Where is the Pistol Powder?

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Triumph

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Is it just me - can't find any pistol powder?

New to reloading just looking for "middle of the road" 9mm & 45 ACP powder.
 
Well I probably didn't mean to say it like that. What I more meant to say is that it's (all powders) are easily available but for a price. Check the internernet/this "for sale" forums etc
 
PV has WFS(Winchester Super Field) in stock right now. 8 pound jugs.

I don't see anything against it. Some folks like it as much as any normally used powders in 9mm and 45 acp. (read reviews at places like midway or wherever.)

I see decent data for 9mm and 45 acp at the manufacturer site. If I was wanting, I'd not wait. It will still take a week or three I guess.

It is hard to get Win 231/HP 38, or similar, backordered. You'd have to be looking all the time and it can sell out very fast.
 
Even though things have been in rather short supply out here, I've still been able to find what ever I need locally. I went out last week to pick up small pistol primers, and I found them. Went out several days later to grab some Longshot, and found that. Picked up a variety of bullets, brass, what can I say we are holding our own out here?
I mean the shelves are not over flowing with supplies, but they are coming in regularly.

GS
 
I stopped at a local place last week. They didn't have what I want for powder, but they had some that would work just fine for 9mm and 45acp. No primers though, and a 300 primer limit posted on the empty shelf.
 
There should be some decent local stores there in Houston, somewhere.
 
You have to constantly looking to find what you need. Midsouth is continually getting powder but have to order enough to justify Hazmat.
 
I stopped in at a bass pro in houston a month ago, they had powder since the truck had brought it last night. But prices were high and it was flying off the shelves. Mostly to new guys who had no idea what they were buying. I wound up teaching a little mini-class to about 6 guys. "this is a reloading manual, this is how you use it to select a powder from what is available. No, you cannot use rl-19 in your 45cap. I don't care if it's the cheapest thing on the shelf. remember the load manual I showed you. From what I can tell, you are all going to blow yourselves up unless you find a reloader to hold your hand."
 
Google up National Alliance of Stocking Dealers and you will find why I haven't given Carters Country in Houston my business for the last 20 years
 
Here are some more suitable powders for mid-range 9mm/45ACP loads:

Graf & Sons has Ramshot Zip in 1 lb containers which is very similar to W231/HP-38 and also good for mid range 9mm/45ACP loads with available current load data - https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/16667


Natchez has Alliant American Select in 4 lb containers and also suitable for 9mm/45ACP with available current load data - http://www.natchezss.com/Category.c...Title=Alliant American Select Powder 4 Pounds


Cabela's has Alliant Green Dot in 8 lb containers and IME can produce loads comparable to W231/HP-38 but required .2-.3 more powder charge. Although current load data only shows loads for 45ACP, 2004 Alliant load data has expanded load data for 9mm and 45ACP (scroll to bottom of link) - http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=731761
 
bds - well above the call of duty!!! Thanks much for helping out a newbie.

GT1 - (in thread above) also suggests WSF at Powder Valley. I just have to figure out which one of these looks the best and order.

I REALLY appreciate you guys taking the time to help me out.
 
Glad to help out a THR member!

I like Winchester Super Field (WSF) and use it for full-power loads at near max load data.

In general, slower burning powders than W231/HP-38/Unique/Universal tend to produce optimal accuracy at high-to-max load data.

If you are wanting accurate mid range target loads, faster burning than W231/HP-38/Unique/Universal powders are better suited.

Here's a burn rate chart - http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html
 
I've got to get at least 8 pounds in some combination to make the Hazmat charge worth it - just have to look at my load data & see which of the following are the most versatile.

WSF
WST
Green Dot
Clays (available at Cabelas)
American Select
Ramshot Zip
 
Glad to help out a THR member!

I like Winchester Super Field (WSF) and use it for full-power loads at near max load data.

In general, slower burning powders than W231/HP-38/Unique/Universal tend to produce optimal accuracy at high-to-max load data.

If you are wanting accurate mid range target loads, faster burning than W231/HP-38/Unique/Universal powders are better suited.

Here's a burn rate chart - http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html
Click to expand...

For me just midrange practice & plinking. New Reloader & starting with Berrys round nose plated (115&124 gr) for 9mm and 230gr for 45 ACP.
 
If you need to buy 8+ lbs of powder, I would suggest 8 lbs of WST ($125) from Wideners.

It may be the most cost effective option and you will be getting a powder that's been proven to produce accurate match loads at lower pressures.

FYI, it's been my experience that I need to push the lighter 115 gr 9mm bullets to high-to-near max load data to reliably cycle the stiffer recoil springs of newer semi-auto pistols (especially for compacts/subcompacts). If you want to use mid-range load data, heavier 124 gr bullets are better suited for reliably cycling the slide.
 
 
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