The right powder for the job...

[Corner Pocket]

Just got home from going to see a friend who said he had some reloading supplies that he would "make me a deal on." As a result, I bought a lot of powder and bullets from him, and I mean a LOT of powder! However, there is only one of the powders that I'm sure I can use in my reloading, and that is the 10 pounds of Unique. BTW, I'm loading only .38 Special/.357 Magnum, and .45 ACP, and Bullseye is the only powder I've ever loaded with...

The other types of powders that were included in the deal are:
Alliant 2400
IMR 4064
Hodgdon HS-6

To my happy delight, I see that all of the containers are sealed except for one each of the above three, and those three are all more than half full. Are any of these powders suitable for the above mentioned handgun calibers? Thanks!

Corner Pocket

 

[chbrow10]

Some folks like HS-6 in 45 ACP as the velocities can be high (for a 45 ACP) approaching 1000 fps

 

[zxcvbob]

2400 is IMHO the best powder there is for .357 Magnum. HS6 is also supposed to be good.

I don't know anything bout 4064

 

[Asherdan]

I don't load 45ACP but Unique and 2400 will get you there for 38/357 and Hogdgon's online data for HS-6 looks interesting too. I'd say pretty good score there.

If that's IMR 4064 we're talking bottleneck rifle, think 30-06 or 270.

Check Alliant's and Hogdgon's online data for those calibers/powders and go to town. I'm jealous!

 

[mrawesome22-250]

IMR4064 is one of my 22-250Rem powders.

 

[GaryL]

You did better than you think. Nothing wrong with HS-6 and 2400 in the appropriate pistol calibers (as already stated). You can use HS-6 for any bullet in 45acp, and it ranks at or near the top in most of them.

 

[Corner Pocket]

Many thanks for these replies. I'm delighted to see that I will be able to use these powders. For the embarrassingly low price that I paid for all this stuff, I would have made out even if the 10 lbs. of Unique was all that I could use.

CP

 

[Ben Shepherd]

2400 with cast bullets in 357 magnum ammo works out very well.
HS-6 in high-end or +p loads is excellent.