I was thinking of getting some powder and primers for 30-30 and 30-06, really just to have it in my supply. I've only ever used Win 231 Powder with CCI Small Pistol Primers for handgun cartridges.
What is a basic powder and primer combination I could get for these cartridges. Not looking for fancy, looking for staple type components that are long lived and have a good reputation. I'd like to have the same powder and primer combination for both if that is realistic.
I have run my own accuracy and velocity tests on the 30-30 Win and 30-06. The best American stick powders in the 30-30 were IMR 3031, IMR 4064 and an honorable mention to IMR 4895. It used to be IMR 3031 was a long stick powder but the jug I purchased is short cut. IMR 3031 is a tad faster than IMR 4895, and IMR 4895 is a tad faster than IMR 4064. IMR 4064 is a long stick powder and does not throw well.
In my lever action, I was accuracy limited to a narrow range of velocities, which was 2100 to 2200 fps with a 170 grain bullet. Velocities above or below was poor, and powders that gave the tightest extreme spreads shot the roundest groups.
In the 30-06, IMR 3031 used to be a popular target powder, but target shooting priorities accuracy over velocity. IMR 4895 was the powder used in the WW2 M1 Garand service cartridges and NM ammunition and I think it is an outstanding powder up to 175 grains bullet weights, which will do 99% of everything on this continent. You might be able to get a bit more velocity out of IMR 4064, hard to say the accuracy is all that better, but charges will have to be weighed.
I consider IMR 4895 one of the most flexible powders around, followed by IMR 4064. There are a series of 4895 powders that are basically indistinguishable over a chronograph. That is IMR 4895, AA2495 and H4895. Buy by price.
In terms of primers, buy by price. The lifetime of primers is essentially "infinite". If you store primers in a hot oven, or in an solvent bath, they won't last long. But in the original wrapper, primers are very stable. And I don't think the brand really matters that much once you develop a load. I am still using 20 year old Federal rifle, 30 year old Winchester small pistol, large pistol, and small rifle and large rifle. I have 20 year old CCI large rifle, small rifle, large pistol, small pistol. And they all shoot great. There are differences you might notice over a chronograph, but I am going to say, it is impossible to know if the differences are by brand, or if the variances are due to the differences between lots.
Primer characteristics, primer mixes, anvil shapes, distances, cup thicknesses, are all subject to change. I was very upset when Winchester made their WLR and WSR more sensitive around 2000. I stopped using the brass color WSP because those primers pierced at loads that never bothered the nickle plated WSR. Anyway, I would encourage hoarding, time the market and buy a bunch, and use them as needed.
