needing assistance choosing ONE powder

[Dimner]

sure leaning that way the more i look at this. also have Gordons Reloading Program i have been tinkering with for the loads. sure seems like that`s the way to go.

I will say in my experience GRT is not really a reliable estimate of loads until you get some velocity estimates. I have had it end up way off on some powders.

For evaluation of one powder vs another in simulation, yes it's very good. However for velocity and pressure estimates it's been less than ideal until I can input my own chronograph readings and adjust the powders Ba.

Quickload was similar, but it was consistently and reliably 10% below actual velocity estimates. GRT I never know if I'm going to be 10% below or 10% above the first time measuring velocity with a new powder. All that said, I use GRT because of the much easier user interface. And because I have GRT on my newer laptop that did not have a CD drive.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

No other powder is more versatile than H4895

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Ramshot xterminator has load data for those two calibers too, just another option.

 

[lx2008]

yeah its just for reference. i always chronograph any new load. its even easier now since i bought the Garmin chrono.

 

[joshb]

No other powder is more versatile than H4895

If you can find it.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I had too many powders on the bench at one time and decided to consolidate and only use one.
After some research and thought I went with IMR 4895 and I got loads for everything from 22Hornet up to 308. May not have been the fastest but it was well with in MOA for all of them.

 

[misser]

i do have my favored powders in 223 using 77 -85 grain, accurate 2520, alliant15.5 are at the top of the list

 

[William Vogel]

4895 is the 308 powder. I’ve never used it in the 223 but I should try it. X-Terminator is my 223 powder for 62 grain. CFE223 is better for 75 grain in 223 and it’s not very good in my 308 except it going bang. N140 is more like Varget and it’s never worked good for me in either. I’m stating this because I expect really good results from my calibers. If you just want ammo that shoots, you can use one powder but I find it wasteful and disappointing. I also don’t think buying one jug is useful. I’d buy a jug of TAC for the 223 and a jug of 4895 for the 308 and you’ll be happy with the results. I use a powder dropper for my AR15 loads because between the trigger pull and the range I shoot it, 1moa is good enough. My bolt guns are a different story and I need 1/4-1/2moa from them. I shoot the bolt guns 700 yards and it’s important to always hit the 6 inch steel target with them.

 

[Doom]

I fall within that range of bullets and I've used 8208XBR and N135 with good success. I would also look at A2460 since you are in the shorter barrel for the most part.

 

[Dimner]

I fall within that range of bullets and I've used 8208XBR and N135 with good success. I would also look at A2460 since you are in the shorter barrel for the most part.

Oh that's a great point. I forgot to factor in shorter barrels. I'd lean towards N135

That's the thing when everyone gives an opinion on id N135 or N1xx comes close to matching H4895 or Varget or what not.. case capacity, barrel length and bullet weight all play a significant role but rarely are those sited when people provide their observations.

 

[lx2008]

I fall within that range of bullets and I've used 8208XBR and N135 with good success. I would also look at A2460 since you are in the shorter barrel for the most part.

i`d love to use 8208...but i cant be had hardly any more.

 

[Doom]

i`d love to use 8208...but i cant be had hardly any more.

What I'm using is from 2013! I actually plan to transition to N135 if it doesn't dry up.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I will say in my experience GRT is not really a reliable estimate of loads until you get some velocity estimates. I have had it end up way off on some powders.

For evaluation of one powder vs another in simulation, yes it's very good. However for velocity and pressure estimates it's been less than ideal until I can input my own chronograph readings and adjust the powders Ba.

Quickload was similar, but it was consistently and reliably 10% below actual velocity estimates. GRT I never know if I'm going to be 10% below or 10% above the first time measuring velocity with a new powder. All that said, I use GRT because of the much easier user interface. And because I have GRT on my newer laptop that did not have a CD drive.

About the “no CD” drive … you can get an external CD drive that plugs into a USB port. That has been pretty handy to have but less often needed as time marches on. Really the best part of having that was freeing me up to buy a nice powerful laptop that didn’t have a CD drive.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

One powder for everything seems like it would be real convenient, and it’s interesting to hear the powder suggestions. I don’t think it would work for me due to a wide range of different shooting types. A good friend on this forum likes to use a smaller load of real fast powder when fireforming just because he doesn’t use as much powder and he can use about anything as long as it’s pretty fast, which also helps with availability and cost, but I like to use a pretty full case on all my loads - one less dumb way for me to hurt myself.

 

[209jones]

Before I retired, I spent 5-6 yrs acquiring a variety of powders that were suitable for the cartridges I had, or may want to try, useable with as many bullet weights as possible within those groups of cartridges. Being as I have smaller 22cal, like the 223 and 218 Bee, wanted the versatility to transition to a larger 22 cal like a 22-250 or a Swift, along with powders suitable for 308 sized cases like the CM and 7-08, then thru to the 7RM and 300H&H and 338WM sized stuff, it's not as many as you may think. I like having flexibility and choice in making a given gun work with a given bullet. There is a lot of crossover capability from size to size and bullet weights in the selections I acquired. If I run out of this, I can use that, til I can maybe get more if I want it, or if I change guns or cartridges or bullets, I should have something that should work near the top versatility zone for it, and enough data for the guns I have, on loads I can use, to just grab what is available in the store as I see it, be it powder or bullet, if really necc.

 

[bozo699]

Varget
Wayne

 

[Lefty2506]

I went down this path last year for a similar reason. I don't load 308, but I load a number of different bullet weights in .223 an I feed a 6.5 Grendel, and I have a 7-08 Encore pistol that I very rarely shoot. I ended up going with TAC and found that, for MY loads, it I can use it as a direct substitute to BLC-2 which I had used many (20) years ago in my 7-08. Its not the only powder I keep on hand, but it is the powder that I stock pile. I still buy 4 lb and 8 lb containers of other powders that I use for specific applications, but I don't keep multiple jugs of those on hand. I also keep a supply of H110 to feed revolvers and 300 BO, and Green Dot to feed my pistol cartridges.

 

[lx2008]

lot of good answers here to my thread. appreciate all the input!