Reloading your own cartridges isn’t a difficult skill, but it does take some practice and knowledge to get it right. But with the right equipment and information, you can easily find yourself learning the fine art of personalized loads for all your shooting needs.
One thing you definitely have to have is the best reloading powder for your bullet. Learn about the wide variety of different types and what considerations you need to take into account while working out what charge is best for you.
Comparison Table of The 6 Best Smokeless Powders
BRAND
Accurate Powder – Accurate 1680 Powders
DETAILS
- Huge range of high capacity handgun cases and low capacity rifle cases are supported
- Incredible accuracy
- Fires clean
- 1 or 8 lb
Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc. – CFE BLK Smokeless Rifle Powder
- Great range of rifle caliber options
- High accuracy and clean shooting
- No copper residue
- 1 or 8 lbs
Ramshot Powder – Ramshot True Blue Powders
- Great for a wide range of handguns
- Accurate shooting clusters
- Clean performance
- 1 or 4 lbs
Vihtavuori – N120 Smokeless Rifle Powder
- Best for small to mid range rifle rounds
- Great for high pressure rounds
- Well balanced options for versatility
- 1 or 4 lbs
Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc. – Hodgdon H110 Powder
- Best for large handgun, small rifle rounds
- Accuracy for target clusters
- Customizable velocity
- 1 or 8 lbs
IMR Powders – IMR Powder 4227 Smokeless Powder
- Best for hunting loads and mangum velocities
- Versatile for various pistol and rifle rounds
- The best Magnum load you can find
- 1 or 8 lbs
Ammo Reloading Basics
Before getting started, you want to invest in a good reloading manual that includes the caliber of the cartridges you plan on reloading. These are constantly being updated, so look for current additions to see what is included. You also may want to work with somebody who knows “the business” the first time or two you attempt the process. This can help you avoid problems and speed up your learning curve.
Since the cost of ammo has been on the rise, and the availability often creates a challenge -especially for both extremely popular rounds, and more rare rounds, knowing how to reload can provide you an endless supply. And a dependable one at that as well. Even though investing the initial equipment will need to be worked into the overall cost, regular reloading will definitely save you money in the long run.
What You’ll Need
The bullet, powder, casing, and primer are the four parts to a standard cartridge, and you’ll need to purchase these to get started. You also can save and reuse your spent cartridges. A few of the other main products reloading requires are as follows:
- Brass Tumbler to clean and polish spent cartridges.
- Resizing Die for spent cartridges for reloading purposes.
- Deburring and Chamfering Tool work to help size your cartridges properly and deburr and smooth out cut ends.
- Hand Primers help reprime your case with the addition of a new primer.
- A Powder Drop helps measure the correct amount of powder to add to the case.
Reloading Benefits
Obviously, there is more to just saving money and having ammo on hand for when you want it, even though those are main points many consider before getting started. But check out the other reasons you definitely want to consider loading your own cartridges.
Load Accuracy Customization
If you shoot competitively or have ever been let down by a round when it really counts, then you know how important a dependable cartridge really is. Reloading allows you to completely customize the load for distance and velocity. Learning the skill can provide you the means to play with various grain weights and powder options to find your perfect shot.
Suppressor Compatibility
Many match shooters use a suppressor to tighten clusters and improve shooting accuracy. Customized loads can help improve their experience even more. This is also true of use with other various muzzle devices, such as a muzzle brake or compensator.
Learning a New Skill
More than anything, learning how to reload teaches you a new skill and makes you a better overall gun owner. Understanding the details of what you are shooting and how it all works, and what control you truly can have over it all helps expand your own understanding and responsibility to it all.
The Basics of Reloading Powder
Not all black gunpowder is made the same. First off, the history of gunpowder used today was perfected in the late 1800s and is based on black powder, a dependable gunpowder which unfortunately was highly corrosive when left in contact with metal. Today, smokeless gunpowder, coated in graphite and other chemicals, allows wear resistance, a controlled burn, improved flow, and can even help suppress muzzle flash. Plus, you can get through hundreds of rounds before having to clean your firearm, unlike the black powder fouling of old that required constant cleaning to keep from ruining your gun.
Single-base powder, double-base powder, and even triple-base powders exist, but the most common used by civilians are single and double based since triple based are almost exclusively for military artillery. The primary energy sources of these powders are nitrocellulose and nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin respectively.
SIngle based powders work well in large casings to help accelerate the bullet down longer barrels and provide maximum velocity with minimal pressure. Double based powders burn hotter, but also dirtier. Because of this they are popular to provide maximum velocity in a shorter barrel.
Understanding Grain Weight
Understanding grain weight allows you to customize your shooting experience through the measurement of grains in the casing. 1 ounce of powder is equal to 437.5 grains no matter what the grain sizes are and provides the velocity of the bullet. The amount of weight you add helps you determine how to load your rounds for what type of shooting you are doing. This is where your reloading manuals will come in handy since they offer grain weight suggestions for the caliber of round you are shooting, as well as what shooting discipline you are partaking in.
Best Reloading Powders
There are a lot of reloading powders out there in the gunpowder industry, and the majority of them are quality options for your shooting needs. Emerging technology in the field helps keep this industry on its toes and competitive to offer excellent consumer options. Of course, after you load with a few different brands, you may find that you prefer one over another. Many work well with various caliber options as well, allowing you to pick and choose based on your favorite firearms.
1. Accurate Powder – Accurate 1680 Powders
- Huge range of high capacity handgun cases and low capacity rifle cases are supported
- Incredible accuracy
- Fires clean
- 1 or 8 lb
This is the top powder pick for an excellent range of high performance weapons. It is perfect for low capacity rifles – especially tactical rifles, and great for larger capacity handguns as well. It helps provide tight clusters , low recoil, and is considered one of the best for consistency. When you need to regularly reload various rounds, this is a great choice. Accurate Powders also creates a range of other powders for more specific uses, but this is the best for multi-caliber gun owners.
Pros
- Great for tactical rifles and heavy handgun loads
- Provides excellent accuracy
- Clean shooting
Cons
- Not the best for small caliber loads
2. Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc. – CFE BLK Smokeless Rifle Powder
- Great range of rifle caliber options
- High accuracy and clean shooting
- No copper residue
- 1 or 8 lbs
Made specifically for AR style reloads, the HODGDON POWDER Company’s CFE BLK Smokeless Rifle Powder is created for you to get the most out of your AR15 and AR10 platform rounds. Awesome for subsonic reduced loads it works great with the smaller capacity cartridge ranges for increased accuracy and energy. It is a fine powder and meters excellently. It also leaves no copper residue. If you aren’t keen on having to try out different powders for your loads, this is a dependable one to start with and stick with.
Pros
- Helps with reduced recoil
- Provides great accuracy and dependability
- Works with an excellent range of AR platform cartridges
Cons
- Not suggested for use with handgun caliber rounds
3. Ramshot Powder – Ramshot True Blue Powders
- Great for a wide range of handguns
- Accurate shooting clusters
- Clean performance
- 1 or 4 lbs
Ramshot Powder Is a double-based, smokeless powder with spherical shape to provide a clean burn, easy meter, and high velocity option. It is considered a great choice for accurate shooting clusters and is a popular choice for multi-caliber gun owners. It is also a favorite due to how well it performs in progressive reloaders where consistent charge weights are required. It performs best in a wide range of handguns and is considered a great all-around smokeless pistol powder.
Pros
- Great for a wide range of handguns
- Accurate shooting clusters
- Clean performance
Cons
- Can handle small rifle loads, but not the best for distance loads
4. Vihtavuori – N120 Smokeless Rifle Powder
- Best for small to mid range rifle rounds
- Great for high pressure rounds
- Well balanced options for versatility
- 1 or 4 lbs
Vihtavouri’s N120 Smokeless Rifle powder is a well-balanced option for intermediate rifle cartridges that are smaller in size, but powderful to shoot. This includes AR style rounds, especially .30 caliber choices. MAde to operate best at a higher pressure, the powder offered amazing accuracy and is the answer to perfection for so many who love the N110 version of the powder needed. It also works great with adjustable pressure options.
Pros
- Smooth, snag-free design for a clean draw
- Lightweight and compact
- Well balanced with a soft recoil
Cons
- Grip texture may feel a little rough
- .40 S&W option may be a little bulky for conceal carry
- Not as well finished as higher-end competitors
5. Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc. – Hodgdon H110 Powder
- Best for large handgun, small rifle rounds
- Accuracy for target clusters
- Customizable velocity
- 1 or 8 lbs
The Hodgdon Powder Company is a reliable manufacturer of smokeless powder, and delivers fully with the H110 Powder designed specifically for standard factory produced loads. This works especially well for low capacity rifle rounds, such as the AR15 platform. Plus, it offers excellent pressure and accuracy due to falling within the faster half of the burn rate spectrum, providing a great range of load possibilities – including for high capacity handguns. Easy metering means easy loading for dependable accuracy and power.
Pros
- Dependable gas volume for reliable cycling
- Accuracy for target clusters
- Customizable velocity
Cons
- Best for mid-range loads only
6. IMR Powders – IMR Powder 4227 Smokeless Powder
- Best for hunting loads and mangum velocities
- Versatile for various pistol and rifle rounds
- The best Magnum load you can find
- 1 or 8 lbs
Perfect for hunting loads, the IMR Powder 4227 option is about as close to a military load as you can get in terms of accuracy and pressure. The fine grain makes it easy to meter and load, and is backed by a brand name that is known for its dependability for over 100 years. Perfect for magnum velocities, it is considered a gold standard for low volume rifle casings as well, and provide the consistency and accuracy you need for a true kill shot.
Pros
- Accurate and consistent as a hunting load
- Versatile for various pistol and rifle rounds
- The best Magnum load you can find
Cons
- May be overpowered for day to day plinking and practice
Conclusion
With all the reloading powders out there, these top choices make it to the top of the list over and over again. The brand names alone provide a great hint at what is being offered by the gunpowder manufacturer, and even if one of these aren’t exactly what you want, you are sure to easily find the powder better suited to your needs using these options as a starting point.
Tried and true, these options are a great place to start, and we’d love to hear of your experiences with any of them. Let us know below, and, as always, please share!