Good all-around handgun powder?

Thanks EricBu. That's something to keep in mind if I'd like to try a different powder. I use the same bullet or basically the same from T & B bullets. Thanks again.
 
Shooter's World powder most like Unique is Ultimate Pistol (very close if not the same as Auto Comp), and I like it better. It burns cleaner and is more accurate in half a dozen revolvers of mine (41, 44, 45).
 
I'm mostly reloading for my favorite handgun cartridges:
  • 38 Special
  • 357 Magnum
  • 44 Special
  • 44 Magnum
  • 9x19
  • 45 ACP
WSF will do all of those better than Unique IMHO, WSF will meter better and burn cleaner. The issue with WSF is the lack of data.
 
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If I had only one choice of handgun powder it would be Unique.

It is useful for light loads to fairly hot loads.

But I could manage well with W231/HP38, Accurate #5, and 700-X.

There are other powders available that are similar to my choices, I’m happy with my choices.

I do branch out periodically. During the 2008 shortages I discovered True Blue. I use it mostly for 9x19 but it has other good applications.
I use all the propellants he uses with the addition of Promo/RedDot. I use the Promo and 700X mostly with Unique being the least used for some reason.
 
Why won’t you find it? If you mean Unique, Midway has had it for at least a week and still does as of this writing and availability has been reported daily on the component availability thread.

He was also refering to Trail Boss, which hasn't been on shelves for some time now. You can still find Unique now and then.
 
I can find nothing, nada, authoritative (meaning, from Hodgdon) saying anything about a halt in production of trail boss. Lots of official sounding internet speculation but nothing real.
Well, that kind of goes back to something we talk a lot about but doesn't really sink in too deep: Hodgdon does not make powder. Not one flake, kernel, ball or grain. They are a redistributor, not a manufacturer.

According to ADI, the manufacturer of Trail Boss and quite a few other "Hodgdon" powders, "Trail Boss – This propellant is unlikely to be released in 2022 as there continues to be an active research and development project associated with its manufacturing optimisation." This would seem to imply without stating clearly that there was some pre-plandemic project which was going to delay or limit the release of Trail Boss in 2021/22 and the plandemic just got in the way of that timeline.
 
Well, that kind of goes back to something we talk a lot about but doesn't really sink in too deep: Hodgdon does not make powder. Not one flake, kernel, ball or grain. They are a redistributor, not a manufacturer.

According to ADI, the manufacturer of Trail Boss and quite a few other "Hodgdon" powders, "Trail Boss – This propellant is unlikely to be released in 2022 as there continues to be an active research and development project associated with its manufacturing optimisation." This would seem to imply without stating clearly that there was some pre-plandemic project which was going to delay or limit the release of Trail Boss in 2021/22 and the plandemic just got in the way of that timeline.
Yes that’s what ADI published for their home audience.

They also said this about Universal (AP70N) back in 2019:

“While we cannot currently provide a specific date that an AP70N comparable powder will be available, we expect this to be available a bit later this year and called APS650.”
 
I think they are trying to reformulate these powders so that manufacturing is less expensive, and/or more 'green.' Take IMR's Enduron rifle powders... they turned out to not be All That and a bag of chips, and now they've been pulled from the market.

TrailBossy is an odd powder... specifically bulky for a reason, it certainly requires a special process... I'll bet it's an expensive powder to make. ADI's statement about 'manufacturing optimization' sounds like a fancy way of saying 'it costs too much to produce, but we're trying to find a way to manufacture it cheaper.'
 
I had a similar question a month or two ago and the general consensus was unique or HP38.

Im curious why nobody ever recommends autocomp. I see it available all the time (that’s a red flag). No experience with it tho.
 
Why won’t you find it? If you mean Unique, Midway has had it for at least a week and still does as of this writing and availability has been reported daily on the component availability thread.
I just went and found it. One lb. bottles only, $37 + $20 Haz Mat fee. I couldn’t do it.

I went to my local gun shop and range, did some shooting, and bought a bottle of WSP for $34 instead. It was the only powder they had that could be used in pistols, but I’ve heard good things about it.
 
I went to my local gun shop and range, did some shooting, and bought a bottle of WSP for $34 instead. It was the only powder they had that could be used in pistols, but I’ve heard good things about it.

What is WSP powder?
 
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