[Oscar 14]

Plan to start reloading some handguns, .357 mag, .38 spec. 9mm .380. Looking for some input on Win 231. Do you like it or not? Is it clean? Flashy? Metering? Sorry, I know that's a lot of questions but no one around here reloads pistols. Thanks.

[ReloaderFred]

Welcome to THR!

Winchester 231 is an excellent powder for all you have listed, with the exception of full power loads in .357 Magnum. It meters like powdered suger, which is great, and it's clean burning. It's a quick powder, which means it's good for small capacity cases, but also works well in the spacious .38 Special.

A slower powder will be more efficient for full power loads in the .357 Magnum. You might want to try Hodgdon's H-110, Winchester 296 or Accurate Arms #7, or #9, or any other powder intended for magnum loads.

Buy yourself several different loading manuals and all the information you'll need will be contained in them.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Walkalong]

Yep, W-231 is a great choice to start with. Very good all around powder.

[calaverasslim]

32 years ago, when I started reloading, it was with Unique and 2400. Branched out and after about 15 years discovered Win. 231. Ben there, dun that and keep coming back to 231.

[schmeky]

Agree on the positive 231 recommendations. I have been reloading for 30 years, have tried a lot powders, and I keep coming back to 231 for mild to medium charges for 9mm, .40, and .45

Plus there is data everywhere for 231. It is ridiculously easy to get target grade accuracy using 231 with .45 ACP.

[rfwobbly]

Win231 is also packaged and sold as Hodgdon HP-38. Not only is it a great all-around powder, but the dual identity makes it easy to find at reasonable prices. As a new reloader, you'll also appreciate that due to its popularity, it appears in almost every reloading manual.

If I was starting again, and could only purchase/ afford/ find/ 1 powder, it would be Win231.

[Oscar 14]

Thanks for the input guys. I have 4 reloading manuals and 231 keeps popping up in all of them. I think I'll start with that and then try 1 or 2 others especially for the .357.

Thanks again.

[MikeS.]

Another voice for W-231. It and Bullseye are my main powders.

[Brian Williams]

I use a lot of 231 and for my heavy 357 I use Lil'Gun.

[ArchAngelCD]

W231 is probably my favorite handgun powder. I use it in the .38 Special, .45 Auto, .45 Colt, 9mm and for lead bullets in the .357 Magnum. It's also a good powder for loading the .380 Auto you mentioned. It's a very versatile powder that's clean and fairly low flash. My go-to powders are W231, W540 and W296.

W540 is no longer being sold as W540 but HS-6 is the same exact powder.
Also:
W231 = HP-38
W296 = H110
W571 = HS-7
W760 = H414

Welcome to the forum and to reloading...

[Sidewinder72]

W 231 is my go to powder for 38,40,45 and 357 leads. Great powder and throws are very consistant.

[Jesse Heywood]

W231 is a great powder for starting with the calibers listed. Stick with it until after you have some experience under your belt.

[lgbloader]

W231 - good powder.

LGB

[bds]

I like HP38 better, same powder, lower price! :D

[mbopp]

I use it for popgun .44 Mag loads, also in .45ACP.
I tried it in my .357. Hodgdon's starting load cratered 1 of 5 primers (twice.) Makes good .38 loads though.

[frankt]

I load all my .38, 9mm and .45 ammo that I shoot IDPA with W231/HP-38.

It is a good all around powder. It measures very well, fairly clean and performs well.

There may be a better powder for each of the calibers but W231 lets me simplify things.

[Dave in PA]

I like W231 for 9mm, 45ACP, target loads of 357 Mag. For full power loads of 357 I like H110 which pulls double duty with 30 carbine.

[Retired in 2001]

I use it for 9mm 38/357 45 acp & colt and 44 mag one powder plus I cant mix with any other powder on my bench.I either shoot paper or cans it works very well for me

[depoloni]

If this horse isn't fully dead, I'll give it a try :D

Win 231 / HP-38 is a fantastic powder all around. I tried Titegroup, which is supposedly slightly cleaner burning and has slightly lower charge weights, and although it's good stuff I just stuck with 231 for everything pretty much. Same thing with Power Pistol, unless you're squeezing velocity out of an autoloader. If it's not a magnum where I prefer H-110/Lil-Gun/2400 then it's almost always 231 in my pistol loading sessions.

Other than "magnum" loads in 44 or 357 amongst what I own, I load everything with 231. Cast and plated loads in 9mm, mild-to-full 38's, mild 357's and 44's, mild-to-full 380's. Let's not forget 45acp, where it's pretty much "the classic 45 powder" and works about as well or better than anything.

Ignites easy and never requires a magnum primer in application, has been a favorite for twice as long (or more?) as I've been alive, meters easy... let's see, what else didn't I repeat that some of the other (even greater) members have in its favor? LOL

It's the whip. Good luck, have fun, be safe.