Smokeless Powder : Relative Burn Rates

Note : This is a listing of commonly available smokeless powders, listed from the fastest burning to slowest burning.

Any contradictions are a result of conflicts between sources - which shows you that given a different set of test (or actual) conditions, different powders may actually 'swap places'. Another reason to CONSULT LOADING MANUALS for your loading data.

General Powder Listing

FASTEST BURNING
Name	Description	Type
NORMA R1 (imported)	used for target handgun loads
Vihtavuori N310
Alliant (Hercules) Bullseye	the fastest burning U.S. made powder, suitable for light loads in most handguns calibers	cut round flake
Vihtavuori N312
Scot Solo 1000
Accurate Arms No. 2
Alliant (Hercules) Red Dot	light to medium target shotshell loads, also used for light handgun loads	cut round flakes
Vihtavuori N318
Hodgdon CLAYS	light (target) shotgun loads
Vihtavuori N320
Scot Royal Scot
Hodgdon Spherical HP38	suitable for light target loads in a broad range of pistol calibers, especially recommended for the .38 Special	flattened ball
OLIN 231	(replaces 230) fast burning, intended for light handgun loads	flattened ball
Scot 453
DuPont HI-SKOR 700X	target shotshell powder that is suitable for handgun loads	cut round flake, double base
OLIN 452AA	shotshell powder for target and field loads	flattened ball
Hodgdon Spherical Trap 100	for trap and light shotgun loads, also for light handgun loads	flattened ball
Winchester WST
Hodgdon International
Alliant (Hercules) Green Dot	for medium handgun loads	cut round flake
Vihtavuori N330
DuPont PB	shotshell, also works well in medium handgun loads	cut round flake
Accurate Arms No. 5 (imported)	target and medium handgun loads	small flattened ball
Scot Pearl
Winchester WSL
Hodgdon Universal
Alliant (Hercules) Unique	for medium to heavy handgun loads, medium to heavy shotshell loads, reduced rifle loads - this is a very versatile powder	cut round flake
DuPont SR7625	medium handgun and shotshell loads	cut round flake
Winchester 473AA
Winchester WSF
Hodgdon Spherical HS6	20, 16, and 12 gauge shotshell, also for medium to heavy pistol loads	flattened ball
Vihtavuori N340
OLIN 540	for magnum shotshells, magnum handgun loads	flattened ball
Alliant (Hercules) Herco	for high velocity shotshell and high velocity handgun loads	cut round flake
DuPont SR4756	for medium handgun loads, very clean burning	cut round flake
Scot Solo 1250
Vihtavuori 3N37
DuPont HI-SKOR 800X	for heavy shotshell loads, medium to heavy handgun loads with heavy bullets	double base, large, cut round flake
Accurate Arms No. 7	for medium pistol loads	very fine flattened ball
Scot Solo 1500
Vihtavuori N350
Hodgdon HS7	for magnum shotshells, heavy handgun loads	flattened ball
Alliant (Hercules) Blue Dot	for magnum shotshell, high pressure handgun , very clean burning	cut round flake
Vihtavuori N105
Accurate Arms No. 9	for magnum handgun loads and small rifle cases	very fine granule flattened ball
OLIN 571	for 3" 20 and 12 gauge shotshell loads	flattened ball
Alliant (Hercules) 2400	for magnum revolver and small capacity rifle loads	cut round flake
Vihtavuori N110
NORMA R123 (imported)	for magnum handgun loads
Hodgdon Spherical H110	for magnum handgun loads and small rifle cases	fine granule flattened ball
OLIN 296	for magnum handgun loads	fine granule flattened ball
DuPont SR4759	for reduced rifle loads, or large capacity handgun cases	extruded tubular kernel
Vihtavuori N120
DuPont IMR-4227	for magnum handgun and small capacity rifle cases	extruded tubular kernel
Hodgdon H4227	for magnum handgun and small capacity rifle cases	extruded tubular kernel
Vihtavuori N130
Accurate 1680
NORMA 200 (imported)	for high pressure small capacity rifle cases, and with light bullets in medium capacity rifle case	extruded tubular kernel
OLIN 680	small capacity rifle loads	flattened ball
Vihtavuori N133
Accurate Arms MP-5744	for magnum handgun and small capacity rifle loads, also works well for light loads with cast bullets for rifles	short extruded tubular kernel
Scot Brigadier 4197
DuPont IMR-4198	for small to medium bottle-necked rifle cartriges, and large, straight, low pressure rifle cartriges	extruded tubular kernel
Hodgdon H4198	for small to medium bottle-necked rifle cartriges, and large, straight, low pressure rifle cartriges	extruded tubular kernel
Alliant (Hercules) RELOADER 7	for a wide variety of cartriges, especially good for cast bullet loads
DuPont IMR-3031	for a broad range of rifle calibers	extruded tubular kernel
NORMA 201	for 30-30 and similar capacity cases	extruded tubular kernel
Hodgdon H322	for small capacity benchrest cartriges	short extruded tubular kernel
Accurate 2015 BR
Accurate 2230	.223 thru .308 class	flattened ball
Scot Brigadier 3032
OLIN 748	for .30-06 and similar capacity cases	flattened ball
Hodgdon Spherical BL-C(2)	for cartriges from 222 Rem --> 308 Win	flattened ball
Accurate Arms MR-2460	for small to medium capacity rifle cartriges, developed for the 7.62 NATO round	flattened ball
Hodgdon Spherical H335	for cartriges from 222 Rem --> 308 Win	flattened ball
Hodgdon H4895	for a wide range of loads	extruded tubular kernel
Accurate 2495 BR
Alliant (Hercules) RELOADER 12	for military match rifle ammunition	double base extruded
DuPont IMR-4895	for a wide range of loads	extruded tubular kernel
Vihtavuori N135
DuPont IMR-4064	similar to 4895, but less versatile	extruded tubular kernel
Hodgdon Varget
Scot Brigadier 4065
Accurate Arms MR-2520	for cartridges from 6mm Rem to .30-06, well-suited for loads with heavy bullets	round ball
DuPont IMR-4320	similar to 4064	fine grained extruded tubular kernel
NORMA 202	for 7x57, 8x57, .30-06, and similar cartriges
Vihtavuori N540
Vihtavuori N140
Accurate 2700
Alliant (Hercules) RELOADER 15
Hodgdon H380	for target shooting from 222 Rem Magnum --> 308 Win	round ball
OLIN 760	for a wide range of loads	flattened ball
Hodgdon H414	for medium to large rifle cartridges	fine granuled flattened ball
Vihtavuori N550
Vihtavuori N150
Accurate 4350
DuPont IMR-4350	for 6mm and larger cartridges	extruded tubular kernel
Hodgdon H4350	very similar to IMR-4350	extruded tubular kernel
NORMA 204	for heavy bullets in cases .30-06 sized and larger	extruded tubular kernel
Scot Brigadier 4351
Alliant (Hercules) RELOADER 19
Vihtavuori N160
Vihtavuori N560
DuPont IMR-4831	for use in high capacity cases	extruded tubular kernel
Winchester WMR
Hodgdon H450	for medium to high capacity cases	flattened ball
OLIN 785	for medium to large capacity cases	flattened ball
Hodgdon H4831	for higher capacity cases	extruded tubular kernel
Accurate Arms MR-3100	for medium sized rifle cartridges	single base extruded tubular kernel
NORMA MRP	magnum rifle powder	extruded tubular kernel
Vihtavuori N165
Alliant (Hercules) RELOADER 22
DuPont IMR-7828	for loads in magnum cases with heavy bullets
Hodgdon 1000
Vihtavuori N170
Accurate Arms MR-8700	for long magnum cases with heavy bullets	flattened ball
Hodgdon Spherical H870	for large capacity belted magnum cases with heavy bullets	large granule, round ball
Vihtavuori 24N41
Hodgdon 50BMG
Vihtavuori 20N29
SLOWEST BURNING

Alliant Powder Techsystems

Alliant Powders

FASTEST BURNING
Name	Recommended for:	Type
Bullseye	target handgun loads	cut round flake
Red Dot	shotshell and standard velocity handgun loads, .45 Auto Match	cut round flake
American Select	12 gauge target loads
Green Dot	medium shotshell and handgun loads	cut round flake
Unique	all-around shotshell and handgun loads	cut round flake
POWER PISTOL	high performance (non magnum) handgun loads
Herco	heavy shotshell and handgun loads	cut round flake
Blue Dot	magnum shotshell and magnum handgun loads	cut round flake
2400	magnum handgun and small capacity rifle loads	cut round flake
Reloader 7	light rifle loads
Reloader 12	medium rifle loads	double base extruded
Reloader 15	medium rifle loads
Reloader 19	magnum rifle loads
Reloader 22	magnum rifle loads
SLOWEST BURNING

Hodgdon Powder Company

Hodgdon Powders

RIFLE POWDERS
Name	Recommended for:	Type
FASTEST BURNING
H4198	7.62x39 Russian, .222 with 50 gr. bullets	extruded tubular kernel
H322	benchrest applications in small and medium capacity cases	short extruded tubular kernel
BL-C(2)	most cases smaller than the .30-06, especially the .308 Win.	flattened ball
H335	most cases smaller than the .30-06, especially the .222 and .223	flattened ball
H4895	very versatile all-around rifle powder : .17, .22-250,.308,.458	extruded tubular kernel
VARGET	small to medium capacity rifle cases
H380	.22-250, .220 Swift, .243, 6mm Rem, .257 Roberts, .30-06	round ball
H414	.30-06	flattened ball
H4350	.243 Win, heavy bullets from .22-250 - .375 H&H	extruded tubular kernel
H450	.25-06, .270, 7mm Mag, .30-06, .300 Win and Wby Mag.	flattened ball
H4831	6mm Rem, .270, .280	extruded tubular kernel
H1000	.270, .30-06, .300 Win and Wby Mags., .30-338	extruded tubular kernel
H870	.50 BMG	round ball
SLOWEST BURNING
SHOTGUN AND PISTOL POWDERS
FASTEST BURNING
HP38	target loads in .38 Special, .44 Special, 9mm, .45 ACP	flattened ball
CLAYS	light (target) shotgun loads
INTERNATIONAL CLAYS	12 and 20 gauge target shotgun loads
UNIVERSAL CLAYS	straight wall pistol and shotgun loads	small grained extruded flake
HS6	9mm, .45 ACP	flattened ball
HS7	heavy shotshell loads	flattened ball
H110	.357 Mag, .44 Mag, .30 Carbine, .410 Shotshell	flattened ball
H4227	magnum handgun, small case capacity rifle loads	extruded tubular kernel
SLOWEST BURNING

Winchester / Olin Components

Winchester / Olin Powders

FASTEST BURNING
Name	Description	Type	Recommended for:
WAAP - Winchester AA Plus	used for target shotshell loads	ball powder	shotshell
WST - Winchester Super Target	used for shotshell and standard velocity handgun loads	ball powder	.45 Auto Match
WSL - Winchester Super-Lite	used for medium handgun loads	ball powder	9mm and 40S&W
231	used for medium handgun loads	ball powder	38 Special, .45 ACP, 9mm
WSF - Winchester Super-Field	used for maxiumum velocity shotshell loads and medium handgun loads	ball powder	20 and 12 gauge shotshell, 38 Super, 9mm, 40 S&W
WAP - Winchester Action Pistol	used for high performance handgun loads	ball powder	9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W, 9x23mm
540	used for high performance handgun loads	ball powder	9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W, 10mm
296	used for magnum handgun and small case capacity rifle loads	ball powder	.357 magnum, .44 magnum, .410 shotshell, .30 carbine
748	used for small to medium case capacity rifle loads	ball powder	.223 Rem., .308 Win.
760	used for medium to large case capacity rifle loads	ball powder	7mm-08, .30-06
WMR - Winchester Magnum Rifle	used for medium to magnum rifle loads	ball powder	.243 Win, .270 Win, .300 Win Magnum
SLOWEST BURNING

Accurate Arms

Accurate Powder Specifications

BALL PROPELLANTS
Name	Nitroglycerin %	Avg. Length	Avg. Grain Dia. (in)	Bulk Density (g/cc)	Comparable Powders *
FASTEST BURNING
No. 2 IMP	14.0	N/A	0.018	0.610	Bullseye,HP38,231
No. 5	17.0	N/A	0.027	0.950	Unique,540,800X
No. 7	10.5	N/A	0.012	0.985	Blue Dot,HS7,630
No. 9	10.0	N/A	0.015	0.975	2400,H110,296
1680	10.0	N/A	0.014	0.950	680,4227,4198
2230	10.0	N/A	0.022	1.000	H335,BL-C(2),3031,748
2460	10.0	N/A	0.022	0.990	748,H335,BL-C(2),3031
2520	10.0	N/A	0.022	0.970	4895,4064,760
2700	10.0	N/A	0.022	0.960	4350,760,4320
8700	10.0	N/A	0.022	0.960	870,5010
SLOWEST BURNING
X-TRUDED PROPELLANTS
FASTEST BURNING
XMP-5744	20.0	0.048	0.033	0.880	N/A
XMP-2015	--	0.039	0.031	0.880	H322,N201,3031
XMP-2495	--	0.068	0.029	0.900	4064,4895
XMP-4064	--	0.050	0.035	0.900	IMR-4064,748,BL-C(2)
XMP-4350	--	0.083	0.038	0.920	IMR-4350
XMP-3100	--	0.083	0.038	0.920	4831,4350,785
SLOWEST BURNING
SHOTSHELL PROPELLANTS
Solo 1000	--	0.010	0.052	0.510	700X,Red Dot
Solo 1250	--	0.013	0.051	0.550	Green Dot,PB
Nitro 100	21.0	0.010	0.058	0.505	700X,Red Dot
Scot 4100	10.0	--	0.011	0.960	No. 9,2400,296
* - for comparison only, NOT a loading recommendation

Last updated : 02 February 1998