ammunition, powder

[whirley]

What powders would be good types to buy in quantity. Are there one or two powders that can be used for many different caliber firearms?

[mrkirker]

buy in quantity? I like Unique. It's not perfect, but it's versatile.

[Popgunner]

Ditto to Kirker

Unique by far is the most versatile powder there is. Useable for shotgun, handgun, and rifle loads. You won't get the highest velocity with Unique as compared to other powders but I can make any center fire gun I have go bang with it.

[LDBennett]

If you have a collecdtion of handguns and rifle of various calibers there are powders that cover many of these.

For handguns from 38 SPL to 45LC, Winchester 231 works good for target loads and just plinking. It takes a small quantity so it is economical too. The EXACT (!) same powder in the Hodgdon line is HP38. For 9mm I use Accurate #7 or Winchester 231. For magnum pistols Hodgdon 110 or Winchester 296 give the highest velocities.

For the smaller caliber rifles with nominal bullet weights, like 223, 30/30, 308, my powder of choice is Hodgdon 335. For larger calibers like 30-06, I like Hodgdon 414 and Hodgdon 380. Hodgdon 4831SC works for larger still calibers and Magnum rifle cartridges.

I use IMR 4227 in 22 Hornet and in 45-70 and in magnum pistol cartridges on occasion.

I like the Winchester and Hodgdon powders because they work well and meter through a powder measure well. And everyone stocks Hodgdon.

Others here have their favorites too but I reload for 30 calibers and I sure don't need 30 different powders!

LDBennett

[USMC-03]

+1 to Unique. If I had to use only two powders it would be Unique for pistol and shotgun reloading and Varget for rifle reloading. I also like Bullseye and IMR 4350.

[Haligan]

Unique for handgun.
IMR 3031 for rifle.
Those two can almost do it all.

[thomas44]

I like Varget for .223, .22-250 and .243. Works GREAT in all 3 ! I use alot of Titegroup for various pistol cartridges.

[Oncefiredbrass.net]

I would say Winchester .231 or Titegroup. Both are good powders and meter well.

[GMFWoodchuck]

It seems to me that there is a million kinds of powder. Even within one company. Hodgon for instince lists a bunch that are great/perfect for calibers from the 22-250s and the 30-06s and so on. How am I supposed to know where to start? Or should I say which one should I start with?

[FJF0311]

I use Varget with very good results in .223, .308, and 30-06.

[GMFWoodchuck]

Originally Posted by FJF0311

I use Varget with very good results in .223, .308, and 30-06.

Yeah, I was figuring on Varget only because it has an interesting name.

Is there really that much of a difference from one powder to the next on how well your gun will shoot?

[Dirtypacman]

Since I use WIN231 in both my 45 and 38 I buy that in larger quantity.

[USMC-03]

Originally Posted by GMFWoodchuck

Is there really that much of a difference from one powder to the next on how well your gun will shoot?

There can be, yes. The main advantage of Varget to me, other than excellent accuracy and versatility, is it's insensitivity to dramatic temperature variations. I can work up a long range target load for my .308 model 70 match rifle in the spring with Varget and have very little increase in pressure during the summer when it's 100 degrees and no shade on the 1,000 yard line.