Handgun reloads - New to it

[jantydog]

I have loaded tens of thousands of shotshells but not handgun loads and plan to begin handgun reloading. I am getting a Dillon 550B. Couple of questions:

1. Can I use the same powder, to keep it simple, for 9mm (115/124 gr) and 45 ACP (230 gr)?
2. If so, which would you recommend that has the versatility to do this?

Thanks.

 

[loadedround]

Jantydog: First of all welcome to the THR Forum. For the most part you will find a lot of knowledgable and friendly folks here. As to you question(s), yes, you can use a single powder for both caibers such as Bullseye, 231, or Unique. Depending on what type of loads you want to assemble for example, target/plinking loads, or IPSC/defense loads, it is best to use several different powders. My suggestion is acquire several reloading manuals such as the Lyman,Speer, and Nosler. Both the new Lyman and Nosler manuals give the most accurate powder tested for each bullet weight. I do recommend the new Lyman manual, one of the best available. Good luck with your new hobby.

 

[mongoose33]

I've used both 231 and WST to great effect in both 9mm and .45.

Unique works too, though it doesn't meter as well as the above and I've gone away from it for that reason.

As far as manuals, I like the Sierra manual far better than Lyman for 9mm and .45. There is a lot of lead data in the Lyman manual and much less FMJ and HP data in it, so if you plan on shooting lead it's better, but I was unimpressed by the Lyman.

That said, the Sierra manual has very little on cast bullets, so pick your poison.

 

[SASS#23149]

Since you are new to metallic reloading,I strongly suggest you use the dillon as a single stage loader for a while...just run one round thru at a time.Once you get the feel for it,and get everything woriking right,then load it up and load away.Just dont try for speed records...speed comes with experience.EVen loading 1 round at a time you can do a box of 50 pretty darned fast.... say 45 minutes,maybe even less with experience.
Life is simpler if you seat in one die then crimp with another...2 dies are much esier to tweak than a dual purpose die is.
Lyman's is my goto book,lots of info in there.

 

[bluetopper]

Bullseye, Red Dot, & Green Dot will work fine in both these calibers.

 

[Steve C]

1. Can I use the same powder, to keep it simple, for 9mm (115/124 gr) and 45 ACP (230 gr)?

Most of the shotgun powders you would typically use to load trap and skeet shells will work well for target loads in the 9mm and .45.

2. If so, which would you recommend that has the versatility to do this?

Some good powders have been mentioned already. If you tell us what powder you are currently using to load your shotgun shells with we can better comment and point you to load data for handguns.

 

[oneounceload]

Universal Clays also works well for both

 

[zxcvbob]

The powders you already have should work fine. Red Dot, Promo, or Clays are about the best there are for light target loads. Green Dot, Bullseye, Universal, Unique, or WSF for full-power loads (in increasing order.)

 

[hydraulicman]

run a few cases threw all the stages before you begin production. Check the powder visually before placeing a bullet

read the directions on how to load. They are good and will help you avoid mistakes.

have fun.

what powder do you use to load shot shells?

 

[dmazur]

If you don't have your dies yet, suggest carbide dies. They are a little more expensive, but (IMO) they more than make up for it in saved time and aggravation. Carbide dies don't require case lube, and this is a big plus.

 

[Walkalong]

Which shotgun powders do you have? As posted, at least one of them will be suitable for nice target loads in 9MM & .45. If you have some WSF it will do better than just target loads in both.

Welcome to THR

 

[jantydog]

Thanks for all of the information and the welcome! The reloading that I'll be doing for 9mm and 45ACP will be for target shooting (GSSF, IDPA, plates, pins). For shotshell reloading I have typically used Green Dot bus since I am out of powder I could use anything that will suit 9mm and 45ACP. Thanks again!