One powder fits all?

[Arp32]

I've been meaning to start reloading for a while. Just need to finish my shop (along with 8,000 other home improvements) so it's temperature controlled and airtight. In the meantime I have begun stockpiling brass.

Would like to also start stockpiling supplies like primer and powder. With powder, there appear to be so many choices.

Is it naive to expect that there is a "one size fits all" powder? Just to give an idea of calibers I'd eventually be looking to reload: .380 ACP, .38 special, .357, 9mm, .45 ACP, and potentially .223 and .30-06. Reloading .223 kind of depends on whether I go progressive or not, but I guess that's neither here nor there. If I couldn't load .30-06 that wouldn't be the end of the world. Not shooting a lot of volume there.

Not looking for super hot hand loads, just the ability to shoot more often, and potentially load some light .38's for when we take a new shooter out for the first time. I have read that certain powders take up more volume, so it's easier to spot a mistake like double charging. That idea appeals to me.

If you were in my shoes, what kind of powder would you be looking to buy if you came across a good deal?

 

[Taroman]

unique

 

[LiveLife]

Calibers listed for Unique:


10 gauge
12 gauge
16 gauge
20 gauge
28 gauge
10mm Auto
32 Auto
32 H&R Magnum
32 S&W Long
32-20 Winchester
357 Magnum
357 SIG
38 Special
38 Special +P
38 Super Auto +P
38-40 Winchester
380 Auto
40 S&W
41 Rem Magnum
44 Rem Magnum
44 Russian
44 S&W Special
44-40 Winchester
45 Auto
45 Colt
45 G.A.P
45 S&W Schofield
454 Casull
480 Ruger
9mm Luger


Calibers listed for Universal:

10mm Auto
25 Auto
32 Auto
32 H&R Magnum
32 North American Arms
32 S&W Long
32-20 Winchester
327 Federal Magnum
357 Magnum
357 SIG
38 Short Colt
38 Long Colt
38 Special
38 Special +P
38 Super Auto
380 Auto
40 S&W
41 Rem Magnum
44 Colt
44 Rem Magnum
44 Russian
44 S&W Special
44-40 Winchester
45 Auto
45 Colt
45 G.A.P
45 S&W (Schofield)
45 Super
454 Casull
9mm Luger
9x18 Makarov


Calibers listed for W231/HP-38:

10mm Auto
25 Auto
30 Luger
32 Auto
32 H&R Magnum
32 North American Arms
32 S&W
32 S&W Long
32-20 Winchester
327 Federal Magnum
357 Magnum
357 SIG
38 Long Colt
38 Short Colt
38 Special
38 Special +P
38 Super Auto
38 S&W
38-40 Winchester
380 Auto
40 S&W
41 Action Express
41 Remington Magnum
44 Colt
44 Remington Magnum
44 Russian
44 S&W Special
44-40 Winchester
45 Auto
45 Colt
45 G.A.P
45 Super
45 S&W (Schofield)
45 Winchester Magnum
9x18 Makarov
9mm Luger
9X23 Winchester

 

[Sport45]

If you want to include those rifle catridges the only powder that comes to mind is Trail Boss.

I don't think you'll like any one powder in everything.

 

[777TRUTH]

I would suggest 2 powders minimum, one for rifle and one for pistol.

bds listed 3 great powders for pistol. The only one I have tried from his list is HP-38, it would be an excellent choice.

 

[Salmoneye]

Red Dot

 

[Ky Larry]

I tried for several years to find one rifle powder that worked in everything from .223 to .30-06. IMR-4064, Re-15, IMR-4320, AA-2460, and Varget came pretty close but none gave the accuracy I wanted in all calibers and with all bullet weights, and with all rifles of the same caliber. There is no magic powder that does everything perfectly.

I'm not a good enough pistol/revolver shot to get 100% of the accuracy in different powders so I use AA-5 for about everything (.38Spl, .357 mag, 9mm, .44Spl, .44 mag, .45 ACP). Unique and HP-38 are also good choices.

 

[RandyP]

I am quite happy with Win 231/HP-38 for the 4 pistol calibers I reload - I suspect having one powder for pistol and one for rifle in the two calibers you mentioned is a good idea?

 

[bluetopper]

I always thought more than half the fun was experimenting with different powders?

Handgun and rifle powders are not interchangable and the practice of doing so can be quite dangerous. I recommend the ABC's of Reloading.....a great learning manual.

 

[jim243]

For Pistol Winchester 231 powder. For Rifle IMR or Hodgdon 4895 powder.

Those are all you need if you want to stay with only two powders.

Jim

 

[LiveLife]

Red Dot

Interesting you mentioned Red Dot. As indicated by Alliant, I have been using Promo with 2004 Alliant load data for Red Dot and have been happy with loads in 9mm and 45ACP.

12 Gauge
25 Auto
32 Auto
32 H&R Magnum
32 S&W Long
357 Magnum
357 SIG
38 Special
38 Special +P
38 Super Auto
38/40 Winchester
380 Auto
40 S&W
41 Rem Magnum
44 Rem Magnum
44 Russian
44 S&W Special
44-40 Winchester
45 Auto
45 Colt
9mm Luger
9x18 Makarov

 

[GP100man]

I`m with parasite , what`s the fun of one powder !!!

I`m also one who will cast 1,000 boolits from the same mold but every 100 with different alloy!!

A doall powder for me however not ideal would be 2400 but the calibers ya have listed probably not .

lite 38/357 gets CLAYS or 700x, lite loads in 44 gets HERCO ,then ya step up the speed with H-110 & 2400

Rifles get reddot/700x & 2400 for reduced loads & anyone that loads rifle has to have 3031,4350,4064 & 4895 on the bench .

It comes down to accepting the performance of powder doing summtin it`s not supposed to do SAFELY !

 

[56hawk]

Two powders minimum, three would be better. Any of the pistol powders listed above will work for everything except full power 357. You really need a slower powder like H110 to get magnum performance from the 357. For rifle I have used IMR 4895 for everything from 223 to 460 Weatherby.

 

[Salmoneye]

@BDS

I too reference that 2004 Alliant Manual...I know somewhere in my shed, I have older paper versions from Alliant...

So far (as well as in shotguns decades ago) I have used Red Dot in:

.38 S&W
.38 SPCL
.357 Magnum
.44 Magnum
.35 Remington

I intend to use Red Dot to work up loads in .30-30 for round balls, and try 'The Load' as described by C. E Harris in a .30-06...

http://members.shaw.ca/cronhelm/TheLoad.html

My renewed interest has been due to inheriting a 'few' pounds...

 

[RandyP]

The great thing about this and several other hobbies is that there is a way for everyone to particpate at all interest and budget levels.

If experimenting is your thing? Lots of powders and other components to fiddle with and the sole constraint is the credit line on your plastic - LOL.

If having simplicity and reliability floats yer boat, you end up in the ranks of those who like the one powder they use and feel no logcical reason to seek other ones.

If you enjoy constant variety or something in between? Go for it.

Do I agree with a specific viewpoint? Who cares? I only gotta keep ME happy, you only gotta keep YOU happy. There is no one 'right' way to approach this great passtime and we all get to join the community and share the fun.

 

[Arp32]

Thanks guys! Sounds like a consensus for Unique, Red Dot, and W231/HP-38 for the handgun rounds. In terms of volume, does one take up more space than the other?

 

[MachIVshooter]

You'll need to stock at least 2 powders, 4 would be better.

If only two for the cartidges you've listed, I'd go with Unique or W231 for the handguns and H335 for the rifles.

With four, I'd do Unique or 231 for all but the .357, which I would stock Blue Dot for. For the .223, H335 and IMR4831 for the .30-06.

As it stands, I load 47 different cartridges and stock about 50 different powders. Powder consolidation is a lost cause when you start to care about performance more than simplicity and cost.

 

[LiveLife]

In terms of volume, does one take up more space than the other?

Yes. Comparison picture below shows max charges of Unique, Universal, Promo and W231/HP-38 for 185 gr 45ACP jacketed bullet. I know the Unique charge is significantly higher at 8.2 gr but that was the powder charge indicated in the load data. 6.0 gr charge of Unique would be comparable to Universal/Promo case fill.

 

[GRIZ22]

Unique for handgun. Just about anything faster will preclude moderately warm loads for magnum handguns. Anything slower doesn't work well with reduced loads.

IMR3031for rifle. I've used it for 223 to 30-06.

 

[Arp32]

BDS, very helpful picture. W231/HP-38 would appear to be a bit "safer" in that there's one more clue that you've double charged a round.

 

[1KPerDay]

Red Dot is the bulkiest of the lot if you want a powder that fills cases well.

 

[coalman]

Unique.

 

[Arp32]

GRIZ22, I'd be shooting mostly mild .38's out of my .357. I could satisfy the urge for hot rounds with the occasional box of store bought Cor-Bon.

 

[wdyasq]

I'm one of those who has a shelf full of powders and load a BUNCH of different calibers in various pistol and rifles. One powder, maybe, but not for shooting.

You have many different expansion rations, from 'not much' to the '06. I'm guessing you are shooting an AR in .223. It has a completely different set of parameters needing gas in certain pressure ranges at the opening where the gas block sits.

I don't see how ONE powder can do all of this. If it is a bolt rifle, several powders will give moderate performance and still 'work' in pistols. I don't know of a powder that will give 'good' performance in magnum handguns and still give 'good' performance in a large expansion ration bottleneck rifle cartridge.

In the daze before 'Quick Load', the Prowley computer determined which IMR powder would work in one or another particular cartridge case.

Good Luck, I would consider keeping 4 types of powder, light pistol; magnum pistol; two rifle powders. Find a local reloader you can trade components with and find a powder you like. It require less shelf space than my method of just having the powder on hand.

Ron

 

[Duckdog]

Got to throw my vote on Unique as well. I get good results in everything that I load with it, and that's lots of calibers.