Versatile Powder For Several Rifle Calibers

BIGR · July 5, 2008, 10:02 AM

Ok you reloading pros tell me about a versatile powder (preferabily IMR) that would work well with .223, 22-250, 6.8 SPC, 7MM-08, 30-06, and 300 MAG. No I am not a newby, been loading for about 20 years but ol school I guess and have mostly used IMR (IMR 4895,IMR 4064 and IMR 4831) and Hodgon powders for rifles over the years. I am open for any suggestions on different brands of powders. Here is what I am trying to accomplish:

1. Buy a bulk amount of rifle powder for hard times.
2. Buy one that has a moderate to fast burn rate so I use less powder on my loads. More rounds loaded per pound of powder.
3. Powder would need to produce good accuracy.
4. Also what is a good powder for an SEMI Auto AR type rifle (6.8SPC) ?

Any suggestions will be appreciated guys......

Linear Thinker · July 5, 2008, 11:58 AM

BIGR, you are wishing for a universal powder that burns at all speed rates, fast for 6.8, medium-fast for 223, medium for 30-06, medium-slow for 22-250 and slow for 300WM.
There's no such powder, unfortunately.

IMR4895 on your list comes closest, and will work in all the calibers you load, but will not be ideal for the fast and slow end of the range. It would be excellent for 30-06 and 7-08, and good in 223.
If you want to stock up for the uncertain times, 4895 is the one. It will cost you, the days of cheap surplus 4895 are past.
If you want best accuracy, you will need to diversify.
LT

P.S. Powder does not go bad when stored properly, I am using the inherited ~1950 vintage HiVel#2 to load 30-06. Whatever you buy, store it in a cool dry place, and it will last longer than you will.

crowbeaner · July 5, 2008, 08:51 PM

Go with WW 748 and 760. The 748 will load the peewees, and the 760 will load everything else.

Scorch · July 5, 2008, 11:40 PM

I don't believe you could find a powder that will fill that broad of a spectrum of burn rates. Even with 2 powders that's quite a stretch, but much easier to do. Like crowbeaner said, 748 and 760 would work very well. However, if I wanted to stick with IMR powders, I would use IMR3031 for the fast powder, and IMR4831 as the slow powder. They have about the same burn rate as 748 and 760, but are IMR powders.

Military ammo for the AR rifles is loaded with ball powder, and that's what I use. I imagine IMR powders would work just fine, since that is what Stoner recommended for the AR in the first place, but just about everybody I shoot with loads ARs with ball powder.

Martyn4802 · July 6, 2008, 05:51 AM

I want to chime in and say that having one, or two powders, to cover your needs MAY not give the accuracy you're demanding.
As Scorch says, you CAN get by with maybe two powders, but I can bet you aren't going to be happy with accuracy.
This is interesting because I started reloading in 1948. My Step Dad, who taught me the ropes, had ONLY two powders in the house ever, and he loaded for everything from 22 Hornet to 30-06. He had IMR-4064 and IMR-4227. To him, there were NO other powders..

Looking back on it, I laugh because he was living a dream, that 4064 was the ONLY powder for his 22-250, his 257 Roberts and the 25-06AI, his 270 and 30-06. The 4227 was for the Hornet. I really don't remember what accuracy he got from all the different rifles using 4064, but he was happy.

Martyn

BIGR · July 6, 2008, 09:55 AM

Great info guys. I might just have to splurge a little and get maybe 3 or 4 different ones to cover my range of calibers. Seems like maybe the IMR4064 was not quite as accurate as the IMR4895 in my 22-250. An ol timer had a load for IMR4895 (if I recall correctly,been so long since I loaded some for the 22-250) it was around 34 grs. of IMR4895 sitting on top of a match 52 grain boat tail. Might be more accurate loads out there but that load has claimed many groundhogs. I heard 38 grs. of H380 was pretty good in the 22-250 but I have never tried it. For some reason I never took the time to experiment alot with different types of powders. If I had a load and it worked for me, thats what I went with.

RidgwayCO · July 6, 2008, 09:56 AM

Hodgdon's Varget wouldn't be a horrible choice for any of the cartridges listed. There seems to be data on their website for all of them (except heavy bullets in the .300 Win Mag)

crowbeaner · July 6, 2008, 09:41 PM

Those 2 loads you detail will work splendidly; I've loaded and shot both in my Remingtons, and they are both very accurate and effective. Wait until you hit something with a Speer 52 grain original HP and 34.0 of 4895. Pink mist time; I don't mean lemonade.

July 5, 2008, 10:02 AM	#1
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	Versatile Powder For Several Rifle Calibers Ok you reloading pros tell me about a versatile powder (preferabily IMR) that would work well with .223, 22-250, 6.8 SPC, 7MM-08, 30-06, and 300 MAG. No I am not a newby, been loading for about 20 years but ol school I guess and have mostly used IMR (IMR 4895,IMR 4064 and IMR 4831) and Hodgon powders for rifles over the years. I am open for any suggestions on different brands of powders. Here is what I am trying to accomplish: 1. Buy a bulk amount of rifle powder for hard times. 2. Buy one that has a moderate to fast burn rate so I use less powder on my loads. More rounds loaded per pound of powder. 3. Powder would need to produce good accuracy. 4. Also what is a good powder for an SEMI Auto AR type rifle (6.8SPC) ? Any suggestions will be appreciated guys......

July 5, 2008, 08:51 PM	#3
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Go with WW 748 and 760. The 748 will load the peewees, and the 760 will load everything else. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

July 5, 2008, 11:40 PM	#4
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I don't believe you could find a powder that will fill that broad of a spectrum of burn rates. Even with 2 powders that's quite a stretch, but much easier to do. Like crowbeaner said, 748 and 760 would work very well. However, if I wanted to stick with IMR powders, I would use IMR3031 for the fast powder, and IMR4831 as the slow powder. They have about the same burn rate as 748 and 760, but are IMR powders. Military ammo for the AR rifles is loaded with ball powder, and that's what I use. I imagine IMR powders would work just fine, since that is what Stoner recommended for the AR in the first place, but just about everybody I shoot with loads ARs with ball powder. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 6, 2008, 05:51 AM	#5
Martyn4802 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Grayling, Michigan Posts: 737	I want to chime in and say that having one, or two powders, to cover your needs MAY not give the accuracy you're demanding. As Scorch says, you CAN get by with maybe two powders, but I can bet you aren't going to be happy with accuracy. This is interesting because I started reloading in 1948. My Step Dad, who taught me the ropes, had ONLY two powders in the house ever, and he loaded for everything from 22 Hornet to 30-06. He had IMR-4064 and IMR-4227. To him, there were NO other powders.. Looking back on it, I laugh because he was living a dream, that 4064 was the ONLY powder for his 22-250, his 257 Roberts and the 25-06AI, his 270 and 30-06. The 4227 was for the Hornet. I really don't remember what accuracy he got from all the different rifles using 4064, but he was happy. Martyn __________________ US Army Retired NRA Benefactor Life Member JPFO

July 6, 2008, 09:41 PM	#8
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Those 2 loads you detail will work splendidly; I've loaded and shot both in my Remingtons, and they are both very accurate and effective. Wait until you hit something with a Speer 52 grain original HP and 34.0 of 4895. Pink mist time; I don't mean lemonade. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

July 5, 2008, 11:58 AM	#2
Linear Thinker Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2007 Location: Blue State, NE US Posts: 202	BIGR, you are wishing for a universal powder that burns at all speed rates, fast for 6.8, medium-fast for 223, medium for 30-06, medium-slow for 22-250 and slow for 300WM. There's no such powder, unfortunately. IMR4895 on your list comes closest, and will work in all the calibers you load, but will not be ideal for the fast and slow end of the range. It would be excellent for 30-06 and 7-08, and good in 223. If you want to stock up for the uncertain times, 4895 is the one. It will cost you, the days of cheap surplus 4895 are past. If you want best accuracy, you will need to diversify. LT P.S. Powder does not go bad when stored properly, I am using the inherited ~1950 vintage HiVel#2 to load 30-06. Whatever you buy, store it in a cool dry place, and it will last longer than you will. Last edited by Linear Thinker; July 5, 2008 at 03:08 PM.

July 6, 2008, 09:55 AM	#6
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	Great info guys. I might just have to splurge a little and get maybe 3 or 4 different ones to cover my range of calibers. Seems like maybe the IMR4064 was not quite as accurate as the IMR4895 in my 22-250. An ol timer had a load for IMR4895 (if I recall correctly,been so long since I loaded some for the 22-250) it was around 34 grs. of IMR4895 sitting on top of a match 52 grain boat tail. Might be more accurate loads out there but that load has claimed many groundhogs. I heard 38 grs. of H380 was pretty good in the 22-250 but I have never tried it. For some reason I never took the time to experiment alot with different types of powders. If I had a load and it worked for me, thats what I went with.

July 6, 2008, 09:56 AM	#7
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	Hodgdon's Varget wouldn't be a horrible choice for any of the cartridges listed. There seems to be data on their website for all of them (except heavy bullets in the .300 Win Mag)

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