Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 3 powders

Shaman-

Great advice on watching the specials. I just did this 2 days ago. Free hazmat shipping was the big factor.

RH

IMR 4064, IMR 4350, and IMR 3031 if you can find them. I would look at Big Game too.

This ^

Not in need right now but Precision Reloading has free Hazmat on powder and primers until 2 /29
$200 purchase required .

H4350
H4831SC
Big Game

CFE 223....< 270...probably for > 270 just have
Have never tried it other than 308.
Varget.......>,< 270
Titegroup..pistols

Next 3:
AA#9..................mag pistols
Unique...............shotguns
Leverevolution...levers

Covers about everything. Should any of these not be available (wont have that problem) :
Any of the 4350s, 4895s, IMR 4451, IMR 4064 and SB 6.5.
These based on my experience only...I'm sure there's more, especially in our current world which is about as versatile as its ever been.

We are fortunate to have so many smokeless rifle powder offerings; close to 100 in ball park numbers.


I find it helpful to segment powder burn rates, and keep a few pounds of each segment on hand. My segment names are arbitrary, and last powder in each segment is spherical (not a second rate citizen, just FYI).

Med-Fast: H-4895, IMR-4895, TAC
Medium: Varget, IMR-4064, RL-15, W748
Med-Slow: H-4350, RL-16, IMR-4350, BigGame

And if you get that 7mag or 7PRC:
Slow: RL-23, H-4831, RL-22, Hunter
xSlow: RL-26, Retumbo, IMR-7828, Magnum

We all get hung up on what is "the best", but I think you will find where one powder works well in an application, the other powders in that segment also work extremely well. There are other good powders not listed; this is my preference and what I try to keep on hand.

Given the cartridges you listed, get one from each of the first three segments. And if you get that fast 7, add a fourth powder from the slow/xSlow segments.

H335, RL-15, IMR4350, IMR4064, IMR4895 and Varget is what I keep bigger quantities of.
Lever, Retumbo, lil gun, H110, RL-17, 10x and others in less quantities for specific uses.

I mostly use IMR 4350 and H4895. They would work well in the cartridges you mentioned, plus a lot more. My third would be CFE 223 for the small stuff.

Could not function with 3 powders, but if that was the law....

3FG
Blue Dot
RX15

It's a shame H4895 isn't available. When something works in many different applications it seems to become unavailable. I use it in several different rifles plus reduced loads for my 450-400. It's almost gone

My first choice would be 4198, 4895, and 4350. But....aint there always.... a man could get by just fine with Exterminator, Big Game, and Magnum.

Sure wish I could find Big Game!

That doesn't really make for good conversation though, does it?

4350, definitely has a place. Following that, I'd take Varget. 3031 doesn't get a lot of love, but it has been stellar for me in everything that I have used it in.

Those are the 3 that I would choose.

H4350, H1000 and either Varget or TAC would take care of everything I have.

Maybe some of you have your wish right now but supply and availability makes the hypothesis impractical?

I have seen stores with only 3 powders in them. None were any good for my uses.

I’ll add vit 140 and 160 to that list

ADI 2206H = H4895,
ADI 2208 = Varget,
ADI 2209 = H4350

But I would skip the 2208/Varget and go with H335