what is your choice for most versatile powders on the market?

[WestKentucky]

Tonight I picked up 2 pounds of bullseye and it has a recipe on Alliant's website for every handgun caliber I load. I have remnants of ww231, and AA7 which are also pretty versatile. I know of others such as hp38 with grand claims of versatility. I don't load a ton of rifle but I do have 6 pounds of 4350 on hand which covers my bolt guns, and a little 3031 which covers my contender calibers and leverguns. What other powders have such versatility?

 

[rcmodel]

Unique has to be near the top of any list.

And in the rifle calibers I reload for anymore I could easily get by with only W-748.

(Which I pretty much do anymore.)

rc

 

[WestKentucky]

They had a single pound of unique today that I probably should have bought, but I had 2 pounds of bullseye in my hands. I figured one powder means one ladder on each...32sw, 32acp loaded to 32sw levels, 32swl, 38spl, 357, 9mm, 44spl, and maybe even 44 mag. That gives me plenty test time to look forward to for a while.

 

[BigBore45]

i would go with tite group, AA#5, HS6 or blue dot for pistol. and imr 4064, W748, or h-380 for rifle.

 

[Toprudder]

A lot of people would say Unique, but I haven't had a lot of experience with it yet. What little I used it, it did not meter that well.

Personally, I like Titegroup and Power Pistol. TG will do most calibers from 380 to 357 magnum, although the 357 will be mild loads only. TG is a low-charge powder, so a little goes a long way. The disadvantage is that it would be easy to double-charge some casings, so extra attention is needed during loading.

I like 700x in 38spl, with TG a close second. Both are very insensitive to powder-forward (case position). 700x is also great in 45acp.

I have not done a whole lot with BE86 or CFE Pistol, but so far they have worked well in everything I've tried.

For magnum calibers, H110. Also works in some small rifles, like 30 carbine.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Unique, N340, AA5, HP38. These all have load data across a wide range of calibers.

 

[captmoto]

IMR4695. .308, 30-06 for M1, 6.5 x 55, .223, 7.65 x 53 Argy. I will use it for 6.5 x 50 Arisaka and 7.62 Russian when I get the dies.

 

[JO JO]

My 2 prefered is hs6 and tac

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My 3 favorite pistol powders are W231(HP-38), W540(HS-6) and W296(H110). (but I think I have 12 right now)
If forced to pick the most versatile pistol powder I would go with W231/HP-38.

IMO the most versatile rifle powder on the market today is H4895 closely followed by Varget.
(but I think I have 11 right now, 14 if you want to count IMR and Hodgdon 4198, 4895 & 4350 as separate powders)

 

[RussellC]

Unique. Even with high pressure pistol rounds like 9mm, it is safe over a wide range of loads and OAL. Many will say Titegroup, which I also use, but it is much more sensitive to load and OAL, plus it is not nearly as fluffy as Unique and lends itself to unnoticed double loads, which a double load wont even fit in a 9mm case with Unique.

I also find BE-86 even more accurate for 9mm, but not .45. (Than Unique) Unique has given accurate rounds in both, and works well in a wide range of pistols.

Just starting out with Bullseye, and it is shaping up well and meters a little better than Unique. In terms of metering alone, HP-39/Win 231 meters well, with Accurate No.2 and No.5 metering the best I have found! (Great results in 9 and .45 with No.2, only used No.5 with 9 so far.

Russellc

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Unique and Universal that I am familiar with. Can load pistol from 32acp to 44magnum and some shotgun.

 

[Laphroaig]

As far as rifle powder goes, I'd nominate Varget. Data is even published for magnum cartridges, with the lighter bullets.

Laphroaig

 

[Tony k]

Pistol: 700x
Rifle: IMR4064 or Varget

Not claiming they are the best or even the most truly versatile; they are just the ones I've been able to use with acceptable results in the most calibers.

 

[kcofohio]

Silhouette in most of my calibers. Haven't tried it in 357 yet.

 

[Edcnh]

For pistol:
38 W231
9mm Autocomp
357 mag 2400 or H110
I have SR4759 which I will try in the current shortage as well. Used it in 9mm in the past and it was ok.

For rifle
IMR 4350,3031,4198, 4895 and Varget
Varget is definitley the most versatile rifle powder for me. I also have a pound of H4350 which I have not tried yet.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Unique for anything you can hold with one hand.
IMR 4895 for anything that you have to hold with two hands.

The rifle powder is a hard one if you think about it. 4064, 3031 and 4350 could all be argued as better overall choices.

 

[Potatohead]

I guess my answer wont count, since I only load for 9mm and 380 in the pistol category, not a very broad range there... And I know its not the question here but between those two calibers, I'd be thrilled to just have BE available to me.

 

[Crashbox]

For pistol, I would go with Unique even though I've never loaded any rounds with it, although I do have a pound in stock. Herco- being Unique's somewhat slower brother- might be just about as good even though it is not commonly used any more.

As for rifle...??? I have two kegs of IMR 4320 which is usable (though not ideal) in a fair number of cartridges, so for me it is pretty versatile. Your mileage may vary.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For pistol:
I have SR4759 which I will try in the current shortage as well. Used it in 9mm in the past and it was ok.

Did you really mean to say you used SR4759 in the 9mm or did you mean SR4756? SR4759 is a rifle powder meant for reduced loads and is very good for Cast bullet rifle loads. SR4756 on the other hand is a very good 9mm powder. Unfortunately all 3 remaining IMR SR powders are on the chopping block starting next month. (and PB too)

 

[Candyman87]

I only load pistol and am starting with shotgun. But I'm happy my HS-6 and 700-X will work for both.

As far as pistol, I've had good luck with BE-86 and Titegroup in just about everything.

 

[Potatohead]

Everybody sure loves Unique..I'll have to snag a bottle of that one of these days.

 

[morcey2]

For rifle, IMR-4064 or Varget. I don't have enough breadth of experience loading shotgun or pistol for an opinion there.

Matt

 

[Blue68f100]

My 2 go to powders for pistol (no mag) is WSF and WST with 231 as a backup. I went to WSF due to the poor metering properties of Unique. For Rifle I can get buy with W748 for most except my Magnum.

 

[mr wack]

As I only shoot cast lead, I prefer 700x for 38 and 45acp ,
for long guns it's sr 4759 ,,,, shame it's being discontinued

 

[kostner]

My favorite for pistol is W232, BE and Unique. For rifle have been happy with a couple of IMR's powders. Using IMR 3031 for 223/5.56 have matched factory rounds with groups at 100 yds of one inch. This is because of my new EOtech 517 can't get groups like this a 30 ft. with my favorite 1911 or G-36. Yes I'm an old guy.