 Lil'Gun From 19.0 grains to 21.5 grains
 CCI-350 Primer

9mm 124 gr
AA-7 From 6.2 grains to 9.0 grains
 CCI-500 Primer


Since you want to keep the number of different powders to a minimum, you might try:

308 150gr
IMR-4895 From 37.6 grains to 47.0 grains
 Remington 9-1/2 Primer

7.62x54r 170gr
IMR-4895 From 38.3 grains to 46.0 grains
 Remington 9-1/2 Primer

7.62x39 123 gr
IMR-4895 From 27.0 grains to 29.0 grains
 CCI-200 Primer

44 Mag 270 gr
HS-6 From 11.0 grains to 14.0 grains
 CCI-350 Primer

9mm 124 gr
HS-6 From 5.1 grains to 8.3 grains
 CCI-500 Primer


Now here's the real kicker!  If you wanted to only have ONE powder, IMR-4227 could be used in 4 of the 5 calibers you mentioned!  Granted, you would not be getting the best accuracy or the highest velocities, but you can't have everything.

308 150gr
 IMR-4227 From 25.0 grains to 26.0 grains
 Remington 9-1/2 Primer

7.62x39 123 gr
 IMR-4227 From 17.5 grains to 24.3 grains
 CCI-200 Primer

44 Mag 270 gr
IMR-4227 From 18.5 grains to 20.5 grains
 CCI-350 Primer

9mm 124 gr
IMR-4227 From 7.8 grains to 8.8 grains
 CCI-500 Primer

[ir3e971]

Thanks a bunch for your help and advice.

I followed your link to your website, and was suprised.  I have been there several times before, and gotten information off of there before preparing to reload.  It has a wealth of information.

I am from Idaho and have done a fair bit of distance shooting, but am in Virginia right now, near DC.  So much of my shooting here will probably be shorter ranges, and probably frequently indoors.  

Luckily I can get to Quantico to shoot (though it is a bit of a trek), and NRA HQ has an indoor range that handles rifle, and pistol.

Thanks,

Bob