1 powder for muti-cals
 

Noticed a post about narrowing down to 1 or so powders for multiple cals. I've been trying to do that.

Not firm yet but am using Bullseye for .38spl and .45ACP, yeah it's dirty but gives good vel for grains used and it's (was) less than $100 per 8 lbs.

I am using H4895 for '06, .308 and 22/250 again not firm but working it out.

I try to compare info available for cal, bullet weight(s) vel and amount of charge.

Any others trying to narrow down powders.
Regards,

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

I load ww231 for 38 special, 357 magnum and 45 auto. For most of my centerfire rifles I load IMR 4350 or ww748. Then again I have also dabbled with RE19 and 22, IMR 4064 and H4831sc. I could probably get away with 748 in everything but I like tiny little groups.

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

HS-6 is my do it all powder. Great midpower loads for 44 mag and 357mag. Top velocity loads for 9mm, 40S&W, 357sig, 45ACP, and 38special+p.

You got to have at least two for rifles. I would say Varget, and IMR4350 covers the spectrum from 204 to 338winmag.

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

I've found that IMR 4350 is pretty much a workhorse powder for medium to mid-large capacity casings. It may not be THE powder for a particular rifle/cartridge/bullet combo, but it generally will give decent groups. If you're not anal about one-holeaccuracy like some of us, it's certainly one to keep on hand. And it often WILL give those one-hole groups with some diligent load workup.

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

Big I seen where you were posting about you liking the 4064 better than the Varget. Is that in just one gun or in others as well? Reason I ask is 4064 is actually available around here...Varget... not a chance. So far Ive got a little of everything and not a lot of anything. I wish to heck I woulda started on this stuff even one year earlier. I wonder when all this hoarding is gonna end?

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

Its a tossup for me, but I find varget leaves a large amount of powder residue in a 308 anyway. I still have a few pounds of it, so I got to use it up.

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

I must agree with this list. HS6 is a great all-round handgun powder, and IMR 4350 covers a broad spectrum from 300 Weatherby to 22/250.

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

We have real 'availibility issues around here with powder. If you are going to load you will have to adapt.

I could get by with IMR 4350, Bluedot. Also need RL15, RL7

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

I am trying to reduce the number of powders I have. Aint working.

I like H4895 as a do all powder because it is so versatile. You can do greatly reduced loads with it, plus it works good in .30-06 and varmint calibers.

I also like varget, but H4895 does most everything it will do.

I haven't decided on a magnum powder yet. I got way too many options already.

For shotgun, I use Red dot for light loads, and Longshot for hunting loads.

I use alliant Steel for steel shot loads, it is a real pain to work with. There are now some recipes using longshot, so if they work good, I will probably try to use that.

For handgun, I use whatever is handy for light loads, Red dot, blue dot, longshot, or W231. For magnums, H110/W296 gives the performance, but is so fine grained it jams up my Lee powder measure. I'll live with it, I don't load too many full house loads.

It doesn't help buying powder at closeouts and going out of business sales and auctions. I end up with powder that I know will work, but different from my regular recipes.

RE: 1 powder for muti-cals
 

Thanks for all the input. One of the reason is the powder availability issue and cost. I use to get in trouble at meetings when someone would "praise economy of scale laws" and I say Murphy's or laws of deminishing return so I'm trying not to forget any variable. Thanks to everones input, bullet weights and case capacity is something else to be aware of. Then you add the M-1 Garand to the mix.