How Many Powders Do You Regularly Use

I am interested to find out how many powders reloaders most commonly use to dial in their larger calibers/heavier bullets (6.5-284 to 338 RUM). I bring this up based on an earlier post under an 285 ELD-M heading. I have so many powders on my shelf I can't count them anymore but am able to dial in almost everything from 6.5-06 to 338 Edge with H-4831, H-1000 or Retumbo. Even found great load for 243 heavy bullets with Retumbo. I am just comfortable with the capability and limitations of these powders and don't spend the time/money necessary to experiment extensively with others. Wondering what powders others have as main players in their supply; may need to spend more time with those.
JTB, could you expand a little on your load for your .243 with Retumbo?? That's pretty interesting too me.
Thanks, Ceder
 
Just a thought, if I could ONLY keep four powders ...

Retumbo, 7828 and H4350 and Varget.

I was going to say three powders but cant get by without Varget.
 
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dcederberg, I actually worked two 243 youth loads with Retumbo using 85gr partition and 95gr VLD. I already had Retumbo in the charge master and you probably know what a pain it is to change so I gave it a try. These were shot in a youth model 700 with a 20 inch barrel. Ended up with 46.5gr with the 95gr VLD @ 2750 fps and 50gr with the 85gr partition @ 3000 fps. These loads produces sub MOA accuracy and very managable recoil from that small rifle. They are compressed loads so close to max velocity potential. 10 y/o ended up with a deer and a javalina last year with that rifle and the partitions.
 
I am trying to get my reloading bench down to 3 powders..
Norma MRP, 270 Win Hornady 145 ELDX, 257 Bob 115 Nosler BT
Reloader 16, 7.65 Mauser 180gr Pro Hunter, 30-06 178 Gr ELDX, 257 Bob 75 Gr Vmax
IMR 4198, 444 Marlin 280gr A frame...
 
I have several part cans of powder sitting round, From load development projects.
But these are my "Go too" 38 Spec. and 357 Mag. powders
Bulls Eye
Unique
Herco
Herco is dirty but its great for 357 full power loads.
The three main powders I use in my rifles are old proven powders.
H 4831 for 270 Win. 243 Win.
IMR 4350 338WM, 300 WSM and 243 Win.
IMR 4198 222 Rem. 223 Rem.
 
Lets see:
H50
US869
H1000
Retumbo
IMR 7828
and SC
H4831
and SSC
RL26
RL33
Varget
H4895
IMR 4064
Trailboss
H4350
RL17
Benchmark

I have more but those are my "regulars".
 
H4831sc & Varget, both of which I'll have to replace with an alternative when my current stock is used up, as the bloody EU is to ban their import after July 2018.
It's supposedly down to a chemical in the coating but I smell protectionism...

I use these two powders in 22-250, .243 & .270 getting good results with all the bullet weights I've tried so far.
 
Lets see:
H50
US869
H1000
Retumbo
IMR 7828
and SC
H4831
and SSC
RL26
RL33
Varget
H4895
IMR 4064
Trailboss
H4350
RL17
Benchmark

I have more but those are my "regulars".
That's quite a list, kinda looks like mine.
It's seems lately however, I use a lot of H1000
 
Varget, H4350, H4895, H4831sc, Ramshot TAC and Big Game. I have a couple of other powders that I use occasionally (for 45-70's) but these are my primary powders.
 
I would like to get my powder list down. Mostly due to cost of working up loads with several types of powders. I'd also like to avoid the wear on the gun involved with doing so. Her is my current and past list.
Retumbo
H1000
RL22
IMR4350
Varget
IMR 8208 XBR

Past
IMR7828
IMR7828SSC
IMR3031
CFE223
H414
 
Last edited:
Retumbo
H1000
H4831 and sc
H4350
H414
H380
Varget
Benchmark
H322
Cfe223
Tite group
Unique
Imr 8208 xbr
Imr 4831
Lil' gun
Win 231
I like having options, and as you can tell I like hodgen powders.
 
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