The "perfect" rifle powder?

[Luke Duke]

If you have a few bolt actions;

I have found the the old slow IMR 4350 works with loads from my
22-250's up to the large 30-06 case, from light target loads all the way
to factory loads, or even more, with good accuracy.

I have two IMR 4895 30-06 test loads to test out with 150 and 180 weight bullets
that are light target loads or maybe hunting loads c/o "Minimum" meat waste
if they meet the accuracy and fps needed in my testings.

It is very hard to slow down a .30 Cal. , high BC boat tail bullet, into the 2500fps area
and I might need a poor BC flat base spitzer 150 gr like the Rem Core-Lokt
to use, if nothing pans out for me.

Just trying to get the BIG 30-06 down to 30-30 & Krag energy, if possible.

I will post what happens, when finished.

Yeah cup and core bullets in the 180gr range work real well when not pushed hard. Thats what I love about IMR 4064, you can down load it and still get great results. IMR 4895 is a great powder too.

 

[SS336]

Hold on here, one powder for everything? I can't do that.
I use 5 different powders for 8 different rifle cartridge's. Admittedly I can use IMR4350 for most of the middle bore's but in the .22 Hornet and .223/5.56 that would not work to well.
In today's component shortage problems I try and keep useful powders around that I can load in maybe a few cartridge's. The Hornet is one trick pony, but the other ones can load different powder. But at least in my rifles accuracy is where you find it.
Now in handgun powders Unique is one very versatile powder.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would find it extremely difficult to use only one powder for loading rifle cartridges too. I guess if I had to H4895 would be the one. Right now I think I use one or more different powders for each rifle cartridge I now load.

Handgun powders are another thing. I want 3 powders, W231/HP-38, W540/HS-6 and W296/H110.

 

[Tu_S]

These days I'm using BL-C(2) or CFE223 for 223 since it was the only thing I could find.

Pre-pandemic I was using IMR 4198 as the "universal" powder for 223, 7.62x39, and reduced loads in 308 and 30-06.

Being what it is you really have to trickle it for any consistency, but an auto charger solves that problem.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I hate to say it but;

If you have rifles that go from a .22 dia. with 40 gr pills all the way to
a .30 Caliber that swallows a 220 gr bullet or larger..............

If you only have just ONE can of brand "X" powder for all your target and factory Dup. loads

you are going to be one very sorry camper.

It is a nice "Idea" but it AIN'T going to happen.