Favorite Pistol powder
- Thread starter ZWCoffindaffer
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My main powder for 45 ACP is 700-X. I've been using it for decades.
My main powder for 9x19 is True Blue. i discovered True Blue after the 2009 panic reduced powder supplies. True Blue was not very popular at the time and I could buy an adequate supply. It worked and I liked it.
My alternate powder for 45 ACP is Accurate #5 and it would probably do well in 9x19.
I've used Unique in both.
Lots of powder will work well in both cartridges. Check your reloading manuals and flip a coin.
My main powder for 9x19 is True Blue. i discovered True Blue after the 2009 panic reduced powder supplies. True Blue was not very popular at the time and I could buy an adequate supply. It worked and I liked it.
My alternate powder for 45 ACP is Accurate #5 and it would probably do well in 9x19.
I've used Unique in both.
Lots of powder will work well in both cartridges. Check your reloading manuals and flip a coin.
I was able to purchase a 4 lb. jug of WST from Brownell's this last summer. You're right, it is rare. Rarer than W231/HP-38. Hope you find yours' soon.
WST in 45 Auto with any bullet for target loads!
Silhouette and CFE Pistol rank about the same for 9mm target loads.
HS-6, really starting to shine for 9mm heavy loads.
2400 is the only magnum powder I have tried in 357 magnum.
Average Joe
Member
Red Dot
Goju
Member
For what I reload, Nitro100 NF and Silhouette are my go to's (for different types of loads). For magnum calibers - 296. Silhouette has proven to be an upgrade from WSL, which was my go-to for 9mm and 45acp, but is now discontinued.
I would never be without Unique. It will load usable ammo in every caliber I have except the .22 rim fire, and that includes center fire rifle and shotgun. While it is not my favorite powder for everything it is my preferred choice for 125 gr. JHP's in the .38 spl, top velocity 115 gr 9mm, full power 185 to 230 gr jacketed in .45 acp and mid power cast loads in .357 and .41 mag.
tommy.duncan
Member
Does TiteWad have any pistol applications?
I thought this was a shotgun powder. I have used TiteGroup for pistol before. You might want to check prior to buying TiteWad for pistol Reloads.
I thought this was a shotgun powder. I have used TiteGroup for pistol before. You might want to check prior to buying TiteWad for pistol Reloads.
Ironicaintit
Member
No contest; Unique is one powder I would not do without.
beag_nut
Member
Bullseye. Literally.
Hodgdon list 6 loads in 45 and 1 load in 9 using Titewad. Looks to be like WST, for use in light loads.
Bullseye
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Finally a reason to use my attachment I made up.
I like Unique and it's in every pistol cartridge I load. When I get done with the 10 lbs I bought, I will try something else. Sure it's filthy stuff but I clean my firearms after every outing anyway.
I like Unique and it's in every pistol cartridge I load. When I get done with the 10 lbs I bought, I will try something else. Sure it's filthy stuff but I clean my firearms after every outing anyway.
Frankl03
Member
Tightgroup is my favorite powder for 9mm and 40 s&w. I have not had good luck finding it though.
Unigue is a great powder too.
Unigue is a great powder too.
Bula
Member
w231 if I had an unlimited supply, but bullseye for now, as I have about 10 pounds of it. It's a classic for a reason.
Bullseye for the 45 ACP. W231 is a close second. Unique is such a versatile pistol powder, lots of 45 ACP shooters used that.
The original 1910 cartridges, used in the Army pistol 45 caliber pistol tests, were loaded with Bullseye. The powder charge was 5.0 grains with a 230 FMJ at 800 fps. It is hard to beat Bullseye for accuracy and function in a 45ACP semi auto pistol.
My older Bullseye does not burn as "hot" as "cleaner" powders and I consider than an advantage. To get powder residue down, manufacturers have to jiggle with the formulation of "clean" powders to raise combustion temperatures. That heats up the pistol. I have handled some smoking hot pistols that were fired rapid fire. I don't consider than an advantage.
Bullseye is a very fast powder and a double charge will blow up a pistol. But, a "clean" burning powder, such as Titegroup, the difference between a minimum and maximum charge is about a half grain, and I have read enough accounts of pistols blown up with Titegroup, that I don't want to fool around with that powder, and if that is the cost for cleanliness, I don't want it.
I clean my pistols up after shooting them anyway. There are those who don't want to, I understand, cleaning is a bother, but, I do it anyway.
The original 1910 cartridges, used in the Army pistol 45 caliber pistol tests, were loaded with Bullseye. The powder charge was 5.0 grains with a 230 FMJ at 800 fps. It is hard to beat Bullseye for accuracy and function in a 45ACP semi auto pistol.
My older Bullseye does not burn as "hot" as "cleaner" powders and I consider than an advantage. To get powder residue down, manufacturers have to jiggle with the formulation of "clean" powders to raise combustion temperatures. That heats up the pistol. I have handled some smoking hot pistols that were fired rapid fire. I don't consider than an advantage.
Bullseye is a very fast powder and a double charge will blow up a pistol. But, a "clean" burning powder, such as Titegroup, the difference between a minimum and maximum charge is about a half grain, and I have read enough accounts of pistols blown up with Titegroup, that I don't want to fool around with that powder, and if that is the cost for cleanliness, I don't want it.
I clean my pistols up after shooting them anyway. There are those who don't want to, I understand, cleaning is a bother, but, I do it anyway.
WestKentucky
Member
I like bullseye, 231, and AA7 for most of my loads, but my favorite is 3031 loaded in 7-30 waters cases.
Candyman87
Member
Titegroup and WW-231. The latter being preferred, but due to inventory issues, I'll stick with my TG. Or BE-86.
45 AND 9? i would say Power Pistol is the only one ive liked in both. Pressure curves are not similar, so an ideal powder will not exist for both, but PP gives good full power 45, and good slightly lower velocity 9mm. 230g fmj 45 acp gets good with pp around 900fps... snappy. It puts 124 gr 9mm around 1100 fps. Of what you listed, bullseye is excellent in 45, as is red dot. They will work pretty good in 9mm too. I chronod some bullseye 9mm 115gr fmj at about 1050-1100, not my loads, so i couldent tell you what they were, other than bullseye. Unique is excellent in 9mm, and i found it awful in 45, but many like it. Never tried tightwad, but highly recomend bullseye, and reddot. Blue dot is too slow for either, but will work in both. You need to get pretty close to max to make 45 acp cycle reliably, with bluedot, and the newer stuff is much cleaner than the older stuff. I loaded some very light bluedot loads for 38, and got fairly consistent speeds down to the 680-750 range, and the loads were clean, so the new bluedot is far less demanding than you may hear.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
1. Universal and WSF (tie for first)
2. HP38/W231 .
3. on down depends on what caliber and what I am after, light, midrange, full power...
These 3 meter well thru my Lee Autodrum, Lee Pro Disk and Hornady LNL measure.
If I was looking for one powder for both 9mm and .45 I might lean towards the HP38.
Universal + WSF shoot well for me in .45 just not as well as HP38, but both work better than HP38 for me in 9mm.
(still testing WSF in .45, I shoot more 9mm than .45 so that's whty HP38 is not my #1)
Right now I am using WSF and Universal as my 9mm powders and HP38 as my .45 powder.
I have other powders I like as well but those are my favorites.
Currently I have Autocomp, Bullseye, BE86, CFE-Pistol, Promo (works well in .45 think Red Dot - the dots), Titegroup, Universal, WSF and ZIP. (have not had a chance to try the ZIP yet)
Power Pistol worked ok for me but I don't care for the muzzle flash, BE86 is about the same speed and has a something to control muzzle flash.
For me I like a little faster powder in .45 than I do in 9mm.
Unique shot good for me I just don't care for it as it does not meter well for me in 9mm size charges.
If I could only have one pistol powder for everything it would be Universal.
2. HP38/W231 .
3. on down depends on what caliber and what I am after, light, midrange, full power...
These 3 meter well thru my Lee Autodrum, Lee Pro Disk and Hornady LNL measure.
If I was looking for one powder for both 9mm and .45 I might lean towards the HP38.
Universal + WSF shoot well for me in .45 just not as well as HP38, but both work better than HP38 for me in 9mm.
(still testing WSF in .45, I shoot more 9mm than .45 so that's whty HP38 is not my #1)
Right now I am using WSF and Universal as my 9mm powders and HP38 as my .45 powder.
I have other powders I like as well but those are my favorites.
Currently I have Autocomp, Bullseye, BE86, CFE-Pistol, Promo (works well in .45 think Red Dot - the dots), Titegroup, Universal, WSF and ZIP. (have not had a chance to try the ZIP yet)
Power Pistol worked ok for me but I don't care for the muzzle flash, BE86 is about the same speed and has a something to control muzzle flash.
For me I like a little faster powder in .45 than I do in 9mm.
Unique shot good for me I just don't care for it as it does not meter well for me in 9mm size charges.
If I could only have one pistol powder for everything it would be Universal.
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shootniron
Member
For metering...W231/HP38, 2400 and HS6...but I also use a lot of Unigue, W296 and some WST.
So, there ya go...I narrowed it down a lot...now, didn't I...lol
So, there ya go...I narrowed it down a lot...now, didn't I...lol
Richard Head
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- Jul 2, 2013
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That's easy Power pro 300MP and Power Pistol provide top velocity with no surprises. Alliant hit it out of the park with these two powders. Two other outstanding powders powders I like are WSF which is my number one choice for accurate reduced power loads in 10mm and Herco which is slightly slower, cleaner and just as versatile as Unique but is overlooked by most.
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Terlingueno
Member
Bullseye for 45acp and Power Pistol for 9mm is what I like
david bachelder
Member
I used to swear by Universal, then it got next to impossible to find.
Nowadays I like HP-38/Win231. I have an eight pound jug of the HP-38. When ever I find either HP-38 or Win231 I buy a pound and dump it into my jug. Give it a bit of a shake and go on with the program. I use it for most of my straight wall pistol cases.
Last time I went to the LGS I saw Universal, Win231, Varget, Titegroup and several others.
Sometimes you have to change with the times.
Nowadays I like HP-38/Win231. I have an eight pound jug of the HP-38. When ever I find either HP-38 or Win231 I buy a pound and dump it into my jug. Give it a bit of a shake and go on with the program. I use it for most of my straight wall pistol cases.
Last time I went to the LGS I saw Universal, Win231, Varget, Titegroup and several others.
Sometimes you have to change with the times.
I haven't seen any of those powders on a store shelf in years
Anyway, to answer the question, my favorite powder is probably Bullseye, with 700-X and Red-Dot tied for second.
I load .25 ACP, .380 ACP, .38 Special, 9mm Luger, and 9mm Largo. Also used to load 9X18 Makarov.
My go-to rifle powder is a tie between H335, and IMR-4350, depending on what cartridge
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