powder for pistols?

[lil ski]

W-231
Unique
I have used both for years and have had no problems. They get my vote.

 

[delta53]

another plus 4 HS-6

Many loads of HS-6 come close to filling the case and could prevent double charges unlike some of the fast burners mentioned

 

[Walkalong]

Looking at the charge in every case before you put a bullet over it will prevent a doublecharge and/or a round with no charge.

 

[delta53]

me to

I do that also, You never now when you could be making a squib load not good in a auto

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I agree with rcmodel, Unique is awesome. It is the "the most versatile powder made", says so on the jug. I got an 8lb keg of unique for Christmas, I use it in 40 S&W, 38 special, and 357 mag, great performance in all.

 

[Crimp]

i get more bang for the buck with tite group...

I read this all the time. Nothing against Titegroup. I have it and have gotten some surprisingly good results with it in various calibers. But, let's work this out between Titegroup and Joemyxplyx's suggestion of ZIP.

From Powder Valley:
1 lb of Titegroup = $12.95
1 lb of Ramshot ZIP = $12.75

From Lyman:
200gr .45 ACP load for Titegroup (mid-range) = 5.0gr

From Ramshot's 4.2.2 loading data:
200gr .45 ACP load for ZIP (mid-range) = 5.7gr

There's 7000gr of powder per pound, so:

Titegroup:
7000/5 = 1400. $12.95/1400 = .925 cents per load.

ZIP:
7000/5.7 = 1228. $12.75/1228 = 1.038 cents per load.

1.038 - 0.925 = 0.113 cents savings per load by using Titegroup.
That's 5.65 cents per box of 50 rounds.

Even with more expensive powders (that may very well be better suited for the round you're loading), the cost difference, IMHO, is negligible.

 

[Walkalong]

Even with more expensive powders (that may very well be better suited for the round you're loading), the cost difference, IMHO, is negligible.

Wholeheartedly agreed!
It's nothing compare to the cost of projectiles for our loads. A small part of the equation. I am a cheap Bas****, but I use the powder that gives me the results I am looking for.

I have settled on N310 for light to medium loads in .45 ACP even though a number of cheaper powders come close, very close. It is my favorite, by far, caliber to shoot and I have tested extensively.

 

[peterotte]

Looking at the charge in every case before you put a bullet over it will prevent a doublecharge and/or a round with no charge.

I had this theory that a powder should overflow or at least interfere with bullet seating when a double charge is thrown. It did mean using enough powder to at least half fill the case. For rifle loads, I used a charge that would not overload if double charged. My powder was a close equivalent of Unique - MP200. Worked in everything - including shotgun! We had another powder available, MS200 - equivalent to Bullseye - but it was too 'powerful' to apply my 'double charge' safety rule.

(I preferred large pistol powder - MP300, close to 2400/IMR4227 - for the 357 and 44 mag - filled the case, good velocity, good accuracy, moderate pressure, impossible to double charge. It also worked for 'hornet' loads in my 223 - and a double charge would overflow).

 

[frankd4]

TiteGroup

TiteGroup can be used for all pistol ammo and it's cheap goes along way.

 

[Crazy4nitro]

Unique

I somehow just cant seem to get away from that powder.

'Nitro

 

[CZ57]

I'm not pickin' at anybody, I'm just curious. You guys that recommend 231 and Unique so much and make comments like always has and always will be: have you tried any other powders than 231 and Unique for the same type of loads? Have you tried any newer ones lately?

Not only does jrumsey agree with me on True Blue, Ramshot does as well. The four calibers in question are exactly the same 4 calibers that Ramshot recommends using True Blue for. And True Blue is NOT too slow for the all-around classification. In fact, in .45 ACP, it's faster than AA#5. In .357 it's a tad slower than HS-6, slightly faster than HS-6 in 9mm (yet capable of +P and widely used by IPSC shooters) and in .38 Special, charges are nearly identical to those for Unique, depending on what load data you're looking at. 935 grams per liter with tiny little round balls that meter like hourglass sand. Single digit Standard Deviations in all four calibers, as well: several at 5 or below.

peterotte: that's sage advice for newer reloaders!

I've used plenty of 231 and Unique and I just don't get as excited about them as some of you guys and I think they are mainly recommended having trickled down through osmosis and time. Probably because our forerunners didn't have anywhere near the selection of powders that we enjoy today.

 

[Walkalong]

In fact, in .45 ACP, it's faster than AA#5.

Would have to the see evidence.

Folks tout W231 and Unique because they work so well. It is true we have a lot better selection these days and I have gotten away from W231 and Unique, but they still work quite well as far as accuracy and versatility goes. I would not hesitate to tell a new reloader they are a good choice. They could do far worse to start out.

 

[CZ57]

WA, check the data! True blue is approximately 1 full grain faster in .45 ACP.

Just because you can do worse, doesn't mean you can't do better. Nothing wrong with 231 or Unique. I just happen to feel that True Blue will cover more ground.

Personally, I use a specific powder for a specific load; regardless of caliber. But, for those starting out, I think it's good to let them know that there are other choices as far as a single powder for multiple calibers, especially when one outperforms the others from low to higher level loads and the metering you can't argue with.

And because peterotte made such a good point, True Blue is also a good choice to prevent a double-charge. Not that anyone should have a concern with Unique, or 231 except with lighter loads in .357 Magnum.

 

[Walkalong]

WA, check the data!

Hmmm.... That's what I get for going from memory, but I still like AA#5 better in the .45 all around, and the .357 in medium loads.

 

[jrumsey]

The Net is a great place for reloaders to share experiences with different powders and what works best. If not for this I might have passed by True Blue and stuck with 231, Unique or one of the many other suitable powders. If you take your time and think about the data for True Blue and the results others have had I think you may want to give it a try. I am glad I did.

Joe

 

[ulflyer]

Go with what you Know

True Blue sounds like good stuff, but having used 231, Bullseye, and Clays for a number of years and finding that it does exactly what I want, why would I want to try yet another?
Been thru Unique, red dot, tite group, trail boss, and bunch of other stuff in recent couple years and keep going back to what I know works for me.

Each person must evaluate his/her needs and results and go with it; theres such a wonderful choice out there.

 

[dgang]

I agree with those advocating Unique, about middle of the road in burning rate so you can get better velocity than Bullseye. The new Unique burns a bit cleaner than the old stuff, but that's why they make cleaning kits. If you check around some of the old gun shops you might be able to pick up 3 lb. can of Win. 571 for a reduced price. Burn rate is similar to HS-7. Good shootin' to ya. dgang

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I'm one of those guys that likes to stick with what I know works, what I'm familiar with. I've been loading 357 mag and 40 S&W with Unique now for 2 years, with great results. I'm not one to go experimenting with new powders, what works for me.....Unique.

Although I will say that compared to the loads I have put together with Blue Dot, Unique is noticeably dirtier. Blue Dot = very clean. Not that it really matters, I clean my gun anyway. The difference is in cost, blue dot cost's 2 cents/round and Unique cost's just over a penny around, due to the charge differences, 9.6 for blue dot, 7 for Unique, using 158 grain Ranier's.

 

[zxcvbob]

I agree with those advocating Unique, about middle of the road in burning rate so you can get better velocity than Bullseye.

That's what you would think, but I've been running the numbers in Quickload, and (at least with a 4" barrel) Bullseye beats Unique by quite a bit.

In a .357 Magnum loaded to about 35000 psi using a 158 grain Hornady XTP, Bullseye gives 1321 fps, and the heavier charge of Unique it takes to get the same pressure only yields 1221 fps.

Bullseye is only a little faster burning than Unique (it's *slower* than Green Dot), and it has a higher "potential heat of explosion".

 

[peterotte]

I had the option of using an equivalent of Bullseye but chose a Unique equivalent because it filled the case better and a double charge would overflow on the larger cartridges I was loading. In my smaller pistols, the two would have produced about the same velocities at similar pressures but not so in the 44 mag - I used large pistol powder for it anyway (except for light loads). So for me, the Unique equivalent was the best option.

 

[Crazy4nitro]

I Also really like WSF in fact it might replace Unique for me,something to consider.....It Burns Cleaner and Meters Better.

'Nitro

 

[kir_kenix]

w231, bulseye, and unique can pretty much cover any pistol shooting i will ever need to do. bulseye and unique are about the only powders that my wife knows by name, so that must say something about how much of it we have in our house.

 

[zxcvbob]

I Also really like WSF in fact it might replace Unique for me, something to consider.....It Burns Cleaner and Meters Better.

I also like WSF; when I found an old keg of it for $90 way at the back of the bottom powder shelf at my local gun store, I pounced on it (I probably should have bought both of 'em) The only problem is, there's no published loading data for it for revolver cartridges. So I cautiously work up loads using Herco starting data.

 

[CZ57]

WA, I was also going from memory. I was off by a few tenths. I found a good example in the Lyman P&R III where True Blue and #5 were both loaded with the 185 gr. XTP to 17,700 CUP. The True Blue load was .7 grains lower.

And I can't disagree; if you use something that works for you, there may not be a reason to change. Oftentimes, we are dealing with the question from the perspective of someone that doesn't have personal experience, so they come here.

There's no question that 231 and Unique have established themselves as great all-around powders. #5 definitely deserves consideration and I firmly believe that True Blue will find its place as a worthy competitor. It's the newest in the group, so the road is a little tougher, but it will arrive.

If I didn't have Silhouette for 9mm and .40 S&W loads, I'd be using WSF!

 

[redneck2]

FWIW...The modern alternative to Unique is Universal Clays. Meters well, much cleaner, and has about the same burn characteristics. That's the reason it's called "Universal"

I use Universal or AA5 depending on what I have and what I'm set up for. After using them I gave away the Unique I had left.