1KPerDay, if you are looking for high volume "bulky" powder, you'll need to look at flake powders instead of flattened ball powders like W231/HP-38. However, with flake powder you will trade off some of the dead-on accurate metering of ball powders.
You can use the Auto Disk chart to compare which powder is more "bulky" to fill the case more. I selected .53 cc volume disk hole as an example and you can see how other powders compare. If approximate weight is less than other powder, it's less dense/higher volume bulky powder. If weight is more, it is more dense/less volume.
Approximately less dense / higher volume / bulky
3.8 gr - Red Dot
4.0 gr - American Select
4.2 gr - Green Dot
4.4 gr - Winchester Super Target
4.7 gr - Herco
4.9 gr - Unique * Requires care to meter consistently
5.0 gr - Bullseye
5.7 gr - Winchester 231/HP-38
6.0 gr - Power Pistol
6.3 gr - Accurate #2/Titegroup
8.5 gr - Accurate #5
Approximately more dense / less volume / less bulky
What's a good powder that:
1. works well in Lee Pro auto disk
2. has high charge volume at moderate loads so I can avoid double charges
3. is relatively inexpensive
4. is relatively clean
5. will work for 9mm, 40 and 45 auto
Following is my experience with these faster/bulkier powders in reference to W231/HP-38:
W231/HP-38: Small flattened ball powder
1 - Meters best of all powders I have used in the Pro Auto Disk with most of charges right on or with less than .1 gr variance
2 - 9/40/45 cases can accommodate double charge for start-mid range loads, especially when using heavier bullets. As others posted, 9/40 cases will reveal double charges easier as powder will fill to the top of case, especially for lighter bullets.
3 - $110 / 8lbs (Powder Valley) for HP-38 which is same powder as W231
4 - I consider W231/HP-38 one of more cleaner burning powders at mid-high range load data
5 - Extensive available load data for just about every bullet weight in 9/40/45 (and most other pistol calibers) with excellent accurate recipes
6 - Recoil good compromise between faster burning powder's "snappy" recoil and slower burning powder's "push" recoil - Mild recoil start charge, moderate recoil mid-high charge
Bullseye: Small flake powder
1 - Meters well with about .1 gr variance
2 - Fills cases slightly better than W231/HP-38
3 - $101 / 8lbs (Powder Valley)
4 - Not as clean burning as W231/HP-38 at mid-high range load data
5 -
Published load data for 9/40/45 and many other calibers - many accurate recipes
6 - Snappier recoil than W231/HP-38
Unique: Medium flake powder
1 - Meters fair with about .2-.3 gr variance (with some care, I have gotten it to meter with .1-.2 gr variance in my Pro Auto Disk)
2 - Fills cases better than Bullseye
3 - $101 / 8lbs (Powder Valley)
4 - I just recently started testing this powder and it burns comparable to Bullseye in mid-high range load data
5 -
Extensive available load data for most pistol calibers, including 9/40/45 - many accurate recipes
6 - Comparable recoil to W231/HP-38, perhaps a bit more "push"
Green Dot: Medium flake powder
1 - Meters well with about .1 gr variance
2 - Fills cases better than Unique (most 9/40/45 load data hard to double charge, even for start-mid range load data for lighter bullets)
3 - $101 / 8lbs (Powder Valley)
4 - Burns comparable to Bullseye
5 -
Alliant's website only lists load data for 45, but I found Green Dot fairly close to W231/HP-38 and requires .2-.3 gr more in comparable mid range recipes (Disclaimer: There's no current published load data for 9/40 and I/THR will not be responsible if you choose to load this powder for 9/40).
6 - Comparable recoil to W231/HP-38, perhaps a bit more "snap"
Red Dot: Large flake powder - I have used Promo using Red Dot load data by weight
1 - Meters poorly with .2-.3 gr variance
2 - Fills cases best of all powders mentioned
3 - Red Dot $101 / 8lbs, Promo $84 / 8lbs (Powder Valley)
4 - Burns a bit cleaner than Bullseye, even at start charge
5 - Alliant website only lists load data for 45, but I have
tested Promo for 9/40 with very good results and
45 on this thread (Above THR disclaimer applies for using currently unpublished load data)
6 - Comparable recoil as Bullseye, light/mild recoil at start charges