Powder?

[Shaun_300]

I'm new to this reloading stuff, my reloader is in the mail and I know bullets I want to use, but still not sure about what kind of powder. I'll be reloading for the .25-06 and .300 WSM. What powder do you guys think would be best for these cartridges? My dad has an unopened pound of Hodgdon H380 sitting in the gun cabinet that's fairly old and said to use it if I wanted. I'm sure it'd still be fine seeing that it's unopened. Would this be suitable for these cartridges?

[LETMGROW]

Shaun, let me give you some advice. DO NOT take any advice from anyone on powder types or charges!!!!

At best, go to Hodgdon's web site and check there. Or call them. Or, find the powder in a reliable reloading manual. For safety's sake always be positively sure the powder you put into a cartridge is correct for that calibre.

Safety first, last and always.

Lynn

[doubleA]

Shaun, take a look into some loading manuals that have the bullet type and weight that you want to use.

Personally, I am always wanting a load that has the highest velocity with the best accuracy. Sometimes this can happen and sometimes you have to give up speed for acuracy and vice versa.

These are general things associated with powders....

Powders are classified by their burn rate. There are numerous charts availble that will list the fastest to slowest.

The bigger the case capacity the slower the powder is needed to give top FPS.

Smaller cases use faster powders.

In any partucular cartridge, faster burning powders work better with the lighter weight bullets while slower powders work best with the heavier weights.

Not all the time but load density is a factor also. Try data that have a high load density such as 95% or higher, Nosler shows it in their manual. The idea is that if there is no shift in the powder colum, the burn is more uniform.

Some powders have a broad range of applications, meaning that they can be used in different cartridges with good reults. H380 happens to be one of them and there are a host of othersas well.

There are "stick", "flake" and "ball" powders, the later tends to meter better through a powder measure while the stick type has a tendency to hang up and the weights will vary considerbly. Flake powder is usually shotgun/pistol powders.

Hodgdon now has control of the old IMR line and also Winchester as well as their own Hodggon line.

Accurate Arms, Ram Shot and Alliant all make good powders also.

I have covered some of the basics here but have forgotten stuff I am sure.

If you are wanting something to start with that will work in the 300 WSM, try R-19 and Mag Pro powders using 180 bullets. In the 25-06, IMR 4831 works well with 100-100gr bullets while recently I have found that Alliant's R-22 and R-25 are outstanding using 120 gr pills.

Hope this helps, I have covered some of the basics here but have forgotten stuff I am sure. There are plenty of web sites that can help too, though stick with the major manufactures.

[Shaun_300]

Thanks a lot Charlie and Lynn, that helped a lot, my reloading manual is in the main but I thought I'd see what you guys used! I'll be loading the 117gr Hornady SST V-maxes for deer and 75gr SST's for groundhogs (.25-06) And 165 or 168 A-maxes for deer, and 110grs for groundhogs for the .300 WSM (to blow them to smitherines)

Edited March 21, 2009 by Shaun_300

[redgreen]

With the 25 06 I am getting excellent accuracy with IMR 4831 in a buddy's Remington 700. I am loading my Ruger #1 with Reloader 22, and it really likes it. I am going to try IMR 7828 with the 120 grain Speer to see what it will do accuracy and velocity wise. I have found that unless the loads are fairly warm, accuracy suffers with the 25 06.

[johnf]

My 25-06 shoots best with IMR 7828SSC, but the 4831 comes in a very close second. I've also loaded 4350 and RL-22 neither were stellar. I'm shooting 100gr. Hornady sp.