Absolute best powder...

[Stephen Prindle]

I've tried rl26, rl22, imr 7828sc, H4831sc, and H4350. With Berger 140 hybrid and 140 ELD H4350 was the most consistent and accurate in my rifle.

 

[C-Crist276]

RE22 with 124 Hammer's

 

[HAMPS]

4831SC with 140 VLD's. 3000 FPS. Shoots in the 2's. Was in ND this spring and took it out to a mile.

 

[normlarson]

Hodgson H 4831 SC. Very temp stable, easy to dispense. DO NOT buy regular Hodgon H4831 it takes FOREVER to cut them in half.

 

[Slick8]

For temp sensitivity it starts and ends with the hodgedon extreme line...imo.

The 3 that will work best for you are H4350 H1k and Retumbo with the latter giving the best velocity.

Id next recommend RL26 for a compromise of temp and velocity as it will likely outrun the Hodgedon's.

I personally build a rifle with a bullet, clambering and barrel length that will attain my goals with the 3 listed above plus varget.

For example, I'm running a 230 berger at 2950 with H1k. I could get more from 26 or n570 but I have 2 jugs of H1k and its easier on the barrel at that speed and is effective to 800 yards at sea level.

 

[Dr. Richard Gray]

I've recently added a custom 6.5x284 to my collection. 700 action with a 24" Rock Creek heavy barrel with a Little Bastard brake. Im starting to work up loads for it and here's where the question comes in. What have you all found to be the absolute best powder considering both velocity and temp insensitivity to use? Your responses always make my reading and work more enjoyable and productive. Thanks all... Gibbs

Go to https://load-data.nosler.com/. Since Nosler does not manufacture powder they have no biases in their testing and provide information for everything your concerned about and give the most accurate powder and charges used. They are always my first choice, then I compare with manufacturers reload site. I think you'll find everything you want to know here.

 

[Quintus]

I love RL22 in that case, but the temp stability I guess is no good.

 

[Greyfox]

After a dozen years with four 6.5x284's, using 140/142 bullets, H4831sc for target work Retumbo for hunting. Retumbo generally delivers an additional 75-100FPS with velocity in the 2950-3050FPS range and very good barrel life due to the slow burn rate.

 

[drdool]

H4831 or Retumbo w/ 140s in mine

 

[Wv shooter]

I have been with 6.5x284 for last 10 years my favorite cal imr 4831 H4831 SC H4350 all good best for me 53 gr H4831SC 143 hornady ELD-X or Berger 140 VLD hunting out of Savage LR hunter and hart barreled 700

 

[DJ Fergus]

My personal favorite powder is retumbo. I have n570, h1000, RL26 ,h4350, imr 4350, rl22, I'm 4831, RL17, rl25 and a few more.
My opinion is that RL26 may be the most versatile powder you could find. Many folks have found it to work well in everything from a 22 creedmoor to a 280 rem and on up to ultra sized cases like 300 prc, 300 Norma & 28 Nosler.

 

[pacowboy]

My cousin and I both used the same load in our 6.5-284 1k light benchrest rifles.(under 17#) 48.5 gr H4350 with Lapua brass, Fed Gold Medal Match primers, 140 gr Bergers. We were running 3000-3050 if I recall correctly. We had tight necks so we had to turn our case necks. My best groups at Williamsport 1k was 6.8". Gun was better than I was no doubt. Hart accurized Remington 700 with a Hart 28" stainless barrel. As always work up to this load with caution. Your gun may not like this load.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I think h4350, h4831sc, h1000, R23,R26 should be your short list.

 

[Gibbshooter43]

Really appreciate all the responses. There does seem to be a consistency in the responses that is good to see, and they agree with the manual studies that I've done. Now if i can just find the powders. I'm on several "notify me when it's available" lists.