Best all-around powder

Right to bear arms · February 24, 2013, 07:45 PM

Here is my dilemma . . I have 5 rifles (.243, 7mm rem. mag, .270, .308. and 30-06) I have limited resources, but would like to reload for all 5 with the same powder. I do not require extreme speeds, but acceptable whitetail hunting and occasional target-shooting accuracy. I have a rockchucker and dies for all 5. Is there an all-around powder that you could recommend that would suffice for all 5 calibers? Appreciative of any response.

Big Yac · February 24, 2013, 07:59 PM

I load for 3 of those 5 calibers, .243, .308, and.30-06. My vote is for IMR 4895. It gives me great accuracy. My loads are warm, I don't go to the max, I'm somewhere alittle above a middle of the road load.

TheoShooter · February 24, 2013, 08:01 PM

Why limit yourself to one powder? There's many good powders out there. What's the difference between buying a pound of three different powders or a pound of the same powder three times?

BigD_in_FL · February 24, 2013, 08:07 PM

IMR 4350 will also cover those cartridges

ScottRiqui · February 24, 2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

What's the difference between buying a pound of three different powders or a pound of the same powder three times?

Not much, but there's a significant price difference between buying 1-lb bottles of four different powders versus a 4-lb jug of one powder.

Also, when I have a bunch of different powders, it seems like I'm always on the verge of running out of at least one of them.

Still, I'd rather stock multiple powders than spend a lot of time trying to find "one powder to rule them all", or settling for a powder that may work for all the calibers needed, but not be the optimal powder for any of them.

Right to bear arms · February 24, 2013, 08:13 PM

Thank you for your responses. I do have a few lbs. of RL-22 around, so that should cover my 7mm Magnum. I especially want to bridge the gap between my .243 and .308. I will shoot Remington 100 gr. softpoints in the .243 and Sierra gameking 165's in my .308. This is because these are the bullets I have on hand. I'm researching Varget and RL-22 as well as Bl-C(2) right now.

**Mike Irwin** · February 24, 2013, 08:15 PM

IMR-4064. I used it regularly to load, .243, .30-06, .300 Savage, and 6.5 Arisaka. It did very well with all of those.

Slamfire · February 24, 2013, 08:38 PM

Varget. Next best, IMR 4064

IMR 4350 worked great in everything other than the 308. Could not get the velocity I wanted.

William T. Watts · February 24, 2013, 08:39 PM

H4831 will work well in the 243Win/7mm mag/270Win, IMR4064 or IMR4895 will cover your 308Win & 30/06 Springfield. Those two powders will cover all five calibers, you should have high velocity with good accuracy.. William

Big Yac · February 24, 2013, 11:25 PM

I didnt post the bullets weights I use for 243, 308, and 30-06. Again, I love IMR 4895, in the 243 I use 85gr HPBT bullets, 308 I use 168gr HPBT, and 30-06 I use 180gr HPBT. Come to think of it, yes IMR 4064 would probably work well too but as for me I like 4895. I may give Varget a try sometime as I've heard good about it as well as Reloader 19.

dmazur · February 24, 2013, 11:28 PM

I use Varget for .243 (100 gr bullets) and .30-06 (150 gr bullets).

It isn't the best performing powder for either caliber, but it seems to work consistently, at slightly less than maximum possible velocities if I used other powders.

Shootest · February 25, 2013, 02:13 PM

BLC (2) will also work. These days it's whatever you can find.

hooligan1 · February 25, 2013, 06:27 PM

I'm the thirteenth reply on this thread, and no one has mentioned probably the only powder that SUITS all those calibers the best, IMR 4350.

Dang I didn't see Bigdnfl's post sorry Big D!!!

Right to bear arms · February 25, 2013, 06:31 PM

I guess that settles that. I go out and buy a keg of IMR 4350 , 10,000 large rifle primers, 100 winchester cases for each caliber, reload em up and let Barry and Joe try to take our guns.

hooligan1 · February 25, 2013, 06:35 PM

Good luck brother, you should have already stocked your loading bench.

ky hunter · February 25, 2013, 08:14 PM

My vote IMR 4350

February 24, 2013, 07:45 PM	#1
Right to bear arms Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2011 Location: LaFayette GA Posts: 197	Best all-around powder Here is my dilemma . . I have 5 rifles (.243, 7mm rem. mag, .270, .308. and 30-06) I have limited resources, but would like to reload for all 5 with the same powder. I do not require extreme speeds, but acceptable whitetail hunting and occasional target-shooting accuracy. I have a rockchucker and dies for all 5. Is there an all-around powder that you could recommend that would suffice for all 5 calibers? Appreciative of any response.

February 24, 2013, 07:59 PM	#2
Big Yac Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 422	I load for 3 of those 5 calibers, .243, .308, and.30-06. My vote is for IMR 4895. It gives me great accuracy. My loads are warm, I don't go to the max, I'm somewhere alittle above a middle of the road load. __________________ "...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so."

February 24, 2013, 08:15 PM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	IMR-4064. I used it regularly to load, .243, .30-06, .300 Savage, and 6.5 Arisaka. It did very well with all of those. __________________ "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.

February 24, 2013, 08:38 PM	#8
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Varget. Next best, IMR 4064 IMR 4350 worked great in everything other than the 308. Could not get the velocity I wanted. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

February 24, 2013, 11:25 PM	#10
Big Yac Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 422	I didnt post the bullets weights I use for 243, 308, and 30-06. Again, I love IMR 4895, in the 243 I use 85gr HPBT bullets, 308 I use 168gr HPBT, and 30-06 I use 180gr HPBT. Come to think of it, yes IMR 4064 would probably work well too but as for me I like 4895. I may give Varget a try sometime as I've heard good about it as well as Reloader 19. __________________ "...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so."

February 24, 2013, 08:01 PM	#3
TheoShooter Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 31	Why limit yourself to one powder? There's many good powders out there. What's the difference between buying a pound of three different powders or a pound of the same powder three times?

February 24, 2013, 08:07 PM	#4
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	IMR 4350 will also cover those cartridges

February 24, 2013, 08:13 PM	#6
Right to bear arms Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2011 Location: LaFayette GA Posts: 197	Thank you for your responses. I do have a few lbs. of RL-22 around, so that should cover my 7mm Magnum. I especially want to bridge the gap between my .243 and .308. I will shoot Remington 100 gr. softpoints in the .243 and Sierra gameking 165's in my .308. This is because these are the bullets I have on hand. I'm researching Varget and RL-22 as well as Bl-C(2) right now.

February 24, 2013, 08:39 PM	#9
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	H4831 will work well in the 243Win/7mm mag/270Win, IMR4064 or IMR4895 will cover your 308Win & 30/06 Springfield. Those two powders will cover all five calibers, you should have high velocity with good accuracy.. William

February 24, 2013, 11:28 PM	#11
dmazur Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,310	I use Varget for .243 (100 gr bullets) and .30-06 (150 gr bullets). It isn't the best performing powder for either caliber, but it seems to work consistently, at slightly less than maximum possible velocities if I used other powders. __________________ .30-06 Springfield: 100 yrs + and still going strong

February 25, 2013, 02:13 PM	#12
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	BLC (2) will also work. These days it's whatever you can find. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

February 25, 2013, 06:27 PM	#13
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	I'm the thirteenth reply on this thread, and no one has mentioned probably the only powder that SUITS all those calibers the best, IMR 4350. Dang I didn't see Bigdnfl's post sorry Big D!!! __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

February 25, 2013, 06:31 PM	#14
Right to bear arms Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2011 Location: LaFayette GA Posts: 197	I guess that settles that. I go out and buy a keg of IMR 4350 , 10,000 large rifle primers, 100 winchester cases for each caliber, reload em up and let Barry and Joe try to take our guns.

February 25, 2013, 06:35 PM	#15
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	Good luck brother, you should have already stocked your loading bench. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

February 25, 2013, 08:14 PM	#16
ky hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2010 Posts: 132	My vote IMR 4350 __________________ Cross the Jordan it's better on this side.