How many rifle powders could you get by with?

204 AR

204 AR

Well-known member
Every time I stare into my powder cabinet, I wish I could trade all the miscellaneous powder I don't use for stuff I do use. I've had success with a few other flavors, but by and large keep coming back to a handful of numbers that work for me. That said I think I could get by with 5 or 6, or even fewer but some fringe calibers would have to go or lack peak performance.

Here's my list

Varget, use in 243 and 243 wssm. It doesn't seem like the best powder for those 2, but it shoots great with the 87's on down and get good enough speed. Would also work great for the Garand.

H4350, 6.5 creed, 300 Saum and the 243 heavier bullets.

Retumbo, 270 Wby. Doesn't get shot much at all, could get by without(and may have to, haven't seen this in stock in forever).

IMR 8208, such a great powder IMO. 204, 223, 6x6.8, 30 RAR, and I'm probably forgetting something.

Leverevolution, here's a newer powder that really does work great in the 30-30. But I could cover that need easily with one of the others if need be.

And A2200, I only use this in the American 30, which only works great with a few powders IME. But could live without if need be.
 
Glad to hear Leverrevolution works good in the 30-30. I have been wondering about that.

Good post. I have started writing my answer 3 times, then deleting it. Tail chasing round and round. I feel dizzy now.

I get good use out of those 1/2 full bottles by loading light loads and blasting for off hand practice.

H4895 and Reloader 15 cast a wide net on many of my calibers. H4350 and Reloader 19 for the larger calibers.

 
4895, 3031, 4320, 748, I really like Benchmark and 2230 but it is kind of new to me(10-15 yrs), the others have been on the bench for 30-50 yrs or and will load everything I shoot. I don't reload tweeners anymore, I go from the small stuff right to the 35 Whelen and 375 Win and they use the same powder as the small stuff.
 
varget, H4350, lil gun, cfe223, Shooters World Socom.... i could cover about 98% of my reloading with those. if i had to add in a 6th it would be trailboss for making mouse-fart loads
smile.gif
 
I might have to add another for easy progressive loading for pdog loads. I'm partial to A2230 but h335 is a winner there also. Just summer time stuff so not worried about temp sensitivity on these loads.

But... 8208 meters pretty good also, just not AS good.
 
Benchmark
Varget
IMR4895
W748
These are the ones I always seem to return to. I have a hodgepodge of others, they have been relegated to my plinking/training loads.


ETA: Like and use Basic Loader as well.
 
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For rifles I could get by ok with 3 powders but wouldn't want to.

#1 CFE223 (or Benchmark)
#2 Superformance(or 4350 or Varget)
#3 H1000

I have about 10 different powders right now. 3 or 4 of them have not been opened in at least a couple years and I wouldn't really miss.
 
H322, 3031, 748,and 4064 would cover most of my needs. Can't seem to get away from RL7 for my 375W. I've been using up a lot of the odd stuff while holed up at home, should have some interesting days at the range coming up. Doing the same with pistol powders, when you find a can of W231 that says $2.99,or Bullseye that says $6.79 you know its time for a clean out. Unique and 2400 will take care of all I need there, and the Unique will cover most of my 16ga needs.
 
I have a wide variety of bolt guns (20 caliber to 405 Winchester and then several deer hunting and competition cartridges and military vintage rifles.)
Semi auto 223 and 300BO (super and subsonic), Military vintage semi auto rifles such as M1, M1G)
There is a lot of overlap but it would take a while to go through loads an give an accurate minimum.
I use a lot of Varget, H4350, H110, and CFE223. others are needed for specialty loads like the 405 and 7mag with light bullets, so I’d say 7 or 8.
 
I probably have no less than 30 pounds of different powders. Some I tried and didn't like but they are still on the shelf. I really need to get rid of a lot of it as it just takes up space. But then it is nice to have to just try and maybe get lucky and it works. Saves having to go buy a pound for a "Maybe". I guess thats why there is 30 pounds on the shelves.
 
Knowing it would work in everything from my 22Hornet to a 300 Weatherby, I could get by with 4895.

I would give up extreme speeds, but should still get enough speeds to kill stuff.

When I read the OP title, my eyelid started to twitch. Limit the variety of powders on hand???? Blasphemy I say.
 
Originally Posted By: K-22hornet.Knowing it would work in everything from my 22Hornet to a 300 Weatherby, I could get by with 4895.

I would give up extreme speeds, but should still get enough speeds to kill stuff.

When I read the OP title, my eyelid started to twitch. Limit the variety of powders on hand???? Blasphemy I say.

Had the same thought. If I HAD to get by with just one, H4895 would probably be my one. Pretty sure it's the first powder I ever bought and loaded with.

Would hate to be without 8208, but would survive,...maybe.
 
Like others have said:

1) H4895
2) H4350

Can shoot nearly everything in rifles with these 2 ..... you ll give up some speed in the really big cases and the really small ones if you have such. ( like 17 or 22 Hornets or RUM / big Nosler/Lapua cases)

Could add 2 more powders to above and cover everything very well with 4 total powders for rifle

3) 1680, CFE BLK burn rate for smalls
4) H1000, Retumbo, R25, 8133 burn rate for Big Boys
 
Interesting to see the answers. There are definitely a lot of common powders used. Also interesting that very few Aliant powders are listed.
 
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