Favorite reloading powders for hunting

Retumbo> 7mm dakota
R-22 > 300 short mag
AA3100 >270WSM
Imr 4064> 308 & 22-250
blc2 > 222mag
imr4350 > 243
I can't remember my 300win mag load but from memory I think its 7828 or R-22
 
DamascusSteel said:
Did a quick search and didn't see anything like this. But what is yalls favorite reloading powder for hunting, I know different calibers require different style of powders. But in general what is yalls favorite, go to powder and why?
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What's the difference between favorite for hunting and favorite for plinking? My favorite powder's are the one's that give me the best accuracy and velocity for using! What I'd learned years ago about picking a powder was to choose one that gives the best velocity for the bullet your using. That one doesn't work, go down a powder. Over the years I have found different powder's I like best depending on the cartridge, rifle and bullet used. There are no absolute's! Pretty much heavy for cal bullet's like slower powder's and light for caliber like faster burning powder's. From there is just a try and figure it out. Over the years you'll find powder's that work and you'll go back to them first to try new loads or rifles and work from there. An examole would be a 308 for me with jacketed bullet's. I start with one of two powder's. 3031 or BLC/2. I always start out with 165 gr bullet's and found over the years that there are other powder's that might work but those two always work! Something else you'll find is that just because certain powders work for one guy does not mean they will work for another for what ever reason I haven't a clue! Rule of thumb, magnum case's prefer magnum loads of slow powder, 30-06 type cases really seem to like a bit faster powders, think IMR or H4350. Imr4895 is associated with the 30-06 but I think mostly as that is what the military used. Doesn't mean it will or won't for you! Those cases with smaller dis bullet's usually like a bit slower powder. M-My favorite powder in 243 turned out to be H414. Powders like 3031,BLC/@ H335 and 748 didn't cut it in my 243, they might in yours! My 25-06 does very well with RL-19. Not worth a diddly in my 30-06. Using that rule of thumb I have always found good workable loads in my rifles. But not always the powder's I though I might like!
 
Deputy sheriff said:
My 338 win mag loves RL 19 and will work with 270win,280 rem and 300 wsm.
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Goes to show you, even if you think it might not work, try it. I've had two 338's and neither liked that fast a powder. Mine were before RL-22 but that would seem to me to be a good starting powder today. Ya just never know till you try!
 
I started with IMR4350 and only got about 2825 FPS using 210 Nosler Partitions. I did try RL16 I got 2965FPS. Using Norma MRP i got 3041 FPS. SD was 8.4 5 shots. That is my best load. IMR 7828SSC gave 2971 FPS. H4831 Gave 2848 FPS. I should have tryed RL26. The factory Premium Federal 210gr Partition was 2865 FPS. My rifle is a old Ruger M77
 
30-06's using H-4350,270,270Wby,280AI's, IMR-7828ssc,284 long action R17, 30-338's mag using H-4831ssc,35WhelenAI, R-15.

One of the 280AI been trying R-26/Peterson brass with 175gr ABLR and 284 with 160gr AB/162gr ELD-X. Both rifles have 27" Lilja barrels and I'm just starting so no velocity.
 
RL-22 for the 270, 7RM, and 30-06. Varget for 5.56. Going to experiment this summer with some magnum for 150gr TTSX in the 7RM.
 
If I had to chose only one it would be H4350. I have great rounds worked up for my 30-06 and my 6.5 creedmoor. If I could have two I would take Varget.
 
The hodgdon extreme powder in the appropriate burn rate is a good place to start and what i usually end up settling on. H4895, Varget, H4350, H4831sc, H1000. The limited amount i've used retumbo i had some inconsistent velocity issues. These are all relatively temperature stable powders.

RL16 and RL23 are seeming to be good alternatives for H4350 and H4831sc as well.
 
I am wondering, what would make any powder better for hunting? I like 4350, H or IMR doesn't make a lot of difference to me, but if it didn't satisfy me in some particular rifle I'd try something else. I have a few rifles that shoot well with two or three different powder's, what would make one better than the other for hunting? what I care about in a hunting rifle is how well a rifle shoots!
 
Don Fischer said:
I am wondering, what would make any powder better for hunting? I like 4350, H or IMR doesn't make a lot of difference to me, but if it didn't satisfy me in some particular rifle I'd try something else. I have a few rifles that shoot well with two or three different powder's, what would make one better than the other for hunting? what I care about in a hunting rifle is how well a rifle shoots!
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If I have one that shoots well with multiple powders. I then look to see which gives me the most speed.
 
H4350, IMR 4451, and StaBALL 6.5 - 7mm08, .243 Win, 30-06

IMR 4064 - 308 Win

H4831/SC and Hunter - .270 Win

IMR 8208 XBR and AR Comp - 6.5 Grendel
 
Guess it depends why you reload. If it’s to get everything possible out of a gun/load combo that takes lots of experimenting. I have an awful lots of guns and the powder varies from gun to gun, load to load. No such thing to me as any pet type powder.
 
I have been shooting some H4350 and its been pretty good so far, looking forward to using some Vihtavouri N550 soon. ALso have some rounds loaded up with Win760 ready for a ladder test
 
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