Best universal handgun powder..??

[codefour]

I know this has been covered before in other threads. I tried an advanced search and it was a bit undaunting. I have been loading for a bit over a year. The High Road is an awesome place with the most helpful members.

Anyway, I am looking for a new universal handgun powder. I mainly shoot .45, .40, .357, and 9mm. I have used both 2400 and 296 in a .357 Magnum. I like 296 especially. But I want a good target load that wont use as much powder. I woulld like to shoot .357 mag but as a plinking/target load, not magnum hunting level (for that I use 296 or 2400).

I tried Winchester Auto-Comp and 231. The Auto comp shot very well but was extremely DIRTY. The 231 was OK, but I was not all that impressed. I have tried Unique (dirty as well) but the recoil was not as good as Auto-Comp.

Next, Im going to try is power pistol. Anyone have any thoughts regarding how dirty it is and how well it meters in an RCBS Uniflow measure.? I just would like some input on the pros and CONS of what THR inamtes use. Thanks in advance

 

[DC Plumber]

I use Hodgdon Universal in: 38 special, 357 magnum, 44 special, 44 magnum, 454 Casull and 45acp. Of course, none are magnum loads. A pound goes a long way.

 

[ldhulk]

I like AA No.5 in .40 and .45, haven't tried it in .357, but I don't see why it wouldn't work for light loads.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I like Power Pistol for alot of my .45/.38/357 loads.

 

[BeerSleeper]

In those calibers (excepting .357, I can't speak to that on lack of firsthand experience), it's pretty tough to go wrong with 231. What, specifically, was "unimpressive" about your 231 loadings?

 

[JO JO]

might try HS-6 works for me in 9mm and mild 357 mag loads

 

[orionengnr]

A lot of people like Unique, others like 231. I lean a bit more towards 231, although I am a fan of Green Dot as well.

 

[Mal H]

Almost any powder is going to be "dirty", or more accurately sooty, when used in light loads with a lower than average pressure level. You can load the same powder to a higher pressure level and it magically turns clean.

Since the main gist of what you're looking for is relatively light but "clean" loads, I agree with DC Plumber and would recommend Hodgdon's Universal. I've found it to be very clean in light loads in .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .38 Spcl, .357 Magnum, etc.

 

[REL1203]

The title doesnt lie, UNIVERSAL CLAYS is awesome. It really does work well with everything, sure there might be other powders that work just better, but if you only want to stock one powder, Universal is a GREAT one. I have good loads for it in 9mm, 357, 40, and 45

 

[zxcvbob]

Bullseye or Promo

 

[bluetopper]

I think he answered his own question.

Universal is as good as any IF one powder is your goal. But powder is the least expensive component in reloading and experimentation is more than half the fun.

 

[LiveLife]

I know this has been covered before in other threads. I tried an advanced search and it was a bit undaunting.

The search phrase to use is "One powder to rule them all" - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=555083

For that thread, my approach was based on the most amount of currently available published load data for each powder (even since then, the available load data have changed for some of the powders). However, keep in mind that just because a load data is available for a particular caliber, it does not mean the powder is best suited for that caliber/bullet weight.



In terms of most available currently available load data (as of 6/14/11), the finalists of "universal" powder comes down to:

Power Pistol (20 pistol calibers)
Bullseye (26 pistol calibers)
Unique (29 pistol calibers / 5 shotgun)
Universal (32 pistol calibers)
W231/HP-38 (36 pistol calibers)

and <drum roll> ...

Titegroup (39 pistol calibers)

Tada!

 

[CZ57]

Try some Ramshot True Blue. It will work well for all of your different calibers. Meters like fine sand. Check out data at www.ramshot.com

 

[1SOW]

Mal H:

Almost any powder is going to be "dirty", or more accurately sooty, when used in light loads with a lower than average pressure level. You can load the same powder to a higher pressure level and it magically turns clean.
I agree, and Win 231/HP38 is a good example with light loads.
A friend used True Blue for 9mm and it shot dirty and smoked around 130PF. For me, Win231/HP38 shoots very sooty at 130PF.
Apparently the single base powders shoot 'cleaner' with light loads.
I don't know about Titegroup.

I believe you can make them all go bang with "one" powder, but they will go bang "better" with more than one powder.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Unique.

 

[cfullgraf]

There is a reason it is called UNIQUE.

Can be used in all the cartridges listed although other powders are required for maximum loads.

 

[Funshooter45]

I agree that Universal is a great powder for the mid range loads. It's nearly identical to Unique and AA #5 for burn rate. If you want super clean burning stuff you can try VV N330, but it's a bit higher priced. I used to use Unique for the mid level stuff but Universal is just a lot better. Another real good one, but a bit slower burning is True Blue. It is kind of in-between the mid range powders described above but not true magnum stuff like 296 or Enforcer.

 

[Mcinterest]

+ Bullseye. I use it for 9/40/45

 

[[email protected]]

Acc5 works good for me in 40,45, and 9mm but havent tried it in 357 brass, but I have used it in 38 special brass in a 357 gun. got an average vel of 866 fps with a 125 gn fp with 6.8 gns. If you are looking for a one powder for all keep in mind that what is best for one may not be for another or may be outside your acceptable limits. I keep a fast powder for light loads that has ranged from titegroup,bullseye,acc2, a medium powder for pratice drills unique, acc5 and a slower powder for business herco acc9. I have found that faster powders are more consistant in light plinking loads with light bullets and the slower powders shine in higher pressure/ velocity loads with heavier bullets. Also what type of bullet are you using fmj plated or lead. I dont like to use the faster powders for lead as is seems less forgiving with leading the bore. Faster powders will have lower charge weights but you lose velocity. As with most things you have to pay more to go faster.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The 45 Auto is a low pressure round. The 9mm and 40 S&W are high pressure around with small cases. The .357 Magnum loaded light is just like the .38 Special, another low pressure round. There really isn't one powder that will do everything well and there is your soot problem.

Like said above, Universal is probably one of the better powders for loading all the calibers you mentioned. AA#5 might be even better because it's more stable and it meters GREAT.

Longshot, HS-6, AA#5, Universal, True Blue, Powder Pistol and a few other powders in that burn rate range will "work" but IMO AA#5 will probably give you the best results.

 

[FullEffect1911]

For handgun up to and including .357 mag I use Unique.

2400 is better for magnum rounds, power pistol is better for high performance semi auto loads and bullseye is better for target loads, but no powder I've tried accomplishes as many different things as Unique can.

 

[Chuck Perry]

I mostly use Titegroup for my normal, plinking handgun loads. Clean enough and meters well, most loads are 4-6 grains depending on caliber.

 

[bergmen]

In those calibers (excepting .357, I can't speak to that on lack of firsthand experience), it's pretty tough to go wrong with 231. What, specifically, was "unimpressive" about your 231 loadings?

My question as well. I have used W231 for .32 S&W Long, .32ACP, 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45ACP and .45 Colt for decades.

I love this powder, does it all very, very well. Burns clean, very consistent, accurate and everybody carries it.

W296 handles the flamethrowers (max load .357, .45 Colt and .454 Casull).

Dan

 

[Joemyxplyx]

I like Ramshot ZIP for .380, 38 Special, .357 Magnum, 45ACP, and .45 Long Colt.

ZIP burns clean, meters like sand and loads from mild to pretty hot. I load 125 grain Missouri Bullets at 750fps in a 38 Special for Cowboy Action and 1400fps in a .357 just to see what would happen. ZIP is comparable to W231 but costs less.

Ramshot also lists ZIP loads for 9mm, 40S&W, 44 Special. But I don't have guns for any of those calibers.

I've got Bullseye, Clays, Alliant 2400, Power Pistol and H110 in my pistol powder collection but I use ZIP for 90% of my loads. I used the 2400 for a .454 Casull, Power Pistol for .38 Special self defense loads and H110 for 158 grain Rem CoreLocks in my Marlin 1894c for hogs & deer. The Clays is not as versatile as ZIP. It gets used in shotguns instead of pistols. The Bullseye got used in the .45ACP for a while, then got set aside for ZIP.

ZIP is the one powder that will almost do it all especially for plinking and all around shooting.

 

[oneounceload]

There's also a reason they call it "UNIVERSAL" - it works and is cleaner than Unique