Powder universality

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AZAndy

AZAndy

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I frequently read posts here about specific powders for specific loads, and the powder choice seems to depend on many factors such as bullet weight, type of bullet, chambering, intended use, and so on. When I became interested in reloading, I tried to discover what the different characteristics of various powders are, but didn't find anything to refer to other than lists of powders according to burn speed. So, to start out my reloading adventures, I picked four cartridges I intended to begin with (.45ACP, 9mm Makarov, .38 Special and +P, and 7.62 Tokarev) and looked up loading data for them. I picked two powders that had load data for all four of these with the bullet types and weights I thought I'd be most likely to use, and bought them: Titegroup and Clays Universal. I've loaded .45 with Titegroup and Makarov with Universal, mostly because the Lee disk measure works out best that way for me (using 4.4 gn or .37cc Titegroup with .45 and .40cc with the Universal in 9x18).

I know that what I've done is a pretty ignorant approach based on a pragmatic desire to simply do what will get the job done, and I'd like to remedy my lack of knowledge. Is there a reference work or two that will help me to understand the characteristics of powders? I'd just as soon not have a different powder on hand for every single cartridge I'll eventually reload for, and need some insight on what works best with what and why.

Thanks,

Andy
 
+1 on the manuals for more info on powders.
There is nothing wrong with finding one or two powders that will meet your needs. I use Red Dot ans Tightgroup for almost all of my pistol loads. I could drop either one of these if I wanted to go to just one powder. If your are going for the best accuracy you may buy a lot of powders. If you are going for efficiency you can go through the manuals and find some great universal powders that work in most pistol loads you may need for target and plinking.
 
I think you'll want at least one more powder -- something like Power Pistol or AA#7 to really explore the Tokarev, but the Universal shouldn't be bad.
 
IIRC, some reloading manuals have a section in the rear that put the burn rates in order.
For my uses, I also like to keep things simple.
Winchester 760 works well for a lot of the rifle rounds I load, Unique does well for a lot of handgun rounds.
Just seems to me that if I don't have a half dozen different powders sitting around, I can't screw up and accidentally blow myself up as easily.
 
I frequently read posts here about specific powders for specific loads, and the powder choice seems to depend on many factors such as bullet weight, type of bullet, chambering, intended use, and so on. When I became interested in reloading, I tried to discover what the different characteristics of various powders are, but didn't find anything to refer to other than lists of powders according to burn speed. So, to start out my reloading adventures, I picked four cartridges I intended to begin with (.45ACP, 9mm Makarov, .38 Special and +P, and 7.62 Tokarev) and looked up loading data for them. I picked two powders that had load data for all four of these with the bullet types and weights I thought I'd be most likely to use, and bought them: Titegroup and Clays Universal. I've loaded .45 with Titegroup and Makarov with Universal, mostly because the Lee disk measure works out best that way for me (using 4.4 gn or .37cc Titegroup with .45 and .40cc with the Universal in 9x18).

I know that what I've done is a pretty ignorant approach based on a pragmatic desire to simply do what will get the job done, and I'd like to remedy my lack of knowledge. Is there a reference work or two that will help me to understand the characteristics of powders? I'd just as soon not have a different powder on hand for every single cartridge I'll eventually reload for, and need some insight on what works best with what and why.
Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with your approach if that's what fits your needs. Some people prefer to "keep it simple" and stay with 1 load per caliber if it can be done with 1 powder, so much the better. Others (myself included) prefer to use a number of different bullets and have different loads with various powders for each of them. That's a good thing about rolling your own, you can do it as you please and change any time you wish.

Remember, there are really no bad powders but there are bad bullets. A good bullet will shoot well with a heap of powders and different loads. A bad bullet ain't gonna' cut it no matter what you launch it with. I tend to think about powders sort of like bullets...different tools for different jobs. Soft yet accurate target loads are seldom achieved with the same powders as do high performance loads within the same caliber/bullet group and vice-versa. Still, there is always a middle ground that one or two powders fill nicely and if that's what you like, don't fret it. There's got to be a reason W-231, Unique, TG and several others continue to be best sellers...
 
Unless you just really like to tweak stuff, just stick with one and go.
The trick is to find the good one.

I prefer to make copies of "Generic" loads for target/range use. 230-RN .45, 125-RN 9mm, 158-SWC .38, 240-SWC .44, 185-TC .40, etc.

That means you eliminate most of the problems involving odd bullets, while using something that you can benchmark against factory ammo, or historic ammo. Once you find what works best, it's all a matter of finding a way to cut costs while not interfering with quality.

Also, I duplicate my expensive carry ammo using my reloads to save money for practice with my CCW gun. That's about all I reload: CCW practice ammo, and generic range ammo.
 
AZAndy, I did what you did...one day looked at all those dozen or more expensive cans of powder at my bench, taking up a lot of space, and figured there's got to be a better way! I listed my cartridges, pistol and rifle, and checked my manuals for loads.

After some testing, I've standardized on Win 231 for every pistol cartridge from 9-mm Mak to .45 Colt. I've found excellent, accurate loads for every cartridge, without excessive pressures.

For rifle, I've standardized on #4895 for .223 Win through 8-mm Mauser...including 6.5 Jap, 6.5 x 55 Swede, .30-30, .308 Win, .30-06, .303 Brit, 7.7 Jap...and light bullet loads for 300 Win Mag (for heavy bullets, I do have to use another powder.). Once again, very accurate loads in each, with lower pressures than a lot of other alternative powders.

Side benefits: I buy in bulk, so cost is cheap. I can get the #4895 in bulk...very inexpensively!...from surplus dealers. I gained a LOT of space to put other stuff in! And there's no chance of mistaking what powder is in my powder measure...though I still label it anyway.

You are definitely on the right track!
 
simplicity is bliss

I am in the process of deverloping one load for each caliber of revolver I have, and I hope to get it down to one type of powder. Diito rifles, and i may very well get down to one rifle caliber, period.
 
Manuals refer to "safe limits". Personal experience (within the safe limits) is the best way to determine what works in your gun. Your gun may have a different barrel length or be an auto where the manual might have used something different in their testing.

Also I've always been shy about extremely fast burning powders in a large pistol cartridge like the .45 ACP. I'd rather load something where it overflows when you double charge a piece of brass.

There is nothing like loading and shooting various loads in each gun. Take notes on your observations of each load. Your personal experience is well beyond what the manuals attempt to tell you.

Personally I strive for what works best for me in a given situation for a given gun. I do find that I have to inventory more powders.
 
AZAndy, I did what you did...one day looked at all those dozen or more expensive cans of powder at my bench, taking up a lot of space, and figured there's got to be a better way! I listed my cartridges, pistol and rifle, and checked my manuals for loads.

After some testing, I've standardized on Win 231 for every pistol cartridge from 9-mm Mak to .45 Colt. I've found excellent, accurate loads for every cartridge, without excessive pressures.

For rifle, I've standardized on #4895 for .223 Win through 8-mm Mauser...including 6.5 Jap, 6.5 x 55 Swede, .30-30, .308 Win, .30-06, .303 Brit, 7.7 Jap...and light bullet loads for 300 Win Mag (for heavy bullets, I do have to use another powder.). Once again, very accurate loads in each, with lower pressures than a lot of other alternative powders.
Click to expand...

This is the approach I'm taking; 4895 for 6.5 Swede and 7.62X54R, and Bullseye for 32 acp, 9X19, 9X18, 38 Spcl and 357 Mag. If I want to work up "one-hole" loads, I can do that later. And fewer powders means few opportunities to mess up.
 
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