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powder inventory

nemesisenforcer
trying to pare down my powder inventory. Here's what I'm thinking of as a short list for a "do it all" line of powders:

Varget
IMR 4007 SSC
Reloader 15
Reloader 19 or 22
Hybrid 100V
4831
4350
Haven't made up my mind on IMR or Hodgdon on the last 2.

EDIT: I might fore-go 4831 and/or 4350 since 100V fits right in between them on burn rate and seems to give similar (if not better) velocities. I also think I've settled on R19 rather than 22.

For pistols, I use Unique or Green Dot and have no plans to diversify unless someone can convince me otherwise.
Input?
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Comments

18 comments

Date Votes
  • Ambrose
    I've never tried Hybred 100V although I've thought about it. What do you use it for? Obviously you get good results if you're considering it for your "short list".
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  • nemesisenforcer
    quote:Originally posted by Ambrose
    I've never tried Hybred 100V although I've thought about it. What do you use it for? Obviously you get good results if you're considering it for your "short list".


    I've never used it myself either, but reviews I've seen give it high marks. It would seem to be good for some of the magnum type cases and some overbore non-mags.
    0
  • bpost
    Tite Group or Bullseye
    Unique
    IMR 4198
    Varget
    IMR 4895
    IMR 4350
    IMR 4831
    RE-19
    0
  • jonk
    I have a lot on the shelf but could make do with 2 if I had to- Red Dot and 4895. As is, my short list, if I were to cull everything I don't really use much, would include:

    Bullseye
    Red Dot
    4759
    4198
    4895
    4350
    FFG
    FFFG
    FFFFG

    That covers pretty much any application.
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  • nemesisenforcer
    quote:Originally posted by jonk
    I have a lot on the shelf but could make do with 2 if I had to- Red Dot and 4895. As is, my short list, if I were to cull everything I don't really use much, would include:

    Bullseye
    Red Dot
    4759
    4198
    4895
    4350
    FFG
    FFFG
    FFFFG

    That covers pretty much any application.


    Hodgdon or IMR and what is FFG, etc.?
    0
  • jonk
    quote:Originally posted by nemesisenforcer
    quote:Originally posted by jonk
    I have a lot on the shelf but could make do with 2 if I had to- Red Dot and 4895. As is, my short list, if I were to cull everything I don't really use much, would include:

    Bullseye
    Red Dot
    4759
    4198
    4895
    4350
    FFG
    FFFG
    FFFFG

    That covers pretty much any application.


    Hodgdon or IMR and what is FFG, etc.?
    Ahm, I could go with either Hodgdon or IMR especially that one company now owns both. Slight preference for IMR as that's the one I have more experience with.

    What's FFG, FFFG, etc????????????????? Really??? It's the granulation of black powder! I'm sorry, I took it for granted that anyone in the reloading game would know that or I would have explained further. FFFFG is for flintlock priming pans, FFFG is for guns under .50 cal, FFG is for .50 and up, and FG is for cannon and such. There's also 1 1/2G that's good for cartridge reloading, though I've never found the need for it.
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  • Rocky Raab
    If you really get critical, you can get by with about five powders no matter what you load.

    One fast handgun/shotgun

    One medium handgun/shotgun

    One slow handgun/fast rifle

    One medium rifle

    One slow rifle

    Note that some cartridges might not be optimal - we aren't talking the single best powder for every cartridge we load, just something usable.

    My list would be something like Clays, Universal Clays, 4227, RL-15 and 4831. But you could substitute a dozen or more powders for each of those choices and still fit the pattern.
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  • BGHillbilly
    Back in the scare days of Clinton, I stocked up on Unique, H335, win 760, blue dot and 2400. I could reload everything I had and any popular caliber with those. Those were not what I wanted but were what were available that alowed me to reload everything. Same way with primers, bought 10K each of LR, SR, LP and SP and had to settle for Win instead of CCI for the rifle primers. I would buy FFG and FFFG if available, but it has not been available in my area to my knowledge in over 25 years, so I stock Pryodex P and RS but it is a minor concern since it can be readily made if the SHTF.
    0
  • jonk
    Yeah, I hear you on that. There is 1 store about 40 miles away that specializes in muzzleloading and has black on the shelf. But usually I order it and pay the hazmat, maybe 10 lb at a time.
    0
  • partisan
    Is there a concensus that agrees TiteGroup and Bullseye are so similar that either one will do?
    0
  • Rocky Raab
    TiteGroup, Bullseye, Clays, Nitro 100, Solo 1000, RedDot, A#2, ADI AS30N, VV-N310 and even Vectan AS and Norma R-1 and N2010 are so close that any one of them will do for the fast pistol powder. There are another dozen more that come very close and could fit that use as well.

    And you really only need one in that bracket of "fast pistol/shotgun."
    0
  • partisan
    Thanks Rocky!!!
    0
  • gunprofit
    You need some IMR 4064 in there.
    0
  • nemesisenforcer
    quote:Originally posted by gunprofit
    You need some IMR 4064 in there.


    tried it, not overly impressed with it.

    For a fast powder, I think I'll add 4895 and drop 4831 and/or 4350 since 100V is right in between them on the spectrum, assuming it turns out to be as good as it other people say it is.
    0
  • gunprofit
    For pistols, I use Unique or Green Dot and have no plans to diversify unless someone can convince me otherwise.
    Input?

    I would tell you that you need WW 231 for target work with handguns, but since you don't like IMR 4064, I won't waste my breath. BTW, I have seen and shot smaller groups using IMR 4064 than any other powder. Beating out Varget and RL 15, of which I am a big fan. But then again, maybe you are narrowing your powders down based on universal appeal and not strictly target use.
    0
  • nemesisenforcer
    quote:Originally posted by gunprofit
    For pistols, I use Unique or Green Dot and have no plans to diversify unless someone can convince me otherwise.
    Input?

    I would tell you that you need WW 231 for target work with handguns, but since you don't like IMR 4064, I won't waste my breath. BTW, I have seen and shot smaller groups using IMR 4064 than any other powder. Beating out Varget and RL 15, of which I am a big fan. But then again, maybe you are narrowing your powders down based on universal appeal and not strictly target use.


    Pretty much. I can't shoot well enough to notice a huge difference in my group sizes no matter what powder I use, though bullet selection does make a difference FWIW. I'm also looking for those powders that give top velocity in their class for what I shoot, since all else being equal, I want the most bang for my buck and those powders seem to fit the bill.
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  • BGHillbilly
    4064 is one of the powders I wanted to buy that was unavailable when I stocked up along with 4350 and 4198.
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  • Riomouse911
    Unique and IMR 3031. Unique works in 38, 357, 44sp, 44mag, 45 colt, 454 Casull.. 3031 works well in .30-30, .45-70, .35 Rem, and can be used in a pinch in .243, 270, .257 Roberts and .308.
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