I've been reloading pistol using mainly a bunch of Salut (Russian Unique from Hi-Tech that I got back in the day when surplus powder was cheap) plus an 8 lb container of Bullsye I picked up as part of a package deal. Both those are getting kind of low and I wanted to stock up on something that was good in 9mm, 45, and .38. Back before the panic hit in 2013 I was going to pick up 4 8 lb jugs of Promo but had so much Salut that I kept delaying and then the panic hit and everything dried up.....at that time I think Promo was about $90 for a 8 lb jug. Any suggestions given the current availability of powders?
Best Bang for the Buck for Available Pistol Powders
- Thread starter spur0701
- Start date
- Status
It seems like surplus has almost gone the way of the Dodo.
Bullseye might still be your best bet. I haven't used Clays or some of the other fast burners, so can't comment on the price efficiency of those options.
The local Cabelas has had W231 for a decent price lately.
Bullseye might still be your best bet. I haven't used Clays or some of the other fast burners, so can't comment on the price efficiency of those options.
The local Cabelas has had W231 for a decent price lately.
Reefinmike
Member
Considering powder is by far the cheapest part of reloading pistol, especially if you dont cast your own bullets, I wouldn't skimp and compromise to save a half a penny per round. Most common pistol calibers average about a penny's worth of powder per load. Your primer is 3 cents and bullet anywhere from 7-30 cents. A $150 keg of HP38 averages me 14,000 rounds. I do put powder price into consideration for calibers that require 30, 40 or even 50 grains of powder. A pound does not go very far at all with those charge weights.
HP38 is an excellent powder for all the calibers you list. Bullseye does a fine job as well in 9, 38 and 45.
HP38 is an excellent powder for all the calibers you list. Bullseye does a fine job as well in 9, 38 and 45.
ColoradoShooter77
Member
Titegroup is also extremely economical, you just have to watch for double charges like a hawk.
evtSmtx
Member
and watch titegroup for precise metering. in 9mm the range is narrow and my limited experience in .45 acp was
a) dirty if loaded near the bottom
b) nice at about 75% of max
c) test series past 75% went from "whoa that was hot" to "***?, break the rest down", seemed spikey to me
a) dirty if loaded near the bottom
b) nice at about 75% of max
c) test series past 75% went from "whoa that was hot" to "***?, break the rest down", seemed spikey to me
Lj1941
Member
Good value powder
Clays is an excellent propellant for light and target loads and has a very low weight per charge.I like it for 40 and 45 ACP. It is clean burning and cost efficient. I have found Alliant Clay Dot as a lower cost replacement for Hodgdon Clays. I use Clays data by weight and have found that it clocks and shoots just as good as the higher cost Hodgdon Clays. I have used it for 38 special cast loads with great success.I have used it for 9MM but I like #231 or Red Dot better. I bought an 8 lb jug when it was about $100/jug. Your mileage will vary.
Clays is an excellent propellant for light and target loads and has a very low weight per charge.I like it for 40 and 45 ACP. It is clean burning and cost efficient. I have found Alliant Clay Dot as a lower cost replacement for Hodgdon Clays. I use Clays data by weight and have found that it clocks and shoots just as good as the higher cost Hodgdon Clays. I have used it for 38 special cast loads with great success.I have used it for 9MM but I like #231 or Red Dot better. I bought an 8 lb jug when it was about $100/jug. Your mileage will vary.
LiveLife
Member
I started buying Promo at $87/8 lbs but currently Promo is above $110/8 lbs and very scarce. If I see any Promo in stock, I will be buying a few containers as I use it as primary powder for 9mm/45ACP plinking loads and has worked well for 38Spl as well. If you can't find Promo, I would look for Red Dot.spur0701 said:
In general, if you want one powder for 38/9/45, I would recommend W231 or HP-38 (same exact powder).
As to economy of reloading, 8 lbs of powder will yield following rounds:
14,000 with Promo at 4.0 gr for 124 gr 9mm and 200 gr 45ACP
13,023 with W231/HP-38 at 4.3 gr for 124 gr 9mm and
11,667 with W231/HP-38 at 4.8 gr for 200 gr 45ACP
Last edited:
Hangingrock
Member
W231/HP38 for 45ACP, 9mm Luger & 38Spl
ColoradoShooter77
Member
CFE-Pistol would also be worth looking at. For progressive loaders, it will meter like a dream, pours like silk.
I've been loading 9mm with it for a year now.....its very accurate and clean when loaded to at least 75% of max charge.
I've been loading 9mm with it for a year now.....its very accurate and clean when loaded to at least 75% of max charge.
Artofgolf
Member
My suggestion would be to check-out Silhouette from Ramshot.
Powder Valley has it in stock @ $75.80 for 4# as of this morning....
gotboostvr
Member
Red Dot is very economical, but I find it didn't meter very well.
I'm a big fan and recent convert to bullseye.
If I'm hand weighing each charge I do like Red Dot
I'm a big fan and recent convert to bullseye.
If I'm hand weighing each charge I do like Red Dot
TfflHndn
Member
If you can live with the rather limited load data (i.e., you shoot mostly one or two calibers, one or two loads once you find one you like) the Nobel Vectan powders are worth looking at. I've used AS and AO and they work very well, burn clean, and are priced below $20 a container that is 1.1 pounds (1/2 kilo). I like them a lot for the loads that they publish.
tcoz
Member
Bullseye is one of the most economical powders. It's relatively cheap and charge weights are low. Two caveats, in .45acp it would be easy to double charge and it's a high nitroglycerin powder so you definitely don't want to keep it overnight in your powder measure because it pits certain polycarbonates quickly.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm not a fan of super fast powder like Clays in the 9mm. I like W231/HP-38 for most if my handgun loading although I douse different powders for specialty loads on all if them. For the 3 cartridges you want to load I would use W231 if you want only 1 powder.
thomas15
Member
If your load calls for 4.0 grains of powder:
At $15.00 per pound powder will cost 1 cent per round
At $20.00 per pound powder will cost 1.1 cent per round
At $40.00 per pound powder will cost 2 cents per round
At $15.00 per pound powder will cost 1 cent per round
At $20.00 per pound powder will cost 1.1 cent per round
At $40.00 per pound powder will cost 2 cents per round
tcoz
Member
And that's why I don't mind paying shipping & hazmat if I have a few pounds of powder and maybe a couple thousand primers to order.
gwpercle
Member
700X , Bullseye , Red Dot , Promo , Green Dot and to some extent Unique are hard to beat for economy loading , now days I have to use whatever I can get!
Gary
Gary
ny32182
Member
I use Titegroup in all my target loads. The current lot I'm burning through cost me $15.59/lb delivered, which works out as follows:
9mm: ~3.4gr, $0.007582 per shot
.40: ~4.6gr, $0.010481 per shot
Trust me, after reaching the desired performance characteristics, economy is my top priority in my bulk competition loads. But even if you doubled the cost of the powder, you'd only be looking at an additional one cent per round; One dollar per 100rd box; it just isn't a major factor in the total cost. Waiting for good sales on bullets and/or primers will have a much bigger impact.
Also if you are going to order online, order in real bulk. Go in with some buddies if necessary, but if you are just buying a few lbs of powder and a couple boxes of primers at a time, the hazmat becomes a major chunk of the cost.
9mm: ~3.4gr, $0.007582 per shot
.40: ~4.6gr, $0.010481 per shot
Trust me, after reaching the desired performance characteristics, economy is my top priority in my bulk competition loads. But even if you doubled the cost of the powder, you'd only be looking at an additional one cent per round; One dollar per 100rd box; it just isn't a major factor in the total cost. Waiting for good sales on bullets and/or primers will have a much bigger impact.
Also if you are going to order online, order in real bulk. Go in with some buddies if necessary, but if you are just buying a few lbs of powder and a couple boxes of primers at a time, the hazmat becomes a major chunk of the cost.
Too good, versatile, forgiving, accurate powders. Zip is a near twin to W-231/HP-38, & AA #2 is the poor man's N320, and it is less position sensitive in light loads in big cases.
thomas15
Member
The problem with AA#2 and ZIP is, of course, availability. HP-38 isn't easy to find but AA#2 basically disappeared from the market for almost 3 years and ZIP is even harder to find.
If your a high volume shooter 1000-1500 rounds per month of pistol ammo then even at VV N320 prices (and quality) your actual powder costs are minimal. Your actual cost for primers is double the cost for powder.
If your a high volume shooter 1000-1500 rounds per month of pistol ammo then even at VV N320 prices (and quality) your actual powder costs are minimal. Your actual cost for primers is double the cost for powder.
RPegram
Member
I use CFE-Pistol in all the calibers you mentioned. Matter of fact, that is all the pistol I load for and have found CFE-Pistol performs great in 9mm and 38 special and good in 45ACP. Another great advantage is that it is widely available everywhere.
- Status
