How many powders?!

[dig4gold]

Do we really need 144 (+) powders?!
What's the most powders you ever kept on the shelf?
I now have 6. And one of those is for handgun.
Seems like overkill.
I'm a guitar player and though I would love to have a roomj full of guitars and different amps, I know that they all pretty much do the same thing and all I'm doing is stroking my ego.
So now I obsess over eloading . . . it's cheaper anyway!

[Ridge Runner]

too many, average about 25
RR

[skb2706]

I regularly use less than 10. I have a few more than that. Truth is I am finding that there are about 5 that will do everything I want very accurately.

[handloader1]

At least 20 different kinds. Good luck.

[SecondChance]

Cabelas comes to me to restock their shelves!!!!!!!! Nuff said!!!!!

[dig4gold]

Hey 2nd . . . I'll just order form you next time! (lol)

[Pawildman]

Originally Posted by skb2706

I regularly use less than 10. I have a few more than that. Truth is I am finding that there are about 5 that will do everything I want very accurately.

....And there you have it.....

[Prairie Wolf]

Originally Posted by skb2706

I regularly use less than 10. I have a few more than that. Truth is I am finding that there are about 5 that will do everything I want very accurately.

Depends on what you are doing.

I have way more powders than I need. I could get by with

3 shotgun powders

Red dot, Longshot, and Steel

2 Pistol powders.

I use 231 and 296/110. Long shot and Red dot could pull double duty here.

2 Rifle powders

You need a light rifle, like H4895, CFE223, IMR8208 or Varget.

You may need a medium rifle, like H4350

I also want a heavy one, like H1000, Retumbo.

I've been trying to reduce the number I use but they keep coming out with better stuff.

I could get by with
Steel, Longshot, H110, Red Dot, H4895, and H4831. Those are the burning rates I need, the individual powders could be different. There are some special ones like Trail Boss that would be nice to have.

[skb2706]

My current users are
RL15 covers several mid chamberings
RL7 small capacity varmint
WW296 magnum pistol
Bluedot auto pistols
RL 22 big guns
IMR 4350 ditto
H380 22 250 s
H414 misc mid deer size chamberings
Use a whole lot of RL10x in my .204 s

But I stock several others, including two different Ramshot powders, Red dot and some I haven't seen for awhile.

[Bernie P.]

I would say one or two different powders per cal is all you should have on hand.If a given powder works well with more than one gun/cal so much the better.Shelf life can be a factor if you don't shoot much especially in hot humid areas if you don't have a controlled storage environment.