Winchester 231 Powder

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BJung said:
I skimmed this thread and would like some to comment on their discovering that WW231/HP38 printed a better group than a previous powder they were using. I read of so many people promoting W231, I think of it as cult following, so I avoid it. I think there are other powders there that are just as good. I personally use Bullseye as my fastest powder. It works good. My second powder is AA2. It meters very well and prints pretty decent groups too.
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Everyone has goals they’re after with their reloading. When it comes to pistol calibers (9mm and 45 ACP), these are my load goals:

1. Safe
2. Cycles the actions of all my pistols and PCCs

That’s it, for now. I need a crescent wrench and HP-38 delivers the versatility I’m looking for.

I’m sure there will come a day when I start chasing the accuracy genie with a pistol and I’ll start tinkering with other powers
 
BJung said:
I skimmed this thread and would like some to comment on their discovering that WW231/HP38 printed a better group than a previous powder they were using. I read of so many people promoting W231, I think of it as cult following, so I avoid it. I think there are other powders there that are just as good. I personally use Bullseye as my fastest powder. It works good. My second powder is AA2. It meters very well and prints pretty decent groups too.
Click to expand...

If I were asked what powder had a Cult following it would be Bullseye. When I started reloading all the Old Guys said it was the only powder that worked. When I asked if they had tried any other powders; they would say no, so then I asked how do you the other powders don't work.
 
dannyd said:
If I were asked what powder had a Cult following it would be Bullseye. When I started reloading all the Old Guys said it was the only powder that worked. When I asked if they had tried any other powders; they would say no, so then I asked how do you the other powders don't work.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call Bullseye supporters Cult Followers. Bullseye is a proven tried and true pistol powder for .38, .45, and even 9mm. Bullseye to the classic handgun rounds is like Apple Pie is to American. I picked Bullesye because a lot of Bullseye Pistol shooters were still using it. "It can't be that bad", I said to myself. But, whenever there is a posting of what is the best pistol powder I can practically raise my arm to count the few minutes on my watch and "pop" up comes someone that says W231.
 
BJung said:
I wouldn't call Bullseye supporters Cult Followers. Bullseye is a proven tried and true pistol powder for .38, .45, and even 9mm. Bullseye to the classic handgun rounds is like Apple Pie is to American. I picked Bullesye because a lot of Bullseye Pistol shooters were still using it. "It can't be that bad", I said to myself. But, whenever there is a posting of what is the best pistol powder I can practically raise my arm to count the few minutes on my watch and "pop" up comes someone that says W231.
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That's because any day of the week W231/HP38 is as good or better than Bullseye. I have both in the powder locker and use them both. But if I could only have one of them I would choose W231/HP38 anytime. That's my Opinion. W231/HP38 should always come up in the conversation about great pistol powders.

Also W231/HP38 are easier to store. :)
 
I have researched powder advice and found some like Tightgroup, Red Dot, VVN310 as failures for my needs. Power Pistol didn't stand out any better as what I've been using. Maybe WW231 is those powders like Bullseye that works well for more handguns than less, and this is the reason it is so popular. Someday I'll find some and it'll probably be good.
 
Nature Boy said:
Everyone has goals they’re after with their reloading. When it comes to pistol calibers (9mm and 45 ACP), these are my load goals:

1. Safe
2. Cycles the actions of all my pistols and PCCs

That’s it, for now. I need a crescent wrench and HP-38 delivers the versatility I’m looking for.

I’m sure there will come a day when I start chasing the accuracy genie with a pistol and I’ll start tinkering with other powers
Click to expand...
“Crescent wrench”?
 
Given the current availability I can’t get W231 or HP-38.
I can get WST and some of you may have compared these in the past.
I’ll be using it with 45 acp 200gr and 230gr using lead, plated, and FMJ.
Loads are light to medium velocities
 
I would liken HP-38/W231 to H4895 on the rifle side. Very versatile powder. Good in a lot of applications across multiple cartridges. Many times it delivers the best accuracy too.

I can’t speak specifically to the accuracy potential of HP-38 compared to other options. I don’t have the experience or the skill with a pistol to discern the difference. However, I can say that have have 6 different HP-38 loads in 2 calibers that are 100% reliable in 9 different pistols and a Ruger PC9. That’s versatility.
 
JHTexas said:
Given the current availability I can’t get W231 or HP-38.
I can get WST and some of you may have compared these in the past.
I’ll be using it with 45 acp 200gr and 230gr using lead, plated, and FMJ.
Loads are light to medium velocities
Click to expand...
The question is should I wait until I can get W231 or is WST a good alternative?
 
This might open a can of worms, but this is where I find a burn rate chart handy.

1. Find something adjacent to HP-38

2. look for load data in your manual of choice

3. Get feedback from the forum

4. see if it’s in stock

5. buy some and test it
 
4.2 grains over 124 grain 9mm and 4.2 grains over 158 grain (FMJ) 38 special. That's my plan so i don't have to adjust my PM throw. I'm sure the steel targets 15 yards away will like it just fine.
 
deadeye dick said:
Just for giggles, Crescent is a brand name. It's called a adjustable wrench, as Channel locks are slipjoint pliers. Not a smart ass, just a guy who likes tools.
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Yes I know that too. I was almost certain I had an actual crescent brand wrench as I assembled mine for my picture, but nope.
Crescent is like Kleenex, which has become a generic term for tissue. But back to tools, vise grips might also fall into this category.
I’d just never heard crescent wrench as code for one size fits all. Clever.
 
CQB45ACP said:
Yes I know that too. I was almost certain I had an actual crescent brand wrench as I assembled mine for my picture, but nope.
Crescent is like Kleenex, which has become a generic term for tissue. But back to tools, vise grips might also fall into this category.
I’d just never heard crescent wrench as code for one size fits all. Clever.
Click to expand...
W231 is the Duct Tape™ of the shooting world. ;) You can quote me on that. :rofl:
 
MANY years ago, (70) when i was a young lad, i found a Vise Grip pliers in the street. It had no release lever and had a Vise Grip label on it.Still have it.
 
I like W231 and use it in 9mm and now 357 magnum target loads. However, for a long time now I’ve been convinced it was superior to CFE Pistol in my 9mm loads. After a fair bit of testing I found I was wrong. They’re about the same as far as I can tell. I’ve had a jar of CFE Pistol sitting idle in the shelf until on a whim I decided the compare them. At least now I won’t feel like I’m making lesser loads with the CFE P.
 
Nature Boy said:
This might open a can of worms, but this is where I find a burn rate chart handy.

1. Find something adjacent to HP-38

2. look for load data in your manual of choice

3. Get feedback from the forum

4. see if it’s in stock

5. buy some and test it
Click to expand...

I agree with your suggestion and that’s part of what I’m trying to do.
I’ve used W231 for at least 14 years and didn’t run out until this current situation with powder availablity.
I have other powders that can fill in for W231 with the exception as I mentioned before with the 45 acp light to medium loads in 200gr and 230gr.
Because the loads are light to medium I went looking at faster powders and thought WST might be a good temporary substitute. I’m asking here with others familiar with W231 and thought there might be suggestions for something comparable to it for these type of loads in 45 acp.
Since it takes two hours to get to a store that has any selection I thought I’d ask to get a few suggestions before I go there. Currently you can by a pound, test it, and then not be able to get again…
Thanks
 
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