Starting powder selection for load development

[Phil Rizzo]

25 Sherman LA
7 REM Mag
7 PRC

6.5 Max will get H1000 first, if it's bad anemic maybe R23 or N565.
300 win is addicted to n568 already.
7SS likes n565.
Next stop is 25 Max.

 

[C-130 Dude]

25 Sherman LA
7 REM Mag
7 PRC

6.5 Max will get H1000 first, if it's bad anemic maybe R23 or N565.
300 win is addicted to n568 already.
7SS likes n565.
Next stop is 25 Max.

Excellent! Thanks

 

[bomberodevil]

H4831
H1000
-since I stopped chasing the last 50-75 fps that erodes, fire-cracks and sometimes scatters my groups!

Exactly!

 

[Eric H]

Currently trying to fine tune 30.06 150Gr BT w/4064 and 25.06 Barnes 100gr TTSX w/MAGPRO.

 

[bassassassin104]

It is definitely caliber specific. My base supply is Varget, H4350, H4831SC, and H1000 that covers me from 5.56-big magnums. Certainly not optimal for everything but will do the job for most.

 

[Turpentine21]

For 308, Varget, IMR 4064, and my new favorite AR Comp. Both of the 4895s are always in my cabinet as well. The 4895s might not be the best choice but they will work in a lot of different calibers.

6.5-06, H4831SC, H1000

6.5 Grendel, AR Comp

30-06, IMR 4064, IMR 4350, IMR 4895

270, IMR 4350, H4831SC

Forgot to add 5.56, Varget, IMR 4895, AR Comp

What I like about AR Comp everywhere I've used it is not only does it give good velocity and accuracy but amazing SD and ES. Wonderful powder.

 

[C-130 Dude]

For 308, Varget, IMR 4064, and my new favorite AR Comp. Both of the 4895s are always in my cabinet as well. The 4895s might not be the best choice but they will work in a lot of different calibers.

6.5-06, H4831SC, H1000

6.5 Grendel, AR Comp

30-06, IMR 4064, IMR 4350, IMR 4895

270, IMR 4350, H4831SC

Excellent! Thanks

 

[GRG]

C-130 Dude,
Love where you are going with this.
It would be great to have a chart at the beginning of this thread. Very basic with cartridge and what works or tried and true for most applications. Powder, bullet, Primer. Maybe no load data just range but also optimum speeds they are trying to get to. I have also always looked at multiple reference materials for top performers with lowest pressures and highest speeds but max case fills as was suggested earlier. I tend to get caught up thinking say on 308, What if I can get to 3050 with the 168SMK? Well experience has probably shown it doesn't work best at that speed and you will just be wasting components and burning barrels.

Another very interesting question but maybe a separate thread would be "What has the Best Powder Alternative Become" Example maybe 2 of my favorites H4198 and H4895which have become very hard to find in my area. What are the best alternative to these powders and for what calibers. Included should be the positives and negatives as well as a As good, similar or better check box.
.
Great thread and getting better as it goes.

308 - 4064
30-06 - 4350
222- 4198
22-250- 3031

 

[C-130 Dude]

C-130 Dude,
Love where you are going with this.
It would be great to have a chart at the beginning of this thread. Very basic with cartridge and what works or tried and true for most applications. Powder, bullet, Primer. Maybe no load data just range but also optimum speeds they are trying to get to. I have also always looked at multiple reference materials for top performers with lowest pressures and highest speeds but max case fills as was suggested earlier. I tend to get caught up thinking say on 308, What if I can get to 3050 with the 168SMK? Well experience has probably shown it doesn't work best at that speed and you will just be wasting components and burning barrels.

Another very interesting question but maybe a separate thread would be "What has the Best Powder Alternative Become" Example maybe 2 of my favorites H4198 and H4895which have become very hard to find in my area. What are the best alternative to these powders and for what calibers. Included should be the positives and negatives as well as a As good, similar or better check box.
.
Great thread and getting better as it goes.

308 - 4064
30-06 - 4350
222- 4198
22-250- 3031

Alternative powders are not to hard to figure out. Look to the adjacent powders on the burn rate charts. Pick one and try.

My intent here was to simply ask folks, "what's your go-to powder to first start out trying when you start load development for a givin caliber/bullet". Obviously, if you don't get what your looking for, you try another powder.

Sometimes we get lucky and the first powder we try works out. Other times, not so much.

Thanks for the input.

And down the rabbit hole we go.....