Powder Suggestions

Joined
Feb 4, 2025
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I've decided to start looking into reloading and working with one of my father's neighbors to start me on this process. I am looking to reload for my 30-06 and 7mm-08, and running into a powder sourcing issue right from the jump. The guy I am learning under has only used IMR 4350 for reloading his 30-06 the last decade plus, and unfortunately I can not for the life of me find it anywhere (Heck, even called a place in Kentucky today since I had someone driving past close and they dont even have it). Was also looking at using Big Game for the 7mm-08, but I am also unable find that powder as well.

Was wondering if anyone has other suggestions for powders for these two cartridges? In the 30-06 (browning 22" barrel), I am looking to shoot 175-180 gr bullets and the 7mm-08 (tikka 22" barrel), would be shooting 140-160 gr.
 
Personally I'd probably look at h4831sc for the the 06 and varget for the 708 I had great results with those powders in cases around those sizes.
 
H4350, N550, N150, A4350, StaBALL 6.5, Varget, H4895, StaBALL Match, 8208XBR, W760, H380, Ramshot Hunter, probably 10 more that are all fine for both.
 
We use IMR 4064 in the .30-06. I’ve had great results with H4831sc in .25-06 and similar cartridges, so that’s probably worth trying as well.

For the 7mm08, I would look at H4350 and H4831sc.

Here’s a couple of pages from my Lyman handbook.

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For those two, I'd want H4350 (in-stock at MidwayUSA). If you're just looking for something in-stock locally, I've always found this burn chart helpful in the past:

hodgdon-burn-rate-chart-nov-2024.jpg


Find something close to H4350.
Yep. H4350 is number 133 on that chart. Literally anything on that chart between #99 and maybe #153 will work well enough for both calibers. I'd suggest H4350, RL16, VV N540, or maybe VV N555. I try to focus on powders advertised as specifically being temp-stable, but I have shot a good deal of other powders that don't advertise that, such as IMR4895, and never had problems with temperature.
 
Thank you all for the in sights everyone. I was learning towards H4350 (available locally), but was seeing some mixed reviews. I will look into to the chart to see what is locally available and use the above suggestions as well.

Btw, thank you Steve300xcw. I ordered the book you suggested.
 
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