Best all around powder

[ArchAngelCD]

I understand many reloaders think Unique is the only good powder to use but that's because back in the day it was one of the only powders around along with Bullseye and 2400. (the original powder trinity) Now that there are many good powders available there's no reason to put up with a powder that meters terrible and is very dirty.

My powder trinity is W231 (HP-38, W540 (HS-6) and W296 (H110) and I can reload anything with those 3 and do it very well!

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

experience with only 4 handgun powders. BE does better for cast slugs than Power Pistol
jacketed slugs PP is way ahead for +P 9mm and .45acp. all the +P data I have on hand is for PP though, have'nt checked any other powders

 

[Cougar71]

You can talk about cars or girls now if you got bored with your first question I guess.

Never get bored talking firearms of all types! Kachok threw out RL22 and I went with it! I get excited sometimes

 

[777TRUTH]

Power Pistol has been great for me in .380, 9mm & .40 S&W

Been playing with HP-38 in 9mm and am liking it better than PP, will be trying it in .40 S&W next.

 

[AntiSpin]

My Lee reloading manual lists, under the heading for the exact same bullet type and weight, different amounts (sometimes VERY different amounts) of HP38 or Win 231.

For example: .357 magnum; 158 gr. lead;
6.2 ~ 6.7 gr Win. 231
3.4 ~ 5.0 gr. HP38

This is true across the calibers. It leads me to question the assertion that they are identical powders.

My other manuals are in another location, so I can't check them right now, but this does not seem to be just a mistake. As I said, it seems to be true across the calibers and across the bullet types and weights. I don't think they can all be mistakes, especially in just one manual.

Unless I'm wrong (and that's always possible) it seems that there might be some serious safety concerns here.

 

[Twmaster]

For example: .357 magnum; 158 gr. lead;
6.2 ~ 6.7 gr Win. 231
3.4 ~ 5.0 gr. HP38

I'm curious about this.... HP38 and W231 are the same exact powder. I wonder how old the load data is.

 

[Jeff H]

I like Bullseye and Unique. Between the 2, I can load all my pistol calibers.

I like HP-38. Between the one, I can load all the pistol calibers. (Magnums excluded of course)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm curious about this.... HP38 and W231 are the same exact powder. I wonder how old the load data is.

Where did you get that data and how old is it?

Back when the two were being distributed by different companies the test were done in different labs under different circumstances and with different equipment and powder lots. You left off the velocities, I'm betting they were also different.

Please don't start this all over again. Just write or call Hodgdon and ask them for yourself so we don't have to waste time on this every week or so...

 

[Bassleg]

W231 it just works for me.

 

[greenlion]

The slow burning powders like 4756 and Longshot will achieve top velocities at safe pressures, but if you are shooting lead or plated that might actually be too fast for the bullet type.

Universal and Unique are good all-rounders, good velocity and case filling to minimize the chance of double charging. Universal does everything Unique does and it is cleaner and meters better.

Clays, Titegroup, and Bullseye are great for low velocity target loads. You will use less powder, and recoil can be minimized. Clays is much cleaner than Bullseye. Titegroup is a fast burning powder, but can get you higher velocities with it than the others. It is a bit sharp in recoil when you push it, and it burns hot when you load up near the top end loads, but if you are trying to make a certain velocity for some shooting game, and want an economical powder, it is a good choice.

 

[AntiSpin]

I'm curious about this.... HP38 and W231 are the same exact powder. I wonder how old the load data is.

Lee Manual, Second Edition, copyright 2003

 

[RevGeo]

If I could only have one pistol powder it would be Bullseye.
If I could only have two they would be Unique and 2400.
But I'm pretty old school, I guess.

 

[Josh45]

Hey Cougar, Nice to meet someone on here from S.GA as well!

As for the .380, I am not to sure since I do not load it but I would try out Unique first and go from there. A small case like that, You can easily get double charges with fast burning powders. But I am sure you already knew that

For the .40, I would have to suggest Pistol Power really...It works very well in my fathers Glock 22. Also, Universal worked well for me in 9mm so maybe you can try that out in .380 if there is load date for it?

W-231, I used it for .38 SPCL and loved it. Very accurate and low recoil out of my GP100.
Give that a go as well.

 

[ny32182]

I have switched to Titegroup for my bunny fart match loads, but of all the powders I have tried (certainly not all of them) if I could only keep one it would be HS-6, for 9mm, 40, etc.

I used HS-6 for thousands of bunny fart loads, which is not the typical application, and it is a little dirty at that pressure level, but gives good consistent velocity. It can also be used for hot loads up to 9 major if you want (hotter than any factory self defense ammo) so as far as that goes it is very versatile within the calibers I load. It also meters better than any of the other pistol powders I have tried (smaller flakes).

 

[coalman]

Unique.