Best Single Rifle Powder among 4198's, 4895, 4064, 3031?

[JohndeFresno]

Levergunners -
This looks like yet another rehash of the age old question, but it is not. I need help in selecting the ONE BEST overall powder from among JUST THESE powders, below. I will then place an order, before the prices go up again.

Reason: There is increasing pressure in our state to stop the direct purchase of ammunition and eventually components online and Big Brother documentation of every purchase. The components offered online are much cheaper and more available than what is offered at gun stores in my area; and a trip to Nevada from my homestead would take tons of gasoline and time. I have sufficient amounts of some other powders (for my usage levels) that I use for specific loads; but I want to stock just ONE powder for MOST of my future rifle loads.

Loads are for target and moderate hunting loads; I don't go for max loads that shoot up my firearms. Long guns that I wish to cover with this one powder, as much as possible:
.270 Winchester
.30-06 (M1 and bolt)
.30-30 Marlin 336
7.62x39mm
.45-70 Marlin Guide Gun
8mm Mauser (older military bolt - standard pressure loads)
My main focus is for the .30's - .30-30, .30-06, 8mm Mauser
I plan to spend most of my time at the range with the .30-30, my favorite rifle of all, using the Lyman 311041 hard cast 175 gr. bullet.

Here is the list:
IMR 3031
IMR 4064 (Actually, Surplus "S4895" which uses this data; I purchased a goodly amount)
H 4198
IMR 4198
IMR 4895
(I seem to favor IMR for this range of ammunition)

Although I have not experimented with all of the calibers as of yet, I am thinking that the 4064 would provide the widest range of reliable loads at medium to medium high pressures for these firearms (hunting loads). What do you think? Thank you in advance!

(Let the wars begin)

[Hobie]

This is harder than the pistol powder. I'd go with IMR 3031... Hmmm, I really did do that, too. I've had satisfactory performance with that in .223 and up.

[JohndeFresno]

...IMR 3031...I've had satisfactory performance with that in .223 and up.

Thanks for mentioning that, Hobie, since I forgot that I reload my son-in-law's .223 (for a Mini Ranch Rifle).

Again, I guess that I'm in the right ball park; I put 3031 at the top of the list, and was waffling between that and the S4895 (4064-like) stuff.

Have you tried the 3031 for the higher demands of the .270? That's not a "deal buster," since I consider it a special load for longer range shooting and have some other powder set aside; but it would be interesting to know.

[J Miller]

John,

I wish I was as positive about rifle powders as I am about pistol powders.
I started out with the old mil surp 4831. Lots of 303 Brit rounds loaded with that. Then to the Hodgdon's 4831. From there to DuPont IMR 3031, 4895, and some 4831. Now all the extruded powders I have is a partial can of IMR 3031 and 4320.

But 99.5% of my rifle ammo is loaded with just two powders. Winchester 748 and 760. Those two powders just flat out work for me.
30-30 and 7.62 NATO = 748
303 Brit and 30-06 = 760
Easy to use, easy to meter, very consistent from round to round.

But of the powders you selected I'd have to say IMR3031. It seems I've seen loads in every caliber you mentioned with that powder.
I just don't really know how good it works.

Joe

[L_Kilkenny]

Check this thread: http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... hilit=4895

My vote is 4895. I prefer Hodgdons but it and IMR are very close. Although, I don't load anything as small as .223 or any bigger than 30/30.

LK

[Don McDowell]

If I were to have to pick just one powder for the cartridges you list, it'ld be 4895

[TX Gun Runner]

3031 has the broadest range of cal to reload for , but the 4895 meter the best.

Here my little guide [ not in stone ]

Unique ...............up to 1200 fps
IMR 4227............1000 to 2000 fps
IMR 3031.............over 2000 fps

I've using these 3 powders for 30 yrs to load everything under the sun , whether it is plucking ,
hunting or target loads with great success .

[stew71]

It seems to me your limiting factor is that you want to load for your M1. That means you have to stick to medium-burn rate powders such as IMR4895 & IMR4064 to ensure proper cycling of the action. I use either one of these 95% of the time and think either one would handle all of your requirements just fine.

[Old Savage]

I would probably pic 4064 or 4895.

[JohndeFresno]

Check this thread: http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... hilit=4895

My vote is 4895. I prefer Hodgdons but it and IMR are very close. Although, I don't load anything as small as .223 or any bigger than 30/30.

LK

Thanks, LK -

I couldn't find the earlier thread. You can see from my entry that I couldn't decide between 4895 (quite similar to 4064 and S4895) and 3031!

As a matter of fact, I have sufficient 2400 for the few hot handgun loads that I would need; so that earlier post is a good reminder of the possibilities. I've archived it with this one in my home files, now.

[Hobie]

I think you need a SECOND powder, something like 3031 (or 748) and slower like 4831. I'm not one to just make do. If you are going to do that make do with a LOT of .30-30 ammo and dump the .270.

[JohndeFresno]

It seems to me your limiting factor is that you want to load for your M1. That means you have to stick to medium-burn rate powders such as IMR4895 & IMR4064 to ensure proper cycling of the action. I use either one of these 95% of the time and think either one would handle all of your requirements just fine.

Excellent info - thanks.

Since I have a good store of S4895 (uses 4064 load data), that will take care of my M1 concerns. As a matter of fact, my current M1 loads are primarily IMR 4895, then S4895 (4064) and lastly one Varget recipe, not yet tested.

[JohndeFresno]

Great input - thank you all.

Apologies to Joe Miller; but the only WIN load I have ever used is 296, although I have heard good things (especially) about 748.

Since I have a good store of S4895, I have decided to order a sizable amount of Unique and 3031.

I'll have three powders (for the needs that I have) in quantity:
Unique - handguns
IMR 3031 - most rifles
S4895/IMR 4064 (practically the same thing) - M1Garand / .30-06

Sending off an order now!

And thank you for that MV breakdown, Gun Runner.

Any other posts still welcome, since others are listening (including many Californians at this time)!

[Charles]

I would vote for either 3031 or 4895. They are very similiar and you can't make change on the difference. I would favor 4895 because I bought so much of it when it was a surplus powder from Hogdon. The IMR civilian version came out a little later and cost more.

Anyway, I don't think there is much to choose between the two. I see no reason to stock them both. The Garand gas system will perk with either.

[JohndeFresno]

I would vote for either 3031 or 4895. They are very similiar and you can't make change on the difference. I would favor 4895 because I bought so much of it when it was a surplus powder from Hogdon. The IMR civilian version came out a little later and cost more.

Anyway, I don't think there is much to choose between the two. I see no reason to stock them both. The Garand gas system will perk with either.

Thanks, Charles.

I can't find 3031 available, and I don't want to wait another 5 months like I did for the primers; I'll see if I can find larger containers of 4895, since I only have a a quarter pound right now.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

With that list, I'd go 3031 myself. It's tough to find powders now just like it is for primers. Somebody needs to write a program to search the online retailers for this stuff.

[RKrodle]

I like H4895, it's very versatile. Works in most of my calibers.

[2ndovc]

I'd hate to have to choose between 4895 and 3031!

Though I find myself using Varget more and more.

jb

[JohndeFresno]

With that list, I'd go 3031 myself. It's tough to find powders now just like it is for primers. Somebody needs to write a program to search the online retailers for this stuff.

Ya know - I immediately thought about you and your outstanding Anvil program that allowed me to stock up on both LR and LP primers, days after I employed it, after searching and waiting for more than 5 months for that critical component. But I wasn't going to push a good thing and ask you if you could repeat the process with powder searches!

I searched for more than an hour through Google and then by going to my regular source sites, like Midway, Natchez, MidSouth, Powder Valley, Wideners, Pat's Reloading, GI Brass, etc. You cannot find an 8 lb. jug, and rarely even a 1 lb. jug, of 3031 or other powder within that burning range - at least of the type that I am familiar with, including WIN 748 and one or two similar powders (e.g. BLC-2 and Reloder 7. They are out, out, out, out.

Convinced that I need to make purchases today before things get worse (prices rise and panic buying ensues), I did a little reading on some reputable reload sites and in my books and stored articles and have opted to try Ramshot's TAC as a replacement. Hmmm... Come to think of it, that's panic buying, isn't it??? As Pogo would say, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."


As for the TAC powder, I have seen a few loads and a few people swear by it for 30-30 loads. We'll see. I just don't want to be left holding the bag because I have no more practice rounds for the Marlin!

I ordered 8 more pounds of Unique and 8# of Ramshot TAC from Powder Valley; I still have enough S4895; so I'm set for the amount of shooting that I plan to do for this season. The various posts convinced me that I need a powder within this burning speed bracket, even if I can't get the ones I had in mind.

But if you (Rimfire) decide to try your hand at a "Powder Bot," I am pretty keen on getting some more IMR 3031 or even WIN 748. That Anvil program of yours sure is slick!

[Mike D.]

While I do not trust powder measures, except hand ones, My vote is for H4895. I load just about everything from 7X57 to .45-90 and find that it fills the bill for gamut. I haven't used it for the tiny stuff like .25-20, though, preferring 2400 or IMR 4198 for small cartridges.

[JohndeFresno]

...99.5% of my rifle ammo is loaded with just two powders. Winchester 748 and 760. Those two powders just flat out work for me.
30-30 and 7.62 NATO = 748
303 Brit and 30-06 = 760
Easy to use, easy to meter, very consistent from round to round...

WIN 748 must be pretty popular; it's another one that is consistently sold out these days.

[2X22]

As I sit here and look at my shelves of powder, I see more 3031 than all my other powders combined and multiplied by 5

2x22

[Pathfinder09]

I would have to say 4895 also. I use other powders 3031, 4198, H-322,Rx7, Rx19, W-760.
But truth be known for what I reload for there is always a published load for 4895.

Just my $.02.

[35 Remmy]

I use 3031 for my 30-30 and my 35 Rem. Use 4064 for my 30-06.

[Bronco]

Howdy,

While I like IMR and have a good supply of it! I am starting to like the Hodgdon extreme powders for their resistance in performance fluctuations due to temperature changes. Their not perfect but seem to get effected less than IMR for the same situation. Be hard pressed to choose between H4895 and Varget ( same IMR 4064). Just IMHO!

John