- Joined
- Nov 19, 2011
- Messages
- 966
ty kelp got mine in the mail friday and been checking it out, alot od great info in there, just waiting on my smelting pot which should be here wed, again ty
) mac
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rifle powder
- Thread starter irishwoodsman
- Start date
) mac- Joined
- Feb 21, 2013
- Messages
- 9
Hello,
I can understand not wanting to have a powder supply store with all of the different powders on the market. It has been my experience over the years to consider burn rates and also powder density. The responses about checking out the web sites that have load data are a great place to start. Will also depend on if you are using these loads for target, hunting, or defense.
My go to powder for most of my larger caliber reloading (30-30, 30-06, 35 Rem, and others) is IMR 4064. It is has the Blue Label. This powder will give you lower pressures and great results. It is a very universal powder with good load density. It is also a very clean burning rifle powder. There is data for this powder on Hodgdon load tables. Over the past few weeks it is a little harder to find, but it is out there. Saw some this past weekend for around $25.00 a pound. A pound will give you between 150 and 250 rounds depending on which caliber and how 'hot' you want your loads.
One other one you may want to look at is Varget. This is an Alliant powder. My local reloading supply store says it is the most popular rifle powder. I have looked at some of the data and it does look pretty good. It is just real hard to find right now.
If you are going to mainly shoot cast bullets, my suggestion is use gas checks. If you do not use a gas check, keep your velocities below about 1600fps. (This may be a little high for some people, but I cast my bullets with a Brinell of about 20.) There is a wonderful site on using 'pistol powders' in rifle calibers. The site talks about using 10 grains of pistol powder and having great results especially with cast bullets. He has done lots of studies with different calibers, powders, and bullet weights. If you try this, please read ALL of the warnings that are on this site.
I can understand not wanting to have a powder supply store with all of the different powders on the market. It has been my experience over the years to consider burn rates and also powder density. The responses about checking out the web sites that have load data are a great place to start. Will also depend on if you are using these loads for target, hunting, or defense.
My go to powder for most of my larger caliber reloading (30-30, 30-06, 35 Rem, and others) is IMR 4064. It is has the Blue Label. This powder will give you lower pressures and great results. It is a very universal powder with good load density. It is also a very clean burning rifle powder. There is data for this powder on Hodgdon load tables. Over the past few weeks it is a little harder to find, but it is out there. Saw some this past weekend for around $25.00 a pound. A pound will give you between 150 and 250 rounds depending on which caliber and how 'hot' you want your loads.
One other one you may want to look at is Varget. This is an Alliant powder. My local reloading supply store says it is the most popular rifle powder. I have looked at some of the data and it does look pretty good. It is just real hard to find right now.
If you are going to mainly shoot cast bullets, my suggestion is use gas checks. If you do not use a gas check, keep your velocities below about 1600fps. (This may be a little high for some people, but I cast my bullets with a Brinell of about 20.) There is a wonderful site on using 'pistol powders' in rifle calibers. The site talks about using 10 grains of pistol powder and having great results especially with cast bullets. He has done lots of studies with different calibers, powders, and bullet weights. If you try this, please read ALL of the warnings that are on this site.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2011
- Messages
- 966
Hello, ty broomstraw, it seems alot of powder is getting hard to find, will check these powders out got to make a trip to the powder house tomorrow and i will see what they got. ty much mac
I can understand not wanting to have a powder supply store with all of the different powders on the market. It has been my experience over the years to consider burn rates and also powder density. The responses about checking out the web sites that have load data are a great place to start. Will also depend on if you are using these loads for target, hunting, or defense.
My go to powder for most of my larger caliber reloading (30-30, 30-06, 35 Rem, and others) is IMR 4064. It is has the Blue Label. This powder will give you lower pressures and great results. It is a very universal powder with good load density. It is also a very clean burning rifle powder. There is data for this powder on Hodgdon load tables. Over the past few weeks it is a little harder to find, but it is out there. Saw some this past weekend for around $25.00 a pound. A pound will give you between 150 and 250 rounds depending on which caliber and how 'hot' you want your loads.
One other one you may want to look at is Varget. This is an Alliant powder. My local reloading supply store says it is the most popular rifle powder. I have looked at some of the data and it does look pretty good. It is just real hard to find right now.
If you are going to mainly shoot cast bullets, my suggestion is use gas checks. If you do not use a gas check, keep your velocities below about 1600fps. (This may be a little high for some people, but I cast my bullets with a Brinell of about 20.) There is a wonderful site on using 'pistol powders' in rifle calibers. The site talks about using 10 grains of pistol powder and having great results especially with cast bullets. He has done lots of studies with different calibers, powders, and bullet weights. If you try this, please read ALL of the warnings that are on this site.
Hello, ty broomstraw, it seems alot of powder is getting hard to find, will check these powders out got to make a trip to the powder house tomorrow and i will see what they got. ty much mac
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2014
- Messages
- 6
I have a 311-291, 311-41, 311-299 and one other. Charlesrosen333@comcast.net your best accuracy will be a worked up load for each cal., may be different powders.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2013
- Messages
- 9
Personally...I like IMR 4064. It is very clean and usually has lower pressures in the upper ranges of published load data. I use this powder in my 30-30, .308, and 30-06. I have used this powder with a range of bullets from 150gr Cast Lead FN that Lee Molds drop all the way to 220gr Sierra Matchking HP. Most of my loads were worked up to the point of the max data and then brought back a grain or so for accuracy. A few grains will not reduce your velocities significantly, but will greatly affect accuracy. Also, the gun will affect accuracy. I have an older Marlin 30-30 that loves a particular 150gr LFN load I use. One inch groups at 100 yards all day. That same load in my older Stevens bolt action 30-30 is another story. At 100 yards it looks like I shot the target with buckshot out of a shot gun. Now a few grain reduction of 4064 with the same LFN gives me one inch groups out of the Stevens. Keep in mind that velocity and accuracy go hand in hand.