Which powder is your favorite?

[Hostile79]

The snow and cold here here in the Midwest has me missing the range. The reloading bench is keeping me busy. I have been loading a bunch of test loads for 9mm (power pistol and Winchester sliver tips) and 223 (62 grainers and AA2520).

Messing with all of these new loads and powders has me wondering what is your favorite reloading powder?

I personally like H4895 and Power Pistol. But there are so many others I like too H335, IMR4064, Unique, CFE223. The only powders I hate are PB and IMR4227.

[SafetyJoe]

Unique, Longshot, imr4227, lilgun, h380, titegroup, bullseye, 700x

[lightman]

It would be really hard to name a favorite. Looking at my records would show 231, Unique and 2400 for pistol. For rifle there would be BL-C2, 4064, 4831 and RL-22. There are several more on my shelves but those are my go to powders for the cartridges that I load.

[Hostile79]

It would be really hard to name a favorite. Looking at my records would show 231, Unique and 2400 for pistol. For rifle there would be BL-C2, 4064, 4831 and RL-22. There are several more on my shelves but those are my go to powders for the cartridges that I load.

I agree. The powder chosen depends a lot on the bullet and barrel combination. When I started reloading I assumed I would find one magic powder for all my pistols and then one for all my rifles. I quickly learned that if you want to shoot for any accuracy you better try a few powders. Then you also learn about quirks with certain powders in your powder measure (like how they meter).

[WarEagleEd]

I wouldn't say it is my favorite powder, but I do use W231 in a number of pistol cartridges and have used it the most. I haven't loaded enough (and shot enough) for rifles to have any real opinion on powders used in those.

[Mbaker78]

Depends on the cartridge for me.

TAC for 223rem, IMR4064 for 308win, lilgun for 300aac supers, HP-38 for 45acp, HS-6 for 40s&w.

I don’t load Grendel anymore, but I preferred IMR8208XBR for that one. I’m just getting started with 458 socom and all I’ve tried for it is IMR4227, other than being stinky and not optimum for the caliber it seems to work well enough though.

[Happyguy]

Whatever powder I have on hand. About a year ago I paid $25.00 for Herter's 162, Green Dot, Red Dot and some 231. Ended up with about 25 pounds so I have been using them in the pistols. IMR 4895, IMR 4064, Varget, TAC, 8208 for rifles. I keep a fair amount of powder on hand and buy it when I see it cheap. I paid $120 for an unopened jug of H4350 about a month ago, I will try it in the 6.5 Creedmoor. How I miss the days of Pat's Reloading having 8 pound jugs of WW520 for $50.00 a jug, great 300 Blkt, 50 Beowulf, 450 Bushmaster , 44 Magnum, 357 Magnum and 30 Carbine powder..

[gandog56]

I like H4895 for rifle. I like HP38 for pistol, and Win 296 for my magnum and 10mm pistols.

[lightman]

[QUOTE=Happyguy;15336 I keep a fair amount of powder on hand and buy it when I see it cheap.

Me too! My normal routine is to get a few friends together and make up an order to Powder Valley Inc. They will ship up to 50# in a box and we will order the max amount that they will ship, like 47 or 48#. They will also ship a mix of powder and primers. That puts the shipping and HazMat at around 50 cents per pound. I also buy it at gunshows when I see it for a fair price.

[Mbaker78]

I usually just get it at cabelas when I’m in the area of one. Usually only a pound or two here and there...

[gandog56]

I try to use H4895 for all my rifle since I have a great big stockpile of it. I use it everywhere from .223 to 8X56R. For pistols it depends on wheter it's a regular or Magnum (Or 10mm). I like HP-38 for regular like 9mm, 357 SIG, and .40 cal. I like Winchester 296 for my heavy pistol loads. I still use Red Dot for my cast bullet loads, especially my .38 Special 148 grain DEWC target loads. I use Blue Dot on my 10mm rounds.

All that and I STILL find uses for Unique. People say it's dirty but it is just so versatile. You can use it for about any pistol load, and some subsonic rifle rounds.

[Mbaker78]

I’m going to try using the same load of HP-38 in 165gr 40s&w and 230gr 45acp... should work, according to the book...

[gandog56]

I got one of my best two 10mm and .40 Cal S&W targets using HP38.

.40 cal 185 grain Precision bullet 4.5 grains of HP38

307

10mm 185 grain Precision Bullets 4.8 grains of HP38

306

[Mbaker78]

According to hodgdons website, 5.0gr is right in the middle for 165gr 40 and 230gr 45, so hopefully I won’t even have to change the setting on my powder measure ;)