W231, Where are you?

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Recob's Target Shop has W231 1lb for $16.89 (8 lb is out of stock) - http://www.recobstargetshop.com/browse.cfm/2,151.html

W231 is the same exact powder as Hodgdon HP38 - Powder Valley has 1lb for $15.35 and 8lb for $108.00 (8lb is out of stock).
MidSouth Shooters Supply has 8lbs for $115 (on order) - http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00034P388

Many posted IMR 700X and Ramshot Zip are same burn rate powder. Powder Valley also has 700X 4lbs for $56.50 (8lbs for $104) and Zip 1lb for $16.10 (4lbs for $59).

You can also consider Alliant Green Dot as close substitute - 1lb for $14 (8lbs for $98) at Powder Valley - http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/
 
Yes, it's weird around this part of the country too (P.N.W.)... I go to a local gun store and see that they're totally out of W231, but there's a whole bunch of HP-38. I guess a lot of people don't know that W231 routinely hides in HP-38 containers.

edit: Oh, I see you're in Kent, WA. I'm just up the road in Snohomish. Try Kesselring for powder. He has quite a bit, but no W231 or HP38 as of last weekend. Maybe Sportco in Fife?
 
Here in Texas, W231 is also scarce - as in I haven't seen a container of it in over 18 months. HP-38 though? It shows up regularly, so that's what I use since, like bds said, it is W231 with a different label.
 
re Win 231 vs HP38 being 'exactly' the same.

The powder burn charts show it's very close, but exactly the same---??
 

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The powder burn charts show it's very close, but exactly the same---??
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Although this is from wikipedia, I believe the two powders are now exactly the same put into two different label bottles. When I got my 8lb jug of HP38 last year, I compare it to my W231 powder bought 2 years ago and I could not tell the difference - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W231
W231 is a smokeless powder manufactured by the Hodgdon Powder Company and marketed under the Winchester trade name. Hodgdon licensed the Winchester brand in January 2006, assuming all manufacturing and support responsibilities. Prior to this Winchester brand powders were manufactured by the Olin Corporation.
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This is from Hodgdon website - http://www.hodgdon.com/history.html
In March 2006, Hodgdon Powder Company and Winchester® Ammunition announced that Winchester® branded reloading powders would be licensed to Hodgdon. Winchester smokeless propellants, the choice of loading professionals, are available to the handloader to duplicate the factory performance of loads from handgun to rifle and shotgun.
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Haven't noticed any shortage of it here. I see it pretty regularly.
IMR 4350 is a different story. It's been hard to come by and will cost you $29.00 a pound when you do find it.
 
Where do you buy your powder around here ST?
Don's on Broadway and Ft Thompsons in NLR are about the only two places I know of. It would be nice to have a few more options.
 
so, could 700X be the same powder as W231? According to Walkalong's pictures and comments, the two powders look the same with same burn rate.
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Definitely not the same powder. I did post a pic of Zip and W-231 and they look a lot alike, but 700X looks nothing like W-231, and it has different burn characteristics as well.
 
Definitely not the same powder.
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Ooops, got Ramshot Zip mixed up with IMR 700X from that post. :banghead:

Thanks Walkalong - corrected the previous comment.

Still, I believe W231 being the same exact powder as HP38 is now common knowledge.
 
Yea, I expect most folks know W-231 and HP-38 are the same powder. It's been posted a lot.

700X is a very good powder, as is Solo 1000, which has extremely similar burn characteristics. (But is definitely different)

700X is sort of like AA #2 in the fact that is "acts" slower than its spot in the various burn rate charts. (my opinion only) Clays and Red Dot, on the other hand, show their colors quickly (get spiky) when you get to the top of data with them or try them in a application that really needs a bit slower powder.
 
W-231 in low supply here, but 2400 is worse. IMR-4895 & Varget has been bad too. I was able to find some in Winchester, VA last week but prices were 27.95 a lb. I bought 2lbs of each.
 
Where do you buy your powder around here ST?
Don's on Broadway and Ft Thompsons in NLR are about the only two places I know of. It would be nice to have a few more options.
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Paul, during the madness/scarcity I had to buy online. Things seem to be getting better now but it's still a long way from what it was. I picked up some powder a few weeks back at J&S Pawn and Gun in Searcy. He had a good stock of powder including IMR 4350. His prices were a little high but not $29 per pound. He also had some primers. He had every size of primer covered but they were all different brands.

ST

:)
 
I've been to that place once. Bought a can of powder, H414 if I recall correctly. We were leaving Blue Star and they told us about it. Blue Star is great for brass and bullets, but they don't sell powder.
 
I was at the Cabela's in Kansas City, Kansas last weekend and noticed they had 231 in stock. First time I've seen it on the shelf in some time. I've switched to HP-38 and if its not the same its awful close.
 
I have been able to get WW231 in the northern Ohio area and have not found it hard to find.
As everyone else has stated HP 38 is the same since Hodgen has been producing Winchester powder.
Ron
 
According to Hodgdon, which owns the brand names, HP-38 and Win 231 are the same. If you call them, they'll tell you that.
 
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