Reloading for the prepper: which powders?

[NomadS]

I originally posted a similar question in the Ammunition and Reloading section but now think this would be a better place:

When it comes to reloading Preppers are probably going to stick with common calibers and will want to keep things as simple as possible (ie as few different powders as possible).

SO:

1. which powder would be the best compromise for reloading both 9mm and .45
2. which powder would be the best compromise for both .223 and .308
3. and which powder for 12 gauge and 20 gauge shotguns

Please explain your choices as well.

 

[spencer rifle]

Clays can do pistol and shotgun economically - just watch out for overpressure, as this is sensitive to small changes in powder loads for pistols. H4895 and Varget can do either of the rifle rounds well.

 

[Meister]

I use Win 231 for 9mm, 38spl 40, 10mm, 44spl and 45. It's a great powder!

Varget for 223 and 308

Universal or clays for the shotgun.

 

[6mm Shoot]

I stock H110 for my 44s. Unique for 45 ACP and 9MM. Blue dot for the shot guns and IMR 4895 for the rifles. That is what works with my guns and that is what I stock. I don't know of any one powder that will work for every thing. You have to stock what works for your guns.

 

[dagibson1507]

I bought some wc844 to start. Loads well in both 223 and 308 and is available cheaply through Profire. Not sure on handgun yet as I'm just starting to venture into it.

 

[dukeboy_318]

well, trailboss can be used in a pinch for all of those calibers, there is actual publications with it, however,

I vote vargent for the rifles, clay for shotguns and titegroup or trailboss for pistol

 

[Slapstick]

Unique would take care of the shotgun and pistol loads. Varget works well for the .233 and .308. Those are the 2 powders I always keep on hand just in case.

 

[gun_nut]

HS-6 for the pistols

Varget for the .223 .308

Longshot for the shotguns

GN

 

[Meister]

Unique would take care of the shotgun and pistol loads. Varget works well for the .233 and .308. Those are the 2 powders I always keep on hand just in case.

I store unique for prep powder, versatile and takes very little. That's a good thing for a grid down situation, but a bad thing for the ease of double charging.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Longshot for the shotguns

GN

As already said, most pistol powders also work very well in shotguns. I use hodgdon powders almost exclusively not because they have any fantastic properties or anything. It's just what I decided on. It's much much easier comparing load data when the powder is all from the same manufacturer and Hodgdon has a lot of great powders. So most of my powders are Hodgdon powders. However, I won't limit myself to just a few. As a reloader a good variety is always a must. You just never know how you might want to change things up etc so variety is good. I buy 8lb jugs in the powders I use most commonly but only 1 or 4 lb jugs in the powders that I keep on hand just for trial or low-volume loading purposes.

Longshot is definitely a great shotgun/pistol powder to stock if you want high velocities as it attains velocities much higher than most other powders at the same pressure levels (hence the name "Longshot") ... it's what I use for shotgun hunting rounds... although it's a bit more expensive IIRC. Other good powders are Clays, HS-6, H110 (magnum pistol powder).

H4895 is just a slightly faster version of Varget so consider what firearms you'll be using and decide between one of those for your rifle rounds. Shorter barrels you may consider H4895 instead of Varget. H4895 seems to have better availability as well. After '08 election when things were going like hot-cakes Varget was out of stock and impossible to find but H4895 was still on the shelves in most places and backorders were filled rather quickly.

Other powders to consider: Trailboss is a light, fluffy powder so this is a powder you would use for cases with really high volume or for cases where you want to load low velocities but still fill the majority of the case with powder. H335 is the tried and true 5.56 powder, definitely consider it. You can get mil pull-down equivalent cheaper than new manufacture. Titegroup is a good powder too although I've never used it before. I have some on the shelf though.

IMHO, I would really think about it before you limit yourself to just a couple powders. A couple is fine for starting out loading but you should eventually work up to having a little variety on your shelf.

 

[NomadS]

Thanks everyone. Especially like the caution on over charging risks with the Unique. (any suggestions on how to double check oneself to prevent that?)