Rifle powder selection

[Wis65x55]

According to various sources, there are probably 70 different kinds of rifle gun powders on the on the market. The problem today is not finding that one perfect powder but deciding on a dozen suitable candidates. My question is how do I narrow down the "suitable" candidates to a manageable number of near perfect choice?
Keith

 

[Rol_P]

Good question, personally I rely on "Most Accurate Powder" shown in the Nosler Manual or Accuracy Load listed in other manuals. I am sure you will have more suggestions here soon. Best of Luck.

 

[Guy Miner]

Exactly - I like to "cheat" and narrow the choices by selecting from powders already known and proven to work well in a particular cartridge.

Nosler's manual lists their most accurate combo.

Sierra's manual has had accuracy loads & hunting loads listed.

This forum and others, is another good place to start - perhaps someone here has extensive experience with the cartridge in which you're interested.

Here's an example of load data from Nosler, for the .30-06 with 175 & 180 gr bullets:


From that, my first choices would be from the best four or five powders listed, for velocity - though frankly on that page - I don't see a combo that really jumps out at me as a bad decision. I'd be looking hard at RL-22, H4350, W760, and Hunter - then I might make some inquiries here. Find out if there are drawbacks to any of them, that others have noticed.

Regards, Guy

 

[DrMike]

The suggestions to this point are spot on. Ballisticians at Nosler and Sierra have done yeoman's service for hand loaders. Their data shows the powder for a particular bullet that yields the most accurate load (lowest standard deviation). That powder will likely prove best for hand loaders seeking an accurate load. In the absence of such recommendation, I look at the data generated and almost always select the powder that gave the lowest standard deviation. Beyond that, experience goes a long way in determining which powder I will initially choose for testing.

 

[wildgene]

...I also look @ case fill, 95-100%, then 90-95%/ 100-105%, potential MV's, consistency between lots & in availability. Since I'm not doing a bunch of shooting past 600yds., 'temp sensitivity' isn't a real big concern...

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I really have narrowed it down to four rifle powders for what I do. Its been by trial and error and believe me I have tried lots of stuff that has came out as the "latest and greatest." But still I find myself coming back to these four powders because they just simply work.

H380 - .22-250, .243, .250-3000 etc.

IMR-4064 - .243, 6mm, .270, .300 Savage, .308, .30-40, .30-30, etc.

H4350 - .25-06, .270, .30-06, Magnums, etc.

IMR-7828 - Magnums, etc.

 

[Guy Miner]

FJ - yes once a handloader figures out what he uses... stock up on that stuff!

I generally keep a good quantity of:

Varget
H4350
Retumbo
RL-15
RL-22

Have some others, but those five do most of what I want from my rifles. There is quite a bit of overlap in my list, but I've got "standard" loads that use all five of those.

Regards, Guy

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Yeah you're right Guy...I guess I need to pay more attention to the original post.

 

[Darkhorse]

Things were a lot simpler for me. When I started loading it was for a 7x57 with a set of Lee original dies. This was in 1971 and sources for us crazy reloaders were few in my neck of the woods.
What was available were a limited assortment of IMR powders and occasionally some Winchester ball. What my couple of mentors told me was "IMR 4350 is for big cartridges and 4320 is for smaller." But IMR 4350 is actually more versatile than that. 3031 was also one of my earlier favorites.
I only keep a few powders on hand now, mostly because the number of rifles I load for has diminished over the years as the kids flew the coop taking their guns with them.

IMR 4350 for all my rifles.
Unique for practice loads with the 9mm, 40 S&W and .44 Magnum
2400 for the .44
296 for max loads in the .44
Plus a really good supply of Goex 2fg and 3fg. Black Powder.

This list is simple and basic with relatively obtainable powders. All listed have been tested to be high performers over the years. It doesn't show all the powders, such as IMR 4831 that have been left by the wayside.
I am getting to be, or am, an oldtimer and no longer try a powder just to try it. But that doesn't mean I won't try something new if I think I need it. Such as all these "RL" powders that tempt me so much.
Maybe when I get another rifle?

 

[Wis65x55]

I have a follow up question to my original post. How does barrel length and rifling twist rate influence powder selection?
Keith

 

[Alderman]

For some reason I just "discovered" H380. It slipped below my radar for 20+ years.
I will always have some 4831 on the shelf also.
I think you will find the powders listed here will continue to grow as for the most part they have all worked well for somebody.

 

[RiverRider]

I have a follow up question to my original post. How does barrel length and rifling twist rate influence powder selection?
Keith

In no practical way.

Twist is just a non-factor in and of itself.

As far as barrel length goes, the powder that gives you the best velocity in a 26-inch barrel will [almost ALWAYS] yield the best velocity using an 18-inch barrel. There can be slight but insignificant departures from that rule-of-thumb. BUT: you might go from something like Re22 to something much faster burning if you want to minimize muzzle flash & blast in some cases. The same can be said of handgun loads.