One Powder-One Primer- Multiple Calibers

[SEGARE]

I joined a couple of years ago and have soaked up a lot of info from this great site.

I got my first BB gun at 5 and my first shotgun at 12. I've hunted deer for 40+ years with .270/30-06 700's, with most shots taken under 200yds. I shot a really nice buck at a lasered 343yrd in 2016...I was hooked- I know that's not considered long around here, but it is where I come from, and while it's not likely I'll have a much longer shot, that shot was the impetus for for some upgrades. I had been using an 06 w/a VariX III for years. I have since bought BC stocks and Timney's for the 270 (now my 16YO son's gun) and 06 (relegated to the safe), added a .243 RA (for the wife and neices/nephews), and bought a Nosler 48 .260 topped with a VX6. All guns have sporter barrels 22-24". I currently shoot Federal ammo with AB in all guns except the 260, which I feed Nosler ammo loaded with AB- I've had great results on deer with these bullets and don't plan to change. The 243 gets 90s, the 260 shoots 130s, the 270 shoots 140s, and the 06 shoots 150/165s. The RA is at best a 1.25 gun (I have made sure the stock isn't touching and have trimmed to spring to a 3lb consistent break) but is more like a 1.5-2 incher. The 700s are pretty much 1-1.25 guns. The 260 is a .75 shooter without too much trouble. All are three shot groups, and I give the guns 10-15 minutes between shots, trying to simulate a hunting situation with a cold bore. I feel like have the guns taken care of for the short term.
On the reloading side, I have slowly assembled dies, scales, primer, press, tumbler, bullets, lubes, etc... I'll be using once-fired Federal cases for everything except the 260, which will use Noslers. I don't have a case trimmer or turner, but that will be added shortly. Since I've pretty much completed my Coved 19 honey-do list, I've finally decided it's time start reloading. I'm trying to keep things simple-one powder and one primer. My hierarchy doesn't place a super premium on accuracy and I'm not so concerned about cost savings with reloading. I just want to have a little fun, tinker a little, and see if I can do better. So, though there might be a better powder or primer for a particular gun, is there a better combo than H4350 with Fed 210M to feed to all?

 

[Zero333]

Short Answer is YES.. H-4350 and Fed-210 or 210m.

You already did your research since you narrowed it down to the best.

You need a sweet spot kinda powder that will work good with...
30'06 with 150 - 165 gr.
270win. with 140 gr.
260rem. with 130 gr.
243win. with 90 gr.

I'll give you my opinion anyways

# 1 H-4350 = Most popular, tons of data. But once in a while it disappears from the stores due to it's popularity and Hoarding. Very temp insensitive.

# 2 RL-16 = Alliant's answer to temp insensitive 4350 type powder. Folks who use it love it and say they will not go back to H-4350.

# 3 IMR-4451 = IMR's version of a temp insensitive 4350 powder.


# 4 IMR-4350 = Ginger step sibling to H-4350. Nobody ever complains about it but it's not as temperature insensitive as H-4350.

There are a few others powders worth considering...

Accurate 4350
RL-17
N-150
N-550
H-414 / W-760

If you shot 180 gr bullets in the O6', you could also use H-4831sc for all your needs. I personally LOVE H-4831 / H-4831sc.
It's never failed to achieve excellent accuracy in all the cartridges I use it for.



210 primer is my choice for hunting rifles because it will go off every time. Has softer cup, so it's great for Rifles with well worn or old firing pin springs.

 

[WyleWD]

With what you list, WW760/H414 or 4831SC and Remington 9 1/2 primers. And if you have any 4064 I wouldn't be afraid to give it a try either. JME. WD

 

[SEGARE]

From what I read, the H4350 is less finicky and is overall a better powder for these calibers but R17 produces a little more speed- is this generally correct?

 

[AJC]

What about using ramshot Hunter

 

[D-4297]

I'll add one more to the list . VV N160 . Very comparable to 4350 . And very temp insensitive . Easier to clean , too .

 

[rardoin]

I'll add one more to the list . VV N160 . Very comparable to 4350 . And very temp insensitive . Easier to clean , too .

And....incredibly easy on the throat too.

 

[K22]

In a effort to simplify my component inventory and shooting hobby I first down sized to three rifle calibers which handles all my rifle shooting needs, i.e. 223 Rem (varmints / predators), 243 Win (varmints / predators/ deer) and 308 Win (deer and bear). I really could get away with just two, i.e. the 223 Rem and 308 Win but I love shooting the 243 and it can be used for both varmints and deer.

For the 223 Rem's, I used H4895 and Federal 205M match primers - period. It works well in all my 223's which range from 12", 9", and 8" twists. I shoot 50 and 55 Nosler BT's in all my 12" and 9" twist rifles. Hornady 60 Vmax in the some the 8" twist rifles. A few 8" twists rifles like the 55 Nosler BT.

For the 243 Win's, I developed effective loads for the 70 grain Nosler BT's and 85 Sierra BTHP's using H4895. While not the optimum powder for this caliber it works quite well with lighter bullets. However a few of my 243's prefer Varget or IMR 4064 with the 85 Sierra's. I used Federal 210 large rifle primers for all my 243'3.

For the 308, H4895 works quite well with 125 and 150 grain bullets. Like the 243's, I use Federal 210 primers.

 

[ShootDots]

I think that from 6mms thru the 30 cals, H4350 with CCI 200 / BR-2 work great. It has been my experience that with H4350, the CCIs work best. If you can't get H4350, get some RL-16. Shot for shot, load for load, it is within a hairsbreath of H4350 with the added benefits of HIGHER Velocities and much better lot-to-lot consistency. I have found that RL-16 does shoot better with Fed 210s than the CCIs but not by much..

 

[Zero333]

I'll add one more to the list . VV N160 . Very comparable to 4350 . And very temp insensitive . Easier to clean , too .

N-160 is a phenomenal powder, but I think it might be a tad too bulky for the 30'06 shooting 150-165 gr bullets.

That's why I mentioned N-150 / N-550 instead.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have thought a lot lately about getting a large supply of Varget and using it in all my .30 and under non magnums. Probably could run Rem primers for all the Varget calibers.

 

[Patch 76]

SEGARE, I respect what you are doing as I kind of started out the same way. It took quite a while to understand that one powder simply would not do. Now, if all your looking to do is shoot deer at the distances you mentioned, fine.
However, you’ve invested in what sounds like a good start in the reloading game. I believe you will soon find out that once you start loading your own, you’ll be bitten by the “bug” like many of the rest of us.

As far as your powder is concerned, my recommendation would be RE17 due to the nice even pressure curve it’ll provide especially in sporter length barrels. As you can see everyone has their opinions on this and none of them are wrong. It’s whatever works in your rig(s). This is why I say you will not settle on one powder.

I’m interested to see what you choose. Keep us posted and good luck!

Patch

 

[NorCalMikie]

It's easy to see that a lot of folks never work a powder till they couldn't get anymore out of it. They just move on to something else because someone shot bug holes and it's the "best powder ever".
They end up with a collection of different powders and really never know the full potential of any of them. At least the powder makers are happy.
Primers? CCI Big or small and Mil Spec for the gas guns.
Powder? AA 2230. Works in everything from 17 VHA to 6.8 SPC and a BUNCH on different calibers in between. AA mentioned it worked well in .223,(5.56) .308 (7.62) so I got it, worked with it and am still working it.
Started out with AA 2230C Data powder till they quit making it. Went thru about 40 + pounds. (8 pound jugs were about $80.00/ $85.00 at the time)
A M1A eats LOTS of ammo as well as a Mini 14.
When there was no more AA 2230C available, I switched over to AA 2230. Still working as planned.

 

[HTSmith]

is there a better combo than H4350 with Fed 210M to feed to all?

Not that I know of. One good thing about sticking with one primer is that you get to know what it should look like after firing and how it should feel when seating so you can quickly see if something isn't just right. One thing that has bitten me in pursuing a similar strategy is we've had spells where neither H4350 nor Fed 210M's were available. My plan is to develop some alternative loads with R16 and CCI primers.

 

[Bill K]

Another one does all, or 90 %, is 4895 and a Rem 7.5 primer in small calibers, and magnum rifle in large one's.
And it can usually be found anywhere, compared to other powders.

 

[wkdickinson]

I can see trying to standardize on one primer, but I think you are seriously handicapping the potential of your rifles by not using a powder better suited for each cartridge/bullet combination. Consider how much you have already spent for loading tools. Then compare that to powders at $25 to $30/lb. Doesn't seem to me like a good trade-off, but that's just my opinion. Then again, I probably have a dozen different powders in my inventory.

 

[SEGARE]

Keep it coming.

I did a little more reading last night and have come upon a thought that intrigues me- I live and hunt in SEGA. Temps can go from the 90's in the beginning of the season to the 20's. I was looking at some info that says that 4350 isn't as insensitive as R16. Anyone with real-world experience with this train of thought?

 

[D-4297]

I shoot A-4350 in my Open rifle , ( Mosin-Nagant ) 30" Kreiger 5r , at Ben Avery year around . Temps vary from 40F to 115F , and I only make about .4 to .8 grain drop from 53.4 down to 49.6 on 185 Berger Hybrid loads . Can't tell you anything about R16 cause I've never used it . I do know that if you try to chase a super max velocity with it using a load formulated in cold weather , it can bite ya when temps go up . . But then ; any powder can .

 

[INTJ]

A way to simply and still find the optimum powder is to settle on one load per gun. That also allows more guns.

I start with the bullet I want to shoot in a certain gun and find the best load. If it meets the accuracy I am looking for I am done and have my load. If it doesn't meet the accuracy requirements for the application then I start over with a different bullet.