Powder brand loyalty

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I pretty much only buy hodgdon/imr powders due primarily to their extremely extensive load database avalible free online. Honestly if you use hodgdon powders you don't even need to own a reloading manual

All the other makers combined don't have a tenth of the loads hodgdon does.






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I tend to use IMR powders for rifles and Unique (Hercules/Alliant) for pistol, although I have no specific reason for doing so except that they work well in my guns.

I'd like to try Accurate Arms powders as they are less expensive, but I have too many pounds of IMR on my shelves to switch.
 
I use many different brands. If I only loaded one round and never messed with loads I could get by with just one but with my luck that would be the one that got discontinued.
 
I started rloading with Hodgdon powders on a recommendation of my best friend who was reloading for over 20 years at the time, and have seen no reason (results) that would change my mind. (Hodgdon, IMR and Win 231)

Jim
 
All the other makers combined don't have a tenth of the loads hodgdon does.

Well, that's partially because Hodgdon has so many powders. Accurate/Western/Ramshot are about as generous with data for their powders (and they'll let you download pdf's of their whole load set, so you can use it even if you don't have internet somewhere). And it's no coincidence that Western and Hodgdon are becoming my favorite manufacturers!
 
Well, that's partially because Hodgdon has so many powders. Accurate/Western/Ramshot are about as generous with data for their powders (and they'll let you download pdf's of their whole load set, so you can use it even if you don't have internet somewhere). And it's no coincidence that Western and Hodgdon are becoming my favorite manufacturers!

No no they're not. Where the other manufacturers may have a half dozen loads shown for various bullet weights per caliber hodgdon has probably a hundred combinations shown for the most popular calibers in a searchable format to boot rather than a stupid PDF you must download and rifle through .

Lets face it compared to hodgdons online data center all others flat out FAIL and fail hard

Total number of 357 mmag loads from accurate 35

Hodgdon
140






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RW Dale,
I have to agree with you. The searchable format lets you narrow down the data.

Ramshots load data is about the worst. I like using their powder but their data in not one of their strong points.

I also like to check the bullets mfgrs data. Having the data accessible on line is great.
 
No no they're not. Where the other manufacturers may have a half dozen loads shown for various bullet weights per caliber.

I'm struggling to understand this comment. If I go to 10mm, one of the cartridges I reload most, Hodgdon has 4 bullets listed (135 Nosler, 155 and 200 Hornady, and 180 Sierra), and about a dozen different powders. Total of 36 loads.

If I go to AA's data, they've only got 3 powders listed. But that's because they only MAKE four pistol powders, and one (#2) doesn't work for 10mm. But in addition to all the bullets listed by Hodgdon, they list a bunch more, such as Raniers (in case you want to load plated bullets), some jacketed bullet weights not listed in Hodgdon (150, 165, 190), and some unjacketed bullets. Total of 30 loads, or thereabout. So there's a lot less extrapolating about how one bullet might be similar to others that they have listed, or trying to guess how to split the different between a 155 and 180 to load for 165.

AA has fewer loads because they make fewer powders. That's not a problem with their data (much less a "FAIL"). They just don't have as big a product line. Although if you add in Ramshot data (owned by Western and with data in the same format), they have enough additional powders to actually provide many MORE loads than Hodgdon.

And the fields of data are pretty much the same between the two sites. Both offer COAL, start charges and velocities, max charges and velocities, and max PSI's. The only additional data Hodgdon gives is start PSI; I'm not sure how I'd use that, but more information is generally better, so point to Hodgdon there.

There organization of information is the same at the top level - organized by caliber/cartridge. At the second level, AA organizes first by poweder, then within poweder by bullet. Hodgdon does the reverse, at least until you filter. AA's format requires the same amount of "hunting" as a reloading manual or, for that matter, a dictionary. If that's very problematic to a user, that's probably a sign that user ain't up to reloading generally.

As for the .pdf, I prefer that format. I get sketchy wifi reception in my basement, where I reload. Sometimes web access is slow in that part of the house. I prefer having the data reside on my computer where as service outage doesn't keep me from it. But reasonable people can disagree, I guess. Seems a minor point, though.
 
Ramshots load data is about the worst. I like using their powder but their data in not one of their strong points.

Why? Are you really talking about the data, or the presentation of that data?
 
I can even email to myself or print out a page from hodgdon for the specific load I'm using that I can make my notations on and but in my load binder.

So even in sketchy internet purgatory hodgdon wins over going through an entire PDF to have one 125g 357 magnum load in front of you


Example

aqedy6ev.jpg


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So it's not the amount of data, nor it's detail, but just the formating?

OK, fine, that's a legitimate preference. But that wasn't the original dispute. I said AA is as generous with their data as Hodgdon (go compare Alliant for someone stingy with their data). You said "no, no they're not." If you like the ergonomics of the Hodgdon data better, that's not a question of generosity.
 
So it's not the amount of data, nor it's detail, but just the formating?
y.

No its all of the above, as you've ignored 140 357 mag loads vs 35 and its like that for most other cartridges

Hodgdon has much more data when you look at cartridges not bordering on obsolescence (ahem 10mm)

Plus hodgdon has data for oddball and wildcat cartridges too. I would look for some example but quite honestly digging up and through the PDF is too much trouble just to make a point.

Note all this has been done on A PHONE!





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I still have some HS-6 but I gave up using Hodgdon powders because they stopped publishing free load guides and asked the reloader to pay for their loading guide quite a few years ago while other powder companies continued to provide free load guides. They are now more generous since the advent of the internet but I have always found their data to be the least reliable. So when it comes to using Hodgdon powder, I always consulted a reloading manual rather than Hodgdon's data.

I started out with Alliant powders but that changed when I discovered the advantages of using Ball/Spherical powders like Hodgdon, Winchester and Accurate. I was pretty loyal to Vihta Vouri after they were introduced in the US and used them for a number of years. Today I do all of my handgun loading and some rifle loading with Ramshot powders. I use all 4 of their handgun powders and 2 of their rifle powders. When it comes to loading issues, Johan Loubser, Western Powder Co's ballistician is about as helpful as anyone I've ever encountered in the industry. ;)
 
Ramshots load data is about the worst. I like using their powder but their data in not one of their strong points.
Why? Are you really talking about the data, or the presentation of that data?
I cannot answer for WNTFW, but I have found some of their data to be weak. I also cannot come close to the velocities listed when using their charge weights for Silhouette in 9MM, and True Blue in .38 Spl. Both of those powders can do well in those calibers, but you have to go off the page, and I refer not to do that.
 
Walkalong, there is better data for Silhouette in the 9mm in the Sierra manual. Ramshot's data for .38 Special was gathered in a 7.75" barrel of unlisted type. This is unfortunate because it is hard to replicate. The Lyman Pistol & Revolver III also has some good data for Ramshot powders. ;)
 
Without inventorying the powder locker I can think of WW, VV, Ramshot, IMR, Hodgdon, Alliant, Accurate and maybe some Norma way in the back. A couple are no longer in production.

...because if I'm getting moa groups, with $23 a pound powder, why would I want to spend $30+ on a pound?

Try shopping in Kansas.
 
I tend to stick w/ Hodgdon powders. Mainly because they work for me and I can get them locally if I have to. I also prefer the bottles they come in. They aren't overly sized and they are wide mouth. This is a minor thing and doesn't prevent me from buying another brand. But Alliant's bottles annoy me.


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I used Hodgdon/IMR exclusivly until the last rloading component shortage when I had a hard time finding my favorites. My LGS always had plenty of Alliant powder on hand so I switched to Rel15 and Power Pistol for a lot of my loads.

I found that Rel15 and Varget are real close in performance.
 
I'm partial to Hodgdon's powders, but don't completely exclude others. I like all their powders I've tried, They have the best load data, and I like the mission statement on their website.
 
...I gave up using Hodgdon powders because they stopped publishing free load guides and asked the reloader to pay for their loading guide...

I do not mind buying the annual Hodgdon reloading magazine because it has some other interesting information in it besides the reloading data.

Same for the hard bound reloading manuals. I recently purchased Berger's and Hornady's new manuals.

While I do use the manufacturers' web sites at times, I prefer to have the hard copy at my reloading bench. Among other reasons, a computer is not convenient to my reloading bench.

I reload for about 30 different cartridges so I get a bigger bang for the buck from buying manuals.

Different strokes for different folks.

I use mostly powders distributed by Hodgdon and Western plus Unique.
 
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