My Favorite Handloads

I have been handloading my own ammunition for over 20 years. This hobby started when I was 19 and realized that I could not legally purchase ammunition for the handguns I owned at the time. As there were no laws stopping me from purchasing the components I needed to assemble my own ammunition, this of course is exactly what I did (I liked revolvers at the time and started out loading mostly for the 45 Colt round). There is now an entire room devoted to handloading in my house where I enjoy a few quiet evenings each month with a glass of bourbon and John Wick on in the background. The nice thing about handloading is that it allows me to customize a round for every gun that I own so - no matter what - I am always shooting a load that will work well in my weapon.

I am proving my favorite handloads below. Please remember that these loads are optimized for my own weapons and that, just because they work well for me, does not necessarily mean they will work well for everyone. I recommend that everyone start below these powder charges and work their way up as they check for signs of high pressure on their case heads.


5.56mm - 75gr Hornady - Precision/Tactical
Trim: 1.750
COAL: 2.250
Powder: CFE223
Charge: 24.0gr Primer: Small Rifle Match (any, CCI preferred)


6.5 Grendel - 123gr Sierra MatchKing - Precision/Tactical
Trim: 1.515
COAL: 2.245
Powder: IMR 8208XBR
Charge: 28.2gr
Primer: Small Rifle Match (any, CCI preferred)
Notes: The 123gr Hornady SST can be substituted for a hunting load. Also consider the 123gr Hornady A-MAX for a match load


6.5 Grendel - 129gr Hornady SST - Hunting
Trim: 1.515
COAL: 2.245
Powder: IMR 8208XBR
Charge: 26.2gr
Primer: Small Rifle Match (any, CCI preferred)


6.5 Creedmoor - Any 140 - 143gr bullet - Hunting or Precision
Trim: 1.910
COAL: 2.780
Powder: Hornady Superperformance
Charge: 43.1gr
Primer: Small Rifle (any, CCI preferred)
Notes: I do not like the performance of ELD-X on game animals. Consider the Hornady Interlock


308 Winchester - 175gr Sierra Matching - Precision/Tactical
Trim: 2.005
COAL: 2.780
Powder: IMR 4064
Charge: 43.1gr
Primer: Large Rifle Match (any, Federal preferred)
Notes: Any 175gr match bullet can be substituted. I have had good luck with the Barnes MatchBurner


308 Winchester - 165gr Sierra GameKing - Huntingh
Trim: 2.005
COAL: 2.750
Powder: IMR 4064
Charge: 44.0gr
Primer: Large Rifle Match (any, Federal preferred)
Notes: This should work with any 165gr bullet. I just prefer the GameKing


300 Blackout - 208gr Hornady A-MAX - Subsonic
Trim: 1.363
COAL: 2.250
Powder: IMR 4227
Charge: 10.2gr
Primer: Small Rifle

300 Winchester Magnum - 190gr Sierra MatchKing - Precision/Tactical
Trim: 2.610
COAL: 3.340
Powder: RL-22
Charge: 70.4gr
Primer: Magnum Rifle or Magnum Rifle Match if available (Federal preferred)
Notes: Again, any 190gr match bullet will do when components are hard to find.


300 Winchester Magnum - 180gr Barnes TTSX - Hunting
Trim: 2.610
COAL: 3.340
Powder: RL-22
Charge: 70.4gr
Primer: Magnum Rifle or Magnum Rifle Match if available (Federal preferred)
Notes: I have also loaded the Nosler Parition to these specs. Notes that the Barnes Bullets like more jump than the Nosler


375 HH Magnum - 265gr Nosler - Really Big Animals like Moose and Bear
Trim: 2.840
COAL: 3.580
Powder: IMR 4064
Charge: 65.0gr
Primer: Magnum Rifle (CCI preferred)
Notes: If you shoot anything smaller than an Elk with this round you will have a lot of wasted meat so don't do it.


375 HH Magnum - 300gr Solid - Dangerous Game
Trim: 2.840
COAL: 3.600
Powder: IMR 4064
Charge: 64.0gr
Primer: Magnum Rifle (CCI preferred)
Notes: Do not shoot anything other than targets and dangerous game with this load. It does not expand. It's made for crushing bone


9mm - 115gr Berrys Plated Bullets - Practice
Trim: 0.750
COAL: 1.100
Powder: CFE Pistol
Charge: 4.9gr
Primer: Small Pistol (any)
Notes: This is a practice load. Use factory ammo for personal defense. I love the Liberty Defense stuff that shoots a light bullet at high velocity


45 Auto - 230gr - Any - Practice
Trim: 0.893
COAL: 1.210
Powder: Titegroup
Charge: 4.5gr
Primer: Large Pistol (any)
Notes: This is a practice load. Use factory ammo for personal defense. Again, I love the Liberty Defense stuff


44 Magnum - 300gr - Dangerous Game Defense
Trim: 1.275
COAL: 1.600
Powder: H110
Charge: 19.5gr
Primer: Large Pistol Magnum (any)
Notes: This load is nasty and rather unpleasant to shoot. Consider something lighter if you can get away with it


45 Colt - 250gr - Practice
Trim: 1.275
COAL: 1.575
Powder: Trail Boss
Charge: 4.5gr
Primer: Large Pistol (any)
Notes: This is for Cowboy Action Shooting. A nice medium load that will drop plates with authority



A few things to remember here include the fact that not all of these powders are readily available right now so experiment and keep a list of suitable substitutes. IMR 4064 and IMR 8208XBR are particularly difficult to find right now. While this load date is not suitable for these powders, a good substitute for IMR 8208XBR is Benchmark and Ramshot TAC. A good substitute for IMR 4064 is Varget although Benchmark also works. For 6.5 Creedmoor, which is notoriously picky about powder, is IMR4350 and H4350. The 4350 is a versatile powder which also works for 300 WinMag and 375 HH Magnum. If I personally was going to stock up on powder right now, I would be getting plenty of 4350 and Benchmark. Primers we obviously need to get where we can and one good thing to know is that, while match primers are nice, a regular primer will work just fine. I have run the military grade CCI 7.62mm primers for all manner of large rifle applications and they work just fine. Remember that, if only magnum primers are available, they can be substituted for regular primers. However, you will want to download and work your way up to avoid dangerously high pressures.

Please remember to stay staff while reloading.