Please help me select my next powder

[vaalpens]

Powder is obviously not yet readily available, especially if you just want to try something new starting with 1lb. Currently I am loading for 357sig, 40S&W and 9mm and is looking for a powder that will work in all three calibers. My requirement is that the powder should work well in 357sig, and then work well in either 40S&W or 9mm, but it should be loadable in all three calibers.

Currently I am using Longshot and Unique for 357sig, but would like to expand to another good powder, as long as it is not only good in 357sig.

Following are the powders I am currently looking at/searching for locally, but any other suggestion will be appreciated:

Power Pistol
AA#7
HS-6
Blue Dot
CFE Pistol
BE-86

I have the following powders currently, but are not planning on using them for 357sig:
Bullseye
700-X
Autocomp (maybe will be willing to load Autocomp if I can find some load data)

 

[Toprudder]

Out of those you list, I would go with BE-86, Power Pistol, or CFE Pistol.

I've used all three of those powders in 9mm and 40. Don't have a 357sig so I can't speak for that, but I can't imagine it would be too much different than 40.

I have loaded BE-86 in 380, 9mm, 40, 45acp, and 357mag with good results.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have used Power Pistol and lots of it. I like it. Next, on your list I would pick BE-86. I have 4 lbs on hand, but haven't tried it.

 

[vaalpens]

Out of those you list, I would go with BE-86, Power Pistol, or CFE Pistol.

I've used all three of those powders in 9mm and 40. Don't have a 357sig so I can't speak for that, but I can't imagine it would be too much different than 40.

I have loaded BE-86 in 380, 9mm, 40, 45acp, and 357mag with good results.

Toprudder, thanks for the input. There has been a lot of good press for BE-86 on this forum, but I have not seen any comments about using it in 357sig. I have seen some comments that BE-86 is like Unique. If that is the case and already load Unique, then maybe I need to go in a different direction like Power Pistol, HS-6 or AA#7, if I can find any locally.

 

[vaalpens]

I have used Power Pistol and lots of it. I like it. Next, on your list I would pick BE-86. I have 4 lbs on hand, but haven't tried it.

ColtPythonElite, thanks for the comments. I see Alliant advertise that power Pistol is the "powder of choice for 9mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG", but then states "Best choice for high performance 9mm, .40 S&W and 10mm". Not sure what happened to 357sig. There is a lot of load data for Power Pistol in 357sig, and I have not seen anything negative about it.

For now I think Power Pistol has moved to the top of my list, assuming I can find it locally.

 

[rsrocket1]

BE-86 will work in those calibers, but I would recommend Power Pistol for the novelty of the powder. You will get higher velocities with PP or BE-68 than you will with Unique, but a full house load of Power Pistol will deliver a bigger muzzle flash than BE-86 which is supposed to be essentially PP with flash suppressants. I like using PP in full house .357 Magunum loads just for the sake of shooting a nice fireball.

 

[vaalpens]

BE-86 will work in those calibers, but I would recommend Power Pistol for the novelty of the powder. You will get higher velocities with PP or BE-68 than you will with Unique, but a full house load of Power Pistol will deliver a bigger muzzle flash than BE-86 which is supposed to be essentially PP with flash suppressants. I like using PP in full house .357 Magunum loads just for the sake of shooting a nice fireball.

rsrocket1, thanks for the recommendation. So it sounds I can't go wrong with either PP or BE-86, with PP just a little edge due to the extra fun factor. How does PP or BE-86 compare to Longshot regarding feel and velocities?

 

[picker]

Check out Titegroup............Best/picker

 

[sellersm]

If you can find it, get Ramshot Sillhouette, or (same thing) the older Winchester Action Pistol (WAP) powder! They'll make all those calibers sing...

BE-86, Power Pistol, CFE Pistol are all good as well, as is Titegroup, though many don't like it in .40 as there's not much "room".

 

[picker]

Yes, Titegroup is a fine powder a little goes a long way and therein lies the problem if you double charge a load it's not very noticeable like say Longshot.
But I use it in 40 it is my favorite for 40 and Longshot 's my favorite for 357 sig for 9MM I like several accurate #7@ the top of the list Power pistol#2
Best/picker

 

[Toprudder]

rsrocket1, thanks for the recommendation. So it sounds I can't go wrong with either PP or BE-86, with PP just a little edge due to the extra fun factor. How does PP or BE-86 compare to Longshot regarding feel and velocities?

In my opinion, Longshot works well at max load but no so much at reduced loads. I know PP and BE-86 work well at lower charges in both 9mm and 40.

 

[ohioshooter]

I use universal and I didn't have any issues in my .357 sig loads and it ran fine it both my Glock and XD.

 

[VThillman]

Longshot can be found here and there online. Silhouette just showed up at bullets.com. The latter powder works for .45 auto, .40S&W and 9mm. Longshot seems to need pressure to burn well, but it gets raves for .40 S&W and 10mm.

 

[vaalpens]

If you can find it, get Ramshot Sillhouette, or (same thing) the older Winchester Action Pistol (WAP) powder! They'll make all those calibers sing...

BE-86, Power Pistol, CFE Pistol are all good as well, as is Titegroup, though many don't like it in .40 as there's not much "room".

sellersm, thanks for the advice. I have looked at Sillhouette, but have never seen it locally. Looks like I will have to wait until the good availability times return to try it out.

 

[vaalpens]

In my opinion, Longshot works well at max load but no so much at reduced loads. I know PP and BE-86 work well at lower charges in both 9mm and 40.

Toprudder, I think you made up my mind regarding PP and BE-86. I like Longshot but does not always want to go with max loads. If PP and BE-86 works well at lower charges, but still give me a step up from Unique, then I think they should be on top of my list.

 

[vaalpens]

I use universal and I didn't have any issues in my .357 sig loads and it ran fine it both my Glock and XD.

ohioshooter, my impression was that universal is similar to Unique. If that is the case then it should work well in 357sig, but nothing different from Unique. For now I think I will keep Universal at the lower end of my to-get list.

 

[vaalpens]

Longshot can be found here and there online. Silhouette just showed up at bullets.com. The latter powder works for .45 auto, .40S&W and 9mm. Longshot seems to need pressure to burn well, but it gets raves for .40 S&W and 10mm.

VThillman, thanks for taking the time to provide some input. I will probably keep Silhouette in mind for when I start loading in 45ACP. Interesting you suggest Silhouette for 45ACP since it is not a fats powder.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I use Promo or Red Dot for 9mm,45 colt,45 acp ,40 s&w,38 spcl,357mag light loads and 357 sig.


http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/promo.aspx


http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/red_dot.aspx

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Longshot and HS-6 are good choices but if you want to try different powders to expand your knowledge there are other powders that will work. Those 2 would be and are on the top of my list.

Your list is good and I agree AA#7, CFE-Pistol and Power Pistol should be tried.
You can also try: True Blue, Autocomp and possibly Herco or Blue Dot but those 2 would not be on my list.

 

[vaalpens]

Based on the great input I received and availability locally, I picked up 1lb of Power Pistol. My list was narrowed down to Power Pistol, BE-86, HS-6 and Blue Dot, but my mind was made up for me because they only had Power Pistol in stock.

Now the fun begins. Working up some load in Power Pistol and evaluating it alongside Unique and Longshot.

Thanks again for all advice I have received.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just a note, if you were looking for a powder that isn't as loud as Longshot, Power Pistol is not the one! lol

 

[vaalpens]

Just a note, if you were looking for a powder that isn't as loud as Longshot, Power Pistol is not the one! lol

Now you tell me

I don't mind it being loud since it normally starts a conversation at the range........What are you shooting?

 

[Lethal rx7]

I have used cfe for my 9mm and sofar looks like a keeper. But i cant say how well with 40&45.

 

[sellersm]

Power Pistol also gives a good light show!! Enjoy the flames! It's a great powder, but I don't care for the loud report out of one of my compensated barrels - wow, what a flame thrower that is!

 

[gamestalker]

I don't load .357 Sig, but I do load .40 and 9mm, both of which perform absolutely stellar with Longshot, as you already know.

A couple of other powders that perform very well for me, and perform similar to Longshot, is HS6 and Blue Dot. I haven't loaded with B.D. in quite a while, but I know I liked it. And I currently still load with HS6, it's a very capable powder for full house work in those cartridges.

GS