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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:23 am Post subject: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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I have settled on using Hodgdon products. I have loaded more than half the powders listed in the Hodgdon burn rate chart and have decided that Hodgdon is the one I will stick with. The reasons behind my choice are that they have powders that fit every cartridge that I load for now and any that I can think of that I might load for in the future. They don't drop powders every few years like Winchester (they don't even have enough powders to select from and only offer limited date for the few powders they do have - Hodgdon supports reloaders with a large selection (over 25% of the powders listed in the burn rate chart belong to them) and they still offer the old favorites and modernize them with more stable short cut and temperature tollerant versions. If you contact them for a load they will give you the information that they have.
Are there any other powder distributors (I know the don't make their own) or manufacturers that offer what Hodgdon does?
_________________ Paul
__________________
Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11393 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:33 am Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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I'm not that much of a brand follower. I'm faithful to only what works for me.
Winchester
Hodgdon
Alliant
Are in my loading bench at this time.
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:47 am Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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Bushmaster wrote: |
I'm not that much of a brand follower. I'm faithful to only what works for me.
Winchester
Hodgdon
Alliant
Are in my loading bench at this time. |
Gidday Bushy, how are you mate? What you said makes a lot of sense. I too stick to what works for me which is why I have gone the way I have. Originally I had three different powders for reloading the 30.30 and .243, but with the one now I can concentrate more on just one powder rather than a number of them.
Cheers, Vince
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
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Handloader Super Member
Joined: Aug 22, 2005 Posts: 1032 Location: Phoenix, Arizona
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:27 am Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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Hi PaulS: many of the Hodgdon powder offerings are Australian in origin and comprise the majority of powders I use. The source country is listed on the side of the powder container and the Australian stuff is usually a lighter color than the Canadian sourced powder that uses a darker deterrent coating.
H4350 has become a staple item in many of my rifles. It is one of the Extreme Series and demonstrates little velocity variation relative to temperature. H322 is amazing stuff in the 223Rem and gives top velocities in the 50gr range in my rifles.
Alliant Reloder 19 & 22 get the nod for other cartridges when slower burning rates are dictated. Better accuracy and velocity often accompany their useage.
Powder has advanced over the years and allowed old favorites like the 270 to reach higher velocity levels. The first of the modern powders was HiVel #2, now long discontinued. But, this powder brought noticeable velocity gains in the 270Win and 30-06 for example, although, reloaders at the time were amazed and exchanged extensive notes about the process (see Phil Sharpe's "Guide To Reloading" 1937 edition). The 25-06 benefitted from even slower burning and reformulated powders as they were later introduced and gained 200 to 300 fps as a result.
Likewise, today, new powders enable the handloader to again improve velocities within SAAMI standards. Vita Vouri is one such powder and has seen increased useage by target and long distance shooters. Its more expensive and less available, but, often produces best results.
My handguns often run on either 231 or 2400, sometimes Unique or AA#5 and AA#9, the latter two being more recent introductions that often have better results and are cleaner burning in many cases.
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bubbadoyle Rookie Member
Joined: May 03, 2005 Posts: 16
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:06 am Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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I currently have Hodgon IMR Alliant and Vhitavouri on the shelf. I use whatever I find to be the best in an individual gun. I usually will start with Hodgon though.
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george20042007 Super Member
Joined: Jan 27, 2006 Posts: 568 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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Hodgdon is my favorite. Seems to be the cleanest of what I've used. A friend of mine in the military had to ship out & left me with 10 one pound cans of Unique & 5000 Large Pistol primers. Not my favorite powder, but, I use it to load .45 LC & .45 ACP. Loaded 1000's already & I still have 8 pounds left, oh well...
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Jack Member
Joined: Oct 19, 2005 Posts: 98
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Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:11 am Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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Currently on my shelf I have Hodgdon, IMR, Accurate , and Reliant powders. I'll use most any of the major brands of powders.
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Flint54 Member
Joined: Apr 09, 2005 Posts: 389 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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1895ss Super Member
Joined: Jul 21, 2005 Posts: 2612 Location: Not Here...!!
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Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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I use mostly IMR but I also use Hodgdon and Winchester. Most of my older loads were worked up using IMR because that and Winchester was almost all that was available around here. For a number of years now Hodgdon has been just as easy to get.
_________________ A cruel truth is much more desirable than a really nice lie.
'Tis far better to walk alone than to follow a crowd or an a**hole going the wrong way. |
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skip Rookie Member
Joined: Jan 13, 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Australia
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Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:55 pm Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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I use ADI powder because they are the best! (and Im not just saying that because I work their either).
Handloader is correct in saying; "Hodgdon powder offerings are Australian in origin", because its just ADI powder re-labeled.
cheers
_________________ skip |
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:13 am Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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Skip,
Hodgdon uses powders made by at least two manufacturers - ADI doesn't supply H110. About half the powders are made by the Australian firm.
You work there? so, do you get to buy at a discount?
_________________ Paul
__________________
Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads |
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skip Rookie Member
Joined: Jan 13, 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Australia
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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Indeed I do.
_________________ skip |
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1895ss Super Member
Joined: Jul 21, 2005 Posts: 2612 Location: Not Here...!!
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 1:41 am Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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_________________ A cruel truth is much more desirable than a really nice lie.
'Tis far better to walk alone than to follow a crowd or an a**hole going the wrong way. |
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: What powder manufacturer do you use and why? |
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I guess the shipping from Australia would be more than the discount when shipping to Washington state - - -
unless you get free shipping too?
_________________ Paul
__________________
Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads |
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