Which all-purpose powder meters better? Universal or 231?

[mike.h]

Question, not meant as a hi-jack... I keep reading that w231 is the same as HP-38. Is it really the same powder or are you just treating them the same and using them interchangeably?

Thanks, Mike

 

[LiveLife]

W231 and HP-38 are exact same powder and verified by Hodgdon customer service (you can call if you want to verify yourself).

Hodgon is licensed by Winchester and for quite some years, load data for both powders have been exactly the same.

I now use two powders interchangably and always post W231/HP-38.

 

[mike.h]

OK, thanks...

 

[Ledhore]

If you're getting variations of a grain of powder of Unique using a LNL then you're doing something wrong. Either using the wrong rotor, meter insert, drop tube or short stroking it. I've loaded many, many pounds of Unique through my LNL AP and have never even come close to any variation that high. I consider .4 grain variation the high end for Unique through my machine.

 

[Uniquedot]

Of the two powders in question the 231 meters better and the universal... well there is nothing "unique" about the foreign stuff. I'm back to using acc #5 in many applications where i once used these powders since it's now an American made product.

 

[Shmackey]

Interesting. Where are Hodgdon powders made?

 

[LiveLife]

Both W231 and HP-38 are made in USA.

Universal is made in Australia and packaged in USA.

 

[Shmackey]

I like Australia.

Anyway, I picked up a pound of HP-38 today.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

w231/HP38 will make good target 10mm loads. These loads will run about the same 40S&W. I load a lot of 10mm every year and have experimented with AA9, Bluedot, and settle on HS6. AA9 for some reason seemed to produce more felt recoil, Bluedot had a lot of flash. If you want sammi spec 10mm that measures well in the hopper burns clean HS6 is the powder.

RCBS Powder Measure
LnL Powder measure
Lee Powder Measure

w231
tie between HS-6 and Universal

I have tried all 3 powders in 3 different powder measures and thats how I rank them as far as consistency in measuring goes.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I consider .4 grain variation the high end for Unique through my machine.

I consider .4 (+/-.4) unacceptable, .2 irritating but OK and .1 or less good.

 

[Ledhore]

.4 grain variation would be plus or minus .2 grains. I'm getting single digit standard deviations with this and I find that entirely acceptable, which was my point.

 

[Cherokee]

I use a lot of 231 in 45 ACP and 9mm. Very uniform in my powder measures. 231 is my "universal" powder that works fine in more pistol or revolver cases. Have never used the new Universal.

 

[Ledhore]

I've used a lot of Universal in .40 in the past and found it to have a tendency to pressure up fast at higher end loads - definitely not as forgiving as Unique at the higher end.

 

[Shmackey]

Update: I got a pound of HP-38 and loaded up some test rounds. Took them to the range, and they were satisfyingly boring and boringly satisfying.

I'll use HP-38 for my low-end 10mm stuff, although I expect that to be about 20% of what I load in that caliber. There's a lot to be said for a whole bunch of Power Pistol.

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes. Load with Power Pistol so the blast and flash will let everybody know you are shooting a Manly pistol. I went through one can and got tired of everybody asking me "What have you got in that thing?"

 

[Shmackey]

C'mon, Jim. Power Pistol is a consistent, clean, easy-metering powder for high-velocity rounds.

Furthermore, shooting Power Pistol is a socially acceptable way for me to indicate that I have a giant wiener.

 

[Seedtick]

Shmackey, you just ain't right.....funny? yep, but still ain't right.

Thanks for the laugh.

Seedtick

 

[Walkalong]

Power Pistol, the best way to singe the hair off your fellow shooters.

 

[Hondo 60]

I haven't tried 231, but I didn't get very good results trying to meter Universal out of a Lee Pro Auto disc.

Now that I have a different measure I suppose I could try again.

Walkalong - I hope you don't mind, I stole your Power Pistol gif.
With my new Redhawk, I think that'll be me next week.

 

[Walkalong]

I stole your Power Pistol gif.

I got it from a forum the other day when searching for info about a Mossberg .22 Mag. I have a boatload of different smileys.

With my new Redhawk, I think that'll be me next week

Blue Dot is impressive as well.