Powders for the Apocolypse

hgmeyer · February 16, 2015, 08:32 PM

Well it is cold outside, so fire up the woodstove and humor me...

If you had to stockpile powder (Think like a Prepper) and you loaded for these cartridges: .38, .357. 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 acp; 12 and 20 gauge;.222, .223, .257R, .7mm RM, .308, .30-06, 7.65 Arg, and you were a minimalist (as few powders as reasonably possible; what would you get/keep/stockpile? (Since this is fantasy, assume there is no problem getting exactly what you want) Oh yeah, no more than five powders (how is that for arbitrary).

I am going to select Varget for rifles, Red Dot and Green Dot for shotgun (and secondary pistol) 231 and Longshot for pistols.

Just close your eyes and envision 4 8lb jugs of each one....... Feels all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it?

Kframe · February 16, 2015, 08:51 PM

Red Dot or Bullseye
H335
H4350

Nick_C_S · February 16, 2015, 08:56 PM

I only own pistols; so let's pretend that I have an AR-15 (or two), and a scoped .308 for hunting; and a Remington pump 12ga shotgun.

AA2230; AA2520; Unique; AA7; & W296.

Ironically, 90% of what I load with now isn't listed above. If the SHTF, I would have no need for target level rounds - like I usually load. Everything would be loaded fairly juicy.

Fun exercise

mehavey · February 16, 2015, 09:12 PM

Unique & 4895

psalm7 · February 16, 2015, 09:49 PM

IMR4227 , IMR4895 and IMR4350 .

std7mag · February 16, 2015, 09:57 PM

You are talking appocolypse.... End of the world type stuff...

Musket for long arm, possibly flint lock.
For small arms I have 44 Walker, 1861 Navy in 36 cal. and a Remington New Model Army in 44 cal.

Can make black powder from home. Can make improvised explosives with it, and wheel weights for bullets. Or glass, bb's, stones in a pinch..(don't ask!!!)

Kframe · February 16, 2015, 09:58 PM

Psalm, what are you going to use for pistol??

FITASC · February 16, 2015, 10:10 PM

Quote:

If you had to stockpile powder (Think like a Prepper) and you loaded for these cartridges: .38, .357. 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 acp; 12 and 20 gauge;.222, .223, .257R, .7mm RM, .308, .30-06, 7.65 Arg, and you were a minimalist

If you are a minimalist, then pick one handgun, one shotgun, and one or two rifle cartridges at the max. What you are describing above is NOT form someone who is a "minimalist"....

I can use Universal or Unique for the handgun and 20 gauge choices, and one more for a rifle

Wreck-n-Crew · February 16, 2015, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Unique & 4895

Fine choice and narrowed it to two powders! Gets my vote too.

hgmeyer · February 16, 2015, 10:48 PM

Oh, I sort of see a "post apocalypse" world where I could trade loaded ammo for a chicken or two, now I have loading dies for calibers other than my own so it is more than just my own needs.

I also have molds for lead bullets and buckshot.

SVTCobra306 · February 16, 2015, 11:42 PM

Probably H4895 and Bullseye, though I have no experience with shotguns and maybe BE isn't compatible.. that might push me to Red Dot instead.

Clark · February 16, 2015, 11:46 PM

I have been on internet gun forums since before the www gun lists.

I have seen plenty of survival posts.
They are not based on careful thought.
They should be listing long lists of scenarios and weighing the probabilities and weighting the cost of countermeasures.
This way they could optimize a winning over all strategy.

But no. Life is going to turn into a permanent deer hunting vacation, with some grand theft auto thrown in. Own the grocery store and be a chick magnet.

Step one is most Apocalypse scenarios are local. Have Gold and passports ready................ ooo... saving money? How boring, I want a bugout vehicle.

Wreck-n-Crew · February 17, 2015, 09:09 AM

Quote:

But no. Life is going to turn into a permanent deer hunting vacation, with some grand theft auto thrown in. Own the grocery store and be a chick magnet.

Spit my coffee everywhere...can we put up a Caution sticker on that? My keyboard got soaked and my stomach hurts from laughing so hard..

Jay24bal · February 17, 2015, 09:50 AM

Unique and IMR4064

psalm7 · February 23, 2015, 11:22 AM

I'll have to add Unique and 2400 , Trying to use IMR4227 on small rifle and all handgun powder is a stretch of its capabilities .

9MMand223only · February 23, 2015, 06:51 PM

Ruger 10/22 and 25 bricks of ammo is far better than any reloading whatever, IMO

USMC 77-81 · February 23, 2015, 07:45 PM

unique and Varget.

KEYBEAR · February 23, 2015, 08:14 PM

I AGREE two maybe three good solid guns no scopes just hard steel .
I am ready and did not even know ?? The 22 Rifle is a good thing to have also a center fire handgun and Rifle (Same calibers would help)

Years ago I fell in love with service rifles 03-A3 and the M1 Garand both 30-06 . I found 30-06 Ammo at auctions cheap and bought all I found .
Right now I have ammo cans that would fill a pickup truck and more . With the price today I could sell and make a good 500% But I can not replace it .

Best advice is KISS (keep It Simple Stupid)

skizzums · February 23, 2015, 08:26 PM

I can pretty much make anything work with 231 and 4064. I hear unique is pretty versatile, but I have never seen it on the shelf before

really the end of days, make BP, super easy.

SHR970 · February 23, 2015, 08:39 PM

12 and 20 gauge for what purpose??? 12 for bird hunting and SD? 20 for ???? It makes a difference since I would based on the list pick two powders for the gauges that will also do double duty for the hand guns. I might not get full blast 357's but loaded with Herco or Longshot they won't be whimpy target loads either.

The rifles??? That list calls for two powder speeds.

I could go
W231 / WSF / W296 / W748 / W760.
Alliant GD / Herco / 2400 / Rl10x / Rl19
IMR 800 X / 7625 / 4227 / 4895 / 4350

Do you see a pattern?

trapper9260 · February 23, 2015, 09:23 PM

There is one thing that is over look what will you all use for primers, when you have only powders and bullets and shot and wads.

michaelcj · February 23, 2015, 09:26 PM

If there is ever such a thing….. in my lifetime.. I think I'm good on ammo and components……..

I just hope to god I had the foresight to put up enough single-malt and TP.

Mike

skizzums · February 24, 2015, 12:33 AM

primers are actually easy to make, if your like me and have thousands of used ones lying around. but I don't foresee needing to re-use primers in my lifetime

9mmSkeeter · February 24, 2015, 02:28 AM

Clay dot and IMR 3031.

**Mike Irwin** · February 24, 2015, 07:30 AM

WW 231

Red Dot

IMR 4064

Oh, and AA 7 would probably be a good choice if you wanted more potent .357 rounds, and it's also good for .40.

February 16, 2015, 08:32 PM	#1
hgmeyer Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 147	Powders for the Apocolypse Well it is cold outside, so fire up the woodstove and humor me... If you had to stockpile powder (Think like a Prepper) and you loaded for these cartridges: .38, .357. 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 acp; 12 and 20 gauge;.222, .223, .257R, .7mm RM, .308, .30-06, 7.65 Arg, and you were a minimalist (as few powders as reasonably possible; what would you get/keep/stockpile? (Since this is fantasy, assume there is no problem getting exactly what you want) Oh yeah, no more than five powders (how is that for arbitrary). I am going to select Varget for rifles, Red Dot and Green Dot for shotgun (and secondary pistol) 231 and Longshot for pistols. Just close your eyes and envision 4 8lb jugs of each one....... Feels all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it?

February 16, 2015, 08:51 PM	#2
Kframe Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 1999 Location: MN Posts: 640	Red Dot or Bullseye H335 H4350 __________________ RN - ICU NRA - PATRON LIFE

February 16, 2015, 08:56 PM	#3
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,523	I only own pistols; so let's pretend that I have an AR-15 (or two), and a scoped .308 for hunting; and a Remington pump 12ga shotgun. AA2230; AA2520; Unique; AA7; & W296. Ironically, 90% of what I load with now isn't listed above. If the SHTF, I would have no need for target level rounds - like I usually load. Everything would be loaded fairly juicy. Fun exercise __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

February 16, 2015, 09:57 PM	#6
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Black powder all the way!!! You are talking appocolypse.... End of the world type stuff... Musket for long arm, possibly flint lock. For small arms I have 44 Walker, 1861 Navy in 36 cal. and a Remington New Model Army in 44 cal. Can make black powder from home. Can make improvised explosives with it, and wheel weights for bullets. Or glass, bb's, stones in a pinch..(don't ask!!!)

February 16, 2015, 09:58 PM	#7
Kframe Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 1999 Location: MN Posts: 640	Psalm, what are you going to use for pistol?? __________________ RN - ICU NRA - PATRON LIFE

February 16, 2015, 09:12 PM	#4
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,896	Unique & 4895

February 16, 2015, 09:49 PM	#5
psalm7 Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2014 Location: Middle TN Posts: 543	IMR4227 , IMR4895 and IMR4350 .

February 16, 2015, 10:48 PM	#10
hgmeyer Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 147	Oh, I sort of see a "post apocalypse" world where I could trade loaded ammo for a chicken or two, now I have loading dies for calibers other than my own so it is more than just my own needs. I also have molds for lead bullets and buckshot.

February 16, 2015, 11:42 PM	#11
SVTCobra306 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Posts: 434	Probably H4895 and Bullseye, though I have no experience with shotguns and maybe BE isn't compatible.. that might push me to Red Dot instead. __________________ Former US Army Paratrooper (1/509th PIR and 2nd BCT 82nd ABN DIV) 2 time OIF Veteran NRA Certified RSO/CRSO NRA Certified Pistol Instructor

February 16, 2015, 11:46 PM	#12
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I have been on internet gun forums since before the www gun lists. I have seen plenty of survival posts. They are not based on careful thought. They should be listing long lists of scenarios and weighing the probabilities and weighting the cost of countermeasures. This way they could optimize a winning over all strategy. But no. Life is going to turn into a permanent deer hunting vacation, with some grand theft auto thrown in. Own the grocery store and be a chick magnet. Step one is most Apocalypse scenarios are local. Have Gold and passports ready................ ooo... saving money? How boring, I want a bugout vehicle. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

February 17, 2015, 09:50 AM	#14
Jay24bal Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 735	Unique and IMR4064 __________________ I like guns. Once Fired Brass, Top quality, Fast shipping, Best prices. http://300AacBrass.com/ -10% Coupon use code " Jay24bal "

February 23, 2015, 11:22 AM	#15
psalm7 Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2014 Location: Middle TN Posts: 543	I'll have to add Unique and 2400 , Trying to use IMR4227 on small rifle and all handgun powder is a stretch of its capabilities .

February 23, 2015, 06:51 PM	#16
9MMand223only Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2014 Posts: 283	Ruger 10/22 and 25 bricks of ammo is far better than any reloading whatever, IMO

February 23, 2015, 07:45 PM	#17
USMC 77-81 Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Location: Northern Idaho Posts: 254	unique and Varget.

February 23, 2015, 08:14 PM	#18
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	I AGREE two maybe three good solid guns no scopes just hard steel . I am ready and did not even know ?? The 22 Rifle is a good thing to have also a center fire handgun and Rifle (Same calibers would help) Years ago I fell in love with service rifles 03-A3 and the M1 Garand both 30-06 . I found 30-06 Ammo at auctions cheap and bought all I found . Right now I have ammo cans that would fill a pickup truck and more . With the price today I could sell and make a good 500% But I can not replace it . Best advice is KISS (keep It Simple Stupid)

February 23, 2015, 08:26 PM	#19
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	I can pretty much make anything work with 231 and 4064. I hear unique is pretty versatile, but I have never seen it on the shelf before really the end of days, make BP, super easy. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

February 23, 2015, 08:39 PM	#20
SHR970 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 1,427	12 and 20 gauge for what purpose??? 12 for bird hunting and SD? 20 for ???? It makes a difference since I would based on the list pick two powders for the gauges that will also do double duty for the hand guns. I might not get full blast 357's but loaded with Herco or Longshot they won't be whimpy target loads either. The rifles??? That list calls for two powder speeds. I could go W231 / WSF / W296 / W748 / W760. Alliant GD / Herco / 2400 / Rl10x / Rl19 IMR 800 X / 7625 / 4227 / 4895 / 4350 Do you see a pattern? Last edited by SHR970; February 23, 2015 at 09:39 PM.

February 23, 2015, 09:23 PM	#21
trapper9260 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 119	There is one thing that is over look what will you all use for primers, when you have only powders and bullets and shot and wads.

February 23, 2015, 09:26 PM	#22
michaelcj Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2011 Location: Lopez Island, WA Posts: 279	If there is ever such a thing….. in my lifetime.. I think I'm good on ammo and components…….. I just hope to god I had the foresight to put up enough single-malt and TP. Mike

February 24, 2015, 12:33 AM	#23
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	primers are actually easy to make, if your like me and have thousands of used ones lying around. but I don't foresee needing to re-use primers in my lifetime __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

February 24, 2015, 02:28 AM	#24
9mmSkeeter Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 205	Clay dot and IMR 3031. __________________ I kind of like weaponry.

February 24, 2015, 07:30 AM	#25
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	WW 231 Red Dot IMR 4064 Oh, and AA 7 would probably be a good choice if you wanted more potent .357 rounds, and it's also good for .40. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.