Powder Selection

[JackEllis]

At the moment I keep four different powders on hand:

IMR 4451 for my .30-06
IMR 4064 for my .243
W748 for my .223s
IMR 4198 for my .223s

Yesterday I was talking with a fellow who had been testing loads for a .458 Socom. IMR 4198 swas one of the powders he was testing.

I was under the impression that the rule of thumb is, slower burning powders for bigger, heavier bullets and faster powders for faster, lighter bullets but this guy is using a fast burning powder with very slow, very heavy bullets. what am I missing?

I'm not brave enough to try combinations of powders and bullets that aren't supported by manufacturer's data

[elk hunter]

To be honest I don't believe there is any one answer to the powder question that fits all. Way to many cross overs.

[croue]

[Fjold]

The general rule is that heavier bullets require slower powders from the powders that are best suited for that cartridge. The powders best suited for a particular cartridge is based mostly on the case capacity versus the bore size.

A 200 grain bullet out of a 300 Magnum will require a slower powder than a 200 grain bullet out of a 375 H&H magnum. But the range of powders suitable for the 375 H&H will all be faster burning than the powders suitable for the 300 Win Mag.

[elk hunter]

This could start you on a lot of enlightenment in the shooting world. It's a very good example of and definition of overbore. Your powder question is a lot more than a simple yes or no, it's a lot. HTH to start you down the road to a answer your looking for. Fjold gives you a light taste of what a part of the answer is in his overbore comment.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2016/03/defining-overbore-cartridges-the-great-debate/

[Divernhunter]

You might use the win748 in the 223 with 36/40/50/55gr Bullets). It has always been excellent for me. H335 and Benchmark also has been good.
It(748) also works well in the 30-06 (125/130/150gr Bullets)as does win760, IMR4064, IMR4895.
At least that is what my chronology and accuracy testing has shown for me.

[JackEllis]

croue: All of my rifles are bolt guns so feeding isn't an issue. In order to work up a load for 62 grain Federal Fusion pulls I had to do a little research and a little guessing that W748 would be better than IMR 4198. They shot acceptably well out of an 8" twist Tikka and I didn't even try them in a Howa 1500.

Fjold: Thanks for the beginning lesson. When you have a moment, I'd appreciate pointers to some references I can read to educate myself before asking any more questions.

elk hunter: I'm an engineer by training and I like to understand how things work so going down the powder rabbit hole has some appeal.

Divernhunter: I've had good success using both W748 and IMR 4198. The most appealing thing about IMR 4198 is the per round cost, especially since I was able to score a bunch of it for a really good price. IMR 4064 was born out of desperation when H4350 became scarce.

[jcourson]

IMR 4198 is my go to for the 45-70. You don't get much larger and slower than that

[RestrictedColt]

The more I learn about powders the more confusing it gets to some degree. Some of the basic 'rules' make sense, but often don't actually play out in the real world. Some people's pet loads break the 'rules'.


The first rule I learned way back before I knew anything about reloading is to know what you're doing. His name was Jason, before he pulled the trigger, after that it was scarface.

[MrElectric03]

I'm still surprised that guys use IMR 4198 for .223, I had nothing but issues when I tried it.

I think stuff like Varget is pretty versitle for rifle stuff and unique for pistols. I don't know because I don't use either. I have no problem keeping different powders for different rounds. I care more about reliability than ease of storage.

[pennstater]

Don't know if OP has a 30-30, but, 748 works rather well in that. 150's or 170's. Also, in .223, Ramshot TAC works very well.

[JackEllis]

I'm still surprised that guys use IMR 4198 for .223, I had nothing but issues when I tried it.

Well now I'm curious. Can you share what kinds of problems you had?

Don't know if OP has a 30-30, but, 748 works rather well in that. 150's or 170's. Also, in .223, Ramshot TAC works very well.

My brother has a .30-30 but he doesn't reload. At the moment I have about a five year supply of IMR 4198 and I have to move that into loaded cartridges before I can buy any more powder.

[koehn,jim]

I use 748 in my Mi Garand with a 168 grain sierra because it meters so well.

[MrElectric03]

Well now I'm curious. Can you share what kinds of problems you had?

When my AR was new(and that could have some to do with it) my first loads were with IMR4198. It would never have enough power to push the next round fully into the chamber and lock the bolt. It was the only time I've ever used the forward assist. I actually went past max load which I believe was compressed and still would never reliably cycle, maybe one or two fine and then would have to push the bolt. Switched to H335 and the starting load cycled perfect so I never looked back.

[JackEllis]

When my AR was new(and that could have some to do with it) my first loads were with IMR4198. It would never have enough power to push the next round fully into the chamber and lock the bolt.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

My 223s are bolt guns so I wouldn't run into the problem.

What I liked best about using IMR 4198 is how little powder is required. I can get 350 50 grain VMAX cartridges per pound of powder compared with just over 280 per pound of W748.