[bds]

Over Christmas BBQ (I made my favorite ribs for Santa :D), reloaders I shoot with discussed the "One handgun powder to rule them all (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=555083)" thread and drifted into what would be the minimal pistol powder selection.

General consensus was that although many attempted to reduce the powder selection to one or two, most recommended at least three pistol powder combinations or "trinity" that are faster/medium/slower burn rate (my example was Bullseye, W231/HP38, WSF).

So I pose the question of what three powder combo would be:

#1. Best "money is no object", cleanest burning, no compromise powder combo.
#2. Most versatile for pistol caliber, compromise OK powder combo
#3. Easiest to produce match power factor powder combo (If you can, site caliber/weight PF)
#4. Cheapest (using lesser powder charge than most) compromise OK powder combo

[bds]

I will defer on #1, #3 and #4:

#2 Bullseye, W231/HP38, Unique - Widely available load data for most pistol caliber applications

[RandyP]

I have only reloaded my 3 calibers using Win 231/HP-38 so I guess I can't play - lol

[ArchAngelCD]

The original powder trinity was Bullseye, Unique and 2400. Those are good powders but I like others better.

My powder trinity is W231(HP-38), W540(HS-6) and W296(H110). IMO those are the only 3 powders you "need" for reloading and handgun rounds you can think of.

W231 - W540 - W296
HP-38 - HS-6 - H110

[griz]

I'll go with:

Titegroup, about the cheapest per shot for most rounds.
Power Pistol, seems to give the best performance in many rounds.
Lil Gun, for rompin' stompin' heavy bullet magnums.

[Seedtick]

I have around a dozen different pistol powders but I think I could get by with;

2400
Power Pistol
HP 38

But I like trying new stuff so I think I'll pick up a couple more new ones to try instead.

I've heard that variety is the spice of life.

Seedtick

:)

[Walkalong]

It's easy to pick three, but I'll never get it down to three.

Bullseye, Unique, 2400

N320, N340, N110

AA #2, AA #5, AA #9

Solo 1000, Solo 1250, ?

Zip, True Blue, Enforcer

Clays, Universal, H110

WST, W231, W296

700X, 4756, 4759

I could get by with these. I am going to miss Solo 1250. I would love to find an old jug on someones back shelf somewhere.

[alan]

How about Unique? Seems to work well in (9mmLuger, 45ACP, 38Specl. (158 grain +)and 9mm Makarov. Of course Red Dot does also.