Choosing Powder/Primers for Reloading

K

KnightofCydonia

New member
Hi,

I just ordered a RCBS kit. I have dies/bullets/cases, now just the powders and primers need to be bought.

I kind of want to streamline my powders/primers for the most calibers.

Calibers I want to reload for are .308/7.62 NATO (M14), 8mm Mauser, 6.5x55 Swedish, .30-30, and .45 ACP.

Is there a powder that will suit all the .30 cal rifles? And one for the pistol cal?

Also, which brand makes good primers? The M14 should use harder primers in case of slam-fire, which ones are best to use? How about for the pistol?

Thanks
 
T

taylorce1

New member
IMR 4064 will probably work with both the .308 and 6.5X55, IMR 3031 would be a good powder for the .30-30 and would possibly work with the .308 Win. If you only have one pistol you only need one powder if it is accurate in your handgun.

I would look at IMR or H4350 for the 6.5X55, Varget or TAC for the .308, and IMR 3031 for the .30-30. CCI and Wolf/Tula are the only two that I know specifically market primers for the 7.62 NATO and 5.56 NATO. I'd imagine that just about any standard LR/SR primer will work however, because you never saw these primers five years ago, and to the best of my knowledge you never heard of rampant slamfires.

However, after saying all that you had better have a long list of powders when you go to the LGS that will work with the bullet weight you want to shoot. Then when you find a store that has a pound or two buy it even if it really isn't the powder you want. Primers you'll be lucky to get what you can as well. Everything is in short supply these days and you have to buy what you can and make do until things get better.
 
P

Pathfinder45

New member
Three Powders

You can use one powder for the 308, 8mm, and 30-30 and get excellent results for all three. Hodgdon's BLC-2 would be about perfect. The Swede will give better performance with a slower burning powder. Of course, you will need a pistol powder for the 45. No, there is not an ideal powder for all 30 calibers. A 30-30 is just way too different from a 300 magnum. You didn't mention which bullet weights you intended to use. I suggest you use a mil-spec primer for the M14. Other than that, I prefer CCI and Federal primers, and for pistols I use a lot of Winchester WLP primers depending on which powder I choose.
 
M

Misssissippi Dave

New member
My favorite powder for low to mid range .45 cal loads would be Winchester Super Target (WST). It works well for lead and jacketed bullets. It burns clean and measures well in just about any powder measure. It also fills the case better than many dense powders do. This is a powder not used a lot by pistol shooters so it is normally available. It is a fairly fast powder so it tends to keep the recoil down too.

Other powder I know to work in .45 apc are WSF, W231/HP38, AA2 and AA5.

.45 apc these days is made with both large and small pistol primers. You do need to separate them if you are using once fired brass. The main brands of primers will work pretty well. CCI primers tend to be a little harder than the others so you may not want to use them if your pistol has a reduced hammer spring in it. This will reduce light strikes. My favorite pistol primer is Winchester. I will use the Federal, Remington, Tula and CCI primers when I don't have any Winchester primers on hand.

Many of the on line venders are out of primers now. You might have some luck finding them at a local gun shop or maybe even a gun show.

I don't load rifle so can't help you there.
 
P

Pongo

New member
Personally I like BLC-2 but it isn't suited to the 6.5 swede unless you are using 100gr or less bullets.

If you can get your hands on an older Hodgdon manual (mine is 26th edition) you will find data for H414 covering all those rifle cartridges and bullet weights you mention.
 
M

Misssissippi Dave

New member
The max load will be around 4.9 grains of WST if you use a long OAL. I load a little shorter than some people do so I will max out around 4.8 grains of powder. 4.5 grains of WST powder with an OAL around 1.250 should get you around 800 fps in a 5" barrel plus or minus a little. It makes a nice accurate load in my opinion. Group size will start to open up when you approach the top end. You do need to work up a load to get it accurate for your pistol. I would start around 4.1 grains to see what works for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top