How Many Powders Do You Regularly Use

[JTB]

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.

 

[jasonco]

6.5x284 Norma: H4831, Retumbo.
7STW: H5010, H1000, H4831, Retumbo, H50BMG, RL25, MRP
300RUM: Retumbo
28 Nosler: Starting out Retumbo.

CCI 200, 250 & BR2 primers.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Add RE26 to those already listed.

 

[drdool]

IMR 4064, 4350. H4831, 4350, 1000 and of course Varget. Too many cause some old tried and true powders just can't seem to part with

 

[BountyHunter]

H-1000, RL 26, MRP and MRP2

 

[JTB]

I used to use IMR4350 exclusively in an old 270 WSM shooting 140gr Accubonds because it was so comfortable to shoot with great accuracy. That may sound odd but it seemed to have a smoother relative burn progression and lower felt recoil vs similar powders. Had to drop it after going with 1:8 twist and 170gr EOLs but still keep it around for the same reason as drdool

 

[Dgd6mm]

H4895, H1000.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Retumbo and H1000, works great in my rifles and it's always on the shelf at the local general store.

 

[just country]

morning, all the above and more. 4320 works great in 22-250AI
70ish gr. bullets. I have 24 powders for different calibers, cases,
different bullet weights and different twist of barrels. GBOT TUM

 

[johnnyk]

Right now;
Retumbo in 6.5-284 Norma w/140/143/147gn. (3050ish fps)
RL15 in .308 Win w/168gn. (2650-2700fps)
RL26 in .300 WinMag w/212gn. (77gn - 3125fps! backed down to 74gn - 3020fps)
US869 in .270 Allen Magnum w/170gn. (95gn - 3450fps)

Recently got a 8lb jug of IMR4831 for 50% off! Gonna try that in 6.5-284 and .308. Just got a 8lb jug of Retumbo for decent price (want to experiment with .300WM and .270AM) and found clearance sale on US869 for $14.00 per 1lb can. Bought 10 of these as that Allen Magnum gobbles this stuff up.

I have many, many more that I have tried throughout the 35 years that I have been reloading. I do a little load development for other friends so they stick around for that reason. Needless to say, I've never met a powder I didn't like! So many calibers - so little time! LoL. HAGO. JohnnyK.

 

[scdogman]

H4831sc, 270 winter
H1000, 7mm reg mag
H1000, Retumbo, 28 nosler
H4350, 6.5 Creedmoor

This is the order in which I started reloading. Only tried Hodgdon because of temp sensitivity. I shoot in 80 to 90 degrees in the summer.

 

[tbrice23]

H50bmg, RL33, Retumbo, H1000. Rl25, RL26, IMR7828ssc, IMR7828 long cut, RL23, IMR4350, H4350, Varget, Benchmark.
These are used regularly and are restocked as needed.

Magpro, RL22, RL19, N160, IMR4064, RL15, IMR4895, H380, H414, AR Comp are standbys but will not become grass fertilizer yet.

Bullseye for fire forming cases.

HOLY SH!T !! I started reloading to SAVE money!

 

[3stooge]

I'm hoping to replace a lot of the old stand-by powders with RL26. I haven't done enough load development yet but it looks promising so far. The 243 Win is good with RL26 as is the 300WM. Still need to work up loads with the 264 WM, 223wssm, and 280 Rem but load data so far looks promising for them too.

My 7-08 and 250 Sav might be down to just CFE 223.

I might be able to get rid of H4350, H4831, imr4831, imr 4064, H414, H1000, imr 4895, H4895, R19, and R22 from my stash of powders in favor of just R26 and CFE 223. But I'm having problems finding R26 and CFE 223 locally.......the availability part has be nervous.

 

[JTB]

Quick tally on number of times powders were specifically mentioned as regularly used in above posts:
Retumbo 9
H-1000 9
H-4831 5
RL-26 4
H-4350 3
IMR 4350 3
RL-25 2
MRP 2
Several others mentioned once. I expected to see RL-33 mentioned more. RL-26 looks more popular. Small sample size offers minimal significance but looks like most of us can't help stocking a large number of powders. Well said tbrice23