Best universal powder for handgun?

[ultralightbackpacker]

I have a 550B, but haven't reload in a few years mainly due to having so many reloaded cartridges I didn't need to. They are now empty cartridges. :banghead: Well, all gun shops don't have any bulk ammo to be had so I figure time to start producing rounds again.

Anyway, I used to reload with Unique, Titegroup, and W231, and for 357 I would use 2400.

I would like to standardize on a single powder for ease of use (minus the 357 magnum, gotta love 2400).

I shoot 9mm, 38 spc, 40sw, and 45 acp.

With being out of it for a few years, has anything changed? Any new powders to look at? I "want" [doesn't mean I get it], clean burning, and economical (meaning not alot of grains for standard pressure load).

Can someone suggest an all around good powder that can be used in all the calibers I stated that won't have any issues metering in my 550b?

Thanks and have a grand one!

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Unique is still the most versatile pistol powder.

Varget is still the most versatile rifle powder.

 

[TIMC]

Best universal powder for handgun?

You said it in your title.

I use Universal for all my handguns. .44mag, .38/.357, .45 Colt, .45 acp, 9mm

 

[Clarence]

My personal choice for all those calibers is Titegroup.

If you want magnum loads with jacketed bullets you will likely be better off with something a little slower.

I use Titegroup for all my cast bullet loads in all those calibers and up to and including .44 Special & .44 Magnum.

 

[loadedround]

I second Unique!

 

[Walkalong]

Unique, AA #5, Universal, or W-231 for all those except full load .357's.

Nothing will work great in all of them, but any of those will work pretty well to great in all of them.

 

[Otto]

I think you're short changing yourself if you limit your choices to a "one size fits all" powder.
With that said, it would be either Unique or Universal, with Universal being cleaner and easier to meter.

 

[Mal H]

As several have implied, there is no universal "best" powder for handgun calibers. Since popular handgun calibers can go from .25 to the .44 Magnum and .45 Colt, it would be unreasonable to expect a single powder to work even marginally well in all of them and have the caliber live up to its expectations.

That said, I agree with those who are in the Universal camp. I use it in calibers from .380 ACP to the .45 Colt with very good results. If I want full house .44 Mag or some rifle loads in .45 Colt for example, I will choose a different (slower) powder, but in general, Universal is my go-to powder.

 

[flipajig]

win 231.

 

[rdhood]

W231

 

[bedwards1]

Unique

 

[ultralightbackpacker]

OK, so now for the next question. I just checked midway, cabelas and natchez. Nobody has any 8lb unique, w231 or universal.

This drives me nuts. I can't find any ammo on the shelves and now I can't find any powder to reload.

Where to buy bulk powder?

 

[depoloni]

Across "all" pistol calibers, of course, there are three most-universal powders: Unique, unique, and unique.

Now I'm a big fan of W-231 / HP-38, and I use more of it than Unique even, but it's not as universal of a powder when you get into the larger capacity/magnum pistol cartridges when compared head-to-head. Heck, Unique is even probably the most popular for loading mild/cast rifle cartridge loads.

Tell you what though, buy a can of each and you've got just about everything covered with pistols except the fastest loads in the highest capacity cartridges.

Edit: Just saw your post above... now that is the question, isn't it. My local range, out of primers and a number of rifle and pistol powders, has plenty of 231 (and a few others like BLC2, 335, 322, Varget, 4064, etc that are hard to find for many folks) so it just depends on your luck I guess.

 

[JDGray]

Power Pistol works great in 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, don't load for 38s, but I bet it would work

 

[GRIZ22]

Another vote for Unique. Too fast for ultimate velocity magnums and slow for light charges but still best all around. I've used it for 380 to 44mag and reduced 30-30 loads.

 

[something vague]

Like TIMC said, you said it in your title. +1 on Universal...although the rest of the powders that have been listed will work too. It's a tough question to answer as everyone has different opinions. I've found Universal to be the cleanest powder I have had the chance to work with, even cleaner than W231.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Another vote for Unique.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Hodgdon Universal or Unique.

 

[bensdad]

Am I the only guy throwing Bullseye these days? I use it in 380acp, 9mm, 40s&w, 45acp. Varget for the rifles. I still have half a jug of 231 I'll prolly never use.

 

[lgbloader]

Unique, 231, Universal and Bullseye. They work in most pistol calibers.

LGB

 

[Tom609]

Big Bullseye user here too.

 

[Mags]

HP 38 or the Winchester Copy

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Bullseye is too fast for the 357, 40, and 44 unless you're ok with light end plinkers. Like the others Unique or universal would be my recommendation, with a push towards universal. I find it burns cleaner than unique.

 

[evan price]

Right now, I load Titegroup in everything from 9mm to .45 acp, including medium power Magnum revolvers (.357, .44). It flows like water in my powder measures.

Win 231 is a great choice, too.

For fullbore Magnums I use #9.

 

[edelbrock]

Unique