Most Versatile Rifle Powder?

[Dump1567]

I recently picked-up a Remington Model 8 in .30 Rem. So if I want to shoot it with any regularity, it looks like I need to get into Rifle reloading (already reload for Handgun).

Although I'll probably only reload for .30 Rem, I also have dies for .303 Brit. And may want to load for .35 Rem and .45-70.

I really like the idea of just having one powder for rifle. My shooting is just for target plinking. I found loading data from Hodgdon for all those calibers using Varget.

Is there a better 1 powder that does it all?

Thanks.

 

[shocker]

Find a ball powder. They meter so nice that trickling is unnecessary. Eliminates my least favorite step in reloading.

 

[rockquarry]

H4895 is probably more versatile than Varget or ball powders. Ball powders meter well but few, if any, are temperature resistant, an important factor to some handloaders.

 

[kci-mia]

IMR 3031 will do everything you want to do.
It's one of my favorite powder...very versatile.

 

[steelslaver]

4895 can be used in anything from 223 to a 458 win mag. That covers a lot of ground. m

 

[Dump1567]

Thanks. Just printed out all those caliber load data's for H4895.

 

[Mark in GA]

H4895 is a great suggestion. For a ball powder in those applications that is still temperature stable, you need to look at Ramshot TAC.

Mark in GA

 

[ruger 22]

Another vote for IMR 3031. I have used it for 7x57, 300H&H,243, 375 H&H, and 458 Win. This is a virtual 'do-it-all powder for rifles.

 

[Nevada Ed]

IMR3031 has been around for a really long time and was the go to powder
for a lot of early loads for many calibers.

The newer H4895 is nice since it works with position and temperatures that a shooter
can come into during the course of a seasons shooting.

Just depends on which one looks good to the shooter and his needs.

 

[Benchrest1]

Another vote for H4895.

 

[alwslate]

Win 748 is a very versatile ball powder.

 

[WR Moore]

I find myself using IMR 4064 in a lot of calibers. That said, BL-C2 is THE powder for .303 British. While it was developed for loading .30 military rounds, I have no clue about it's possible use in .45-70.

Just as a warning, just because you can find load data for a cartridge/powder combination doesn't mean it's a good choice. It may well depend on your expectations. If you just want to launch a bullet down range, it may work. Accuracy, velocity and agreement with the sights (.303 British) may be less than you might want.

To my surprise, I find myself using 3 different powders in .223. It depends upon bullet weight and what I'm trying to do with the load. OOPS! make that 4 powders. I just had to try some special bullets for shooting steel.

 

[old tanker]

IMR4895 is to rifles like Unique is to handguns. It will pretty much deliver as usable load in any caliber and an optimal load in several.

 

[JohnK]

I reload for about 20 different calibers.

4895, and 4350 cover nearly all the bases.

The little tiny cases need something else.

 

[samnev]

IMR4895 is to rifles like Unique is to handguns. It will pretty much deliver as usable load in any caliber and an optimal load in several.

Thats been my go to powder for 40 years. Does well in every mil surplus rifled and LMG's I've ever owned as well as tailored loads in my TRG 22 and AIAW.

 

[DWalt]

IMR 3031 is probably the best propellant for .30-30 and .30 Rem cases (they are pretty much the same except for the .30-30's rim), and other cases of similar capacity. IMR 4895 is not a great deal different, but I would use IMR 3031 given a choice. 29-30 grains of either propellant behind the standard 170 grain RN bullet come close to duplicating factory ballistics for either caliber.

 

[Dump1567]

IMR4895 is to rifles like Unique is to handguns. It will pretty much deliver as usable load in any caliber and an optimal load in several.

And this is what I was looking for in a rifle powder. As Unique is my 1 powder for handguns.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like many above said H4895 is a very good choice. IMO it is the Unique of rifle powders. It's also capable of safely producing reduced power loads. It meter just fine too.

It's hardly a compromise in the 4 cartridges you listed in your OP. Sure there are better powders for a few like AA5744 for the 45-70 but you don't give away much with 4895.

If you really want to use a Ball Powder you might give H335 a try but I have never used it myself in the 45-70 so I can't verify it will work well.

 

[hdwhit]

I'm a big fan of IMR-3031

 

[Moe Mentum]

If you want a ball powder that's easy to meter, and will work in most rifle calibers, then look for W748.