I need another versitile handgun powder.

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fulloflead

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I like to keep my reloading simple. I use Win 231 for all my handgun loads because it's really versitile and I can get good loads for a couple different bullet weights in quite a few different calibers and only have to keep one powder around.

The thing is that I hit a roadblock now and then when I want to push a heavy bullet in a large caliber - say 300gr bullet in 45 Colt or 180-200gr bullet in 357 mag. So, I know I need to choose another powder for this step up, but I'd still like to keep it to two powders. So now I need to find another, slower burning, versitile powder for these kinds of loads in 45 Colt, 357, 44, and eventually 454.

I'm thinking 2400 or Win 296 might be my best bet. The thing about Win 231 is that it's REALLY common, so I can always find it in places that only carry a few powders in stock. That's something else I'll have to consider. It'd have to be a popular powder.

I'm going to fish through a bunch of data and manuals, but let me know what you think.
 
I can't for the life of me get 2400 to burn clean. I get unburnt flakes with everything from light to max loads in just about everything I try from 357 to 44 Mag.

HS-6 and Lil' Gun are both good options. A bit more data available for HS-6 since it's been around longer.
 
The powder that I use for all of my guns is 2400. I'm now using (but so far have used only for 10mm and .44 mag) is AA#7.
I occassionally use H-110 in .357 and .44 but in my opinion, it works best in .357 and is to much for .44
 
Second on the AA#9. You can push some big bullets very efficently with this powder.

Another choice would be Lil' Gun. You get big boomers with it and very low pressure.
 
Well, I'll be blasphemous and recommend Unique. Lots of people will tell you it's a dirty powder, but I've been using it for over 20 years and just can't see a big difference between it and Bullseye or W231 as far as burning "dirty" is concerned. I've always had good results with it in .44, .45LC, 10MM, and 12 gauge.

I still like using W231 in .45ACP, but otherwise I am a fan of Unique.
 
For all .45ACP users of W231

What is your most accurate load in a full-sized government model? I've got about 1,000 brass cases, a can of 231 and a bunch of 230 JHPs, FMJs and some 185 JHPs. I'd like to simplify the process of finding the best load (i.e. cheat :D ), so I'd appreciate any advice that you've got.
 
In some calibers, Herco may work a tad better with heavy bullets than Unique. Those two (and maybe a few other newer powders) are about as slow as you can get without needing to consider Magnum primers. I've never tried 2400, partly because it sometimes requires Mag primers (depending on the manual) and partly because it uses much heavier charge weights. Recoil of a 125-gr .357 going 1400 fps with 19-20 grains of 296 is roughly equal to recoil of a 135-grain Nosler IPSC bullet going the same speed, launched with a powder charge of 10 grains. I'm not too keen on accelerating large volumes/weights of pistol powder...
 
Actually Grump brings up a good point I should have mentioned in my post: The majority of my Unique loads in the calibers mentioned are pretty mid-range. Except for 10MM, I usually will use other powders for the few near-max batches I make in a year.
 
A few yrs back in some of the better gun mags it got down to IF you had a h/gun, rifle & a shotgun then what powder would you use with your handloader out in the hills. Turns out UNIQUE won by far as the most versitile powder to do all jobs.
 
I've settled on three powders for handgun; w231 for everyday loads, H110 & AA#9 for the rest.
 
I have had really good luck with my Unique loads...I don't generally get too much powder fouling with my 45 winmag...I don't shoot an autoloader, however....its in a TC 10", plus I put a fairly heavy crimp on it...

my 45-70 with toilet paper wads and a 300-350 gr lrn does pretty good too with no lead or powder fouling...but I prefer 2400 with that big'un.


Herco and AA#9 are both really good for what you would be looking for...but thats all I have experience with as far as pistol type powders go.

Darrell
 
If you like AA9, try H108 or WC820, it's alot cheaper and works the same. Of course, you have to buy 8# at a time. sundog
 
Sam Adams,

I forgot about your Win 231/45ACP load. I'll try to remember to look it up tonight. Sorry!

Everybody else,

My first order of business with this new powder is going to be to work up a warm .357 Mag load with a 180-200gr bullet.
 
I have most powders, but use Power pistol in pistols and H110/W296 or LIL'GUN in revolvers. These ball powders give the most velocity in the revolvers at modest pressures.

There are some exceptions for 800X in 32 S&W long, 40 S&W, and 10mm.

For quiet load experiments, I use Bullseye.
For 45 Colt wimp loads, I use Unique.
 
VihtaVuori

VV N340 is my general purpose powder - and it's best if you order it direct from Kaltron - Pettibone 800-683-0464 (everywhere else it's liable to be too near the end of its shelf life).

It was a little balky in my Dillon, but I smoothed out the powder measure and it works like a dream (I'd been doing all of my reloading on a Forster for some years, with a Redding powder measure).

And when you want to kick heavy rounds hard, go with N110. . .

To be fair, I have no experience with domestic powders - I started out with N340, loved it ('clean' doesn't come close), and went for N110 for the Super Redhawk

N110 will do 454 Casull: 300gr Speer over 28.2gr chrono'd 1675fps (firm crimp, witnessed last year)

The two take care of any of my handgun loads.

Trisha
 
I don't think I could limit myself to just two powders. W-231 is a great choice for mild loads, but it really gets to maximum pressures fast when you push it into the middle range loads. W-296 and its twin, H-110, are great for full bore magnum loads. AA#9, in my experience, is about one notch faster than W-296/H-110. Of course, Unique is a great powder, but I am going to start experimenting with Hogdgon Universal Clays since it is supposed to be cleaner burning and has smaller sized flakes than Unique, but has an almost identical burning rate as Unique. AA#5 is a good medium powder too. Then there is AA#7 which has applications in 357 and 44 magnum and is the powder for 10mm. Oh, so many great choices, I am glad I don't have to pick just two!!!

I don't know if I could even settle on just three. Maybe I could call it quits with four. W-296, Unique (or Universal Clays), AA#7, and W-296/H-110. Notice anything here? All but one are spherical powders. Why do I gravitate towards spherical powders? Uniformity of charge weights from my RCBS Uniflow powder measure.
 
I've had good luck with both Hodgdon Universal Clays & AA#5 for multiple caliber use. I've found acceptable loads in .32ACP, .38Spcl, .357Mag, & .45ACP with them. I've also had good results with Win WST in .45ACP loads and .38Spcl target loads. IMR Hi-Skor 700-X and Alliant Red Dot also works good in some of those applications - although not great in the .357Mag role.
 
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