How many "Unique" powders?

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Telum Pisces

Telum Pisces

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So when I got into reloading only about 2 years ago, my initiation to the hobby was an estate sale where I basically was able to buy a lot of my reloading gear and expendables. The guy had a little bit of everything.

I reload both pistol and rifle. I can now reload for every caliber that I have.

How many different (unique) powders would you say the average person has? When I say average, I am referring to someone that has all they need before these messy pandemic firearm related shortages. I have 12 different kinds of powder at my disposal right now. I actually enjoy making a new recipe with a different powder. Kind of keeps things from not getting mundane or redundant. Keeps me interested when I otherwise might have been bored with reloading as a hobby/necessity these days. Being a reloading guy to me is like a chef that is making both their signature dish, all while trying new ingredients to come up with something better for the menu.

Does anyone ever just get rid of a powder that they don't like to use? Or does said powder just stay on the shelf just in case?

Just a simple discussion topic I was thinking about as I was organizing my powder yesterday.
 
In the current scenario I would not purge any component. I would trade a fellow reloader for mutual benifit... I have 6 powders on the shelf, but I could do a lot less... the more different calibers you shoot the more you will have.... my current situation says that selling the auto pistols to get into the revolvers I want would be a good choice... once out of those I would not need powder faster than unique and could live with 2400 and slower. The same number of less components is a better option I think.
 
I have about 8 powders. Some I like. Some are Meh. Some are new that I haven't tried yet.
I haven't given any away. I do plan on blasting through the half-empty 'Meh' ones to finish them off. I'm sure my nephew is up for the task!
 
Telum Pisces said:
Does anyone ever just get rid of a powder that they don't like to use? Or does said powder just stay on the shelf just in case?
Click to expand...

I hate having stuff on the shelf I'm not going to use, including powder, bullets, reloading tools, or whatnot. I had a 1/2 # of H4831 on the shelf for about 5 years... I finally just dumped it in the flowerbed. I didn't load anything that used it, anymore, and really wasn't the right powder when I bought it. In hindsight that was stupid, of course, because as soon as you DX something, as quickly as one minute later you will need it... and when I started loading 6.5CM I could have used it there.

I currently have about 4 powders I'm trying to use up and be done with, and I recently finished off 2 others. I'm also trading off some 2400 this weekend, so I'll be done with that.

My standard powder stash has 5 rifle powders and 3 pistol powders. I've tried to pare that down, but to do so would mean a compromise somewhere, like IMR4895, which I only use for the M1 Garand... simply because it is the BEST powder in that application.
 
As I finished typing this, I found two more types of powder bringing the total to 14 different powders. The gentleman that I got most of my stuff from at the estate sale was into shotgun reloading. I was not going to get into that until, well, now! So I am grateful that I have the shotgun powders and components now and I did not trade them off for something else at the time. I reloaded my first shotgun shells last week.

I've thought about pairing down the powder numbers and just wanting what others thought. But every time I think about pairing down the powder types I have on hand, I end up eventually using what I thought about trading off. I hate clutter and can't stand to hold onto things "just because." If I have not used something in 2 years time, it's got to go! But with my powders, I just can't seem to let go. Haha.
 
[joke] I have one Unique powder (pistol, shotgun, light rifle) plus IMR3031 and H4895 (rifle) for three smokeless.powders. Goex, Elephant, and Swiss in black powders, for three more making six, and BP subsitutes Pyrodex RS and P and TripleSeven powders (ML rifle, cap'n'ball revolver, BP cartridge) for three more making nine unique powders including one of them actually named Unique.[/joke]

I have nine distinct different powders.
 
Telum Pisces said:
I hate clutter and can't stand to hold onto things "just because." If I have not used something in 2 years time, it's got to go! But with my powders, I just can't seem to let go. Haha.
Click to expand...

That's me. I'm not a pack rat.

Powder is an odd man out... generally, you can use it, somewhere, unless it's something bizarre. In my case, H4831, it was bizarre... or so I thought. But if I had 3 boxes of .32 rifle bullets, for example, I would find a way to get rid of them... because I know I'll never use them.
 
Telum Pisces said:
So when I got into reloading only about 2 years ago, my initiation to the hobby was an estate sale where I basically was able to buy a lot of my reloading gear and expendables. The guy had a little bit of everything.

I reload both pistol and rifle. I can now reload for every caliber that I have.

How many different (unique) powders would you say the average person has? When I say average, I am referring to someone that has all they need before these messy pandemic firearm related shortages. I have 12 different kinds of powder at my disposal right now. I actually enjoy making a new recipe with a different powder. Kind of keeps things from not getting mundane or redundant. Keeps me interested when I otherwise might have been bored with reloading as a hobby/necessity these days. Being a reloading guy to me is like a chef that is making both their signature dish, all while trying new ingredients to come up with something better for the menu.

Does anyone ever just get rid of a powder that they don't like to use? Or does said powder just stay on the shelf just in case?

Just a simple discussion topic I was thinking about as I was organizing my powder yesterday.
Click to expand...
----
Well, that's kind of a tricky thing. I guess it depends less on how much you load and shoot, or how often you use up those loads, and more maybe on what you're loading for.

My father in law loads .38/.357, 9mm/.380ACP and .45ACP all with W296/H-110 and W231/HP-38. Those are the only powders he needs and he uses them to very good effect but he also only has one or two loads for each caliber and he uses those loads in every gun for that caliber. He uses a progressive press and churns them out like a factory - by the thousand. In .38 he only shoots 148gr. wadcutter. That's it. In .357 its the 135gr. JHP. He doesn't need anything else. In 9mm he only shoots 115gr. FMJ - no lead, no plated, nothing heavier or lighter. In .45ACP he shoots 185gr. Custom Competition Nosler and plinks with 230gr. round ball - lead or jacketed - but he uses the same powder and charge for both. He only shoots paper, doesn't hunt, and only shoots on a club range. Same lane, every time, if he can get it.

On the other hand, I load for a list longer than I'd care to post - over two dozen calibers and chamberings - and have loads only for certain guns that are tailored to an activity - like hog hunting, SD, HD, CC (don't mean what you think), etc. - or a particular type of action - like top-break black-powder-era revolvers, Enfield bolt action military surplus rifles, the M1 Garand, etc. - and those special rounds may or may not get used in any other gun. I have and use:
Hornady LEVERevolution, IMR 4895, IMR 4064, IMR 3031, IMR Hi-Skor 700-X, Hodgdon Titegroup, Hodgdon HS6, Alliant Bullseye, Alliant Unique, Alliant Red Dot, Alliant Blue Dot, Alliant 2400, Winchester 231, Goex FFg/FFFg, Goex Olde Eynsford FFg/FFFG, Hodgdon Pyrodex P/RS, Hodgdon Triple-7 FFFg, and Hodgdon Pyrodex Pellets in .45/30gr. and .50/50gr.

Hope that helps.
 
The only powder I have that I don’t currently have a use for is a bottle of Alliant 410, a foolish purchase when I was reloading 410 shells, should have gotten h110 or 2400. That said I still have it as I was hoping to eventually work up some handgun loads with it as it’s right around h110 and 2400 as far as burn rate.
I don’t like clutter but if I have the space I hold onto things as trading fodder. Still had some factory.410 ammo up until 2 days ago when I traded it for nearly 100# of lead, both parties felt like they were getting the good deal. Now his kid can shoot at rabbits and I can keep my revolver fed
 
I do not know the number of different powders that I have but I use them all and many are back ups for other cartridges. The count is probably more than can be counted on two hands.

In these times, I would not downsize just to down size. Who knows when supplies will return to normal.
 
I am an accumulator of all things firearm and by extension reloading. I also try to find the absolute best load for a particular firearm. I have about three kegs of rifle and about three of pistol propellant. The smaller sized cans total about 20 different. They can all be used as a substitute for something different if needed that might not be a "best" choice but still work OK. I agree the reloadimg "stuff" on hand beats searching for it in the future. The current uncertainty from the .gov will keep this mess going indefinitely IMO.
 
So here is my powder experience as a rookie reloader (about 7months). I inherited my Uncles reload kit and components and there are a lot of different powders so kind of overwhelming but like one member said you got alot of choices to mix and experiment. What about conserving your favorite powders by buying substitute with whats currently available. Is that what most do during shortages?
Inherited powders: H;4895 4350 380 335 4831 110 superformance. IMR;4895 4350 4064 4831 4227 4759SR. BL C 2, UNIVERSAL, Acc 2015, unique, bullseye, 2400 & titegroup.
What i bought in last 2 wks at LGS: lil gun, WSF, green dot and ramshot enforcer.
What an awesome member sold me for a great price: Shooter world sw4350, sws cleanshot + some 2400 for free
 
Out of 10 handgun powder labels, 2 of which I never opened. 2 magnum powders, and about 8 rifle powders. Probably 4 or so I will use up and not replace.

As AJC1 said, the 2 unopened ones I'll save for a trade. The partials will get used up on rainy days, or for a new projectile that looks promising.
 
I reload for only 5 calibers right now, two pistol and 3 rifle. I could likely make due with 2 or 3 powders. On the other hand I have 4 powders on hand for pistol, and 4 rifle powders on hand. So 8 powders for 5 calibers. Two powders that I have not opened. I also just recently got rid of my Tite Group to help a friend in need so there is that angle. If you have the room without going overboard I see no need to consolidate down, especially now. In life and in reloading I like options.

-Jeff
 
This piqued my curiosity, so I went and counted.

25 different powders.

When I say different, I don't count the same powder with a different label as a distinct powder. In other words, things like HP-38 and W231 count as one powder.

With most of those powders (22) I have more than a one pound bottle. With some powders, much more.

Some of those powders are obsolete or no longer being manufactured; an example being Trap 100.

I wouldn't object to trading some of it off. 2 pounds of Unique and 1 of Blue dot come to mind immediately.
 
Hooda Thunkit said:
This piqued my curiosity, so I went and counted.

25 different powders.

When I say different, I don't count the same powder with a different label as a distinct powder. In other words, things like HP-38 and W231 count as one powder.

With most of those powders (22) I have more than a one pound bottle. With some powders, much more.

Some of those powders are obsolete or no longer being manufactured; an example being Trap 100.

I wouldn't object to trading some of it off. 2 pounds of Unique and 1 of Blue dot come to mind immediately.
Click to expand...

With my 14, I was thinking I was right in the middle of most folks! I only purchased separately about 5 of the powders. All the others I purchased together in the estate sale when I got started.
 
I was going to say I hope there is only one "Unique" as that is what I am loading right now and would hate to have to pull everything because i used the wrong one.

I never get rid of any powders as in reality you can make it work with just about anything if it came to it. We have become spoiled by the vast selection of powders out there for almost every different cartridge and if a lot of them went away, we could still make something go bang.
 
I have 23 different powders and I haven't loaded a rifle round in a long time. Half of all my reloading is .38 Super and have 9 powders I've used to work up loads for it. .380 and 9mm split the other half of my reloading but I didn't buy different powders for them. I have everything to start loading .45acp but haven't needed to yet. I did pick up some powder specifically for it on advice from a trusted source.

But again, I've always like having multiple acceptable loads with different powders/projectiles to accompany my pet loads. Don't like having all my eggs in one basket. You know, in case there's a shortage or something...Or a powder or bullet is discontinued.
 
A single fast handgun propellant & a single intermediate rifle powder would handle all my handloading needs. Having that said, I've got close to a dozen different powders. I bought a tacsol 22lr conversions for my glock & built a dedicated 22lr ar15. That pretty much eliminates the need to handload in large quantity. The cost of a single primer is about the same as a loaded round of 22lr. Why do the labor?
 
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Powders I use currently are: H322, 300-MP, 2400, Power Pistol, BE-86, and Unique. The BE-86 is used sparingly, but a flash suppressant version of PP is nice to have. I suppose I could replace the PP and maybe the Unique with just BE-86, but then again maybe not.

I also have some W231 and WST, which I'm ready to give away to anyone I know who starts reloading.

When I finally get around to reloading .308 and .30-06, I'll probably have to consider atleast one more powder because I doubt H322 is going to work well (based on a lack of data).
 
I have a few powders that when used up will not be replaced . I could get by with only 5 or 6 different ones and be covered . Powders that work well for more than one caliber tend to be keepers .
Clays , 231 , N310 , 777 , Goex & 5744 fill most of my needs .
 
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