[Redneck with a 40]

For me, its Unique. This powder shines in 38 spl, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Unique also gives adequate performance in 357, 41, and 44 mag. Unique is the do all powder in my opinion.:D

[armoredman]

Accurate #5, works well in 38 and 9mm, but Sportsman's Warehouse quit carrying it! Gotta get #2 and #7 now.

Never tried Unique.

[Walkalong]

I guess I would settle for Universal Clays if I really could only have ONE for EVERYTHING from 9MM to .44 Spl. to .45 ACP to..... :scrutiny:

Or maybe............

[benedict1]

Unique--9mm, .38 Spec., .357 Mag, .45 ACP, 20 and 28 gauge skeet loads.

[NVMM]

Currently I'm burning Clays.

[SASS#23149]

Unique. I use it in all my pistols,my shotgun,and for plinker loads in my 30-30.
And it's available at several local stores and 'marts'.

[wally]

Another vote for Unique.

People say its dirty, but the dirt is sooty and doesn't gum up the works, most of my guns will go 1000+ without a takedown for thorough cleaning, I just wipe down after shooting, using a Q-tip under the extractor and on the breech face & feed ramp, then a couple of drops of Brake-Free or Dupont Performance Teflon Dry-Lube on the moving surfaces, cycle a few times, wipe down again and back into the safe until the next range trip.

Actually all the cheap .22LR ammo is far dirtier than my reloads using Unique.

--wally.

[Mal H]

Ok, I'm going to take a different slant on this improbable question. Politics and world affairs have to be involved for this to happen.

I do not believe in all the SHTF stuff, but if we can't get any powders but one, I have to believe it's because something drastic in the state of the Union has happened. Therefore I would want my rifle powder as opposed to handgun powder. So I would select a fairly universal rifle powder, say, 4895 (H or IMR).

If you're asking about handgun powders only, as most of the answers seem to imply, I would want W296 or H110.Although, I could easily "get by" with W231 or Univ. Clays.

[Idano]

Rifle: IMR-3031
Pistol: Unique

[ReloaderFred]

Since I load 26 different calibers, I couldn't get by with just one powder for all of them. For rifle calibers, I would need either IMR-4895 or H-4895. For pistol calibers I would need at least three, Winchester 231, Winchester 296 and Accurate #9.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[357mag357]

If I had to choose just one I would go with Power Pistol. It will reload everything I need. 38+p, 357Mag, 44 Spec, 44Mag & 9mm. If I could have two I would like H110 also.

[SlamFire1]

Rifle: IMR 4895
Pistol Unique.

For pistol, I am trying to get down to Bullseye, Unique and 2400. That selection covers everything at an optimum level. But when you get down to it, Unique will adequately cover all the calibers I shoot. That is 32 S&W Long, 9mm, 38 Special, 357, 44 Special, 45 LC, 44 Magnum.

[Kimber1911_06238]

unique or universal clays

[trickyasafox]

for rifle, i'd probably take imr4895 or even h335. they both will do just about anything you need. i haven't used it yet, but BL C2 seems good as well.

pistol: i agree unique is a great powder. 40sw, 45acp, 9mm, 9mm mak, 38spl. 357, the stuff covers some ground!

[R.W.Dale]

Rifle - VARGET & UNIQUE

Handgun - UNIQUE

[floridaboy]

Unique!

[cpaspr]

Like Mal H, I'm going to have to list one for rifles, one for pistols:

Rifles - 4895

Pistols - Bullseye. Not necessarily the best for all that I load for, but the only one that covers all of them with published data. That I'm aware of anyway.

[The Bushmaster]

I wonder if we could come up with a new thread not dealing with a subject that has been hashed so many times that it has gotten absolutely boring.:banghead: One should use the search option on this site and all questions would be answered...

I live in a free country where I can make a decient living (even retired) and can afford what ever powders I desire and I shelve a bunch and I couldn't do without any of them...One single powder just isn't enough...Look up the information in your friendly loading manuals...

Damn...This apple (soap) box is getting high...:D

[357mag357]

Well Bushmaster I am waiting. Are you going to come up with a good thread?:neener: I think the question is a worst case scenario type question. Didn't you see Red Dawn?

[TimT]

I cannot just have one powder-to think of that?!

[Walkalong]

We can have a rifle powder too ? Oh goodie......4895. Either flavor.

Does this mean I have to toss the dozen or so pistol powders and 1/2 dozen or so rifle powders I have tucked away. :what:

Good thing I don't beleive in SHTF either...well, maybe a little, I do have a surplus of stuff. :evil:

[Cosmoline]

3031 and Unique--you guys read my mind. With those two I can load pretty much anything. Not always WELL, but it can be done. If pressed to one, I'd go with unique. Loading rifle cartridges with the stuff is dicey, but possible if you take great care. You end up with plinking loads, basically. Of course, it's also real easy to turn a rifle cartridge into a grenade with unique.

[BsChoy]

I have yet to try (for fear of loving it and burning a metric ton a year and having to change my fav powder) IMR of H 4895 but it seems like the best for ALOT of guns. So I will go with Varget for rifle and I only have Red Dot for pistol so that wins

[Art Eatman]

For just one powder for both rifle and pistol, I'd select 2400 or anything with a similar burning rate.

It works for hot loads in .357 and .44 maggies, I found out some forty years back. It works for mid-range and even fairly stout loads in an '06.

Sixty or seventy years ago, Phil Sharpe tried a bunch of 2400 in a .22 Savage HiPower with a 40-grain bullet. Around 3,900 ft/sec. Same sort of deal in an '06 with an 80-grain pistol bullet; about the same velocity.

Sounds fairly universal, to me.

[Brian Williams]

Lil gun and 4064

[Mal H]

That is a good choice, Art. Later on I was thinking 4227 might a good single powder for rifle and handgun also.

[Walkalong]

4227 would be great for heavy handgun and light rifle. SR4759 is another that can do double duty.

[Picknlittle]

I only have two rifles now. The 35 Whelen likes BLC-2, the 30-06 is getting IMR4350 now. If I could only choose one for both I guess it'd be IMR4064.

[gezzer]

Red Dot, handles shotguns, revolvers and pistols and rifles with cast bullets.

I have 2 8lb jugs. Lifetime supply for hunting and target practice.

[Black_Talon]

231, or maybe Bulls-eye.

[ftierson]

One, eh...?

H335

Or one of the ball powders with a similar burning rate (BL-C2, AA2460, WC846, etc.)...

I could make it work for all my rifle needs...

:)

Forrest

[jeepmor]

If the SHTF, when the h e dbl hockey sticks are you going to have time to reload? You gonna throw a press, dies and supplies in your bug out bag, get real. Throw ammo in your bug out bag and get out.

I have not reloaded enough to know anything other than I like Unique for pistols and my .223 is plenty accurate with Varget thus far.

I do like how BLC-2 meters, ball would be good for rifles.

[JDGray]

Universal for me:)

[HiWayMan]

Unique!

For Pistol, Shotgun, and Rifle. They definately got the name right on this one, but like everything else in the world, while it may do everything, it may not do them well.

[EddieCoyle]

Titegroup.

I've loaded .32 ACP and S&W .500 with it (and a bunch of other calibers as well).

[cheygriz]

You could only have one powder only in a TEOTWAWKI scenario.

Handguns would be nearly useless, so you would need a military rifle powder.

H335, AAC 2230, and WW 748 are the optimal powders for 5.56X45, 7.62X51, 5,54X39 and 7.63X39, and acceptable, although not optimal for .30-06, .243, .257 Roberts, .30-30 and other hunting calibers. Therefore, these would be the logical choices.

[CZ57]

Would this be a scenario where HoLarry gets elected president and then distorts the Supreme Court with more Ruth Ginsberg types after the existing conservative members suddenly begin to meet calamitous fates like Vince Foster did? As the female comedian used to say: "It could happen."

Isn't liberal control of the Supreme Court the ultimate goal of the dims? Until that happens, the second amendment will stay intact. If it changes, it will require a shake-up of the Supreme Court. Then, Blackpowder firearms might be worth consideration in a single powder scenario. Maybe a moisture-proof underground vault for storage of anything Charles Schumer deems unnecessary for civilized society, might be even better!;)