5 most useful handgun powders

[HankB]

1. 700-X
Just a tad slower than Bullseye, it's cheaper because I buy it in 12 lb kegs to reload shotshells. Very good for target loads up to "ball equivalent" in 9mm & .45 ACP.

2. SR4756
This fills the same niche as Unique but burns a lot cleaner. Good for "medium" loads in .357, full power loads in 9mm & .45. Also good for "field" loads in shotshells.

3. 2400
Traditional powder for full Magnum loads.

4. H110 or 296
Powders virtually identical - some folks say they ARE identical. If you want to maximize a .357 or .44 Mag, this is the powder.

 

[45crittergitter]

Unique
H110/W296
Everything else.

 

[Barr]

I load:
.410 Shotgun
12 Gauge Shotgun
9x19mm
.38 Special
.44 Magnum
.45 ACP

I use:
Alliant American Select (for 12 Gauge Shotgun and light pistol)
Alliant Power Pistol (for hot auto loads)
Alliant 2400 (for .410 Shotgun and hot .44 Magnum loads)

These powders meter the best in my Lee powder measure.

 

[threefeathers]

I'd say after 20 years of reloading
1. Unique for 357 Sig, 45 ACP, 45 Colt
2. PB for 8mm, 38 Special, 40 S&W
3. 296 for 357 Mag, 30 cal carbine.

They will cover every handgun caliber made/

I admit to having Tightgroup, WST, 800X, 700X and Red Dot on hand because I have 44 handguns and some are powder selective for top accuracy

 

[shdwlkr]

In almost forty years of loading for pistols I use
1. unique
2 HP38
3 HS6
and once in a while HS7 all though that one is going to be dropped and I can do just fine without it
I load for 9mm,38super,38spl,44spl, 45auto,32-20, 357mag, 44mag
I don't hot load and most of the time load for mid level so I can get more loads from a pound of powder. If I need full power loads I buy them from the factory just my personal preference

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Favorite Powder for pistols

Since the powers that be took WW230 away from me I have used WW231 for ALL my pistol calibers as a Hobby and Commercial Reloader.

 

[gandog56]

I pretty much use HP-38 for most of my reloads except for my .400 Cor-Bon, for which I use Unique. It's a pity that they can't come up with one powder that "does 'em all", but that would really take a rocket scientist.

 

[joneb]

My powder chioces are based on calibre, bullet weight and barrel lenght . I do most of my pistol cartridge reloading with W-231, Unique and Blue Dot .
And yes the revolver was once conciderd a pistol.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Your loading along similar lines to me, and I have sort of gone through phases of trying a bit of everything.

20 years ago I would have said:
1) Bullseye
2) Unique
3) 2400

5 years ago I would have said:
1) 231
2) AA7
3) AA9
4) Universal Clays
5) Power Pistol

Last year when I noted I had over 31 powders on the shelf I would have said:
?only 5!?

Today I have more standardized because of safety and ease of use:
1) Trail boss for 38's and 45lc
2) Power Pistol for 45 acp 40s&W and 9mm
3) 2400 for 357 mag
4) Unique for everything else
5) AA7 for 10mm

ps: I also use a lot of AA9 for 357sig.

 

[S&WIowegan]

Five Powders

I am primarily a handloader of handgun ammunition. The powders I use the most are:

1. Viht N310
2. Viht N350
3. Universal Clays
4. TiteGroup
5. Bullseye

I use N310 to load .45 ACPs for IPSC and N350 for .38 Super loads. Universal is used as a clean replacement for Unique. TiteGroup goes into steel loads and other plinking calibers. Bullseye goes into target loads for .38 Special and .45 ACP.

I chrono everything!