pistol powder

[chief99]

Whats going on with pistol powder. I live in southeast N.C. Last week end went to the largest show in the state, the Dixie Charlotte gun show. 3 huge building, bet there weren't 20 pds. of pistol powder in all three, yet plenty of rifle and shotgun powder. Went to the Dixie Raleigh show today, same thing. Got there 10 minutes after they opened but did luck up on 2 lbs. of titegroup. I like Universal or Bullseye, never see them at the shows. Loham arms is offering Bullseye on a 4 to 6 wk. back order. Think I'm going for it.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If there was plenty of shotgun powder, there was probably plenty of pistol powder too.

 

[BYJO4]

Both Bullseye and Unique have been very hard to fine. I have had both on backorder with Midsouth since April. One local dealer did get a shipment a few months ago and I bought 8 lbs. to tide me over. I don't think any dealer can predict when they will get a shipment. Plus there must be a huge amount of backorders with major sources that have to be filled before any new orders can be shipped.

 

[dave333]

My favorite pistol powders are shotgun powders.

 

[chief99]

Thanks Dave33. Only been loading for a couple years. Which shotgun powders are you referring to ?

 

[bluetopper]

The vast majority of handgun and shotgun powders are interchangeable; same burn rate.

It's just that powder and/or bullet companies have failed to list data for both applications.

 

[38riverrat]

I have seen on some websites that Clays powders, including Universal, won't be available till later in the year due to a fire at the factory, in Australia. The last I saw was for this summer. Hodgdon has been mute about this on their website.

Best,
Rick

 

[Salmoneye]

Thanks Dave33. Only been loading for a couple years. Which shotgun powders are you referring to ?

Red Dot
Blue DOt
Green Dot
Herco
Promo
Unique

Etc.

 

[Potatohead]

If you keep your eyes peeled, you'll come across it. I have 3 or 4 websites that i check every day (when Im lookin for powder) and I'll see one I like pop up every week or three.

The shotgun powders seem to be more prevalent, I see Herco a lot.
Also, It may look like their are more rifle powders because their are a lot more rifle powders than pistol (?)..

 

[Smirak]

Don't want to hijack this thread, nor do I need to start another one as my question is inline with this topic.

I'm loading 40cal, and I just bought some Extreme plated bullets. With unique and w231 being as hard to find as unicorn farts, I'm coming to grips with having to use something else. I have on hand some blue dot and some 4756. I know both of these will work fine in 40cal, but I'm just wondering if other folks out there are having better success with other powders? I can get both 700-x and 800-x pretty frequently here in the Atlanta area, but didn't know if I'm just as good with staying with my current supply?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[Boho]

I've had good results using red dot and 700x with 9mm. I used old data and carefully worked up the load.

 

[Goju]

Shotgun powders indeed. I am in the process of using my last few pounds of WSL, and am on the lookout for WSF.

 

[SFreed]

6.7 gr of sr4756 over a 180 gr plated is one of my favorite loads. Works great in my Ruger SR40c.

 

[LiveLife]

I'm loading 40cal, and I just bought some Extreme plated bullets ... I'm just wondering if other folks out there are having better success with other powders?

I tested Herco for 40S&W using lead and plated bullets that produced clean burning loads and produced 1.25"-1.5" shot groups at 10 yards - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=743416


I usually recommend slower burn rate than W231/HP-38 for 40S&W but another powder to consider when W231/HP-38/Power Pistol/Universal/WSF/AutoComp (powders I prefer for 40S&W) are not available is Green Dot which I have found to be fairly close to W231/HP-38 (I usually need to use .2-.3 gr more than comparable W231/HP-38 loads in 9mm/40S&W/45ACP). Like W231/HP-38, Green Dot is particularly useful if you are looking to produce lighter recoiling lower pressure target loads.


If you are still having hard time finding powders for pistol reloading, Red Dot/Promo are good powders to consider. Green Dot/Herco meter with .1 gr variance in Pro Auto Disk and Red Dot/Promo meter with .1-.2 gr variance due to larger than Unique flake size. However, despite the greater powder charge variance, it produces accurate loads good enough for plinking/range practice. In case you are wondering, Alliant directs to use Red Dot load data by weight with Promo (2004 Alliant load data has Red Dot lead loads) - http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/promo.aspx

45ACP 200 gr lead SWC and 4.0 gr Red Dot/Promo will produce lighter recoiling load that is accurate - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=578444

40S&W 180 gr lead TCFP and 9mm 125 gr lead RN with 4.0 gr Red Dot/Promo will produce accurate range practice loads - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=518185

plenty of ... shotgun powder

Other shotgun powders good for pistol loads are Clays, Universal Clays, WST and WSF but since these are already "known popular" powders for pistol loads, you'll likely have more difficult time finding them over other shotgun powders mentioned above.

 

[sauer1911]

The first powder I could get after searching for about 8 months was 700X.

It has been great in my 9mm loads and up to my .45acp.

I sure there is load data for .40cal.

Smells kinda farty when shot though, yech.

be safe.

 

[Scooter567]

Thanks SFreed. What coal are you loading to?

 

[Osageid]

Don't want to hijack this thread, nor do I need to start another one as my question is inline with this topic.



I'm loading 40cal, and I just bought some Extreme plated bullets. With unique and w231 being as hard to find as unicorn farts, I'm coming to grips with having to use something else. I have on hand some blue dot and some 4756. I know both of these will work fine in 40cal, but I'm just wondering if other folks out there are having better success with other powders? I can get both 700-x and 800-x pretty frequently here in the Atlanta area, but didn't know if I'm just as good with staying with my current supply?



Thanks!

Kevin

Or HS-6 is a great powder for 40 as well

 

[BobWright]

One of my favorite handgun powders is Winchester 231. As has been noted, its among those that are hard to find. Of late I've been working up loads that duplicate, or nearly duplicate, my 231 loads. Of these powders I'm working with are Hodgdon's HP-38 (Win. 231 in disguise) Winchester AutoComp, and IMR SR-4756. Not that they are good substitues, but they are substitutes. And I'm beginning to like AutoComp a lot better.

Bob Wright

 

[orionengnr]

Don't want to hijack this thread,

Consider that mission a failure...

 

[SFreed]

Thanks SFreed. What coal are you loading to?

1.126

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

my experience red dot is good for cast slugs. clean burning.

 

[loose noose]

I've used Red Dot for years in everything from .32acp-45acp with very good results. I also bought it primarily for trap shooting in my 12ga.

 

[oneounceload]

If there was plenty of shotgun powder, there was probably plenty of pistol powder too

SSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Us shotgun shooters are getting tired of you pistoleros buying up all our powder!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Bob, I know what you mean. I love W231/HP38 but its been hard to find.
I picked up a pound of a Autocomp as well as 2 pounds of IMR SR7625 and then I found HP38 on the shelf at Bass Pro when I was passing through Springfield, so I grabbed 2 of those as well.

I guess I need to try these other powders now. Heck, I might even like them.

 

[RussellC]

Yes, there is a pistol powder famine. I just came from our larger gun show this month and my usual powder guy had little or no pistol powder to speak of. I bought a big jug of Accurate no. 2, and am having to learn what its good for. I normally wouldnt have bought it, and went with my sites set for Power Pistol. Right. My power guy told me that pistol powder was a big problem right now and I better buy it when I see it! He had very little, which is way unusual for this seller.

Just a month or two ago I was finding Unique, HP-38 and Power Pistol right and left. Now, rifle powders and primers are thick. I have stocked up on Small pistol primers, small rifle primers, and some CCI #41 military small rifle primers. Also, some H322, H335, BL-2(c), 748......(did snag a couple pounds of HS-6 at my local range)....I figure better buy what's available, if I wait for powder, these primers and rifle powders will be short then!

I think I will keep buying primers, at least small pistol as long as they are available, and stock up on bullets, which also seem to be in good supply right now...well maybe not Gold Dots so much, but I did manage to get 500 of the 115 grain (no 124 grain alas) Gold Dots recently, boy did those go fast!

Hoping to see pistol powder soon,

Russellc