First-time reloader

[tteng]

I'm looking forward to hand load for my following rifles: Garand, 03a3, 7.62 Israeli Mauser and K31. I just bought 1000rd of .308 Speer 150gr. Spitzer SP.

What powder (good-enough & inexpensive) and do you recommend for the loads. I'm only killing paper out to 100-200yrds.

[Fjold]

Unless you buy military surplus powder, powder is going to cost you from $20 - $25 per pound at gunshops.

You can buy powder off the internet www.powdervalleyinc.com is a great source but there's a $20 Hazmat fee for every shipment of gunpowder. Unless you're going to buy 12-15 lbs at a time just pick it up at the gunshop a pound at a time.

Some of the common powders for the 30.06 and similar sized rounds are H4895, IMR 4895, H4198 and IMR4198.

Do yourself a big favor and buy a couple of reloading manuals and read their Introductary chapters before you start reloading. They'll give you some great technical information, theory of operation and safety information that will make your reloading experience a lot easier and safer.

[grammaton76]

Got a price comparison from a number of powder sources here...

http://thegunwiki.com/Gunwiki/ShopForReloading

I personally prefer the C&R FFL prices at Grafs over anything I've seen at powder valley. I just don't see what the fuss about PV is...

[ocabj]

That gunwiki page is misleading. It mentions how Midway charges $9.99 handling fee. What it fails to mention is that the $9.99 handling fee is actually a flat rate shipping fee. So the cost to order up to 48 lbs of powder from Midway is only $29.99. I have no idea how much Graf's will charge for shipping 48lbs of powder. Powder Valley quoted me $28 shipping + $20 hazmat + 50 cents per $100 of product for insurance to my zip code for 48 lbs of powder.

NOTE: 48lbs is the maximum amount of powder you can order under one hazmat.

tteng: Hodgdon or IMR 4895 is probably the best powder for you. It will work for all of the cartridges you listed in your post. 4895 was the original powder used in M2 ball for Garands. It is the proper burn rate for the Garand gas system. But 4895 is also a great powder for the other cartridges you list. IMR 4064 is another good all round powder.

[Fjold]

Graf advertises free shipping with just a $3.95 charge for handling and insurance

[anotherted]

not to hijack the thread but what is a good powder for 7.62x51. Im just starting up myself.

[ocabj]

Originally Posted by anotherted

not to hijack the thread but what is a good powder for 7.62x51. Im just starting up myself.

Hodgdon Varget, Alliant Reloder 15, WC748, Ramshot TAC, Hodgdon/IMR 4895, IMR 4064.

Varget and Reloder 15 are the popular ones right now.

[ocabj]

Originally Posted by Fjold

Graf advertises free shipping with just a $3.95 charge for handling and insurance

For regular customers. Dealers have a different shipping/freight policy according to the Grafs Dealer terms. I emailed Graf's about shipping for dealer accounts, but got no response.

[ocabj]

Oh, if anyone hasn't been to The Fowler Gun Room in Orange, they have slightly better prices on powder. $20 per lb usually. They also have better selection on reloading supplies that Turners (far better). I usually stop by there when I need CCI Benchrest primers.

[Fjold]

The guy asking the question did not say anything about being a C&R licensee or dealer so all of my comments were aimed at someone doing general retail purchases.

[ocabj]

Originally Posted by Fjold

The guy asking the question did not say anything about being a C&R licensee or dealer so all of my comments were aimed at someone doing general retail purchases.

True.

Worth noting that regular consumers pay around $1.50 - $2 more per lb on average on Graf's vs the Graf's dealer accounts.

The difference between Midway regular and dealer pricing is little to none.

[ivanimal]

Not knowing your location is no help. I would love to give you specific locations to aquire powder etc...........if you are in the Bay area.

[grammaton76]

Originally Posted by Fjold

Graf advertises free shipping with just a $3.95 charge for handling and insurance

Doesn't apply if you have a C&R (the prices on the page are with the C&R discount). Your prices on everything are lower, but you have to pay "normal" shipping.

[grammaton76]

Originally Posted by ocabj

For regular customers. Dealers have a different shipping/freight policy according to the Grafs Dealer terms. I emailed Graf's about shipping for dealer accounts, but got no response.

Data boiled down from an email I got from them, inquiring about an order I wanted to do...

CA freight goes: $1.05 insurance (on a $400ish order), hazmat if applicable, and the following scale: 5lbs=$8.50, 15lbs=$13.50, 25lbs=19.00, 40lbs=27.00

[grammaton76]

Originally Posted by ocabj

That gunwiki page is misleading. It mentions how Midway charges $9.99 handling fee

It is? I didn't see anything on their shipping policy saying it was anything other than an extra handling fee.

Point me at the bit on their site where it says that's flat rate shipping, and I'll happily update it.

[ocabj]

Originally Posted by grammaton76

It is? I didn't see anything on their shipping policy saying it was anything other than an extra handling fee.

Point me at the bit on their site where it says that's flat rate shipping, and I'll happily update it.

Add powder to your cart and checkout. The shipping price will be $9.99. If you try to add more than 48 lbs, it will deny you and state they will only let you order 48lbs on one order.

[grammaton76]

Originally Posted by ocabj

Add powder to your cart and checkout. The shipping price will be $9.99. If you try to add more than 48 lbs, it will deny you and state they will only let you order 48lbs on one order.

Interesting. Looks like it actually IS a flat rate shipping fee, but ONLY for powder. If you're ordering things besides powder, you still pay standard freight on the other items. So if your S&H is $15 without powder, an order with powder will cost you $25 total on S&H (because the powder is an additional $10). You can't combine powder and other things in an order from Midway.

Now that this is cleared up, I've updated the Midway-specific part of the page.

Originally Posted by MidwayUSA

Powder orders ship separately and may arrive at a later date. $20 Haz Mat and additional $9.99 Shipping fees added per order. Powder ships ground freight to the 1st 48 states. 48 lb max per order. Powder cannot be returned. Check local regulations.

[tteng]

Thanks fellas... I'm a new C&R holder and live in Fremont (SF bay area).

I just bought 16-lb of WCC846 (military surplus powder for 308 and 223 rifles) and 1000 Win LR primer from a buddy of mine, so I'm good for a long while. I met him (and all my reload equipment) thru craigslist, and it really pays to know/meet gun folks in your area.

[ocabj]

If that WCC846 is a ball powder you will want to get a chronograph to test and confirm your loads.

You will most likely need a magnum primer to get an accurate load using the 846 (if it is a ball powder).

I bought 16 lbs of WC844 for use in .223/5.56 loads and the velocities were erratic with standard Winchester primers. The groups were also very erratic (4-5" at 100 yards). I tried it in .30-30 (G2 Contender pistol) with the same erratic results. Switching to a magnum primer cut the extreme spread significantly and got me consistent loads.

[tteng]

Thanks for the heads-up. WCC846 is a ball powder. I'll get some mag. primer just to make sure.

[ivanimal]

Is that the same powder as BLC2? I remember reading that the load formulas were interchangeable.

[Fjold]

Ten years ago the WC 846 was used interchangeably with BL-C(2) data, I don't know if the newer WCC 846 is the same.

[ivanimal]

Thanks I thought I was crazy.

[Mike 56]

When i go to Reno to pay my dues i stop at Sportsmans warehouse power 16.00 a pound. i need to check how much for larger quantities. Mike