Best Reloading Powder for 14 Various Models Discussed: 2023 Guide

Getting the best reloading powder can be challenging, considering the numerous ammunition options in the market. Normally, the powder is one fitting multiple purposes and rifle choices.

In the exclusive blog post, we’ll look at the premium bullet powders, reviewing their features and factors to consider when making a purchase. Let’s get it started!

Best Reloading Gun Powders – Overview 

Gunpowder is the explosive component used in cartridges and typically comes in smokeless and black powder. Additionally, you can get the gun load in flake, extruded, or spherical powder.

Most Common Reloading Firearm Powders

There are various premium and specialized ammo powder options available. Finding the best eventually comes down to the type of firearm and shooting purpose. Here is a reference table you can utilize:

Top Reloading Powders – Exclusive Picks

We’ve shortlisted quality reloading powder, which fits multiple uses, rifle options and is, most importantly, a safer choice. You can use the pros and cons provided to compare our top picks. 

1. Best Powder for .223: Hodgdon H4895

There are several quality ammunition powders for the .223, but only a few can give the same output as the Hodgdon H4895. The Hodgdon boasts an excellent medium burning rate, perfect for your Remington rifle. Other features include:

You can follow this Hodgdon manual on how to measure the right grain proportions for the H4895.

2. Best Powder for .308: IMR 4064

The IMR 4064 is another medium-burning powder. It is a product of the IMR series, known for its versatility with different rifle rounds. 4064 is also suitable for varying bullet weights, making it convenient to meter the data from one batch to the next.  

IMR 4064 powder type is suitable for heavier cartridges like the 165 and 180-grain ammunition thanks to its quality features such as:

3. Best Pistol Powder: IMR Trail Boss

The IMR Trail Boss powder was meant for firing Cowboy Action due to its low velocity and use of lead rounds. Also, the Trail Boss powder is perfect for use with pistol cartridges but is also ideal with various rifle choices. Let’s look at what the pistol powder has to offer:

4. Best Shotgun Powder: Alliant Red Dot

Alliant Smokeless Powder is our next pick. It is backed by a century of production expertise. You will love this variety if you own a shotgun, as the Red dot version is arguably the best quality control dynamics compared to its competitors.

5. Best Rifle Powder: IMR 4350

Knowing the company, you can expect IMR 4350 to perform excellently with your rifle rounds, even in demanding distances and weather conditions. 

You are therefore urged to be cautious when acquiring any ammo powder with the 4350 labels, as they all have different loading data.

6. Best Magnum Handgun Powder: Hodgdon H110

The Hodgdon H110 is perfect if you want handgun powders. It is a spherical powder delivering optimum quality in different cartridges such as the 44 Mag and the 500 and 460 S&W magnums. 

7. Best Magnum Rifle Powder: Hodgdon H1000

Wrapping up our top picks is the H1000, a slower powder designed for high-powered rifle cartridges. You can ideally use this powder for long-range shooting. Here is everything you need to know about the H1000:

Our Verdict: The Overall Choice

The Hodgdon H4895 tops our list. It provides a strong case as the best version through its quality features, mainly including:

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Powder for Gun Reloading

When attempting to distinguish between the various cartridge powders available, there are a few key characteristics you can concentrate on. The variety appropriate for your rifle and the different types of ammunition will be the main things you need to know. The following are the key considerations.

The Type of Rifle Cartridges in Use

Different bullets require varying types of reloading powders. This is why it is important to research your preferred powder measure carefully by:

Shotgun Caliber – Powder Specifications

It’s important to select a powder specifically designed for shotgun shells. These firearms utilize fast-burn and high-velocity loads, producing consistent patterns for accurate shooting.

However, the black type burns slower, producing less recoil than the smokeless batch. Depending on your shells, either will still offer desirable results.

The Rifle in Use

Firearm powder, usually intended for use in long firearms, typically burns slower than pistol powder. They are compatible with extensive barrels and larger calibers due to their consistent ignition and high velocity. The following are a few things to remember:

Handgun’s Caliber – Powder Details

Unlike rifle or shotgun powders, pistols are normally fast-burning to achieve the right amount of pressure and velocity. Their shorter barrels require a faster ignition for your bullet to gain instantaneous speed and trajectory, thus getting the needed accuracy. 

Bullet Weight Specs

Your type of caliber load will greatly depend on your ammunition weight. During our tests, we noticed the following:

Various Types of Powder for Reloading

You’ll normally have the choice of the best Smokeless or Black version coming in flake, spherical, or extruded versions when looking for the best quality for your rifle rounds. These varieties normally have different features, and here are factors we used to compare the two:

Burn Rates and Chart Performance

Burn rates measure how quickly a propellant burns and the corresponding chart compares the burn rates of various ammo powders. The element is crucial because it can occasionally stand between you and your safety when using various load versions.

Smokeless Powder

Smokeless gunpowder normally burns slowly, which gets less or no smoke and manageable recoil. It behaves this way as it is manufactured using nitrocellulose and other chemicals that burn in a controlled manner.

Black Powder

Meanwhile, the black powder selections comprise the following components, which burn rapidly and uncontrollably: 

Unlike the smokeless version, the black type has a single burn rate that is a very fast reloading process, also as recorded in its chart. 

The Powder’s Weight Details

Weight is another important factor to consider. The smokeless version is denser than black powder, meaning you need less of it to achieve the same results. Therefore, you might be more suited to modern smokeless powder, which is:

However, it also means that the weight of the powder is different between the two types, with the smokeless type generally weighing more per volume than black powder.

Where Can You Buy Reloading Powder

You can purchase most powders from different sources depending on convenience. Some shooters prefer to buy from stores to get a chance to inspect their purchases. Let’s examine the typical places where bullet powders can be purchased.

Buying from a Store

Acquiring any accessory for your arsenal from the right store guarantees you get your money’s worth. You should consider any local laws and regulations that may apply before visiting any store. Some states and municipalities set restrictions on the sale and use of powders. 

Purchasing from Online Shops

Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular for purchasing reloading powders. These websites, such as Amazon, have numerous options available, including:

You must also consider safety and legal matters when using online sites. Most websites include information on the hazardous chemicals used. Note there are additional costs, including shipping fees. 

How to Store Reloading Powder Safely?

As mentioned, bullet powders are chemical mixtures that require sensitive care, even in storage. Unlike your standard tools in the garage, find a less humid area like a free shelf in your room, also far from reach (kids). Here are additional safety tips to follow:

FAQ

Conclusion

With many similar reloading loads, you can depend on the provided list to offer dependable options for quality and consistent results. Also provided are tips you can use to find the best reloading powders for your rifle bullets.

So, which ammo powder makes your buying list and why?

Comment below with your answer and tell us more quality options deserving to be on our list.