I am reloading 3 calibers. 22-250, 243, and 270. To keep it simple, I use one common powder for all 3, IMR 3031. I do not push any limits, not my thing, I just like a consistent shot. My accuracy seems to be a match for the factory loads, which is fine. Now I'm wondering, would I be better off with the newer stuff, like IMR's 4007? For that matter, how many different types of powder do the factories commonly use? I'm fairly new at this, but cautious beyond belief.

You need to buy a reloading manual, any of the main manufactuers will do including Sierra, Hornady, Lyman, Hodgdon, Nosler, etc.

There are lots of brands of powder and the brand is unimportant, its all good in the right rifle. You pick a load that is most appropriate in your caliber regardless of powder brand. Some guys look for the cheapest powder that will work. Others look for the greatest accuracy or the fastest velocity.

The 3 are unrelated and you are better to stick to your cautious approach and in my opinion aim for accuracy (pun intended)

Thanks for making me feel decent about my approach. I've had guys telling me all sorts of stories (you need to use this or that instead). I picked the 3031 because I can get it anywhere around here, it always seems to be on the shelf close by.

Varget, IMR-4064 or IMR-4350 would get my vote for all three.

H4895 is also supposed to be very flexible, it is slightly slower and might yield better velocity and fill the case better.

I await IMR4007 with bated breath but data is going to take a long time to come through.

At the moment your powder choice is somewhat biased to the 22-250. It might be wiser to consider biasing it to the 243/270 with something like IMR 4350. While this might be a little slow for 22-250 that will only result in slightly reduced velocities - the sensitivity to charge weight/temp variation etc will be reduced in the 243 and 270 however.

Nothing wrong with the approach, but 3031 is a little fast for all of them. If you look at the manuals, you'll see that there are powders that would be better suited in all three. I would expect something from the Rl15/Varget to I4350 or so to work well.

Then again, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. JMO, Dutch.

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:
For that matter, how many different types of powder do the factories commonly use?

Ammo makers have access to every type of powder we do and many types we do not. If they desire, they can have any burning rate made up and delivered to them, no problem.

Click here for a short list burning rate chart: http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp

I shoot the 22-250 quite a bit. The 243 and 270 are hunting rifles. Sounds like I would be better off with maybe the IMR 4895. It also has great availability.

quote:

Originally posted by 1894mk2:
I await IMR4007 with bated breath but data is going to take a long time to come through.

Data for IMR4007SSC is available now on Hodgdon's website. Here's 270 information but you can just change the cartridge choice to the one that you are interested in:
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

I've had good luck with H4895. The H brand always seemed to work a little better for whatever I was using it for than the IMR brand? I'm sure there are folks that had the exact opposite experience.

I can not follow your logic in limiting the numbers or types of components that you use to reload. This seems to negate the reason for wanting to reload in the first place. Keeping it simple would suggest buying factory ammo.

Get a few new manuals or go online to see what is available. In my experience you can not make predictions about which reloading components a firearm might like. Trial and error has worked best for me.

Because I can reload for far less than factory money.

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:
Because I can reload for far less than factory money.

Per unit maybe. But I wind up shooting so much more that it costs me a lot more to reload.

Wymple, following on from several posts here to clarify: Ammo manufacturers dont use canister powders meaning powders in a tin like you have such as 3031. They use bulk powder and adjust the powder composition just for a particular cartridge in some cases. The powder will be very similar to but not necessarily identical to the store bought canister powders.

As others have said and I am saying it again to make very clear, you wont necessarily get the best results from 1 powder for all three calibers.

While you have an upfront cost to buy a tin of powder that is optimum for each caliber, each tin will last longer as you are only putting it into 1 round instead of 3. Long term the cost is the same if we ignore different prices of each powder.

You can look in the manuals and find a common powder to all 3 calibers but it wont be optimum for them all.

Example: my cousin tried to use Hodgdon in all his rifles as he thought it was the best brand. He found BLC-2 was listed in the manuals for both 22-250 and 30-06. He didnt get top accuracy in the 30-06 and in the 22-250 the cases didnt seal in the chamber properly leaving a smoky smudge down the outside.

I am not sure exactly what he is using now but he has a different powder for each.

Load data is on line but there is nothing like sitting down and reading a book and there is lots more excellent info in them on things like sighting in, Point Blank Range, etc. Personally my favourites are Hornady and Sierra manuals.

I can understand trying to limit the number of powders you use if you reload alot and want to buy in bulk. Some powders work well in many calibers. I use IMR4064 in several rifles as well as IMR4350.
However for just the three you mention I think you might find trying a couple powders will end up working best and cost about the same in the long run. I don't load for any of your three calibers so I can't recomend a powder but I would guess IMR 4064 would do better than 3031.

If i had to choose one, and only one powder, I'd go with IMR4895.

Varget worked well for me in a bunch of cases. Made my 22-250 a screamer. H4831 or 4350 might be better in the 270. If using one powder works for 3 cases stay with it. If it ain't broke don't fix it. About as safe as you can get, no worries of what is in the thrower if one burn rate is in the house.

Thanks for the website link. I have picked up a pound of H4895 to play with. (My life is getting sooooo complicated now.)

H4350 will work well in all three of those rounds.

Good Luck

Reloader