Hello,

I did a search and didn't see this question.

What is the most versatile powder in your opinion?

Just wondering what everyone thinks.

ddj

for centerfire rifles typical of deer hunting and bigger game hunting one might have a tossup between H-414 and H-4350.....

If one is starting reloading and knows his cartridges he's loading for one can get a much better reply.

I'd suspect that the IMR and H version of 4895 would be high up on the list. I know I use a lot of it. Vapo is right about the two he mentioned and I use a lot of both of them also.

Without a doubt for me, RL-22 is my most versital powder. I use it in my .257 Wby, .300 Winny, .340 Wby, ,338 Lapua, .358 STA, .416 Rigby. I also load it in my Elk hunting buddies 7mm Wby. Seven of my Elk hunting buddies shoot many pounds through their .300 Winnys. I have 24 pounds on hand of three different lots. Good shooting.

Thanks for input.

Vapodog might be right, it is a broad question.

List your most versatile powder and the caliber you use it in.

I tend to use H4350 the most in my Roberts and 280.

I use Varget in my 223 and 22-250.

Thanks,

ddj

I really like RL-15. I use it in the 30-06, .375 H&H, and 7mm-08. I hear there's a lot of use for it in duplicating the old cordite loads. Very versitile powder in my opinion.

BLACK POWDER !.

It works in everything !.

VARGET

I'm using Varget/AR2208 in my 303-25, 303 Brit jacked bullet rifle and 303 Brit cast bullet rifle. And I pln on using it in my 303 Brit short barrelled bush rifle.

Through the years it's been the 4350s. roger

IMR 4064
IMR 3031
Varget
Used that in 30-06, 6.5X55, 303brit,(7.62X54R Russian soon)

Vihtavouri 140 or 150 gets my vote. But nowadays I use either H4831 or Re-22

I hear a lot of RE-22, can I get someone to tell me abit about that?

IMR 3031.

I guess it depends on how diverse your "battery" of guns is?

I load from 17 Rem, to 375 H&H, with not many gaps in between. I can't think of one single powder that can bridge that large of a gap. Sometimes you get lucky and can use one powder for several cartridges, and sometimes not.

I load IMR 4350 in both my 375 H&H and my 338 WM. I thought it would also do well in my 257 wby mag, it does not however. In the Wby mag, it likes RE-22 the best (and NOT RE-25?).

My 257 AI roberts, 308, and 30-06 all seem to do well with IMR 4064. My 25 wssm dislikes that powder greatly, and prefers Varget. My 6x47 also prefers Varget.

My 22-250 and my 223 both prefer H-380, even though it is a bit "slow" for the 223. Neither will shoot Varget well.

My 22 Hornet LOVES Lil-Gun! So much so that I have REFUSED to try any other powder in it. Why mess with a GREAT thing!!

Dunno yet about the 17 Rem, just got it, but will start with Varget, and see if I get anywhere with that powder first.

So, I have IMR 4350, RE-22, IMR 4064, Varget, H-380, and Lil-Gun. Not to mention shotgun powders, REAL blackpowder (4 different ones), and of course, BLUE DOT!!

Each gun is an individual, and what works great in one rifle, won't group for squat in another rifle. That's part of the "fun" of reloading, exploring that individual rifle and finding "the load" for it. Some are easy, and some are not.

Enjoy your reloading, I DO!!

My most used powder is h-4350,257r thru 338-06.
Depending on what bullet i might use other powders but the 4350 is most often used.

I don't know about versatility, but a check of my available power stock shows more IMR 4895 than any other. Varget is second. VihtaVuoryi N133 and N135 not too far behind.
Center fire rifles cartridges I load for run from 17 Mach IV to 50 BMG but very few magnums. Most rounds loaded for are 223 to 30-06.
I usually load medium weight for caliber bullets. The velocity range I target is mid to moderately warm. I let the rifle decide this.

muck

quote:

Originally posted by muck:
I don't know about versatility, but a check of my available power stock shows more IMR 4895 than any other.muck

That's because you used up all the good stuff! roger

most versatile, I would say that would have to be any flavor of 4895

quote:

Originally posted by James Kain:
I hear a lot of RE-22, can I get someone to tell me abit about that?

Re-22 (often called RL-22) from Alliant is a quite slow burning extruded powder.

It's a bit slower than H-4831 and is great in the .30-06 and the .270 and many many more cases where one would want a slow burning powder.

I fully agree that it's a quite versatile powder

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by James Kain:
I hear a lot of RE-22, can I get someone to tell me abit about that?

Re-22 (often called RL-22) from Alliant is a quite slow burning extruded powder.

It's a bit slower than H-4831 and is great in the .30-06 and the .270 and many many more cases where one would want a slow burning powder.

I fully agree that it's a quite versatile powder

I will have to check it out. I shoot mostly 3 guns out of all. I m sure I can use it 2 out of them. 6.5x55 is my fave, and the 30-06. I highly doubt it can even be thought of in the M1 Carbine(30 Carbine) But shoot it as a pistol round is a hole different ball park.

Damn I already have almost 10 different powders in my safe as is! This is so addicting, and the amount of trigger time is fantastic!

h335

222 through 550 magnum

The reason for the questions was, because of the "Change" in administration I wanted to get some of the more versatile powders. Just seems smart.

ddj

For most rifle cartridges, I would have to vote for 4895.

For pistol and small capacity rifle, Unique.

Unique might not be the best for a 22 hornet, but it will push the bullet out the barrel and hit something in a pinch.

For handgun reloading I have no doubt Alliant Unique.

It might not be best for some things, but you can make something that'll shoot in ANY strait sided pistol case.

As for RE22 mentioned above?

I find that except in certain special circumstances it's utility in 30-06 class cases is limited with the lighter bullets.

RE22 unlike most "Stick" rifle propellants is a "dual base"
propellant and the slower component (the nitroglycerine)
doesn't get "going" until relatively late in the firing event.

RL22 in the 30-06 flad doesn't work with 150gr or lighter bullets and can be somethign of a twtchy beast with 165's

I have been quite sucessful with RL22 and 165 gr Noslers in the 30-06 but ONLY with neck sized and fireformed winchester brass, MAX effort loads and Fed215 primers

The issue as I see it with RL22 in the 30-06 is there is difficulty getting ENOUGH into the limited confines of
a 30-06 case without taking positive steps to squeeze
"just a little more" into the case the good thing is that with 165's "too much" is simply impossible

If you aren't compressing RL22 into a 30-06 case don't use it.

I think RL19, IMR4350 or H4350 are far more versatile.

Propellants like IMR4064, IMR3031 and RL7 even more so.

For magnum handgun loads and the M1 carbine H110 or Alliant 2400 are simply irrepleceable.

Basically there isn't a single propellant that'll "do it all", but you can only really cover the entire effectively range by using four or five propellants.

a good indication of what people have a high regard is judged best by what is out of stock at reloading supply retailers all over the country....

My brother has been trying to buy an 8lb keg of unique since early November, all the mail order suppliers have been backordered on it since september.

His retailer put four 8lb kegs out friday afternoon. According to my brother all four of them were gone before he got finished checking out with one of them.

where he wanted to buy it (Glenrock Components) has ordered from Alliant several times but has only received a third of what they ordered at any given time... the rest backordered.

Granted I only use 5.4 grains at a time but when I sit down for a pistol loading session I have on two seperate gone completely through a 4lb keg in a single weekend loading marathon.

Those of you good at math will calculate this to 5100rounds in not quite 40 hours, ok 24 hours once you subtract 16hours for two nights sleep, this averages to jsut 0ver 200rounds an hour, which is EASY in my Dillon 550
even allowing for frequent untimed breaks and pauses to switch calibers, change the primer feeder from small primers
to large (to switch from 9mm to 45ACP, etc)

Open a sealed keg on a friday and it's gone before the early football game starts on sunday....

AD

quote:

Re-22 (often called RL-22)

Allan DeGroot speaks of it as two different powders?

quote:

RE22 unlike most "Stick" rifle propellants is a "dual base"
propellant and the slower component (the nitroglycerine)
doesn't get "going" until relatively late in the firing event.

Shouldn't that read "the nitrocellulose component"? Isn't the nitroglycerine the faster one?

quote:

If you aren't compressing RL22 into a 30-06 case don't use it.

Is this particular to the 30-06 with this powder?

I have been trying to keep my powder inventory to a minimum but I am now thinking that might not be a good idea because powder charges change anyway and using the wrong charge could be disasterous. At the moment I am using the same charge for both my 303-25 and 303 Brit. This means a very mild 303 Brit load (which is great to shoot) but it is a hunting rifle and I might be better served with a full load. So, I am thinking of changing powder for the 303-25. One that fills the case and 'looks' different. Or maybe one that fills the 303 Brit case 'cause then I would see the powder in the neck of the 303-25 if I got it wrong! This is in the 'wrong' direction for trouthunterdj but does that make sense?

Personally I m the type that will not pack a case full as much as I can squeeze in! What I m looking for is maxing out the potential of the accessory of my weapon. Not brake speed records.
So if that means MY case is HALF full, that is fine by me. Just less powder I need to buy.

quote:

Just less powder I need to buy.

That's true! And powder is expensive. I should add - I'm looking for max loads for my 303 Brit. But I am for the 303-25. It is supposed to be my long range rifle. It's just safety and convenience that I am considering. But you are right. I'll just stay with light 303 Brit loads for now. (Next month, however, .... )

OK - in line with the topic, how do some 'less' suitable powders behave in the 'wrong' cases? In my case, I use only Varget/AR2208 (for now) for both the 303-25 and the 303 Brit. It can fill the 303 Brit case completely but not the 303-25 but it seems to give near top performance for both those calibers. Now what happens should one use that same powder in a cartridge that does not have the capacity to burn that powder to its 'design' pressure and temperature? Would it still be accurate but below the cartridge potential or would it burn inconsistantly? Then stretching the same principle further, using even slower powders (which are harder to ignite) in a bigger case like the 303 Brit or 308? Would accuracy be lost?

One more thing I have to keep in mind, and I know there are a few out there like my self, is that I live in Maine with a UNHEATED SHOP! So its 25*F right now but could drop to -30*F in a few hours and stay there for a few days then pop up around 32*F again. So I need to keep a eye on the "EXTREME" powders. I would cast and reload regardless of the temp out there, it all depends on how close I stand to my space heater!
About a month or 2 back it wormed up to the point of 40*F and there was moisture on everything, even dripping off the roof. So what happens to my cases? My Powder? My Rifles? Remember to keep a eye on your world around you and not just politics.

Of course no one smokeless powder covers all the bases.

The U.S. ones which have done the best in terms of at least being useable with good effect in a lot of different rifles I think might be:

1. IMR-3031...good useful loads (though often not optimal) all the way from .25-35 through the .470 Nitro. It was considered a slow powder and used in all sorts of cartridges in the very early 1930s through the 1960s.

2. IMR-4064...at the end of the 1930s and into the '40s was considered pretty much an all around powder by handloaders for medium-to-large cases...in the .300 Savage, .270,.30-06 sizes in particular. Also saw a fair amount of use in .375 H&H. During the WWII scarcity it was the slowest powder available on the market for most U.S. handloaders and kept a lot of our guns doing well enough to be proud of.

3. And, of course, afer the war when it became reasonably available, good old IMR-4895 surplus. A tad faster burning than 4064 but for some reason also a bit more flexible, it seemed. It is another one which seems to do "well enough" for emergency use in just about any cartridge case one is patient enough to get it into. My current favorite flavor of it is the Vihtavouri equivalent, N-135. As I don't load anything to absolute maximum, I find I can use exactly the same charges of any 4895 or N-135 in all of my rifles that I would use either in.

Having said that, I am sure there are probably a few ball powders out there that are just about as flexible, but I haven't used them enough to make that call. Of the ones I have used, I think I might choose W-846 surplus (H-335). Hate its muzzle flash, but it works well otherwise.

For pistols, if I was restricted to one powder, it would be Bullseye. If I could have 2 powders, they would be Bullseye and Unique.

If they would bring back the most versatile powder I have ever used, it would be Hi-Vel #2.

I'd give the Nod to IMR-4350
AK

I too get plenty of use in a broad range out of IMR-4350.

Thanks for the help,

I am hoping to get some powders to last me for awhile.

I need to get some Unique, 2400, H4350, RL15, and RL22.

What would be a great fast burning varmint powder and a more slow burning powder?

ddj

I was thinking almost the same list

I would probalbly add some varget to the list.

ddj

H-380

would have to be H414.

The most versatile powder FOR ME is Varget

quote:

Originally posted by akrange:
I'd give the Nod to IMR-4350
AK

+1
...any of the 4350s.