I Bought A 2nd Powder

[frjeff]

Have been using HP38 exclusively since I began reloading about a month ago - .380ACP only.
Today, I picked up a pound of Accurate #2 to try and compare to the HP38.
Loaded a box of 50: 95gr RMR FMJ over 3.2gr of Acc #2.
Range closed today, but will compare on Monday.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Accurate (Hodgdon now) makes some fine powders. As you continue to reload, you’ll likely try more and more. I started with Titegroup, and now I have a box bull of pistol powder cans.

 

[Dudedog]

I really like AA#2 for .380, meters great in .380 size charges.

Khar P380 2.5" barrel, S+B SP, charges as thrown after setting measure,
this is a lighter practice load with AA#2.

String:	6​
Date:	5/15/2016​
Time:	12:47:27 PM​
Grains:	90​
Hi Vel:	793​
Low Vel:	777​
Ave Vel:	784​
Ext Spread:	16​
Std Dev:	7​
380 3.1 #2 CMJ 100 RN
Velocity	Power Factor	Ft/Lbs
793​	71.37​	125.658​
777​	69.93​	120.639​
779​	70.11​	121.26​
788​	70.92​	124.079​

Factory Federal for comp.

String:	2​
Date:	8/14/2016​
Time:	8:44:02 AM​
Grains:	95​
Hi Vel:	845​
Low Vel:	826​
Ave Vel:	832​
Ext Spread:	19​
Std Dev:	7​
Federal .380 95 FMJ
Velocity	Power Factor	Ft/Lbs
845​	80.275​	150.605​
828​	78.66​	144.606​
835​	79.325​	147.061​
829​	78.755​	144.955​
826​	78.47​	143.908​

l

 

[Walkalong]

I think you’ll like it. I’ve shot a lot of it.

 

[Dudedog]

For full power stuff in .380 (locked breech pistol) I have had good results with CFE-P.
Note: 4.0 of CFE-P is a listed MAX charge.

String:	2​
Date:	8/14/2016​
Time:	9:23:07 AM​
Grains:	100​
Hi Vel:	862​
Low Vel:	843​
Ave Vel:	853​
Ext Spread:	19​
Std Dev:	7​
380 100 Xtremer 4.0 CFE-P
Velocity	Power Factor	Ft/Lbs
862​	77.58​	148.477​
843​	75.87​	142.004​
855​	76.95​	146.075​
850​	76.5​	144.372​
856​	77.04​	146.417​

 

[Larry in wyoming]

I'm curious what you hope to gain via a different powder? Speed? Accuracy? Reliability? Just variety? No reason not to try other components. I'm just curious is all.

 

[frjeff]

I'm curious what you hope to gain via a different powder? Speed? Accuracy? Reliability? Just variety? No reason not to try other components. I'm just curious is all.

Newb curiosity in part. But, quite happy with the HP38. The Acc#2 seems to measure nicely and I have read positive things about it (soft recoil, accurate, etc).
I will choose one in time and stay with it. With me loading only one caliber, I am not going to have multiple powders on the shelf. The one that I like best is the one that will be on the shelf (lonely).

 

[dannyd]

Newb curiosity in part. But, quite happy with the HP38. The Acc#2 seems to measure nicely and I have read positive things about it (soft recoil, accurate, etc).
I will choose one in time and stay with it. With me loading only one caliber, I am not going to have multiple powders on the shelf. The one that I like best is the one that will be on the shelf (lonely).

Just remember HP-38 and W231 are the same powder, when shopping for powder.

 

[LiveLife]

I'm curious what you hope to gain via a different powder? Speed? Accuracy? Reliability? Just variety? No reason not to try other components. I'm just curious is all.

While I like W231/HP-38 as my reference powder for 9mm (And for 45ACP), Bullseye/Titegroup/WST/Sport Pistol, etc. produce smaller groups and BE-86/WSF produce higher velocities for "defensive loads". And hands down, Promo provides lowest cost pistol loads but only comes in 8 lb containers.

If I can't find W231/HP-38, I have no problem picking up comparable burn rate Zip/Sport Pistol/N320/Titegroup/Vectan Ba 9.5.

And since some THR bullseye match shooters like Accurate No.2/Clean Shot, after 30 years, finally got some No.2 to try. (What else am I going to do in retirement? )

BTW, these are powders used by bullseye match shooters - Bullseye/N310/N320/700-X/Clays/Titegroup/WST/W231(HP-38)

And these are powders used by USPSA match shooters in the Production division shooting minor power factor 9mm - Titegroup 35%, N320 23%, Sport Pistol 16%

 

[dannyd]

Accurate 2 is a good powder used it years ago when Accurate Powder became the new thing,

 

[mdi]

I'm curious what you hope to gain via a different powder? Speed? Accuracy? Reliability? Just variety? No reason not to try other components. I'm just curious is all.

Early on in my reloading I would often read about a powder that might fit my needs and bought it (waaaaay pre web). Curious ti see if it performed better, was easier to use, and how the smoke smelled. Sometimes the new powder was a marked improvement, sometimes not. But I found out for sure for my methods, my guns and my expectations. Using one powder only would be reallllly boring.

Kinda like hot sauce. Gotta try more than one to see which one fits your palet. and which one burns now and later...

 

[frjeff]

Early on in my reloading I would often read about a powder that might fit my needs and bought it (waaaaay pre web). Curious ti see if it performed better, was easier to use, and how the smoke smelled. Sometimes the new powder was a marked improvement, sometimes not. But I found out for sure for my methods, my guns and my expectations. Using one powder only would be reallllly boring.

Kinda like hot sauce. Gotta try more than one to see which one fits your palet. and which one burns now and later...

Your hot sauce is the Perfect Analogy! Many of those in the refer.

 

[Larry in wyoming]

There's nothing wrong with variety. And experimentation is entertaining, and thus, good. I was just curious where frjeff was going with it. FOR ME when I was a new reloader, I would use different powders with no plan or expectation other than I had heard or read something. They all just went "BANG". At the time, I guess that was enough.

 

[MikeInOr]

I wish I had a picture of my powder shelf handy. Many dozens of half full cans of powder because I wanted to see if there might be an advantage of a new one over an existing one. 99% of the time there is no real significance difference. I guess wanting to try something new to see if it is better is natural. Maybe you can learn from my experience and try to avoid long term powder shelf sprawl.

Eventually I started trying to reduce the number of different powders I stock and migrate to powders that work well in multiple different cartridges and different loads.

 

[drband]

Newb curiosity in part. But, quite happy with the HP38. The Acc#2 seems to measure nicely and I have read positive things about it (soft recoil, accurate, etc).
I will choose one in time and stay with it. With me loading only one caliber, I am not going to have multiple powders on the shelf. The one that I like best is the one that will be on the shelf (lonely).

You’ll like Accurate #2. It’s always good to have experience with other powders because you may not always find your favorite available.

 

[DMW1116]

I had a similar experience with rifle and pistol powders. I started with CFE Pistol then moved to W231. I loaded rifles with IMR 4064 then moved to H335. I think the W231 is more accurate with cast bullets but I doubt I could shoot the difference. H335 meters way better than IMR 4064, but isn’t as accurate in most loads. I ran H335 for FMJ ammo but now use it for 30-30 cast loads.

 

[NMexJim]

As a user of AA2, I’m not sure I would call it “soft recoiling” at least in mid to upper limit loads. Great for short barrels which are snappy anyway, pretty clean burning, and accurate, I think you’ll like it.

I have a buncha different pistol powders, but AA2 and 5 are favorites.

 

[GooseGestapo]

You’ll like #2.
Vs. #231, it’s a tad faster; similar velocities and accuracy at slightly lower charges. This translates ito slightly cleaner burning, and lower costs.
What’s not to like!

 

[DMW1116]

I can spread W231 pretty thin, but when I run out I’ll have to try AA2. How does it handle HBWC in 38/357?

 

[Riomouse911]

I wish I had a picture of my powder shelf handy. Many dozens of half full cans of powder because I wanted to see if there might be an advantage of a new one over an existing one. 99% of the time there is no real significance difference. I guess wanting to try something new to see if it is better is natural. Maybe you can learn from my experience and try to avoid long term powder shelf sprawl.

Eventually I started trying to reduce the number of different powders I stock and migrate to powders that work well in multiple different cartridges and different loads.

Gee, does it look like my shelf?



Gotta have a powder for just about any possibility is my motto…

Stay safe.

 

[Riomouse911]

I can spread W231 pretty thin, but when I run out I’ll have to try AA2. How does it handle HBWC in 38/357?

AA2 is great for .38 Special. It’s a lot like using Bullseye in my experience.

Stay safe.

 

[DMW1116]

I use it in all the pistol rounds I reload and one rifle round. I’ll run out eventually and have an excuse to try AA2. It might be a while though. Even the rifle only uses 5.7 grains.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I will choose one in time and stay with it. With me loading only one caliber, I am not going to have multiple powders on the shelf. The one that I like best is the one that will be on the shelf (lonely).

Yeah, famous last words.

 

[Bronco72]

So many powders, so little space !
AND that is while trying to find a versatile powder that can be used in several or more firearms. I have about eight tool heads for my Dillon 550 and I have sometimes two powder for two loads in a firearm. One for cat sneeze loads and the other for Tyrannosaurus's
Been loading for about 55 years! Welcome to the wonderful world of reloading. Have fun and try different thing SAFELY

 

[kmw1954]

I started out with HP-38 and it did wonderfully in the 9mm. Then the wife and I added 45ACP and started doing a lot of indoor shooting and very soon found the Ramshot Silhouette preformed better and didn't smoke up the indoor range like the HP-38 did. Then we added a couple 380 into the mix and wasn't happy with either of those other two powders in the 380 so I acquired some AA#2. Magic, pure magic! Soon found it also does well in both the 9mm and the 45acp. I now have 6lbs on my powder shelf and 2lbs already loaded.