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

[readyeddy]

W231
Varget

 

[karnaaj]

Titegroup all the way.

 

[Mike Kerr]

My answer is for Versatility not what is best or favorite powder. Bullseye or Unique for handguns. 4064 or Varget for rifle.

 

[Dudedog]

For handugns
Universal Clays then HP38.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Hands down for pistols? Unique. It's all I use - it's all I need for .32, .380, 38, .357, 9mm, or .45. If I loaded for rifles I might experiment.

And the last bunch of Unique I bought *still* meters poorly but I weigh it all so it doesn't matter. it is also surprisingly clean in higher end loads now.

I desperately want to try BE-86 but I'll be lucky if I can find anything at all when I need powder again which will be before Spring.

VooDoo

 

[TfflHndn]

For pistols, Unique and Green Dot, with Power Pistol not far behind on my versatility scale.

 

[2ndtimer]

Titegroup for handguns for autoloaders, and target loads for revolvers. Universal or Unique for more potent loads.
For rifle, Varget or IMR-4064. Varget meters better, but, I seem to get better accuracy and consistency from IMR-4064. It is a little quick for the .270 WSM, so that cartridge gets Accurate Magpro.

 

[Kosh75287]

Pistols & Shotguns: Unique, Herco, or AA#5, in that order.
Rifles: Either of the 4895s, Varget, or 4064, in that order.

+1what Wreck-N-Crew said about Unique.

 

[RealGun]

To be meaningful, I think I would have to pick one from each burn rate class. I would also be biased toward powders I owned in good supply or thought I could actually find for sale.

Powders to which I have committed in quantity are Unique, SR4756, HS-6, W231/HP38, Bullseye, Power Pistol, Trailboss, 700x, IMR 4227, LeverEvolution. A2400, Enforcer, PowerPro 300-MP, and AA#9. Some are caliber specialties, but who wants a second rate choice?

Calibers include 327 Federal Magnum and the smaller 32s, 9mm, 38 S&W Special, .357 Magnum, 40 S&W, .41 Magnum, 44 S&W Special, .44 Remington Magnum, 44 WCF, .45 ACP, .45 Colt levels I, II and III; .223/5.56 NATO, 30-30 Winchester, and .410.

 

[Potatohead]

Im kind of surprised that Unique has such a following since it meters so poorly. Especially in these days of progressives and turrets and garage ammo factories..That same characteristic has relegated 700/800 X to the poor house. Unique must do a bunch of things really really well.

 

[RealGun]

For me, Unique, 700X, 800X, and others are used exclusively on a turret press, running at a very deliberate pace and viewing any issues with the powder measure.

 

[Walkalong]

If I absolutely had to pick three pistol powders only, AA #2, W-231, and 2400 would do anything in a pistol.

I certainly love a couple of others and would miss them, but those three are very versatile.

For rifle all I would need is one fast and one medium powder, because I don't have anything that needs anything slower than IMR-4895/IMR-4064 /RL-15/ N-140 ish.

H-322 and IMR-4895 would do anything I need.

And again, there are some I would miss.

And of course you limit yourself doing this, by choosing powders that will "work" vs "excel" in certain applications.

 

[Ky Larry]

Re-15,Varget,or one of the-4064s.
AA#2 or AA#5.

 

[RussellC]

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

bass pro! delivered to your local store, no shipping no hazmat. I ordered some yesterday!
http://www.basspro.com/Alliant-Powder-Unique-Smokless-Shotshell-Powder/product/110831127118/

Russellc

 

[Toprudder]

Im kind of surprised that Unique has such a following since it meters so poorly. Especially in these days of progressives and turrets and garage ammo factories..That same characteristic has relegated 700/800 X to the poor house. Unique must do a bunch of things really really well.

Had that experience early on with Unique, so I sold it to a friend. Had a similar experience with 700x but not as bad. However, I had learned about the aquarium pump trick so I tried it on my Dillon powder measure an it works great, +/- 0.1gn. I wish I had some Unique to try again using the pump trick.

Right now, my preferred target load for 38spl is with 700x.

 

[RussellC]

What is the aquarium pump trick? Once I have it going, I dont have that much trouble with Unique. Plus, at any reasonable OAL the load is safe over a rather large range.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

Had that experience early on with Unique, so I sold it to a friend. Had a similar experience with 700x but not as bad. However, I had learned about the aquarium pump trick so I tried it on my Dillon powder measure an it works great, +/- 0.1gn. I wish I had some Unique to try again using the pump trick.

Right now, my preferred target load to. 38spl is with 700x.

Explain how the aquarium pump thing works...I have a whole bunch of Unique, I'll be glad to try it for youse guys.

Russellc

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The pump trick - you tape or tie a small aquarium pump on the powder measure and the vibration settles the powder to the bottom of the measure and it's supposed to make the throw more uniform.

 

[RussellC]

The pump trick - you tape or tie a small aquarium pump on the powder measure and the vibration settles the powder to the bottom of the measure and it's supposed to make the throw more uniform.

Oh, I see. I was trying to figure that one out!

Russellc

 

[balderclev]

Pistol - Unique with some 700x
Rifle - BLC(2), RL15, N133

I weigh every load in bot pistol and rifle.

 

[Potatohead]

Thanks Russell.

 

[TexasDon]

I guess I'm kind of old school.
I also like Unique and the "Dot" powders.....
But then there's 296,231,WST,Clays etc. Any of it's great if you don't have any..!!
But Unique is my all around Fav....Use to be PB, but it's going to be discontinued if not already..!!

Dirty powder does not concern me much, just be glad they have smokeless now and not Black only.
TxD

 

[GLOOB]

Whatever you can get load information for. After you have built up and tested a bunch of loads, you will invariably gravitate towards what's tried and true. And what you don't have to look up, anymore. As many different overlapping powders are on the market, that's the real reason I like X medium-slow burn rate powder over Y medium-slow burn rate powder.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Another vote for Unique. I could happily load all my handguns with it if I had to. If it was all I had, I could also load up cast bullets and use Unique in a rifle.

 

[Kp321]

Unique hands down. Old story, maybe true maybe not, Unique got its name because of its versatility. It can be used in pistol, rifle, and shotgun loads. Among the early powders, it was unique in this aspect.