Completed transition from Alliant to Hodgdon...

[TNBillyEarl]

I'm not too hung-up on accuracy; I'm a big fan of simplicity. All my rifles are a .284 variety, each with its own brand of brass. All primers are federal. All bullets Nosler. And until this year, all my powder was Alliant (22, 23, and 26).

Today I finished developing loads for all my rifles and hunting bullets using readily available H4350, H4831sc, and Varget. If I get bored I'll pick up some Retumbo. This is not a project I particularly embraced or enjoyed, though I learned a bit and found a few of what I think will be better loads. I'm not saying either powder is superior, I'm just saying that I don't want to do this again.

I read a NYT this morning about a possible primer shortage due to tariffs (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/world/europe/bosnia-trump-tariffs-ammunition.html - paywall). I hope I don't have to switch from Federal 210s and 215s. Heck, I could have bought a nice scope for what all of this cost me.

-B

 

[300WSM]

I'm not too hung-up on accuracy; I'm a big fan of simplicity. All my rifles are a .284 variety, each with its own brand of brass. All primers are federal. All bullets Nosler. And until this year, all my powder was Alliant (22, 23, and 26).

Today I finished developing loads for all my rifles and hunting bullets using readily available H4350, H4831sc, and Varget. If I get bored I'll pick up some Retumbo. This is not a project I particularly embraced or enjoyed, though I learned a bit and found a few of what I think will be better loads. I'm not saying either powder is superior, I'm just saying that I don't want to do this again.

I read a NYT this morning about a possible primer shortage due to tariffs (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/world/europe/bosnia-trump-tariffs-ammunition.html - paywall). I hope I don't have to switch from Federal 210s and 215s. Heck, I could have bought a nice scope for what all of this cost me.

-B

Don't worry about it.

The tariffs won't impact primers one iota.
At least not Fed, Rem, Win, CCI

Nobel Sport and Cheddite I can't say the same but that will impact more shotgun shooters than anyone else.

 

[6mm Remington]

I like your style. I shoot 6mm Remington, 280AI, and 30-06 and use only Nosler bullets, use Federal 210 & 215 primers, and mostly use IMR4350 and IMR7828SSC with H4350 & H4831SC in there. Just a wee bit more complicated than yours but not much.

 

[clearwater]

I like Alliant too, but am having good luck with Winchester Staball series of powders as their replacement for rifle.

 

[salmonchaser]

I’ve only started hoarding RL 17 for my 275 Rigby. Gets me into the mid 2950s with 140s. That’s an easy 100 ft plus faster than anything else I’ve tried.

 

[TexasLife]

33, 19 and 10x (6-8# of each) are what i have the most in on alliant as 15, ar-comp, 17, 22 and 25 all have 2# or less left. i'm transitioning into vv powders since my favorite imr4831 is all but gone. probably saving the 17 for 308 and 7-08 and 22 and 25 for i'm not sure which cartridge(s)? 7828ssc is my backup powder for many cartridges which could get me as much as 1k rounds depending on charge. i'm really hoping that 560 will work great in 260rem, 6.5prc, 264wm and 300wm and maybe 243win (565 as backup to that). i've got a fair amount of retumbo and varget. makes me wish i had more time to reload back when everything was available. instead i have 300# of untested powders. that goodness i have an ungodly amount of primers to test with.

 

[TexasLife]

has anyone tried rs grand yet?

 

[Bruce Mc]

has anyone tried rs grand yet?

Ramshot Grand has replaced IMR 7828 SSC for 150gr Partitions in my 270 win and H-1000 and Reloder 22 for 160gr ABs in my 7mm Rem mag.

 

[RL338]

Alliant powders currently on the shelf RL-10X , RL-12 , RL-17 , RL-22 , RL-26 , RL-33 , Blue-Dot. I’ve found other powders to use in their place , just disappointed with Alliant for the time being.

 

[TexasLife]

Alliant powders currently on the shelf RL-10X , RL-12 , RL-17 , RL-22 , RL-26 , RL-33 , Blue-Dot. I’ve found other powders to use in their place , just disappointed with Alliant for the time being.

where the heck have you found 33 and bb on the shelf at? or do you mean your shelves

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I’ve simplified greatly from where I formerly was.

Now I use Varget, IMR4350, and H4831. I also use Ramshot Hunter, Enforcer and Silhouette.

 

[TexasLife]

before so many alliant powders were becoming unavailable or less available alliant was going to introduce rl13. i never found any info on what cartridges it would be used in or if it were like 15.5,m 16, 23 & 26 type as a "more green" powder?

 

[salmonchaser]

has anyone tried rs grand yet?

I was out at the range a couple days ago. Chanced to run into a young man who is one of the top PRS shooters extant. One of the things he does to pay the freight, if you will, is load developement. He is running Grande in appropriate cartridges because it is available. He likes it, good velocity and very consistent.

 

[Yoteklr]

There are no smokeless powders manufactured in the USA except winchester ball powder which is made by St Marks in Florida.

St. Marks Powder - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I like the RL series of powders, wish I had more than I do. I'll keep using them till there gone. Me personally, I've always developed more than one load for each rifle with different bullet weights and different powders. Good to have options. Some may not be quite as accurate but plenty good. RL22 does very well in my 6.5x55s but last I saw and still on the shelf is $71.00 lb. I'm not paying that when Winchester SB6.5, Ramshot series and Hodgdon will do the same at a cheaper price.

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

I share your pain. I used to use RL19 & 22 but you can’t get that anymore. RL26 I never got the chance to play with. It is H or AR powders as we know them here or nothing. Crazy times that still haven’t improved. At least we can buy primers now

 

[RL338]

where the heck have you found 33 and bb on the shelf at? or do you mean your shelves

Sorry , my shelf. RL-33 is for my 30-378 and 338 Lapua who have sat idle for some time. At 100+ grs it goes fast so I’m saving the rest until I feel the need to dig those 2 out.
When Sportsman Warehouse opened a couple years ago they had Blue Dot on the shelf. I should have bought it all in hind site.

 

[TexasLife]

Sorry , my shelf. RL-33 is for my 30-378 and 338 Lapua who have sat idle for some time. At 100+ grs it goes fast so I’m saving the rest until I feel the need to dig those 2 out.
When Sportsman Warehouse opened a couple years ago they had Blue Dot on the shelf. I should have bought it all in hind site.

what are you using blue dot in? i don't reload shotgun, so i use it in a few pistol cartridges. when you can reload 500-700 rounds per # one thinks he'll never run out? i guess if they never make any more and you continue to use bb, then you will at some point. i only was able to obtain 33 when a member on another forum had an 8# for sale. drove 500 miles (and never left the Texas border) to get it, but was headed that way to help my son move.

 

[SJB358]

Fella’s give a look at Vihtavuori powders. Very similar to what we saw with Alliant and man it’s a quality powder that rivals H powders in stability. Mike has used them a lot in the past and as usual, I was slow to get on the trail but if you like 33 you’ll love 570. Same for similar burn rates.

 

[TexasLife]

Fella, give a look at Vihtavuori powders. Very similar to what we saw with Alliant and man it’s a quality powder that rivals H powders in stability. Mike has used them a lot in the past and as usual, I was slow to get on the trail but if you like 33 you’ll love 570. Same for similar burn rates.

i have some 570 also along with 568, 565, 560, 555 & 550.