Powder for Multiple Cartridges

[Soonerpesek]

For startup wouldn't the Hornaday dies be a lot cheaper with the add on micro top that can be moved to another die if wanted.... I'm the guy that casts bullets so I don't have to adjust dies

Probably, but the Redding Comp dies are bees knees quality, and no-one sed anything about staying within a budget….

 

[AJC1]

Probably, but the Redding Comp dies are bees knees quality, and no-one sed anything about staying within a budget….

Well if cost is no problem the full power ahead.

 

[Bronco72]

I have got it down to 6 powders!
I shoot a Vartarg, 223, 308, 30-06,45-70, 50-110,357 ( hot and mild), 44mag (hot and mild), 30 carbine, 9mm and 45 acp! I can do it all with H335, IMR 4895. 4064, 4831, 2400 and WST. For some it may not be thee best but excellent performance using from what powders I got!
WST is almost a 1 to 1 ratio for Bullseye
For those wondering what's a Vartarg it, it a 221 Fireball necked down to 20 cal. Awesome 300 yard ground squirrel medicine.

 

[9mmepiphany]

For startup wouldn't the Hornaday dies be a lot cheaper with the add on micro top that can be moved to another die if wanted

Just a quick glance at Midway shows the seating die as $32 and the click micrometer as $82...$114; so about the same...but the red top on the Hornady is very cool.

The advantage of the Redding is the floating seating plug riding inside the alignment sleeve which helps with bullets that might be inserted titled a bit. Actually he likely just liked my setup (9mm, .38Spl, .45ACP). He's going to pair the Redding with a Lee 4-die set

 

[9mmepiphany]

Well if cost is no problem the full power ahead.

I wouldn't say cost is no problem or I would have steered him toward a Mark 7 Apex-10 so he could have one station for each die. Even I'm balking at the FW die for decapping and the hold own dies for swaging and priming

He's an engineer by training and likes being able to exactly dial in seating depth ...at least I didn't introduce him to the micrometer crimp die. I'm saving that discussion for later when I figure out if he can figure out what "removing the flare" means

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Actually he likely just liked my setup (9mm, .38Spl, .45ACP).

That’s as good a reason as any. Always make it easy on your instructor by using equipment they’re familiar with.

I used to tell my students that when I taught networking. The smart ones listened.

 

[Mostly Lead]

... will be on hand to mentor him as he learns the process

During his introduction to the process on my equipment, he mentioned that he was also interested in reloading 10mm for his Glock. I don't reload 10mm and haven't the foggiest of what he needs except a 180-200gr bullet and LPPs

Have you mentored him on how to read a load manual? I read through Modern Reloading so many times before setting up for the first cartridge!

Was very useful to discover pressure and how it's affected by faster/slower powders and heavier/lighter bullets. Made choosing my initial powders quite simple. Have tried a few others over the years but always come back to my first loves...

 

[9mmepiphany]

That’s as good a reason as any. Always make it easy on your instructor by using equipment they’re familiar with.

I'm just lucky that I've use equipment from all the manufacturers

I can just imagine his eyes glazing over as i explained adjusting and measuring OAL...and repeating until it was where you wanted it

I almost dread explaining how , after you adjust the powder drop, you have to run several charges through to get an accurate drop...and how the number is dependent on the powder

 

[9mmepiphany]

Have you mentored him on how to read a load manual?

He's an engineer who works for Intel...he reads

 

[LiveLife]

I can just imagine his eyes glazing over as i explained adjusting and measuring OAL...and repeating until it was where you wanted it

I almost dread explaining how , after you adjust the powder drop, you have to run several charges through to get an accurate drop...and how the number is dependent on the powder

Be sure to mention that after powder measure settles down, to look for high/low spread to identify the median to use to adjust "target".

When I did 50 drop runs, initially I struggled to set the "target" at desired "X.XX gr" but once I saw the swing and identified the median, it was fairly easy to adjust to "target" drop weight - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ct-powder-measure.922834/page-3#post-12751870

 

[9mmepiphany]

When I did 50 drop runs, initially I struggled to set the "target" at desired "X.XX gr" but once I saw the swing and identified the median, it was fairly easy to adjust to "target" drop weight

Yes, I remember reading that and filed it away in some recess of my brain.

When increasing the charge for my last loading, it took about 30 mins of frustration before I was able to recall the information. Once I was able to access that file, I was able to establish a consistent powder drop.

This was truly "priceless information" from your testing and I'm extremely grateful for your efforts and willingness to share it

 

[OS/N]

Any of the blues would work. True blue is costly but meters well and delivers good speed in 9 - 45acp. Blue dot is good in the 10 but harder to find today - TB maybe more flexible in the 9. Accurate no 5 or 7 would be good also - 7 in the longer barrels.

Download a free western powders manual to get lots of load data for their powders w/ many bullet selections.

 

[AJC1]

Any of the blues would work. True blue is costly but meters well and delivers good speed in 9 - 45acp. Blue dot is good in the 10 but harder to find today - TB maybe more flexible in the 9. Accurate no 5 or 7 would be good also - 7 in the longer barrels.

Download a free western powders manual to get lots of load data for their powders w/ many bullet selections.

Weird true blue is normally cheap, blue dot is spendy. I tell everyone I have expensive tastes. I think ramshot tried to make a name connection between the two. I find blue dot a loooot slower. As a comparison 357 mag gets 8.8 true blue and blue dot gets 10.6. That's not close at all!!!!!

 

[lordpaxman]

Please, no "blue" suggestions from Kool-Aid drinkers.

Can’t imagine it’ll work.

LMAO…
Following to see if the 10mm loads work out with BE86. I only started 9mm/BE86 loads because of all the chatter here, but it’s a slower powder than what I typically load. I reserved it for the higher power loads.

 

[stacktester]

So how is Longshot in 9mm as both is the question at hand

Sorry for the late reply, I have been buried at work.

While Longshot will work for me in 9mm, I have found that BE-86 produces better accuracy for me in 9mm and provides the velocities needed for the hollow point bullets (9mm, 40sw, 45acp) to expand properly. BE-86 loads feel "softer" whereas Longshot loads can feel "harsh". Additionally, I have experienced better SD's with BE-86 than Longshot in 9MM, 40SW, 45ACP and 10MM.

As a side note, Ramshot Silhouette is my favorite 9MM powder (excellent accuracy and SD). In 40SW, 45ACP and 10MM, BE-86 "works" better for me than Silhouette, YMMV.

When loading 180gr hardcast 10MM rounds for black bear defense, Longshot is what I prefer and use.

 

[1KPerDay]

Let me say first of all I’m impressed by your fairly detailed attempt to preempt off topic comments.

Can’t imagine it’ll work.

Starting with this one LOL

 

[CQB45ACP]

Starting with this one LOL

And finally we have a winner although I’ll wager OP knew all along

 

[GW Staar]

I've never even owned a 9mm...preferring .357's, .40's and .45's. But 2 of my Grand Sons have them and asked me to help them work up a load for them for 124g RN Berrys plated bullets. We ended up and was very pleased with 5.2 grains of Unique. Unique's new formulation no longer burns dirty, and it is so insensitive to exact weight, that minor variation in charges does not show up at the target. Why Unique? Because it's what I had and the kids didn't and couldn't find anything else! And why not? I've been shooting Unique in my .40's and .45's for 50 years.....never even knew it was considered "dirty" until the internet told me. And now it shoots cleaner.... love it's versatility and accuracy........ For .357 though, I prefer 2400. Never tried the newer stuff like BE-86. These days you shoot what you can find.

 

[cfullgraf]

First, there ar lots of good powders out there that will give your desired performance in a number of cartridges.

First, I like True Blue in my 9x19, ammunitioin. It meters well and gives the performance that I am looking for. Some other powder may perform as well.

I use alot of Unique and 700-X in various cartridges. 380-ACP up to 45 Auto. It meters difficulty but that =really doe niot matter in the long run.

Accurate #5 and W231/HP38 are altenates if my favorite powders are not available. I have worked uo loads with these powders so that it is an easy transition to them if necessary.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I appreciate all the sharing of experience and now have a pretty good idea of how we're going to proceed with his 10mm loading journey.

The whole point was to see if the powder I was going to start him out with for higher velocity loads for 9mm would also be suitable for loading 10mm.

I also appreciated members resisting the urge to chime in with recommendation to start with a single stage press or going blue for a progressive. As a side note, powders that don't meter well in a progressive press aren't going to work for a new reloader who already has plenty of other factors to pay attention to.

With all that said, I'm going to put this thread to bed