4895
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I am really getting the feeling that Winchester 231 is just the best overall pistol powder. Any comments?
Is Win231 the best overall pistol powder?
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J_McLeod
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There should be a middle ground option. I really like it, but I like HS-6 just as much, and the only other pistol powder I've tried is Unique.
vtbluegrass
Member
Close but its actually WST
1SOW
Member
231 is very versatile, but the "best" will likely be different for every caliber and often for different guns/bullet weights and uses..
4895
Member
I've tried w231, bullseye, unique, red dot, blue dot, h110, w296, power pistol, 2400, H4227, titegroup, and a few I can't remember. Haven't tried any AA powders or ramshot line handgun powders. I seem to always go back to w231. Maybe I need more time to decide. Point is, I would like to purchase an 8 lb. keg of handgun powder and my gut tells me to get W231. That much should get me through 2012 for reliable target ammo. Any thoughts?
I guess this is where I insert my Ph.D. dissertation on Unique. It's difficult to determine what is meant by each of us by the term, "Best all-around powder", but if I could have only ONE powder on which to run all my pistols (that's .32 acp to .45 Colt), I would want Unique.
It gives max performance on smaller capacity cartridges, and will provide near-max performance in the magnums. No gun powder is "CHEAP" these days, but Unique is by no means the most expensive. Complaints about it not being the most economical pale in light of its versatility. Complaints about it not metering as well as other powders also lose their weight when one considers the use of dippers to charge cartridges.
The reformulated "cleaner burning" Unique may or may not act as advertised, but Unique typically burns much cleaner when pushed harder. While rarely required, magnum primers often fix this problem, when heavier crimps and heavier projectiles do not.
Again, if I could have only 1 powder, I would want Unique. If Unique was unavailable, I would want its younger brother, Herco, for all the same reasons. If all that could be obtained was WW231, all would not be lost. But it will never be my first choice.
It gives max performance on smaller capacity cartridges, and will provide near-max performance in the magnums. No gun powder is "CHEAP" these days, but Unique is by no means the most expensive. Complaints about it not being the most economical pale in light of its versatility. Complaints about it not metering as well as other powders also lose their weight when one considers the use of dippers to charge cartridges.
The reformulated "cleaner burning" Unique may or may not act as advertised, but Unique typically burns much cleaner when pushed harder. While rarely required, magnum primers often fix this problem, when heavier crimps and heavier projectiles do not.
Again, if I could have only 1 powder, I would want Unique. If Unique was unavailable, I would want its younger brother, Herco, for all the same reasons. If all that could be obtained was WW231, all would not be lost. But it will never be my first choice.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
W231 is my favorite pistol powder closely followed by W540 (HS-6).
Problem is I like to try a lot of powders. I also like AA#5, Zip, Clays, Universal, Longshot and a few others but I mostly stick with W231, HS-6 and W296 form most of my loading with a little AA#5 thrown in too.
Problem is I like to try a lot of powders. I also like AA#5, Zip, Clays, Universal, Longshot and a few others but I mostly stick with W231, HS-6 and W296 form most of my loading with a little AA#5 thrown in too.
gamestalker
member
To designate one powder as the best over all powder is a very broad statement. Each of us reloaders have varied performance goals and economic agenda's, and as for 231 it wouldn't suit my reloading goals to any extent.
I load 9mm,38 spcl, .40 S&W, .357 mag., 44 mag., 44 spcl., 45 LC. I always use the slow or slower burning powders for what ever cartridge I'm working with. I don't load reduced or low recoil loads, and I don't ever load non jacketed bullets. Another aspect of my powder prefrence is also using one that will not permit a double charge to fit in the case or if it will it will deffinitely fill the case to the top ,making an error nearly impossble to be over looked.
Longshot and HS6 as well as a couple other slow burner's accomplsih this quite well for 38 spcl, 9mm, .40, 44 spcl. and a few other similar cartridges. My magnum powder is simply H110 or 296.
There is no good powders or bad powders, just reloaders who have specific agenda's relative to their desired performance goals. I have found that when even starting at the upper end of the load range with slow burning powder, pressures will rarely reach a critical point. I've started many magnum loads using H110/296 at the absolute maximum without encountering any serious problems, case separation, punched primers, or catrostrophic failures of any type.
I load 9mm,38 spcl, .40 S&W, .357 mag., 44 mag., 44 spcl., 45 LC. I always use the slow or slower burning powders for what ever cartridge I'm working with. I don't load reduced or low recoil loads, and I don't ever load non jacketed bullets. Another aspect of my powder prefrence is also using one that will not permit a double charge to fit in the case or if it will it will deffinitely fill the case to the top ,making an error nearly impossble to be over looked.
Longshot and HS6 as well as a couple other slow burner's accomplsih this quite well for 38 spcl, 9mm, .40, 44 spcl. and a few other similar cartridges. My magnum powder is simply H110 or 296.
There is no good powders or bad powders, just reloaders who have specific agenda's relative to their desired performance goals. I have found that when even starting at the upper end of the load range with slow burning powder, pressures will rarely reach a critical point. I've started many magnum loads using H110/296 at the absolute maximum without encountering any serious problems, case separation, punched primers, or catrostrophic failures of any type.
Arkansas Paul
Member
It's a fine powder, no doubt. I like Unique personally though. It's a little dirty, but I don't mind that.
pcf
Member
Not when I can HP-38 for less. 
W231 is a jack of all trades and my most used powder, but it's not the best at anything I reload.
W231 is a jack of all trades and my most used powder, but it's not the best at anything I reload.
buck460XVR
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It is a very good powder and I use quite a bit of it. It is not tho, the "best" all around powder IMHO.
amlevin
Member
One Size Fits All? Not!
It's great for some, OK for others, and not worth a darn for others.
Maybe it's the "cat's meow" for those that load a small number of calibers, or for those that don't mind slow loads for the cartridges that are capable of more.
I prefer other powders for my handgun loads even though W-231 would "work". The ones I prefer just work better for me.
BTW, I've seen a lot of "W-231 Questions" on various Boards lately. Is there some kind of Guerrilla Marketing campaign going on to increase it's sales numbers?
It's great for some, OK for others, and not worth a darn for others.
Maybe it's the "cat's meow" for those that load a small number of calibers, or for those that don't mind slow loads for the cartridges that are capable of more.
I prefer other powders for my handgun loads even though W-231 would "work". The ones I prefer just work better for me.
BTW, I've seen a lot of "W-231 Questions" on various Boards lately. Is there some kind of Guerrilla Marketing campaign going on to increase it's sales numbers?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
If I had to live with only one pistol powder from now on, it would be Unique.
I use it in everything from .25 ACP, to .44 Mag, to .218 Bee, 25-20 & 32-20 WCF rifle cartridges.
It will get you by in everything from light target loads to near full performance Magnum loads.
No, it is not ideal for either, but it will get you by.
rc
I use it in everything from .25 ACP, to .44 Mag, to .218 Bee, 25-20 & 32-20 WCF rifle cartridges.
It will get you by in everything from light target loads to near full performance Magnum loads.
No, it is not ideal for either, but it will get you by.
rc
1KPerDay
Member
I've gone through 3 lbs of Red Dot and have liked it a lot. Great in .45 and worked fine in 9 and .40. .380 not so much, but I did some loads with HP-38 and they weren't any better.
That said, I've got a few lbs of Herco coming up next and it's supposed to be good.
Then maybe I'll try Unique.
That said, I've got a few lbs of Herco coming up next and it's supposed to be good.
Then maybe I'll try Unique.
Redneck with a 40
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If I were going to have only ONE 8lb keg of pistol powder for non-magnum calibers, without a doubt it would be.......UNIQUE!
W-231 along with Bullseye and probably Unique would be considerd by most as very widely used pistol powders. I use Bullseye and WSF in 9mm, WST and WSF in 40 S&W, Trail Boss and WST in 38 Special, 44 Special and 45 Colt, Bullseye, HS-700X, WST and American Selct in 45 ACP.
Constrictor
Member
unique is the best
REL1203
Member
I have a load for w231 for just about every thing I use, its damn good. I also have a load for everything I use with Universal... Those are the 2 most popular powders I use on my bench.
mbopp
Member
If I had to go with one powder it would be Unique. I use it in 38 / 357 loads, 45 ACP, and for cast bullets in my Contender.
GW Staar
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Unique...RC put it best
....it is the most versatile powder made. If it was the only pistol powder, one could get by pretty fair.
If you use Unique clean your gun after a shoot
If you use any other powder.....clean your gun after a shoot.
....it is the most versatile powder made. If it was the only pistol powder, one could get by pretty fair.
If you use Unique clean your gun after a shoot
If you use any other powder.....clean your gun after a shoot.
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