Does anybody reload with just one brand of powder and stick with it all across the board? I was going through my vast collection of powder brands/types and in total I have close to 55 loose 1 pound bottles of powders scattered about and that don't count a few 8 pounders. I have been reviewing burn charts from about every manufacturer I could find trying to figure out if I can go with just ONE brand of powder (Hodgdon, Alliant, Accurate and so on) for every rifle I own. Most manufacturers do indeed have a powder "speed" that will cover most if not all calibers but is this a wise idea? After many many years I have got my handguns down to one brand, Hodgdon, with great success but these darn rifles perplex me sometimes to my wits end!
Powder brands,... how many is too many to have on hand?
- Thread starter Lefty Trigger
- Start date
I think the one jar I got last Tuesday that put me at 90 different numbers. Might have enough, just not too many!
you can have too much powder ???
I'm thinking that would be the downfall of my plan, inventory issues. With everything I load I find myself keep going back eventually to just two brands Norma and Alliant,... funny that the same supplier makes powders for both of these. Alliant is cheaper and seems to be available but just not 100% sure I can pull off going with just one brand and be able to stick it out.
In my on going effort to simplify my shooting I now shoot only three calibers after trying a bunch over the last 50 years. Currently I'm shooting the 223 Rem, 243 Win, and 308 Win. I could actually go down to two, the 223 and 243. The 223 handles 95% of my varmint / predator shooting situations and the 243 will take deer if you use an effective bullet and place the shot correctly. I do a lot a target practice at the range and since my club only has a 200 yard range the 223 Rem is quite adequate for this purpose beside being fun to shoot, very accurate, and cheap to reload.
I'm moving towards one powder for all these calibers: H4895. It works extremely well in all my 223 Rem's and well enough in my '308 with 125 Nosler BT's reduced loading which I've had to adopt due to spinal condition which is aggravated by recoil. I really should unload the 308 but can't for sentimental reasons - I've taken my best bucks with it and you never know when a lion might get loose and be wondering around the neighborhood.
The 243 has been more of a challenge, it works well with bullets under 80 grains but above that IMR 4064 and 4350 still are hard to beat. For some reason my Browning X Bolt loves this powder with my preferred bullet, the Sierra 85 BTHP. However my Tikka and Rem 7 w/ a custom Hart barrel doesn't like this powder with this bullet as much IMR 4064 or 4350.
For pistol - Winchester 231 for my 38+P loads and 357 magnum loads using 125 Hornady XTP's.
For simplicity, economy and lot consistency, I like to buy my rifle powder in bulk, 8 lbs kegs. Having one powder makes this easier financially and helps assure that I'll always have powder on hand - when the kegs get half empty I buy another.
I'm moving towards one powder for all these calibers: H4895. It works extremely well in all my 223 Rem's and well enough in my '308 with 125 Nosler BT's reduced loading which I've had to adopt due to spinal condition which is aggravated by recoil. I really should unload the 308 but can't for sentimental reasons - I've taken my best bucks with it and you never know when a lion might get loose and be wondering around the neighborhood.
The 243 has been more of a challenge, it works well with bullets under 80 grains but above that IMR 4064 and 4350 still are hard to beat. For some reason my Browning X Bolt loves this powder with my preferred bullet, the Sierra 85 BTHP. However my Tikka and Rem 7 w/ a custom Hart barrel doesn't like this powder with this bullet as much IMR 4064 or 4350.
For pistol - Winchester 231 for my 38+P loads and 357 magnum loads using 125 Hornady XTP's.
For simplicity, economy and lot consistency, I like to buy my rifle powder in bulk, 8 lbs kegs. Having one powder makes this easier financially and helps assure that I'll always have powder on hand - when the kegs get half empty I buy another.
Well I made a decision and I'm going to try to go with one brand across the board, Alliant. I just ordered a crap ton of powder in Reloder 7, 15, 16, 17, 19 which in one way or another will cover everything I load. My handgun stuff will remain Hodgdon but its a minimal amount of powder for them. This will be a test on my part to make them work and stick with them...
If you could change out that reloader 15 for ar-comp you may be happier
Do I ever feel like I have enough, hell no. Does the residential limit say that I have 3x the legal limit, well let's just leave that alone.
No, but wish I could.
Thats why i switched to Rl 16 in my loads that used h4350. Still have 2 pounds. And would let it go if some one wanted to pay the shipping or p/u local.My personal situation would speak against being totally dependent on a single brand. I settled on Varget and H4350 for all of my rifle and loads. Now I can't get either.
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
IMHO, the biggest problem is someone will post about a powder that SHOOTS BUG HOLES so EVERYBODY runs out buys a bunch and doesn't do much with the powders they already have on the shelf.
You start off with a powder, work it till you can't get anymore out of it THEN, work it some more.
Me? One powder. Accurate Arms 2230 C (data powder) till they didn't make it anymore. Then I switched over to AA 2230.
Started using 2230 C because it worked in m y M1A and my Mini 14. And you KNOW, M1As and Mini 14s burn LOTS of powder.
AND, the price was right. Something like $85.00 for an 8 pound jug? I think I went thru close to 50 pounds over a few years till it wasn't available anymore.
Then switched to AA 2203.
It works in everything I shoot, from .221 Fireball on up to 6.8 SPC with a BUNCH in between. I work it till I can't work it anymore THEN, I work it a bit more.
I do have a pound of Lil Gun but don't care much for the way it feeds. Same with Varget. Shooting buddy gave me a little to play with. Don't like cutting kernels when throwing a charge so it just sits. And besides, it stinks when fired. Deadly accurate if you can hold your nose long enough.
All my rounds will produce bug holes so why go any further?
Speed? Never checked and loads. Never saw anything out run any of them so why bother checking.
You start off with a powder, work it till you can't get anymore out of it THEN, work it some more.
Me? One powder. Accurate Arms 2230 C (data powder) till they didn't make it anymore. Then I switched over to AA 2230.
Started using 2230 C because it worked in m y M1A and my Mini 14. And you KNOW, M1As and Mini 14s burn LOTS of powder.
AND, the price was right. Something like $85.00 for an 8 pound jug? I think I went thru close to 50 pounds over a few years till it wasn't available anymore.
Then switched to AA 2203.
It works in everything I shoot, from .221 Fireball on up to 6.8 SPC with a BUNCH in between. I work it till I can't work it anymore THEN, I work it a bit more.
I do have a pound of Lil Gun but don't care much for the way it feeds. Same with Varget. Shooting buddy gave me a little to play with. Don't like cutting kernels when throwing a charge so it just sits.
And besides, it stinks when fired. Deadly accurate if you can hold your nose long enough.All my rounds will produce bug holes so why go any further?
Speed? Never checked and loads. Never saw anything out run any of them so why bother checking.
HTSmith
Silver $$ Contributor
Thanks much for the offer. I'm not in dire straits yet and I think my next move will be to get some R16 and R15 for myself. Time to diversify.
I used to use several different powders but gave that up and I use Varget for rifles and Longshot for pistols. IMR4064 was accurate but more temperature sensitive. Varget works well in my .308 and .223. This is at 215 yards in zero wind. I only reload .223 and .308 for rifles and 38-Spec, .380, 9mm, and .40 in pistols.
If you are shooting and are happy with just going bang, then maybe you could get along with one powder.
But if you shoot, various calibers and want good accuracy, then it will be impossible ( I feel) to not have more than one powder type. Therefore you will end up with several brands and types in your loading room.
But if you shoot, various calibers and want good accuracy, then it will be impossible ( I feel) to not have more than one powder type. Therefore you will end up with several brands and types in your loading room.
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