Chart or Reference for different powders?

[Bill Steele]

A really big thing is what is sold close to you .
Support your LGS or it will be gone . Here , no one even carries
8 lbs any more . Way to many powders to get stuck with something
no one buys .
A good place to start is at the range . Talk to the guy picking up his / her cases .

I agree with this sentiment, but sometimes it is still tough. When I lived in the SF Bay Area there was a shop not far from me that stocked a decent supply of reloading components. For things like powder and primers it was painful. The guy that owned the shop commented one day that he paid more through his distributors than he could buy retail from Powder Valley, including shipping and Hazmat.

Where I live now it is a little better. I was down at a local shop today and they had everything. I picked up a few powders I have been wanting to try for a while but didn't due to the shipping and hazmat fees online (it takes a pretty big order for it to make sense). It was pretty painless just reaching out and grabbing what I wanted, even if it was $5/lb more than online.

[JMP]

For pistols, the choices seem overwhelming at first, but the good news is that you will likely find that many powders within a similar "burn rate" category provide similar results. With rifles, if you want the best results for accuracy, it'll almost always be generated with an extruded powder (with a few exceptions). However, you will probably favor a spherical powder if you are loading on a progressive or relying on a powder drop that dispenses a load based on the powder's volume.

[tonyjr]

Bill Steele -
I would be willing to bet that shop closed .
Here , the closest place to buy reloading " stuff " is at least 15 miles away .
Wall mart and K-mart drove them away . Now neither sells .
When powder got short , I told the 3 places / ranges I wanted 2 - 1 pound bottles of H110 and 2 bottles of CFE and HS 6 or HP 38 . A brick of CCI Mag and regular primers .
They know me will enough that when it came in they took CC numbers over phone . [ I have 6 nephews and 2 nieces that I reload for and twice they picked up powder . I also order my bullets from them .
Is it worth it ? Try finding a camera store close or see how many gas stations have closed .
Die wise 2 places carry 9 mm , 40 and 45 . [ if in stock ] Hunting and fishing stuff and bess pro - 1/2 to 1 hour away depending on traffic
Sorry I got of topic .

[nahpungnome]

I have this printed out in my office/reloading room: https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Burn%20R...02015-2016.pdf

Also, if you go to Hodgdon's reloading website and put in your caliber, they'll show you available loads for whichever powders you're interested that's on the list.

I load 9mm, .45ACP, and .357Mag so I just print out the load data from Hodgdon's site. They don't show every manufacturer for load data, but I've settled on Hodgdon as my go to manufacturer...although I do like Alliant's stuff as well (Power Pistol and Green Dot).

[Bill Steele]

Bill Steele -
I would be willing to bet that shop closed .
Here , the closest place to buy reloading " stuff " is at least 15 miles away .
Wall mart and K-mart drove them away . Now neither sells .
When powder got short , I told the 3 places / ranges I wanted 2 - 1 pound bottles of H110 and 2 bottles of CFE and HS 6 or HP 38 . A brick of CCI Mag and regular primers .
They know me will enough that when it came in they took CC numbers over phone . [ I have 6 nephews and 2 nieces that I reload for and twice they picked up powder . I also order my bullets from them .
Is it worth it ? Try finding a camera store close or see how many gas stations have closed .
Die wise 2 places carry 9 mm , 40 and 45 . [ if in stock ] Hunting and fishing stuff and bess pro - 1/2 to 1 hour away depending on traffic
Sorry I got of topic .

It did close, but more I think out of wanting to be retired than because he wasn't making a little money. In the end, I think he probably got most tired of kids coming in, pawing over his guns and then buying them online at Bud's, etc.

But I do agree with your original post, buying local even at more money is good economics in the long run. Today I picked up one of your favorites CFE Pistol and also some BE-86. I have been meaning to try them both for my mid burn rate needs. I am just starting to try and load some solid copper Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator bullets for a couple 380 mouse guns I just bought for CCW, I think both powders will work pretty well in this application.

Some fun.

[Fetterly Powders]

This 231/hp-38 thing is kinda frustrating. Especially when there 'proofs' we come across like in manuals, or even our own results. Says Hodgdon, 231 is hp38, 296 is h110, not similar, but is. Different lots when produced, which is in large volume may produce different color, [sometimes dark or light grey or even a bluish tint] and often times different range results. I cook my chocolate chip cookies the same with same stuff, same way every time but often diff. results[ I'm lame though]. When published in a manual, many did not know this fact. I have talked to Hodgdon on this 5 times[to see if any different comments] over the years.
Doug

[JagerDog]

The burn rate chart can help find powders you may not be familiar with if they're close to one you are. Then you look at data specific to that powder.

Notice there's no "scale" on the burn rate chart. The numbers are simply in order fastest to slowest..and are performed in "closed bomb" testing. Therefore in actual use they may change places a bit relative to each other.

[tonyjr]

similar is not the same .
Solid copper does not change shape as much as jacketed .
Coated , Plated , then jacketed hollow point then FMJ .
This really only comes into play with a worn / sloppy barrel
or if hunting over 20 yards . 95 % of my shooting is at 10
meters or less .
CFE seems to have less copper build up in barrel .

[rojocorsa]

For pistols, the choices seem overwhelming at first, but the good news is that you will likely find that many powders within a similar "burn rate" category provide similar results. With rifles, if you want the best results for accuracy, it'll almost always be generated with an extruded powder (with a few exceptions). However, you will probably favor a spherical powder if you are loading on a progressive or relying on a powder drop that dispenses a load based on the powder's volume.

I picked up a 4lb jug of W231 yesterday. I just need some 9 & 45 boolits and Im in business.

[orangeusa]

Sweet. I might be local and can give you some bullets to get started.

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