One Powder

[lizziedog1]

There are numerous threads here about what three, or two, or whatever, type of guns, one would have if there was some sort of limit. I want to try that here.

If you were somehow limited to only one rifle powder and one handgun powder, what would they be?

Looking at my current firearms here are my two choice.

For rifle, Varget. It wouldn't be the best choice for all my long guns, but it is one powder that I could use in all of them.

W231 would be my one pistol powder. Again, it would fit the bill for my handgun applications.

 

[glockky]

IMR4350 and Tite Group or W231

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
Unique... I would not feel real bad if that was all there ever was for any reloading.
But I would also add some 1680. As I primarily shoot my own cast I could happily finish off my years with just thos two.
Mike in peru

 

[NCsmitty]

Without a doubt, H4895, as it's useable in small and magnum cases with different load densities, IE youth loads, at www.hodgdon.com.

Unique is an old powder, but it's extremely versatile, and works well from 32ACP through the large bore 44 and 45 caliber handgun loads. I even use it in some 20ga shotshell loads.



NCsmitty

 

[REL1203]

for Handgun, either Universal or W231,

For rifle, for what I shoot, RL15 or Varget

 

[oneounceload]

Clays - as shotguns come first and it will cover handguns
either IMR 4350 or 4831 - both give good results for my 7 mag

 

[CraigC]

H4895 and Unique.

 

[gamestalker]

I would have to have 3 powders to make me happy. RL22 for my high powered rifle needs, Longshot for AL handguns, standard wheel guns, and shotguns, and then H110/296 for my magnum wheel guns. Without those 3 I would be concerned about performance being below my desired performance level, which is super charged!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Varget and Unique.

 

[LiveLife]

W231/HP-38 and H4895

 

[Tallinar]

Unique for pistol, maybe 4198 for rifle? Not sure for rifle...

 

[ustate]

for handguns Hp38
for rifles H4895

 

[FlyinBryan]

for handguns Hp38
for rifles H4895

because i like the 38 for 45acp, and the 4895 because one of the rifles i load for is an m1 garand.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

My vote is for Unique and IMR4064.

 

[Robert101]

My vote is Unique and H4895

 

[BruceB]

Those wise gents who have already suggested Unique and 4895 have got it right. On the strength of 45 years' hand-loading, I can say that those two powders WORK.

Unique will suffice for everything from (9mm/.38 Special all the way up to light loads in .45-70 and many other rifle cartridges. It shines with cast bullets in rifles.

4895 (either "H" or "IMR") works VERY well from .222 up to .458 and .416 Rigby. It won't give absolute-maximum performance in ALL rifle cartridges, but it WILL deliver probably 90% or better in those in which it falls a bit short of "full power". The minor shortfall is unlikely to be noticeable in the field.

So....if these are so good, and if I've been trying earnestly to cut down on the number of different powders I have on hand......why do I STILL have 37 different powders on my shelves at last count????? I reckon I'm just another nutcase.

 

[USSR]

IMR4895 and Unique. My only firearm that I would not be able to load for, is my .30 Carbine.

Don

 

[AFK]

W231 for pistol. I use it for .380, 9mm, .38 special, and .45ACP. I don't load rifle

 

[ArchAngelCD]

H4895 and W231/HP-38

 

[Hondo 60]

Just one, huh?

Well I guess for rifle it'd be Varget.
(I only have one rifle - an Ar-15) so that's easy.

But I love my handguns, so that one's much tougher.
[strike]I like Tite Group, so I guess that would be my choice.[/strike]

Or I could go with Accurate #5.
AA5 would work better in all my handguns

 

[wanderinwalker]

For my uses, the pistol powder would probably be 231. I haven't used Unique in enough different cartridges yet to decide if I would switch to it (but I have used enough to decide it's almost like shooting black powder smoke-wise! ).

In rifle it would be either Varget or Reloder 15. Anything you can do with one, you can effectively duplicate with the other in my experience, with perhaps a bit more velocity with RL-15. I've burned at least 16-lbs worth of Varget, mostly in heavy-bullet .223 loads, but also some in .45-70 and .30-06. I haven't tried it in .30-30 yet, but I suspect it will work well there when I do try it.

(Again, for what it's worth, it seems to me that many applications where Varget will work you could also use H4895. I just use Varget because it's what I tried first and have liked it ever since.)

 

[RustyFN]

H335 and WST.

 

[kingmt]

I thought you said one. Sadly I can no longer get my true love which while it doesn't work perfectly in every thing it does still work well. When that jug is gone I'll have to start looking for another. I've already got Unique, 700X, & some WC Blank to try to heal the wombs of losing my first love.

I don't suggest using WC Blank for projectiles since the suplier is very adamant against it. It does show promise where I've used it.

 

[Cherokee]

231 and H335

 

[Seedtick]

2400

I could keep myself busy with just 2400 and be content.


Seedtick