If You Had To Pick ONE Rifle Powder...

A jack of all trades is often a master of none. IMR 3031 is quite universal but I am not sure I have ever found it to be the best at anything.

I will say this, if 3031 was the only powder I had, I would not only have less powder on hand, I'd also have fewer firearms. That would go for any single powder though.
 
CarJunkieLS1 said:
Basically If you had to choose one rifle powder and one only to have to use the rest of the time you are able to enjoy this incredible hobby what would it be...

Its an incredibly easy choice for me, it would have to be IMR 8208 XBR, it really is the one powder I can't live without. I load so many cartridges with it, and can use it in many more that I currently use another powder for.

I load it in 6.5 Grendel, 25 GPC, 7mm Valkyrie, 30 Rem AR, and .223.
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I'll throw one out from left field... AA2520. It meters beautifully out of my 750, and it works well in all of my rifles.

I have used 69gr RMR in .223 with that powder to great effect. That powder and bullet have consistently performed, and given me my best groups. Who knows... if the Peoples Republic of Illinois has a regime change, I may get to load that round again.
AA2520 isn't the absolute best in my .308, but it is darn close!
I can also use it in 30-30. There are better options for this cartridge, but with the right bullet, 2520 does just fine in the ol' Marlin.
 
Bcwitt said:
If you answer this question, thousands of persons that read your response will now compete against you on your next purchase, making your preference MORE EXPENSIVE & less available. Can we please refrain from self-throat slitting threads??
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youtu.be

lighten up, Francis

From the movie "STRIPES". Sgt Hulka telling Francis "Psycho" Sawyer to lighten up
youtu.be youtu.be
 
Personally Would have to narrow down caliber choices to do this. So 223 and 308 would cover most anything i do anymore, and W748 would be my choice. Exceptional accuracy, usually available, consistent to throw and not nearly expensive as some others.
 
Art30/30 said:
If I had to go with the bigger rifles the H4831.
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:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
I don't think I could get by with just one type of smokeless rifle powder. However, I could get by with just one brand of smokeless rifle powder - Hodgdon. In fact, I mostly DO "get by" with H4831 and H380. I burn H4831 in my 308 Norma Mag and 338 Win Mag, and I burn H380 in my 22-250. So, one brand of smokeless rifle powder for me. ;)
 
.45Coltguy said:
IMR4064
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Same here. While not optimal, IMR-4064 is versatile. Great accuracy in .223, but low velocity. Works well in .243 Win, especially with lighter bullets, great in .308 Win. Low velocity in .338 Federal. Lower velocity in .270 Win and .270 WSM, but okay accuracy.
Still prefer TAC in shorter cases, and slower burners in longer/larger cases.
 
Years ago when I had access to a rifle range, I had 3 rifles. I am not a hunter. I just liked these rifles.
1 --- Glenfield/Marlin 30-30
2 --- Interarms X --- a Yugoslavian Mauser 30-06
3 --- Browning/ Winchester 1886 45-70
My powder of choice for all 3 was UNIQUE. I shot home cast bullets exclusively. They always went bang, would ring steel, break clay and frozen fruit targets.
Plus many loads out of a pound of powder.
 
2ndtimer said:
Same here. While not optimal, IMR-4064 is versatile. Great accuracy in .223, but low velocity. Works well in .243 Win, especially with lighter bullets, great in .308 Win. Low velocity in .338 Federal. Lower velocity in .270 Win and .270 WSM, but okay accuracy.
Still prefer TAC in shorter cases, and slower burners in longer/larger cases.
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I used a lot of it for some European rounds like 9.3X74R and similar. It shoots great, but the one fault is it's a bit subject to extreme temperatures. Here in NV and in CA that's not a problem usually. It's been a versatile powder for my applications. I like it.
 
Saluki91 said:
I'll throw one out from left field... AA2520. It meters beautifully out of my 750, and it works well in all of my rifles.

I have used 69gr RMR in .223 with that powder to great effect. That powder and bullet have consistently performed, and given me my best groups. Who knows... if the Peoples Republic of Illinois has a regime change, I may get to load that round again.
AA2520 isn't the absolute best in my .308, but it is darn close!
I can also use it in 30-30. There are better options for this cartridge, but with the right bullet, 2520 does just fine in the ol' Marlin.
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My 30-30 and European 9.3X72R get 2520 and 3031. The 3031 was originally concocted for the 30-30. 2520 is a versatile powder.

One powder that I haven't seen listed is R15. There is far too little data for this powder, but it is one of the very best for medium sized cases and has a moderate burn rate. It's also a very good "accuracy powder" in my experience.

Still, IMR 4895 rules as the most versatile of them all, IMO. It works Well Enough in more applications. Starting reloading in my teens, ancient history, there were few choices with 4831, 4350, 30-31, and 4895 being the primary ones...no IMR or H designations. Much available data showed 4064, 4227, 4198, Hercules 2400, and HiVel. Bullseye was a popular pistol powder.
 
Chuck R. said:
Agreed.

For rifles I load from .223 to .45-100 (2.6") isn't going to happen with 1 powder.
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Yeah, that’s an issue and a few folks have mentioned it. But the thing is, hand loading is a purpose-driven hobby. We put holes in things. It all depends on your circumstances and I have to admit, my point of view is skewed. I’m a little lucky living here in Florida when it comes to rifles. I currently load for these:
.300 Savage
.30-30 WCF
.30-40 US
.30-06 Spg
.303 British
7.62mmR Russian (M91)
7.65mm Argentine
8mm Mauser
.357 Maximum (rifle only)
.35 Remington
.35 Whelen
.444 Marlin
.45-70 Govt

Those are all bolt guns or single-shots except the .444 and .45-70 - those are both Marlin lever guns. Mostly all have iron sights. With the exception of .357Max, which is really a handgun caliber but I use it in a rifle, they will all drop an animal (of the right size class) at 100 yards with IMR 3031 and any decent hunting bullet from Speer or just a good cast bullet sized right for the bore. The Max needs something faster than 3031 - typically use IMR 4227. Some folks don’t even consider that a rifle powder anymore so maybe it doesn’t count for this exercise. I keep 3031, 4064, 4198, 4895, and 4227 on-hand in good enough quantities to keep my most favorite rifles going but if all I had was one of those powders I’d want it to be 3031 because I’ve already developed good loads using it.

I think that’s kinda the key: can you put a hole in something that needs a hole in it at a reasonable range? If so, then that’s your powder and caliber. Some things I just quit loading for - .222Rem, .223Rem, .22Jet, .22Hornet (see the pattern here? ;) ) - so I don’t have to worry about if a powder works with them or not.

And I’m not a competitive shooter so, this being Florida, temperature sensitivity isn’t really a factor and range is almost always under 100yds so super-speed and Minute of Pinhole accuracy isn’t really a consideration. Minute of chest cavity and fast enough to punch a lung works fine. YMMV.
 
jmorris said:
A jack of all trades is often a master of none. IMR 3031 is quite universal but I am not sure I have ever found it to be the best at anything.

I will say this, if 3031 was the only powder I had, I would not only have less powder on hand, I'd also have fewer firearms. That would go for any single powder though.
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It's pretty good in 45-70' there maybe a better Powder for the 45-70 now but most shooters don't have rifles strong enough to find what the limit for each power there is.
 
For me shooting cast in 30-30, 38-55 & 45-70 it's N120.

Would have stayed I4198 but the pricing is way out of the park now. I still have a good stash of it but I've diversified with N120 because they're very similar and I was able to get a lot of it local this year for much cheaper than what Hodgdon is asking for I4198 now.

I'm pretty much down to 3 powders and they're all Vihtavuori:

N120- cast rifle cartridges
N110- Cast 357 mag rifle
N320- 38 spl

I've got smaller portions of various other powders around but when they're used up I won't buy more of them.
 
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