Multipurpose Powder?

[Uncle Chan]

What's the closest thing available as a multipurpose power, meaning pistol, rifle, shotgun? Unique?

 

[loadedround]

I would have to go with Unique.

 

[bluetopper]

In powders, usually the more widely it can be used the less quality performance in any one caliber. As a wide general rule, you have fast burning pistol powders and slower burning rifle powders to accelerate the bullet all the way out the barrel.

 

[moosehunt]

About 45 years ago, I thought that having one, or a very few powders would be the way to go. Now, even trying to be conservative, I still have well over a dozen powders on the shelf and use 'em all. It's a good idea that just don't fly!

 

[DWARREN123]

I only reload 40 S&W now and have 4 powders. Hard to get by with just one or two.

 

[fireflyfather]

I only use Red Dot. Not ideal for any of my firearms, but does a good enough job. Goes bang, moderately accurate, CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP (did I say CHEAP?) Now switching to promo (which is a less bulky, CHEAPER version of Red Dot...uses same load data by weight). I reload for .38 & 7.62x54R. Red Dot is a shotgun powder, so it would do ok for that too.

 

[rcmodel]

Unique is as close as it gets.

Good for shotgun hunting loads, medium power handgun, and very low power cast bullet rifle loads.

You could get by pretty good using nothing but Unique for shotgun & handgun.

But you really have to have at least one other rifle powder for full power rifle loads.

rcmodel

 

[zxcvbob]

Alliant "Promo". It's not all that great for .357 Magnum but it works, and you won't get top performance out of a rifle with it, but it's cheap and can be used in anything.

It's especially good for .45 Colt and .38 Special.

 

[dagger dog]

The only one that crosses my mind is Hodgdon Li'L Gun its primary use is 28ga and .410 shotgun, crosses to
.22 Hornet and is being used in .45 LC for cowboy action shooting. Also the Trail Boss line is used in all three .

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I woild think it's almost impossible to have just 1 powder. You can't use a rifle powder like IMR 4895 in a .38 Special and there is no way to use W231 in a 30-06. You might be able to get away with having 3 powders on hand but now way with just 1.

I would think W231, 4227 and 4895 or Varget would cover everything. If you bought those 3 that would probably get it done.

 

[PotatoJudge]

Unique is pretty good in shotguns and pistols. You can actually put together some respectable 357 mag and 45 colt loads with it. I also like it for light rifle loads. If you were to limit yourself to unique and IMR 4350, you'd have pretty much all your bases well covered. 4350 is one of those powders that can be used in a broad range of rifle loads.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Moosehunt said, "About 45 years ago, I thought that having one, or a very few powders would be the way to go. Now, even trying to be conservative, I still have well over a dozen powders on the shelf and use 'em all. It's a good idea that just don't fly!"

I agree, but H or IMR 4895 and Unique will take care of most, rifle, pistol and 12, 16, 20 and 28 gague shotgun loads IMHO!