Input request

[JLA]

I have a request of my fellow reloaders here.

A good friend has asked if I could provide him with a list of propellants to stock in his gun shop. He has been in business for years, since i was a kid actually, and has never offered reloading components. Now after much leaning on him to do so He has agreed to provide a component shelf in his store. Hes gonna dedicate a 4'X8', maybe a tad bigger, shelf for powders, primers, projectiles, shot and wads. And maybe even new brass for the more popular calibers.

I have started a list but I stopped myself and decided to create this thread. Figured many heads are better than one.

Heres what hes looking for.. He wants a list of propellats that cover as many applications as possible, so obviously he doesnt have to stock 34 different brands of powder.

For example, Unique, has applications in most handgun cartridges, as well as cast and reduced rifle cartridges, and 12, 16 and 20 ga shotshells. It is DEFINITELY on the list.

Another fine example would be Varget, has applications in almost every centerfire rifle cartridge from .223 to .45/70.

So guys, if you dont mind casting your input into the pot, gimme a short list of powders that can be used to cover as many different applications as you can. And list the applications too, itll help me when i compile the data to give to him.

[JLA]

Alpo, im counting on you.. ;)

[todd51]

I don't do enough rifle cartridges to matter. In handgun cartridges I load, .380acp, 9mm, .38spl, .357mag, .40S&W, .45acp, and .45Colt. For those limited cartridges I mostly use:

HP-38(W-231), Bullseye, & Unique

There are other powders in the cabinet but these are the ones I use most and in that order.

[American Leader]

WW231, great all around hand gun powder. Also, HS-6 for both magnum handguns and shotguns. As you noted Unigue is good and so is Titegroup for many applications. I like Varget and Reloader 15 for rifle, but there are probably better choices for "all around" rifle powders.

[carver]

As of the moment I reload only pistol ammo, and use Accurate Powder exculsively. #2, #5, #7, and #9 will load any caliber hand gun. It's fast burning, takes less than most other powders, and burns clean.

[oldgunfan]

I was going to say W231 but someone beat me to it sooo I'll say WST great for 45acp and 12gauge target loads. and you have to have IMR4350 or H4350 and H4895.

[steve4102]

First a suggestion, shotgun wads take up a lot of room. His 4 x 8 shelf will be over run with wads with little room for anything else. Find a place for the wads away from the smaller components. If you are going to sell wads, ya gotta sell shot, another item that takes up a lot of room. Best place for both of these is on the floor down low.

Powders, I'm a Ramshot and VV guy, but these are not what most people use, so I would put them on the back burner as "Special Order" or if he finds more room.

Gotta have H-IMR 4350, Varget, H-IMR 4831, H-IMR 4895, H-322, H-335, 8208 XBR, IMR 4064, IMR 7828, Clays, TG, HP-39/231, Longshot, 748.

AA 1680, 2230, 2520, 2700, #2, #5, #7.

Reloader 7, 15, 17, 19, 22, Bullseye, Power Pistol, Blue Dot, Unique.

Sorry damn near took up the whole shelf.

Bullets, good selection from Hornady and Sierra, less of a selection from Speer and Nosler.

[Little Rooster]

I like most already listed here, add Clay's and Trailboss and it will cover most target loading. Clays in shotgun is also good.

[BlackEagle]

I used the titegroup as do a lot of others in my gun club for pistol caliber. Vihtavouri N140 for my .223.

Are .223 and .308 brass on the list?

Primers: I've used CCI, Federal and PPU small rifle and small pistol primers; they all seemed to work OK. PPU's can be a little more tight to seat.

Heads: Our club uses a lot of 158 gr RNFP for .38 and .357 and a similar, only in .44 for the .44 gallery rifles and revolvers.

For target practice and competitions the 69 grain SMK seems to be fairly popular for .223.
Is he going to supply black powder?

[Bindernut]

For centerfire rifles...here's what I've got on hand covering .204Ruger, to .30-30, up to 7mmRemMag/.300WinMag.

IMR3031 <--.30-30Win
Varget <--.22-250, .220Swift, .243Win/6mmRem, .308, 8x57
IMR4064 <--.22-250, .220Swift, .243Win/6mmRem
(4064 and Varget seems to crossover real smoothly for the same uses, so maybe either/or...roughly the same burn rate. I've got good loads for both so I keep em both on hand.)
IMR or H4350 <--.243Win/6mmRem. 6.5Swede, 7x57, .308, .270Win, .30-06
IMR or H4831 <--.25-06, .270, 6.5RemMag
H1000 or IMR7828 if there are a lot of big magnum shooters in the area <--.264Winmag, 7mmRemMag, .300WinMag

I've got IMR4198 and SR4759 on the shelf too, but they're seldom used powders for me.
Assorted RL powders too 15, 17, 19, 22...but most of those cross over with others on my above list.

[JLA]

Yeah the wads and shot are gonna be floored and I advised him of just one type of wad to stock. WAA 12s and 20s, those are the 2 most popular guages and 2 most popular wads. I use the claybuster WAA12 and 20 copies with my light shot loads. As for shot. prolly 90% of all shotgunning is accomplished with 7.5, so thats what ill put on the list and for him to keep at least 2 25# sacks in stock.

Unique and TG are on the list. Im also probably gonna place Green Dot on the list because of its prevalence with most target handgun loads as well as both trap and field loads in 12 and 20 ga.

Magnum handgun/revolver powders can be covered by Unique and TG to the lower end, so Ill recommend 2400 and Hodgdon li'l gun to accompany them. Both of which can also be used in 28 ga and .410, for those guys that bother with the sub guages.

So far I got Varget, IMR4895, IMR4350, and Reloder 25. at least 2 of those 4 are listed under nearly every commonly encountered centerfire offering in existence. and the IMR 4350 and RX25 cover the heavy bullet overbores like 85 gr + .243 and the magnums like 7mm rem mag and .300 WM..

I was already gonna suggest Hornady and sierra projectiles with maybe a couple offerings from nosler and barnes for the extereme hunters.

Also thinkin about getting him to order some cast projectiles from our own Matt Dardas to keep in stock, mainly common stuff like .45ACP 200 or 230 gr, 9mm 115 or 125 gr, .357 158 gr SWCs, etc. But thats all just a maybe, pending shelf space.

As for primers, Id be happy if all he stocked was CCI magnums in the 4 sizes, btu I know there are those that prefer std primers, and again the new reloaders that are instructed by myself included to adhere to the manuals. Definitely gonna get him to stock Fiocchi 616s to cover 209 shotshell primers, best damn shotshell primers made IMO.



Keep the suggestions coming guys. Im referencing and changing the list as I go.

[howlnmad]

I can't really help with shotgun powders and supplies but I gotta go with most of the powders Steve and Todd suggested but I think I would add 2400, Universal and Power Pistol.

[JohnTheCalifornian]

I would like to suggest some cheaper "Plinking" bullets. Something from Ranier or Berry's, or the likes. Most all of the shops carry the name brand pricey bullets, which would detract me from going to their store and buying bullets. Lead is cheap as well, but some may not want to deal with shooting lead either.

So, definitely a cheaper plinking bullet selection would be great. I bet those would sell faster than the Hornady's, Winchester's, etc.

[steve4102]

I would like to suggest some cheaper "Plinking" bullets. Something from Ranier or Berry's, or the likes. Most all of the shops carry the name brand pricey bullets, which would detract me from going to their store and buying bullets. Lead is cheap as well, but some may not want to deal with shooting lead either.

So, definitely a cheaper plinking bullet selection would be great. I bet those would sell faster than the Hornady's, Winchester's, etc.

Good point, cept Berry and Rainier are now more $$ than true Jacketed.

[gun-nut]

JLA dont get to crazy on the cast bullets. The local gun store here did that and now they just sit. Someone told him that thy would send a few friends up to buy and well you know what happens.

[gdmoody]

I am looking at my reloading log and these are powders that I see in there a whole lot of times:

Rifle Powders: Varget, Win748, H110, AA5744, AA2230, IMR 4064, and something new I just read about called CFE223 by Hodgdon (that, I want to try)

Handgun powders: Winchester 231, Bullseye, Unique, AA#5, AA#7, Titegroup.

Primers: Any kind he can get, you know SP, SR, LP, LR any brand and also magnum.

Bullets: there are too many to list but you probably know more than I do.

I don't do shotguns so I have no idea on that.

[76Highboy]

I like Winchester 296 because it has a high load density. 296 puts out good velocities.

[JLA]

Im with ya on the CFE223 George. i wanna try that stuff bad. It has the same application range as Varget, cept its a spherical and it erases copper fouling. You catch the article on it in the new issue of G&A?

[JLA]

Good data guys. Keep it comin. The names I see being listed over and over are getting added to the list to later be picked thru to select the most versatile.

[H-D]

Imr 3031 and 4350 are what I have always used for rifles, its what my dad used for most of the std calibers

[gdmoody]

You catch the article on it in the new issue of G&A?

Yes, and it look very interesting!!

[The_Rifleman]

HP-38; 38 special
H 110, Vihtavouri N 110; 357 mag

Vihtavouri N 135; 30-30

H 4895, Varget, IMR 4064; 30-30/30-06

IMR 4831, H 4831; 30-06

[garydude]

Hey Josh,
I've been thinking about your question and came up with the idea that he should offer three powders for each of the major distributors if he has room. Offer a fast, mid-range and slow powder. Example- Alliant offer bullseye, unique (or power pistol) and 2400. AA could be #2, #5, #9, etc.
If he doesn't have the space then offer a fast and slow powder.
As for projectiles offer one major line such as hornady or sierra, then offer another line from say MBC or Dardas for cast, and Berrys for plated (again if he has room.)

For me personally I would get by with bullseye, power pistol and 2400 for pistol, and really only need IMR 4350 for rifles. Projectiles-Sierra for rifle, Berry's and MBC cast for pistol.

[myfriendis410]

In pistol; Bullseye, Unique, Clays, and 296
In Rifle: IMR4350, 4895, H414, Varget, RL19, RL22, H4831sc, IMR4831
In Shotgun: Red Dot, Universal, L'il Gun
Muzzleloader: Some 777 50/50 and Blackhorn 209

There are so many to choose from, but those would be the first to have on the shelf in our store.

I would also stock the WW/Claybuster pink wad in 12 gauge, or the Claybuster blue (windjammer) for 1 oz. loads in the 12.

I'm a big fan of the Federal primers and try to stock the large rifle match and large rifle magnum match. Federal also makes the "softest" pistol primer for those revolver shooters with light springs.

[garydude]

Or his best bet- tell him exactly what you would buy as you'll probably be his best customer:D:D:D

[cpttango30]

Blue dot
Varget
Re15
Trail boss
Are the ones I know off the top of my heads.

[JLA]

Or his best bet- tell him exactly what you would buy as you'll probably be his best customer:D:D:D

;)

[BlackEagle]

Will you tell us what your final recommendation list is?

[JLA]

I gave him a 2 page list of powders to choose from as they all had broad applications. I will leave it to him to decide what he wants to stock.

[*Hoss*]

Didn't see Red Dot/Green Dot for the trapshooters out there.

[mtnman]

Dont forget the assortment of manuals/ books!!!!!!