Powder Replacement Options

[PJ1]

Not everyone can, but if you watch Powder Valley closely...and I won't admit how often I do some days....they actually get most of these in stock here and there. I've seen H4895 in stock several times recently, I got some H4831 a few weeks back. H4350 was actually in stock for awhile today, as was H1000 and Retumbo shockingly enough. I just couldn't get in fast enough to get in on H1000, I still don't understand how their stocking works, seems like lots were being up throughout the day then selling out again. Over the past couple months I'd restocked almost all my core powders there.

The rarest are the Alliant powders. I don't think they are releasing much at all to the reloader market. I've seem a couple on Powder Valley ONCE this year, and they were gone as fast as they appeared.

Not only PV, but MS, Natch, ect. You can have the powder in your cart and by the time you enter all the cc stuff, it's gone. I think the fair thing to do is once items are in the cart, that's it. No taking it out and selling to another. Allow 5-10 minutes to check out and be done with it. It's not like they aren't going to sell it in todays market. I learned the hard way with PV and that stupid timer they have telling you how much time you have to check out......Don't believe it, as it will screw you every time. Bots make it really tough these days.

Though not known for temperature stability, I've had good luck with W748 in 308 Win and 760 in 6.5CM. They are both readily available. Primers seem to be the real limiting component these days. Especially for LR and Magnum.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Ive had better result with IMR-4166 and SW Precision than Varget.
IMR-4451, Reloder 16 and N550 are great replacements for 4350
IMR-4955 is a good replacement for 4831.
Don't overlook the Ramshot line. They are accurate powders in my testing and often available.
The IMR Enduron line powders are great IME. The decoppering agent works great and another plus. I test a lot and find they really perform best at or very close to max pressure. 4166 is very accurate in several cartridges I shoot, including 250, 257, and 7x57 AI's and my 284 can do no wrong with it. YMMV

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Ive had better result with IMR-4166 and SW Precision than Varget.
IMR-4451, Reloder 16 and N550 are great replacements for 4350
IMR-4955 is a good replacement for 4831.
Don't overlook the Ramshot line. They are accurate powders in my testing and often available.
The IMR Enduron line powders are great IME. The decoppering agent works great and another plus. I test a lot and find they really perform best at or very close to max pressure. 4166 is very accurate in several cartridges I shoot, including 250, 257, and 7x57 AI's and my 284 can do no wrong with it. YMMV

The IMR Enduron line is the one to seem to have disappeared completely now. At first they couldn’t get anyone to hardly try it, I like 4451 and 4166.

 

[Catfur]

The IMR Enduron line is the one to seem to have disappeared completely now. At first they couldn’t get anyone to hardly try it, I like 4451 and 4166.

Yeah, something strange seems up with that. Everything else shows up, if only in a trickle, the Enduron line is just GONE.

 

[358WCF]

Going by charge weight vs. velocity with no notable excess pressure signs, Shooters World (Lovex) 4350 & a newer lot (this year's) of Accurate 4350 ended up being much closer to IMR4831 than any 4350 in a 280 & a 300H&H, so could be a good substitute. N160 is another one that's real close to IMR4831. RL23 is almost identical to IMR4831 in a 300 H&H with 180s, but is even harder to find.

Big Game is close to H4350 in 338-06 Imp., but just a touch faster... started showing pressure at a slightly lower (50-75fps) velocity.

Still looking for an H4350 substitute that bulks the same or is a bit less bulky for a 22-250 Imp. N550 may be it but needs further testing.

The lot of H4350 I'm chasing the equivalent for, is also the equivalent of a 40 year old lot of IMR4350 that is on the last few loads of an 8# can. Brigadier 4351 is also right in this same happy spot but is dwindling as well. Isn't this fun?