"good flowing" powders

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traveling1253

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So far I have used only Longshot and HP-38. Hp-38 meters exceptionally smooth and dead-on consistent at any set measurement through my RCBS Uniflow. Longshot is pretty consistent although not as good as HP-38 but feels kinda "crunchy" operating the handle. I assume this is due to the size and shape of the bits. HP-38 bits are perfectly round flattened disks while the Longshot looks like irregular shaped flakes. What other powder flavors "flow" well?
 
No trick question, on the Hodgdon website they call both Longshot and HP-38 spherical powders but one runs through the measure better than the other. Neither one looks like like little balls though.
 
For pistols HS-6 and Silhouette both measure incredibly consistently thru my Uniflo. For rifle powder, AA2520 is just as consistent.
 
I like how Titegroup meters through my Uniflow measurer. But I go by the consistency of the throw charges in weight not by the feel. H322 is a extruded stick powder and does a good job also for my 6.8 SPC.
 
I meter IMR 5010 and that's probably as big as a stick powder gets. Just use steady pressure and force through the crunching.
 
No trick question, on the Hodgdon website they call both Longshot and HP-38 spherical powders but one runs through the measure better than the other. Neither one looks like like little balls though.
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A sphere is a ball and they are "Ball Powders" but they are flattened ball powders. Winchester still holds the patent on the words "Ball Powder" so everyone else calls them spherical powders.
 
AA #2 & True Blue are tiny ball powders (not flattened) and meter like fine sand.

W-296 & AA #9 are tiny flattened ball powders that meter superbly.

AA #5, HS-6, WSF, Universal Clays & SR-4756 are small flattened ball powders that meter extremely well.

WST, Competition, & W-231, are small/medium flattened ball powders that meter very well.

N310 and 3N37 are tiny stick powders that meter superbly.

N320, N330, N340 & N110are small stick powders that meter very well.

The bigger flake powders do not meter as well as these above, but can shoot great regardless of the greater spread in weight when thrown from a measure. For example: Clays, 700X, Unique, etc

I am sure I forgot some.
 
My main powders are AA#2 and 2400. 2400 is nothing special, but very consistent. AA#2 on the other hand is the best metering powder I have ever used. I also use power pistol and find it to be the same as 2400 as far as that goes. This is pistol powders only, of course.
 
Thanks for the replies, going to the gun show tomorrow lookin to see if I can find any deals on loading supplies. May bring home a new flavor of powder to try with my IDP#5 Missouri bullets, would like to pick one that meters easy.
I see that True Blue is on the list of "flows like sand" powders, just so happens that Ramshot has 180gr TC lead data for their pistol powders. Cool, will look for some.
 
I hated 700X, made for good loads, but would not meter worth beans through my Uniflow, had to hand measure it. Traded it for a bottle of AA#2. :)
 
Really, almost all the pistol powders meter very well, with the obvious exception of Unique. Yes, True Blue meters very well and I use it in a lot of different cartridges. For the 50AE, you might want to look into Enforcer as well. It might be the finest grained stuff I have ever used but it works well. I have some VV N3SL that I use in .45 Colt. It is funny looking stuff, a very very thin flat wafer cut into little squares. It meters well from my Pro Auto disk as long as I use a single disk, not at all well if I use 2 smaller disks throwing the same powder. Big flat grains like that and Unique don't do well in tall skinny cavities. But Tite Group is a funny looking grain. It is kind of a flake in a way but it meters very well.

As long as you're doing pistol powders, you really don't need to worry about metering except for Unique.
 
Tite Group works for me.
I use it in 9mm, 38 spl, 357 mag & just for kicks I've used it in 45 Colt.

Almost 100% +-.1 gr
Every once in a great while it'll deviate by +-.2

(Lee Auto Pro Disc measure, RCBS Uniflow & Dillon Powder measure)
 
If you want some fun ...try metering 800X ... grains the size of cornflakes ... I think unfrosted corn flakes may meter better... those flakes tend to bunch up before you get your bowl full ... then break loose and spill all over the table... seems to work that way with 800X too!! Dang good 357 SIG powder though!!

Jimmy K
 
I hated 700X, made for good loads, but would not meter worth beans through my Uniflow, had to hand measure it. Traded it for a bottle of AA#2
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First powder I ver used. accurate loads, just metered horribly. My uncle loves it, I call it cornflakes in a can.
 
Walkalong:
AA #2 & True Blue are tiny ball powders (not flattened) and meter like fine sand.

W-296 & AA #9 are tiny flattened ball powders that meter superbly.

AA #5, HS-6, WSF, Universal Clays & SR-4756 are small flattened ball powders that meter extremely well.

WST, Competition, & W-231, are small/medium flattened ball powders that meter very well.

N310 and 3N37 are tiny stick powders that meter superbly.

N320, N330, N340 & N110are small stick powders that meter very well.

I am sure I forgot some.
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+1. Here are some more.

Bullseye and Green Dot are small flake powder (slightly larger than WST) that meter well.
The bigger flake powders do not meter as well as these above, but can shoot great regardless of the greater spread in weight when thrown from a measure. For example: Clays, 700X, Unique, etc
Click to expand...
Promo/Red Dot is large flake powder and varies 0.2-0.3 gr from Pro Auto Disk but maintains good accuracy regardless.
 
I see that True Blue is on the list of "flows like sand" powders, just so happens that Ramshot has 180gr TC lead data for their pistol powders. Cool, will look for some.
Click to expand...

If you're talking about .40 S&W loads True Blue is capable of some excellent accuracy along with metering like fine sand!;)
 
Tite Group works for me.
I use it in 9mm, 38 spl, 357 mag & just for kicks I've used it in 45 Colt.

Almost 100% +-.1 gr
Every once in a great while it'll deviate by +-.2
[SNIP]
Click to expand...

Same here- it meters extremely well through my Hornady powder measures. TiteGroup gets the lion's share of my reloading (at least for now) because it is a superior plinking-strength powder for the .357 Magnum IMO. I must note that 2400, H110 and Longshot meter pretty well for me too.
 
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AA #2 & True Blue are tiny ball powders (not flattened) and meter like fine sand.
Click to expand...

Wow, you weren't kidding. The UPS man delivered my order of TulAmmo primers and Ramshot True Blue today. Just finished loading a batch of test loads with True Blue and MBC IDP#5's. Ultra fine powder that meters dead-on every throw with my Uniflow. Now hopefully I find that my Springfield appreciates the way it burns.:D
 
AA4100 is the finest grained powder I ever saw. So fine it gets between the disc and hopper on my Lee set up and binds it up. Meters great however in my Hornady powder measure.

I've read that AA4100 and Ramshot Enforcer are the same powder; anyway, it's a wonderful performing magnum pistol powder.
 
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