I can't really help you much with the bullets you're reloading, as I exclusively use 160 gr TMJs, only because my local shop constantly has them in for $80 per box of 750, and I'm stocked up on them until the next millenium.

But, here is a list of powder burn rates, if you don't already have one. Maybe this will help jog your memory on that powder the gunshop owner was talking about.

http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html