Your Powder Selection Criteria?

[Schüler Jumbo]

When you are setting up to load for a cartridge how do you determine powder selection?

 

[One Day...]

I try to use the powder recommended by the bullet manufacturer that gives me a load in the 95% to 100% density at max load. When loading both soft and solids, I try to use the powder that works with both.

That is if that powder is available... which, I am learning, is far from being a given...

If not, I look at 1) what alternate powder the bullet manufacturer tech support folks recommend; 2) what powder other reliable folks use; 3) what powder has a similar burn rate in the charts but this is no fool proof as comparable burn rates will still result in different load density, pressure, velocity, etc.

I am very much a reloading newbie and will be looking with great interest at what experimented reloaders respond

So far, I am going by Layne Simpson recommendations:

"Of all the things that affect the accuracy of a handload, primers are at the very bottom of the list ... Far more important than the brand of primer, is how they are seated into the case."

"From a pure accuracy standpoint, the type of powder used is also near the bottom of the list ... The density is extremely important. With any powder of the correct burn rate loaded at close to 100% density, accuracy will generally be quite good."

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Lots of things really. Burn rate, kernel size, cost.
If im setting up for something like 223 Remington I will probably select a ball powder like 748 or cfe 223 due to their precision metering and good velocity.
30-06 will like get IMR 4350 as it’s a proven performer.
I always tell new reloaders to buy Winchester 748 and 760 as the vast majority of centerfire rifles can loaded with those two powders. Then they can try others later.
A powder that uses more grains for the same speed will do so with lower pressure, a powder that uses fewer grains for the same speed will have less recoil.
Depending on the cartridge, barrel length can make a difference on the optimum powder.

 

[BC Tal]

I feel like cost as a variable in powder selection went out the door about 2 years ago. Now it's mostly about availability depending on where you live. But seriously, I really like Vihtavuori powers and try to stay with them - I did live in Finland for 5 years and am partial so this my preference.

All other preferences aside, you should look for one of the most efficient powders for the cartridge / bullet combo you want to use. I run the numbers in QuickLOAD and then look for a powder that can get me from just under to just over 95-100% fill load, up to max pressure, and 100% powder burn. Somewhere in there should be your sweet spot.

 

[JimP]

I hit the manuals first and see what I want to accomplish as far as speed is concerned. Once I have decided on that I'll select a few different powders. I try and stay with ball or flake as a personal preference.

If I know the velocity that I want and find a powder that will get there and be under the max load I'll try that one out first and see how it performs. If I like what it does I'll go with it. If I think that I can get better results with a different powder I'll try that other powder.

In my younger days I wanted speed, the more the better and I loaded that way. Max loads with light bullets.

I'm glad that I grew out of that.

 

[USMA84DAB]

You get a buddy with QuickLoad.

Give him the needed data - cartridge, SKU of the projo, powder, barrel length, H2O capacity if you have a fired case - he gives you the load back that matches a harmonic node/sweet spot for your barrel. We usually start at 100% case fill and reduce the grains until we hit a sweet spot. I also reduce the max pressure limit to 62,000 PSI just to have an extra safety margin. (I consider 65,000 PSI to be modern steel limits/sanity). I don't chase the last foot per second, but rather the fill and burn percentage that gets me to a harmonic node so it has minimal barrel whip/shot dispersion.

I have started with W748 & W760 many times, as Wyatt Smith indicates above. Recently, it seems that Ramshot & Western powders are also very useful and they run $37/Lb. vs. the normal market rate of $50-$60/Lb.. Hunter powder delivers 200 FPS more than W760 with 300 grain projos in .375 bore, for example. X-Terminator, TAC, & Big Game seem also to be useful. BL-C(2) is my favorite for .308WIN and 175 grain Sierra Match Kings.

Hope these help, but you have to determine what you are trying to achieve - a 7x57 Mauser with 175 grain projos for smaller plains game likely requires a different powder than the .495 A-Sqare with a 500 grain projo for Cape Buffalo.

I can warn you off of trying a dozen powders - I have TOO many different ones - find your favorites and buy in 8lb. canisters to save money and HAZMAT fees.

 

[JimP]

On hazmat fees, get onto Natchez Shooting Supply email list. It seams like they have a no hazmat charge once a month.

If they have what you want.

 

[Tanks]

When you are setting up to load for a cartridge how do you determine powder selection?

I read and do research.