Too many Powders

[Revolver-time]

I want to simplify my reloading a little. I don't think I need all the different powders I have tried. Seems like I always go back to Unique, 2400, and Red Dot. I reload 38,357,44Spl,44 mag, 45Colt,45ACP and 40 S+W. I do keep some #5 for the 40. One could go crazy with all of the different choices available. Sometimes it seems less is more.

 

[max]

I do 99% of my loading with 231 and Unique. I use 2400 for the remainder.

 

[OKFC05]

Some people pick a few favorite loads and standardize.

Others want to try many powders for each caliber gun they buy.

Your choice.

Ain't freedom wonderful!

 

[cmort666]

99% of my handgun loading is with Bullseye, the rest is with Unique, and that very recently, although twenty+ years ago, I used a lot more Unique. I have some 2400, but it was purchased to load some hunting rounds, which I haven't done yet.

I ONLY use IMR4350 for .30-06 and ONLY use Vihta Vuori N-150 for .308.

 

[buck460XVR]

The latest shortage and unavailability of powders and primers has left me with a larger selection of powders than I really need. It has also given me loads that were better than what I had been using. Altho I have my old standby loads, I still enjoy the hunt for the "holy grail" of reloads.......

 

[Sebago Son]

Powders....

I've been reloading since I was old enough to sit in my Dad's lap and pull down the press handle.... I used to mess around with everything I could find just to "give it a try".... mostly because that's what he used to do....

But now, 50 years later, I've settled on Unique, Bullseye and to a lesser degree IMR-4227 for my handgun loads.

Unique for everything from heavy bullet, cast lead .38's to .45 Colts, Bullseye for .45 ACP and light .38's, 4227 for heavy .44 Mag Loads with jacketed bullets.

I buy it in bulk over the spring and summer then load like a mad man all winter long.

I still have small quantities of 2400, 296, H110, 231, Red Dot and others, but they don't get used much....

Funny thing is that both my boys play with these powders every now and again just to "give it a try"....

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Same here, tried some different powders just to try the new stuff. Found that for most of my loading need's Unique, Bullseye and 2400 cannot really be improved on, and my chrono agree's!

 

[Rule3]

I bought 8lbs of HP 38. Works for every handgun load I shoot. Perhaps not the best fir everything but paper does not care.

I do have some 2400 for when I am in a Magnum mood

 

[nitesite]

On another forum the question was asked about how many powders we have at our bench right now. My count was seventeen.

But these days about a dozen of them just languish.

 

[buck460XVR]

4227 for heavy .44 Mag Loads with jacketed bullets.

IMR4227 was one of the powders I tried because I couldn't find magnum primers to work with H110. Found it to be an excellent powder for the .460 and also for the .357 carbine. It now sits to the front of my powder collection along with Unique and H110. 2400 doesn't work well for me in the .460 like H110 and now 4227, and it never gave me the accuracy and the magnum velocities that H110 does in .357 and .44. Had to buy some W231 last week because of a recent acquisition..........

 

[johngalt]

My first powder was Green Dot. Every time I heard someone mention their favorite, I would get a can to try out. For my uses, I've found there isn't really a whole lot of difference from one to the next, and it is silly for me to stock a bunch of different ones.

I've tried: Green Dot, Titegroup, W231, Unique, Universal, Bullseye, VV-310, and 2400.

Once I get my half full cans used up, I plan to standarize on Bullseye for most everything (.38 special and .45 auto target through mid level loads) and 2400 for the occasional .357. I've found I don't have much use for the rest.

 

[Landric]

Right now I have the following:

2400
AA#5
H4227
HS-6
Titegroup
Trail Boss
Universal
W231

H322
H4198

If I had to, I could get by with HS-6, 2400, and Trail Boss for handgun and H4198, 2400, and Trail Boss for rifle, leaving me with 4 total powders. However, since I don't have any reason to limit myself that way, I don't. I would add Titegroup to the list if I wanted to add a 4th handgun powder.

 

[Wayne M]

#5, #7, and #9 do everything I need to do with handgun powder.

 

[dg101win]

I want to simplify my reloading a little. I don't think I need all the different powders I have tried. Seems like I always go back to Unique, 2400, and Red Dot. I reload 38,357,44Spl,44 mag, 45Colt,45ACP and 40 S+W. I do keep some #5 for the 40. One could go crazy with all of the different choices available. Sometimes it seems less is more.

I load the same calibers as you except I do not have a .40.

I use 231 in 45acp and 38,Unique in all the others. 12ga. gets Promo,20&28 get Unique,and 296 in the 410. My Contender in 35Rem gets H322.
I just like to keep things as simple as possible is all,all powder with the exception of H322 is bought in 8lb jugs.

 

[bmcgilvray]

For handguns I generally reach for: Bullseye, Unique, and H110 even though others are available on the closet shelf.

I also like 2400 pretty well.

Years ago I prided myself on staying up with all the propellant powders and trying every new offering marketed. So many have been introduced in the past twenty years that I've fallen far behind. What's more, I don't even care.

 

[oldRoger]

+1 Wayne.............. You could not go far wrong with only AA 5, 7, & 9 and mostly 5 at that.
I do like and use VV 340, 350 & 3N37. There are lots more on my shelf, all of which were purchased to solve problems that it turned out I didn't have.

 

[Ron H.]

I want to simplify my reloading a little. I don't think I need all the different powders I have tried. Seems like I always go back to Unique, 2400, and Red Dot. I reload 38,357,44Spl,44 mag, 45Colt,45ACP and 40 S+W. I do keep some #5 for the 40. One could go crazy with all of the different choices available. Sometimes it seems less is more.

Sir, I hear ya--I also value simplicity and try to keep my powders down to the bare minimum. Luckily for me, the few cartridges I load for (.44 special and mag, .45 Colt and ACP, .308, .30-'06) do not require a vast array of different powders to find a good "recipe."

If Unique metered well, that's probably the only pistol powder I'd keep. It doesn't, though, so I've been experimenting with a couple other things. For rifles, I keep IMR 4895 and 4064 for the gas guns and IMR 4350 for the bolt guns.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[1066]

If you are really trying to limit the number of powders, I'd throw another vote for Bullseye and Unique. With those two powders you can load just about everything, including the 40 S&W. Those powders are not the best for every load, but they sure are adequate for most.

 

[6thtexas]

Powders

When my Dad taught me how to reload about 40 years ago, he told me that Bullseye, Unique, and 2400 would handle anything I wanted to load in a handgun. They still do the job real well.

 

[5906fan]

since I discovered Red Dot (my b-in-law is a shotshell loader & gave me 1/4lb) I use it for all cast slugs loads in .32acp, .380acp, 9Mak, 9mm Para, .357mag and .45acp. the BullsEye I previously used sits on the shelf to use in .45acp 200 gr jacketed loads.
I use Power Pistol for jacketed in semi-autos and AA9 for .357mag hot loads.