Powder..again

[IWAC]

Like probably many of us, I have several powders, gotten as they became available, a pound of this, another of that. Problem is, I have too many. (I think!) I have the most of my favorite, UNIQUE, but in attempting to find a replacement, probably one more won't hurt or matter. I'd order on line, but the hazmat is a real deterrent for me. There are no "shooting buddies" i could split an order with. I shoot mostly .38 Spl +P level loads in 357 magnum brass, because I don't care for the drama of "full snort" 357s. However I do have a small amount of Speer Gold Dot 357 Magnum Short Barrel ammo put by. It is a milder load, not unpleasant at all to shoot.
It looks like for Unique replacement powders, it's a toss up between CFE-P and BE 86...if and when they are stocked at any of the LGS. Any choice between them?
For years, my go-to load has been 5.5 gr. Unique...860 fps chrono'ed from a 4" barrel, standard primer/150-158 gr. cast SWC. Thinking of increasing that to 6.0 gr., for no higher than 1,000 fps for Jacketed and plated/cast
I wonder if BE 86 or CFE-P will be good for that level of velocity, providing I can't find any Unique?
What say, BE 86 or CFE-P users?

 

[AJC1]

Like probably many of us, I have several powders, gotten as they became available, a pound of this, another of that. Problem is, I have too many. (I think!) I have the most of my favorite, UNIQUE, but in attempting to find a replacement, probably one more won't hurt or matter. I'd order on line, but the hazmat is a real deterrent for me. There are no "shooting buddies" i could split an order with. I shoot mostly .38 Spl +P level loads in 357 magnum brass, because I don't care for the drama of "full snort" 357s. However I do have a small amount of Speer Gold Dot 357 Magnum Short Barrel ammo put by. It is a milder load, not unpleasant at all to shoot.
It looks like for Unique replacement powders, it's a toss up between CFE-P and BE 86...if and when they are stocked at any of the LGS. Any choice between them?
For years, my go-to load has been 5.5 gr. Unique...860 fps chrono'ed from a 4" barrel, standard primer/150-158 gr. cast SWC. Thinking of increasing that to 6.0 gr., for no higher than 1,000 fps for Jacketed and plated/cast
I wonder if BE 86 or CFE-P will be good for that level of velocity, providing I can't find any Unique?
What say, BE 86 or CFE-P users?

Trying to find flake powders is getting difficult and their easy to ignite nature is part of what makes unique what it is. I've become pretty fond of the dots for that reason, and green dot may appeal to you.... I run mountains of blue dot and some red dot...

 

[vanfunk]

When I couldn’t find Unique, I switched to Power Pistol and its kissing cousin, BE-86. I shoot an absolute crapton of .38 and mid-range .357 and I’ve been very happy with those powders. Reportedly, BE-86 is just Power Pistol with a flash suppressant. At low doses, I didn’t experience a lot of flash with PP but BE-86 is definitely more mellow in that regard. I have not noticed either powder to be particularly position sensitive either.

Another good one to try is WIN 244. It’s a “clean” powder that is often not only available but cheap. I have used it quite satisfactorily in .38/357 and .44 special/magnum for mid-range (.44 mag 240 gr at 1000 fps).

My current favorite is Ramshot Silhouette. 5.4 grains behind a 158 grain LSWC does 850 fps out of my 2” Colt Cobra and 975 fps out of my 6” Python. And at standard pressure for .38. 6.4 grains in a .357 case with the same bullet gives around 1100 fps and is very accurate. It is a fine, dense powder but I have not found it to be position sensitive either.