Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles question or suggestion on Powders

I have only been reloading a few years and I have not reloaded for all of my rifles yet, so I still have loads to develope, now since O won, I think I need to get some powders kinda quickly just incase. I have 2k+ of primers etc.. but I have only used IMR4350 so far.

What other powders do you suggest I try on these rifles
243
6mm
25-06
270
rem 7mm mag
308
win 338 win mag
45/70

Thanks in advance, if anyone wants to suggest a load of any of these guns, that would be greatly appreciated (and could save me time and money) I plan to stop by sportsmans after work today.

Jason

H-4350
H-4831sc
Varget
Reloder 15
H-4895
IMR 7828ssc
Retumbo
H-1000
Benchmark
H322
IMR-8208 XBR
H-4198

It really depends on what bullet weights you're gonna use for each cartridge, but this would be a good, flexible collection if you can afford that many cannisters, you're probably looking at $275 - $300 for all these. As far as load suggestions I'd need to know what you want to hunt with each cartridge, but here's some powder suggestions.

.243 - H-4895, Varget, Reloder 15, Benchmark (55 - 80 gr bullets)

.243 - H-4350, H-4831sc, H-1000, IMR-7828ssc (90 - 100 gr bullets)

6mm - H-4895, Varget, Reloder 15, Benchmark (55 - 80 gr Bullets)

6mm - H-4350, H-4831sc, H-1000, IMR-7828ssc (90 - 100 gr bullets)

.25-06 - H-4350, H-4831sc, H-1000, IMR-7828ssc (75 - 100 gr bullets)

.25-06 - Retumbo, H-4350, H-4831sc, H-1000, IMR 7828ssc, (117 - 120 gr bullets)

.270 - H-4350, Varget, H-4895 (90 - 100 gr bullets)

.270 - H-4831sc, H-4350, Varget, H-4895, Reloder 15 (110 - 120 gr bullets)

.270 - H-1000, H-4831sc, H-4350, IMR-7828ssc (130 gr bullets)

.270 - H-1000, H-4831sc, H-4350, IMR-7828ssc (135 - 140 gr bullets)

.270 - H-1000, H-4831sc, IMR 7828ssc (150 - 160 gr bullets

7mm Rem Mag - H-4831sc, H-4350, Varget, Reloder 15 (100 - 130 gr bullets)

7mm Rem Mag - H-1000, H-4831sc, H-4350, IMR 7828ssc (139 - 175 gr bullets)

.308 - Varget, Reloder 15, H-4895, Benchmark, IMR 8208 XBR (110 - 150 gr bullets)

.308 - Varget, H-4985, Reloder 15, H-4350 (165 - 180 gr bullets)

.338 Win Mag - H4831sc, IMR 7828ssc, H4350, Varget, Reloder 15, H-4895 (180 - 215 gr bullets)

.338 Win Mag - H4831sc, IMR 7828ssc, H4350, H-1000 (225 gr - 250 gr bullets)

.45-70 - H-4198, H-322 (300 gr bullets)

.45-70 - H-4198, IMR 8208 XBR, Varget, Benchmark, Reloder 15 (350 - 400 gr bullets)

Looking at your list and what I've loaded that's on there.

Some suggestions, not complete by any means but usable across the spectrum of calibers listed:

RL-17
H or IMR 4895
H or IMR 4831
Varget
H322
H or IMR 4198

I prefer the Hodgdon powders for temperature insensitivity, but most of the time the IMRs are ever so slightly more accurate.

In the .45-70, The H322 or one of the 4198s do well, but a powder I want to try with the heavier bullets is AA2495. It seems to give good velocity with low pressure, but may be dirty in the .45-70, like the 4895s. But, if it is accurate, it'll do. But, I'm not going to recommend it until I find out more.

RL-17 is very good for both accuracy and speed in my .243, but a 4350 would be a good choice. The 6MM could probably use these, also. I've not loaded this round before

The .270, 25-06 and the mags would probably like either a 4350 speed powder (with light bullets), or more likely, one of the 4831s.

Varget and the 4895s are excellent in the .308.

Anyhoo, that's a partial list based on my experience. Others will come along with good recommendations.

hey thanks guys ya'll gave me a good starting point.

Thanks again - jason

You're welcome sir.

I would say you could get by with a baseline of

Varget (works well in the .243 Win, .308 and .338)
IMR-4350 (you have)
H4831SC (IMR is usually a little faster but the H is temp insensitive)
IMR 7828 SSC (An IMR that is temp insensitive)
Retumbo or H1000 *Edit, I have had great luck with Retumbo, esp in the 7mm RM.

There is a wide range of burn rates there. If you wanted to shave down further, I'd elminate the 7828 as Retumbo or a 4831 would likely also work. If you wanted to add one, I'd add H414 or Ramshot Hunter, as the slow burners are covered with 4831, 7828 and Retumbo. H1000 is also very good, slow burning powder.

What other powders do you suggest I try on these rifles?
243
6mm
25-06
270
rem 7mm mag

IMR 7828 in all of these cartridges.

Yup.How I'd roll......refine from there but might not need to.

hey thanks guys, I where I stopped today they quit selling powder so I will go else where this weekend.

I appricate the info/advice

today I did buy 200 rounds of 22 cci stingers and 150 rounds of 9mm, 50 rounds is crucial duty 135 gr.

I got to go to cabelas I guess.

thanks again - Jason

RL-22 for everything 243 through 7mm Mag.

Varget in your 308 Winchester.

H-4350 in your 338 Win Mag.

RL-7 in your 45-70.

Gunner

I agree somewhat with Gunner. In addition to something in the 4350 range, I'd add either RL15 or Varget and either RL22 or IMR7828. Those three would cover all your bases with nearly all available bullet weights, excepting the 45-70.

Thanks again - some good advice there, Thanks

I tend to use either the Ramshot powders, or the Hodgdon stick powders. They are both temperature insensitive. Between the two, Ramshot's powders meter the best.
But even H4350 meters alot better than the IMR version.
As to specifics, I'd go with H4350 or Ramshot Hunter in the .243 or the .25-06. In the .270, either RS Hunter or Magnum if using heavier bullets.
In the .308, I'd try either TAC or Big Game.
Haven't loaded for the 7mm mag in many years but I'm sure one of the slower choices above would work. E

H414 ir W760 are also useful in a briad range of cartridges and bullet weights. I use them in 6.5x55, 30-06, 303 Br. Another useful powder is RL-19 and RL-22.

H4350 for the 243,6mm,25/06 and 270.

RL25 for the 7mm Rem Mag

Varget for the 308

RL19 for the 338 Win Mag

H4198 for the 45/70

I only load for 2 of the cartridges you list, the .270 Win. and .338 WM.
For the .270, it's 57 gr. of Rldr-22 and a 150 Partition. Velocity is 2930 and accuracy is 1' or slightly better out of my Pre-64. This load is 1 grain under max. according to the books.
In the .338 WM, it's 73.0 gr of Rldr-22 and a 225 gr. NorthFork. Vel. is 2800 and accuracy is around 1 1/4". It's a Ruger so whadday expect? Tho it isn't as accurate as I'd like, moose moose fear it, so I continue to use it.
The 73.0 gr. charge is about 2-3 gr. below max (I think) so you should be ok. Still, cross check with manuals and work up.
Good luck.
Bear in Fairbanks

For the .45-70, don't leave out Accurate 2015: one of the very best across the board, and H335 for the real heavies.

Yeah, RL-7 is an old-time favorite as well as H322. And H4198 is a good all-rounder, but a little "hot" for heavy cast bullets unless you want to move them along at pedestrian speeds. The same applies to RL-7. RL-7 is also temp sensitive.

I've used most all appropriate powders in quite a number of .45-70s and have settled on the two Hodgdon powders: H4198 for anything to 350 and H335 for the rest. Both are temp stable. But as a one-powder-does-it-all AA 2015 is hard to beat.

BTW, the .45-70 is my all-time favorite cartridge, and I've owned and used some real fast numbers like the "Bees".

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

Your trying to save money??? Boy did you take up the wrong hobby!!!

you right I spend a lot $$ I went to cabelas in Baton Rouge Saturday and they had everything in stock and plenty of it. I bought:
imr 7828
imr 4831
RL 22
Varget
and a lyman reloading book

spent about 128.00 tax included

Thanks for the extra info, I plan to print this out to study.

In hopes that someone might want to share some recipes, here is where I stand right now. I am trying to shoot Accu-bonds in everything, fairly light weight ones. so here is what I am doing:

243 and 6mm, 90gr accu-bonds
25-06, 110gr accubonds and I got some 100gr Barnes ttsx
270, I got a good load using imr-4350 with 130gr accubonds
270wsm, 130gr accubonds
7mm 140gr accubonds - I got a good load using imr-4350
308, 150gr accubonds and some 165gr forgot what brand they are
338 win mag - 180gr accu-bonds
45/70 I will use 325gr hornady leverevolution


Thanks in advance - Jason