I want to settle on just one powder for my 38/357 needs. I'm leaning towards Unique and Power Pistol.

Design criteria for 6 inch revolver (357 Mag frame):

38 Spl - 750-855 fps (148 DEWC and 158 gr lead)
38 Spl +P - 970 - 1,035 fps (158 gr cast SWC)
357 Mag - 1,050 fps - 1,125 fps (158 gr cast SWC)

I have gotten these velocities using both powders and published load data, with the exception of Power Pistol in 357 (I will test some if I downselect Power Pistol).

Appreciate your suggestions? Also like to hear your favorite loads for these using these powders, and any velocities which you wish to share.

Thank you

I can not support my recommendation with chronograph results, sorry.

I use Winchester 231 almost exclusively in my handgun ammo. I load:
- 9mm 115gr FMJ and 115gr lead truncated cone (for this I forget the charge, I last loaded this before my accident.
- 38 Special 150gr wadcutter with about 3.2gr
- 38 Special 158gr RN and 160gr SWC with about 3.5gr
- 357 Magnum with 155gr Lyman SWCGC with about 5.5gr
- 41 Magnum with an RCBS 210gr SWC with about 5.5gr
- 45 ACP with an H&G 68 200gr SWC with about 5.0gr

I honestly can't complain with the ammo I have produced, or the results.

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Judge control not gun control!

The imeadate old school answer is Unique. 231 is also a good answer, and also cliche .

But as long as the .357 vel requirements remain at that level, lots of medium-ish speed powders will work. Local availability then become a factor.

Any of the medium burner will work, from unique up to about Longshot. Imo. W231 is too fast for useful loads in any magnum.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Universal.

Accurate #5 can cover all the bases. I don't use it but I like Acc #7 as clean and consistent but it is a little slow for .38 standard loads.

Do you plan to shoot lead, plated, coated, or jacketed? I think something CFE Pistol MIGHT be good for jacketed rounds.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I agree Accurate No 5 is a good powder for 38 and 357 mag. Don't forget 700X , I know it doesn't meter well "blah blah blah"but it is a very versatile powder.

If forced to choose one pistol powder for everything, it would be Unique. It will reach maximum pressures before it reaches maximum velocities in Magnum revolver rounds, but it will get up there most of the way.

I am an old guy, but "back in the day (by crackie)" we thought Bullseye, Unique and -2400 covered all of the pistol bases and I could still get by just fine with those three.

How is Hodgdon CFE powder? I've only reloaded 100 rds of 38 spl with it but how does it stack up against unique?

Unique, or Bullseye.
Unique is a good all round powder, pistols, wheel guns, shotguns and even reduced loads in rifles. It's a good one to have around.

I'll second Universal.

You've had many good suggestions. My thoughts are; BE-86, Universal Clays(meters like Unique but clean) and CFE-pistol.

In my early days I bought some gun show reloads for 357 Magnum made with 231. OMG..the blast and fireball was ferocious and I can't remember anything about accuracy.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Hodgdon's Titegroup will work well in all of those cartridges, I think you'll find that Unique will burn dirty in .38spl due to not achieving high enough pressure to burn cleanly. Bullseye and W231 is a bit too fast to be good in the Magnums. Titegroup works well for me in everything from 9mm up to my .357Mag. That said, Titegroup or any medium burning powder is not my first choice in a magnum powder. To get the most out of that .357, you'll be wanting 2400, W296 or H110.

The shortages forced me to branch out in powders. It's not bad because I have found some stuff I liked and some may be better for auto pistols, but those three will really do anything I need them to.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I forgot that one. Alliant says you can throw everything else away and use BE 86 for everything. At least that's the way it seems when you look at their reloading data.

I saw one lb of it when I was at a LGS in Charlotte 3 hours away. If it weren't for that you couldn't tell me it even existed because I've never seen any.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Titegroup has the same burn rate as bullseye -- fast . It is not a powder I would recommend for 357 mag loads . As many have stated unique will do all youa ask . With the powder shortage I switched to Winchester Superfield . It seems to be just a slight bit slower burnrate than unique . I have always found unique load data a good place to start as I haven't always found load data for it . Winchester doesn't always keep data available for their powders . I have used quite a few pounds and will definitely buy more.

Though mainly for target velocities, these powders can be loaded up to some really warm velocities, but they aren't suitable for magnum performance.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Unique and Universal are right next to each other on the burn rate chart. Apparently both companies recognize the versatility of powders with that characteristic. I'll bet the recipes are similar, too.

Hodgdon and IMRs 4895 aren't exactly the same and data isn't interchangable, but they are extremely similar in makeup probably because the military required certain specs on their rifle powders even though it was made at different powder plants.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Since you include .357, my single powder choice for all load MVs you mention would without question be Unique. For .38 Special alone, it would be Bullseye or 700-X. For a long, long time, the standard .38 Special powder most used by the ammunition manufacturers was Bullseye. The old duPont #5 Pistol powder was also used by some factory loaders for .38 Special back in the 1920s-1940s, but was more often used in .45 ACP. It was very much like Bullseye in ballistic performance.

From the Hodgdon website.. They seem to differ with your opinion.
Hodgdon
Titegroup
.357Mag 125 gr XTP
1.590"
6.8gr
1,425fps
36,500 CUP
7.5gr
1,497fps
41,200 CUP

For what the op is looking for , I would and do use HS6.

Unique received its name for good reason, it has the unique ability to work well in shotguns, pistols and reduced rifle loads. I use it in .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP and 9MM Luger. Bullseye for target velocity loads works great too.
AA No. 5 is pretty good too.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

For full power loads its a two way tie between Unique and 2400 with the small bores. Fooled around with different powders but kept going back to them. Although with 2400 you use more powder to get similar velocity with Unique I seem to get better accuracy with the case volume filled more with 2400. For "target" loads it's Bullseye.

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Stay safe people!

I would pick Unique over PP for both calibers, even though I have never used Unique. However you would be using less powder (weight) with Unique than using PP in 357mag.

I exclusively use 2 powders for all my calibers. Power Pistol for everything but magnum loads. Magnum loads get 2400.

I have been considering trying Unique or Bullseye for 357mag because of the lesser powder weight needed. Which can be quite high using 2400.

I'd go with Unique, but I think your +P goal might be a little ambitious.

I recently got back into Universal. Couldn't find any for several years.

I works very well in the calibers I load. 9mm, .38 and .357 for a rifle. I haven't tried Unique, being a little leery of it because of purported metering problems. Universal meters well enough for me. HP 38 does better in that area, but I get better performance with Universal, particularly in .357 magnum. As a plus, I now have a local source for Universal at under $20 a lb after a small military discount. Unique is now available, but at about $5 a lb more.

" I haven't tried Unique, being a little leery of it because of purported metering problems."

Largely a myth. The topic been discussed here numerous times, could be something about specific powder dispensers not performing well. Unique meters very consistently through my Lyman Ideal measure (with home-made powder baffle) I have used for nearly 50 years. Unique and Bullseye constitute 90+% of my use, and always have.

I've been using 700x for my plinking loads in all those calibers.

It looks like I'm about to have to go get some more, as my son and his friends have discovered they prefer shooting a nice , mild 700x load in their .44 magnums instead of the Elmer Keith Memorial Cowkiller loads they were rolling with the 2400.

Funny how age and experience diminishes your enthusiasm for going home every evening and re-tightening every screw in a revolver!

That is why I used the term "purported". I have no way to know if it will meter well for me with my measure, unless I buy a pound. Given the performance I get with Universal, and the price difference, I will stick with Universal. If Universal were not available, I would be willing to give Unique a try.

Specifics of this load aside....
IMHO, Powders are like golf clubs Trying to make one do everything is handicapping yourself. Trying to make one do things beyond it's limits, and you can lose big time.

Been there-Done that, along time ago. Trust me, a $20 investment in the right powder for the job is $ well spent.

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Dave

Unique will get you what you want...maybe not burning cleanly with the low end .38Spl load.But OK for your other goals.
Qc.

So where is the 357mag data with a 158gr bullet & TG? No, TG is not a good choice as an all around powder for 38 & 357mag, unless you want to compromise the magnum. Then again, i am a TG hater.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

There is no good choice for a one powder solution when loading ammo with max pressures of 17,000 psi, 20,000 psi and 35,000 psi. The range is just too wide to do all three even fairly well. You should at least have 2 powders to do those 3 cartridges well, I use a different powder for each. I would not want to be without W231, HS-6 and W296 but could eliminate the HS-6 if I really had to.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Bullseye is fully adequate for almost any handgun caliber at moderate MVs. I use it for about everything I load, even .44 Mag, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt as I seldom shoot any loads surpassing a MV of 1000 ft/sec. And it is far more economical than any other propellant. My use of Unique is pretty well self-restricted to peppier .357 and .44 Mag loads, also in .38 S&W. But 8 grains of Unique with a 158 grain bullet in .357 Mag is an excellent performer, having a MV of around 1200 ft/sec. I don't care to exceed that.

I shoot to many calibers to worry about what a single powder can do. I believe that you would be better focused on shooting mainly warm 38's and finding the best powder for that. Look at the ratio of what you want to do, is it 33% o target, +p and Mag? if so find three good powders for each niche. If it is 15% 70% and 15% increase usage to 10, 80, 10. If you shoot a lot of upper range 38 you don't need the match loads or mag loads. If you were shooting a lot of wadcutters, say 1-3K a month, you would not wonder about one powder. I think you are best served with loading one warm 38 load, getting good enough to target shoot with it, and buying the occasional 357 Mag when you do feel you need them. If a new shooter wants to learn the midrange loads can usually be watered down. One to do all three is asking a lot, then marrying you to one powder when it may get hard to find.

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Front sight and squeeze

Check with Alliant . Their BE-86 (Bulls Eye 86) has data for all the calibers you listed . It is just a bit slower than unique but supposedly a little faster than power pistol and has a flash suppressant . I have used in the past in various calibers and would buy it again when my current bottle runs dry .

231 or 700-X: might not hit your fps GOAL in +P but...

There is published IMR 700-X load data for 700-X from 25ACP THROUGH 44 MAG: this includes some oft-used calibers as 380 ACP, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45ACP and 45 Colt. The charge amounts are very economical, as in under 5 GR for 1,100+ fps in 357 MAGNUM with a wadcutter. I hand weigh every load, so 700-X works just fine, is inexpensive and usually available and always goes BANG! for me in every caliber mentioned above (except 25ACP which I don't reload). Try a pound, you'll like it.

231 just about works for everything and meters well. I felt lucky to find an 8LB jug which should last many, many thousands of rounds!

Cheers!

BE-86 will suit your needs for all of those calibers.

For many years I used only Unique in 38/357 . It wasn't a bad choice then and still not a bad choice for the one powder only guy.

I vote Unique.
Gary

Unique is still great stuff, but PP is right there also but works better from an accuracy standpoint at 38 Spl +P pressures than std loadings. I'm basically settling upon 5.6 grs PP and 158 gr lead 38 Spl +P loading, an all purpose load - very accurate in my S&W Mod 28 - easy metering and clean burning.

Unique gets good grades for me in its upper range 158 gr cast loadings in 357 Mag, and fills more of the case than PP of course. I start getting good accuracy with PP in 357 once I get around 6.8 grs in it with 158 gr cast. 7.5 grs is very accurate.

I ran across a pound of early 1980s 700-X a few months ago. I tried it out in .45 ACP, .44 Special and .38 Special. I used some duPont load data from an old duPont reloader's guide booklet I found. Seemed to work fine for me in all.

Using 158 grain lead swc bullets, I have always used Unique.
From your 6 inch barrel, you should have no problem safely reaching your velocity expectation. I load the same mid load 357
For my 4 inch revolver and reach 1150 with ease. I am using a hard cast wheel weight bullet.

In my experience, PP doesn't like standard 38 loads. Great for +Ps though.

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an actual conservative

.38spl HV, have you considered Ramshot True Blue? I quick review of the latest Western Powder guide shows the type of performance you are looking for.

I've read many positive reviews of True Blue. It seems that those who try it love it. I'm going to order a couple pounds on my next Powder Valley order.

I recently tried CFE for a JHP +p. Worked ok, but it wasn't as accurate as my Universal Clays load.

Actually, if you go back and compare the load you show with W296, you'll see what he means. He didn't say you couldn't load it or that it wouldn't work. Just that it's too fast to be ideal in magnum revolver cartridges. The slower W296 gives a 30% increase in MV at the same chamber pressure on the maximum load.

The starting load for W296 easily exceeds the MV of the maximum load for Titegroup. Why run higher pressures for lower velocities? Not ideal. Pressures are up and velocities are down.

The faster powders also have the risk of fitting easily fitting a double charge in those big cases.

I use Longshot

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Foster Positivity.

I remember loading some hot .357 Magnum loads, back in the 70's & 80's, using 2400. They belched a hot~pink fire ball, and would loosen the fillings in my teeth! But then I had more lead for casting bullets!

Not that I want to be luckier than you DWalt but I've had the same luck earlier this year(only it was a 12#)and started using that 700X:5.5gr under a 185gr WC .4295bullet in my 8 3/8 Mod 629...I think I just fell in love ....again!
Qc

I just picked up a pound of Hodgdon HP 38, It's a new powder to me, The claim it's for all pistols, 380,9mm, 38, 357, 40cal, 45ACP 45 colt. I will have to load a some sample and see.

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Carpriver.

HP-38's pretty good. That said, lots of companies have powders they like to tout as being good for wide swaths of cartridges.

Now, technically, I could load everything from .38 Spl to full-powder .44 Magnum with just my plain-old Bullseye. The data exists. That doesn't mean it's a good idea or that I'll be particularly happy with the results.

But HP-38 is probably better at it than the other powders that claim this. I was happy with it in .45, and suspect I'd be pleased with it in .38 Spl.

---

Personally, I enjoy playing with powders and experimenting. It's cheap fun.

You could use Unique for .38 Spl, .38 +P, and .357. But really, is it that much trouble to stock one fast powder for .38 Spl, and leave the Unique for the hot stuff?

In .38 Spl, a single pound of WST will last for 2800 148-gr wadcutters, or around 2100 158-gr LSWCs. That's not such an imposition.