Is there a universal powder.

[jimisbell]

I already know the answer to that question, No, but I am looking for a chart to help me find as few powders as I need to cover the range of cartridges I can reload from 9mm pistol to Lapua 338 rifle. I can find a single powder that lists various charges for several calibers (the powder co has that chart). I can find a chart that lists all the powders that can be used for a particuler cartridge (Modern Reloading by Lee has that). But what I want is a chart that lists all powders down the left column and across the page, check marks for cartridges that can be loaded by that powder.
Yes, I am aware that experimentation could expand that chart, it would not cover ALL posibilities.
Why do I want it, because if TSHTF I want to be able to load ALL mycartridges from as few different powders as possible. I dont want to carry a pound or two for each gun I have. Then I can go buy 3 or 4 cans of powder and know all my reloading is covered.
The data is out there, has anyone compiled it into a single chart? If not then I can see a project to keep me bussy during this pandemic. But I dont want to waste my time if it has already been done.

 

[25WSM]

Your not going to find one powder that will load a 9mm and a 338 mag. Look through all your manuals and write down the fastest powder and slowest powder for each cartridge you own. H4350 is a very broad based powder with uses in many cartridges. If I had only one powder it would be h4530. Fill a 9mm case up with it and I'm sure it will go bang but probably not enough to run a semi auto. So 3 or 4 powders could fill a large swatch but not 1. A pistol powder. A powder for small cases like 223. Mid cases like 308 and a slower powder for big magnums. You will have alot of compromise with only 4 powders depending on how many cartridges you load for. Maybe give us a list of what you load for and suggestions will come in. Go from there.
Shep

 

[jimisbell]

I said in the post that I didnt expect one powder to do the job but that I figurd 3 or 4 might have the overlap to cover them all. So what you are saying is that no one has compiled the data.. Its out there, just needs to be compiled. I look forward to doing this. I needed something to do anyway.
Listing what I currently load would be an excersize in futility as it is constatly changing and it would be asking others to do my work for me. But if a chart existed it would be valuable to many.
So if it doesnt exist, I will compile it.

 

[25WSM]

I'm not suggesting that you have others do you work but this site is a wealth of info and if you said I have a 243 a 260 a 308 a 2506 a 270 a 3006 a 300wsm most would say you could cover them all with a 4350 burn rate. So rl16 and rl17 would do it also. I just know this from yrs of reloading. Most guys on this site can do the same. Name cartridge and they will tell you straight up what powder goes best.
I have about a dozen reloading manuals and if you had a computer program that could use all that data it would be cool. Gonna be a big project.
Shep

 

[asd9055]

I'm not suggesting that you have others do you work but this site is a wealth of info and if you said I have a 243 a 260 a 308 a 2506 a 270 a 3006 a 300wsm most would say you could cover them all with a 4350 burn rate. So rl16 and rl17 would do it also. I just know this from yrs of reloading. Most guys on this site can do the same. Name cartridge and they will tell you straight up what powder goes best.
I have about a dozen reloading manuals and if you had a computer program that could use all that data it would be cool. Gonna be a big project.
Shep

25wsm
Here is a list...mostly common rounds.. maybe this will help. People can add their choices for each
Rifles:
223/556
22-250
243
270
7 mm RM
30.06 (H4831)
308
300 Win Mag
300 WBY (IMR4350, IMR7828, RL22)
338 Win Mag
338 Lapua (H1000, RL33, Retumbo)
375 H&H

Pistol
5.7x28
9 mm Luger (Unique)
357 Sig
38 Special/357 Mag (2400)
40 S&W
44 Mag (Unique, 2400)
45 ACP

 

[25WSM]

My choice would be win748, h4350 and h1000. Still would be some comprised loads though depending on bullet weights used. I don't know Jack about pistol rounds. I'm sure someone else does.
Shep

 

[jimisbell]

OK, I am not necessarily looking for the BEST powder, just a blanket of powder that will cover most common calibers when NOTHING is available....kinda like now..... But more extreme, NOTHING IS AVAILABLE but the 30 pounds of powder on your shelf.....Universal, H-Varget.....H1000....etc. Those three cover a broad range. will have to do. So some are not ideal, but if you are in a situation where the world has gone crazy, you want something that just works. You dont want to get to using burned 2x4s, urine and sugar. I dont expect TSTHTF but I dont drive my car without a spare either.
If there is no interest in such a project, I wont do the job. It will be dificult. No reason to do work no one wants. Yes, I have the computer.

 

[jimisbell]

My choice would be win748, h4350 and h1000. Still would be some comprised loads though depending on bullet weights used. I don't know Jack about pistol rounds. I'm sure someone else does.
Shep

Thats a good start maybe add Universal for the pistol rounds.

 

[david g ranes]

I used to run 4831 in every bolt gun I had for years because I had a lot gave to me my neighbor shot bench rest back in the 50s and he bought 50 pounds of it in 1964 I shot it through the 80s and most of the 90s. David

 

[villagelightsmith]

FFG.

 

[User4302021]

Unique is the "universal" pistol powder. It works with light loads in larger rifle cartridges as well. If I could only have one single survival powder for EVERYTHING, it would be Unique. Unique will make it go bang, and kill stuff to 100 yards no matter the cartridge. (I've used it and cast bullets in a 375 H&H at 1,600 fps)

If I wanted to to load everything from 223 to 338 winmag, it would have to be something (anything really) with a medium burn rate. I would say Hodgdon Benchmark would be the absolute fastest I would go to in this range and on the slower more suitable end you have Varget, IMR4320, BL-C2, CFE223. All are so close in burn rate, it would be whichever one was available...or cheap.

If you are going to include the really big 338's then you need to move down to the 4831's and slower if you want to make real speed.

If I only had one cartridge in that range, I'd just stock up on surplus 50 BMG powder. It is cheap and it is still everywhere. You are only gonna need about 10 or 12 pounds, cause that is gonna be the end of the barrel life anyway unless you got spares laying around.

 

[Skimbleshanks]

A pistol powder, Varget, one of the 4350s, and a magnum powder would cover most needs.

 

[Ckleeves]

A guy could cover his bases pretty well with Unique, Varget, H4350 and H1000. Might not be perfect but if I was stockpiling powders those would be the 4 I would (try) to buy.

 

[DJ Fergus]

As mentioned h4350 is highly versatile in many center fire rifle cartridges. I've never looked into running it in a 338 lapua, so I don't know how that would work out. I will say that reloder 26 would cover just about any center fire cartridge with the use of a long drop tube funnel in some of these. RL 26 would come closer to working in the 338L than h4350 and would work all the way down to a 243 Winchester.