Best value powder, read more

[DC Plumber]

Hey folks,

I know these questions have been beat to death, but mine is a little different.

I primarily shoot 158g LSWC in .357 mag cases and 240g LSWC in 44 mag cases.

I currently use CCI standard primers and Universal and am very happy, but I'm running low on powder.

Question: Taking into account, cost per pound, what commonly available powder is a good alternative to Universal. I'd like clean burning, easy to meter, known for accuracy and no magnum primers required. Obviously I'm not looking magnum velocity and will only use these loads for plinking. The load manuals, (which I have 4 of them) list tons of options, but I want to hear what powder you guys think goes the furthest, the cleanest. Thanks in advance.

I'm considering 231 and/or Bullseye. Any other ideas.

 

[rcmodel]

W-231 would be a good pick.

As would Bullseye.
It was used in both .38 & .44 Special factory loads for many years.

Of the two?
Bullseye would be more economical.
W-231 a little cleaner burning.
But cleaner powder is pretty meaningless with cast bullets.

rc

 

[Waywatcher]

I'm not going to delve into your economics, but powder is literally the cheapest component that goes into a load. I got caught up at first about getting the cheapest powder but I amortized it and realized it was nearly moot.

E.g.
Primer: $0.03
Powder A: $0.01
Powder B: $0.02
Lead bullet: $0.09

Powder B is twice as expensive per load as powder A, which is an extreme case. (It is usually more like half a penny different.)

In the example above, the cost per box of 50 changes from $6.50 to $7.00. Personally, now, I use the best powder for the job with little regard to its cost. This is coming from a man with relatively limited means.

 

[Ret.CWO]

Go to http://www.gibrass.com/ have used this business for many years Also Widners. Really good prices and both have good products. Don't be afraid of Mil. Surplus remember it was good enough for our GI's

 

[rfwobbly]

W-231 would be a good pick.

As would Bullseye.
It was used in both .38 & .44 Special factory loads for many years.

Of the two?
Bullseye would be more economical.
W-231 a little cleaner burning.

When W231 is marketed as Hodgdon HP-38 I usually find that it's $1-2 cheaper per pound.

 

[elano]

Bullseye by far, however the price saved is almost negligable. Powder is the cheapest part. Now rifle powder on the other hand can get pricy!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would and do use W231/HP-38 for most of my handgun ammo. Like said above, when packaged in the jug marked HP-38 it's usually cheaper than when marked W231. (usually at least $1/lb)

 

[kingmt]

I don't give over $10 a pound for powder. Check out gi-brass $ hi-techammo.

 

[zxcvbob]

Alliant Promo. Also get a pound of Herco for when you want more umph.

 

[Certaindeaf]

^
I use Red Dot and have heard a lot about Promo.. just about kissing cousins. Can "only" get it in 8# jugs though. Don't know if I'll switch.

 

[GLOOB]

I'm not going to delve into your economics, but powder is literally the cheapest component that goes into a load.

+1. For pistol loads where you're not casting your own, anyway. For rifle, the primer is usually going to be the cheapest.

 

[evan price]

My usual powder for target pistol is Titegroup. Works great, very economical, and good in long, empty cases like 38 spl.

I've been experimenting with PROMO. Loads to Red Dot data by weight but not volume. $90 an 8# jug on the shelf at my local store. Have discovered it is a very clean burning and accurate powder in the loads I've worked up. Only drawback is it meters like Unique (1mm round flake powder) which can be finicky in some measures and loads. But it's cheap and it works great.

 

[LiveLife]

+1 on W231/HP-38 and Promo.

I load Promo lead rounds using 2004 Alliant load data for Red Dot by weight and although powder drop varies by .2-.3+ gr in my new Pro Auto Disk, it still produce accurate loads.

My 17 year old Pro Auto Disk will drop Promo within .2 gr variance and with MBC 200 gr 45ACP SWC (12 BHN Bullseye #1) using 4.0 gr, it will produce ~2" shotgroups at 25 yards with Sig/RIA 1911 offhand.

My last 8lb containter of Promo costed $94 at a gun show and I don't think you could load it any cheaper as I use 5.0 gr of W231/HP-38 for the same load and my last 8 lb container of HP-38 costed $124 at a gun show.

 

[DC Plumber]

Thanks guys.

 

[Fishslayer]

W231.

Bullseye is OK but is significantly faster than 231.

 

[Sport45]

Ifyou want to save money on powder look at Ramshot Zip or Competition. These are in the W231/Bullseye burning range and Ramshot powders generally cost less than Winchester/Hodgdon/Alliant. I haven't tried these particular powders but have done well with Enforcer, Tac and X-Terminator.