Like others have mentioned, your best bet will probably be to start of with CFE since that seems to be the new powder that is being made and marketed. I still have some W231 but when that is gone and I don't expect to find more easily, I have a couple pounds of CFE waiting. I hate working up new loads though especially when I have been so happy with W231
Which powder?
- Thread starter Ptrlcop
- Start date
I mix dead roaches in to extend it even more.
I'll send ya some live ones so you can raise them and never run out.
Moe Mentum
Member
I use Red Dot/Promo for all my reloading needs.
One of the medium burn rate powders that is old school but was very popular for 9mm back in the day was Herco. During the latest shortage that we are coming out of it was the only powder I could find in any quantity.
While working with it I found it ran well with 9mm, 45ACP and 38SPL.
I ended up using 6 grains of it with 9mm 124gr, 45ACP 230gr and 158gr 38SPL.
All these bullets were/are cast lead bullets I put up. And all the load data was gleaned from Lyman44, Speer 7&9, and Sierra 2 manuals that I've had for years.
Also Lohman Arms out of Houston is a powder peddler who has powder for sale . You might look them up.
Bulk Reloading Supplies | Blank Ammunition | Bulk Ammo & Firearms for Sale
While working with it I found it ran well with 9mm, 45ACP and 38SPL.
I ended up using 6 grains of it with 9mm 124gr, 45ACP 230gr and 158gr 38SPL.
All these bullets were/are cast lead bullets I put up. And all the load data was gleaned from Lyman44, Speer 7&9, and Sierra 2 manuals that I've had for years.
Also Lohman Arms out of Houston is a powder peddler who has powder for sale . You might look them up.
Bulk Reloading Supplies | Blank Ammunition | Bulk Ammo & Firearms for Sale
roscoepc
Member
Lohman Arms might sell powder but they have a problem with delivering it in a timely manner!! I've had 8lb of Titegroup on order since last December and it's still being "Processed"............
I'll send ya some live ones so you can raise them and never run out.
You got my addy, send em'. Just make sure they're hearty enough to survive a NY winter
Geo. T.
Member
Accurate #5!
Accurate #5 is almost the exact burn rate as Unique! It is a ball powder that meters like water thru almost anybody's measure.
It burns very clean and I use it in the 45 ACP and the upper end 38 special loads.
I use this powder but I do use Bull's Eye because it uses lighter charge weights. However with the mid range powders your right there is less chance of a double charge.
With shot being high as a kite many people are not loading shot shell. Keep you eye out for bargains as almost all shotgun powders do well in handguns!
Accurate #5 is almost the exact burn rate as Unique! It is a ball powder that meters like water thru almost anybody's measure.
It burns very clean and I use it in the 45 ACP and the upper end 38 special loads.
I use this powder but I do use Bull's Eye because it uses lighter charge weights. However with the mid range powders your right there is less chance of a double charge.
With shot being high as a kite many people are not loading shot shell. Keep you eye out for bargains as almost all shotgun powders do well in handguns!
carpriver
US Veteran
Over the last couple of years with powder be hard to find I learned to research powders and to check different reloader sites. This past Tuesday I ordered 4 lbs. of IMR 4227 and 2 pounds of Hi Skor 700X it was delivered today I got I from Recb Targets. Titeroup is a good powder work up slow. I have been using Green dot for 9MM, 38Spl, 45 ACP. Auto Comp works well for pistol also.
For the OP , don't sweat the cost per round amount of powder if you use 3, 4 or 5 grains. It's insignificant unless you are shooting thousands of rounds, Just go by the the cost per pound.
Buying online even with $26 haz mat fee is still the cheapest but you need to buy ib bulk, but you can include primers in with that order. I just bought 8lbs of HP38 (which I really did not need and it came to $21/lb. Some guys are paying $40 at the local stores!! I could have bought other powders and primers in that same order but did not need them. Check the thread on what is available. But you need to be quick and place an order as folks snatch it up quickly!.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/306341-daily-stock-reloading-notices.html
Buying online even with $26 haz mat fee is still the cheapest but you need to buy ib bulk, but you can include primers in with that order. I just bought 8lbs of HP38 (which I really did not need and it came to $21/lb. Some guys are paying $40 at the local stores!! I could have bought other powders and primers in that same order but did not need them. Check the thread on what is available. But you need to be quick and place an order as folks snatch it up quickly!.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/306341-daily-stock-reloading-notices.html
Ya, I am currently shooting about 6k per year of 9mm and my hope for reloading is to increase that by a good deal...
I wanted to start on a single stage until I get the processes down and I would be able to use it for precision rifle later. I sized/deprimed 5k of 9mm brass I had stored over the last week. I definitely see a Dillon press in my future.
I am lucky that I can get some 9, 223 and 308 brass for free.
I wanted to start on a single stage until I get the processes down and I would be able to use it for precision rifle later. I sized/deprimed 5k of 9mm brass I had stored over the last week. I definitely see a Dillon press in my future.
I am lucky that I can get some 9, 223 and 308 brass for free.
fredj338
Member
And 800x meters like corn flakes. Fine if that is all you can get, but running it in any measure is a disaster.
scattershot
Member
I agree that the cost per charge difference is negligible, but be aware that some powders are sold in containers of less than a pound, if you compare.
Most of my loads use Bullseye, it is very efficient - not many grains per load are needed. Of course the downside is it won't give you top velocity, but I don't care since I am making target loads. I load .45 auto and .38 special.
I still haven't emptied the 8# jug I bought in 2008, so I haven't had to open the 8# jug I bought in 2012 yet.
I still haven't emptied the 8# jug I bought in 2008, so I haven't had to open the 8# jug I bought in 2012 yet.
bananaman
Member
Have not seen any for a while, but I like CLAYS. Doesn't take much, and is clean. Currently use Bullseye, Unique, and Red Dot. They work. Bob
STORMINORMAN
Member
Well, what if...
Appreciate the heads up! However, as stated I'm dippin', ticklin' & weighing each load individually, and the larger "flakes" really have not really slowed me down: well, not too much anyway...
Hope I'm not getting too "corny" in my response.
What I really like is that the LEE (Improved!) .70cc dipper is a pretty good start for the 9mm, .38 S&W Special and EVEN the .357 Magnum loads I've been starting with!
Perhaps when better metering powders are readily available and I get into mass production I'll buy some different ones?
Cheers!
p.s. I did load some .357 Magnums with WIN 231 the other day and it sure meters well!
Appreciate the heads up! However, as stated I'm dippin', ticklin' & weighing each load individually, and the larger "flakes" really have not really slowed me down: well, not too much anyway...
Hope I'm not getting too "corny" in my response.
What I really like is that the LEE (Improved!) .70cc dipper is a pretty good start for the 9mm, .38 S&W Special and EVEN the .357 Magnum loads I've been starting with!
Perhaps when better metering powders are readily available and I get into mass production I'll buy some different ones?
Cheers!
p.s. I did load some .357 Magnums with WIN 231 the other day and it sure meters well!
joeintexas
US Veteran
You really can't go wrong with any of the powders you mentioned if you watch what you're doing. Myself, I really lean towards Win 231 in 9mm but I also get good results with Titegroup, Autocomp, Red Dot, Bullseye. For 45acp and 38spec Bullseye is my choice. Some like it baked, some like it fried, as you can see everybody's got their favorites. Have fun with it.
venomballistics
Member
I tend to thumb my nose at titegroup.
I suppose if your only purpose in life at the press is to squeeze as many rounds as possible out of a pound of powder, its your ticket.
For this relatively unimportant benefit, you forfeit performance, and safety margin.
Unique...
if there ever was a single powder to start with, this is it.
it works well in nearly everything and is used in volumes that make variations like double charges fairly obvious.
It also plays better than most at low pressures.
yes it gets dirty down there, but it displays some extra immunity against becoming erratic. Squibs become less likely.
In any given caliber, there is likely a better powder than unique. However, for that one powder better, there will be several others worse.
Unique does not suck.
Its been one of the hardest to find.
the age old question "if you could have only one ...." was answered rather definitively in the shortage.
Many fill in the blank with Unique.
Others of very worthy note.
Universal
Power Pistol
BE-86
CFE pistol
AA5
AA7
I suppose if your only purpose in life at the press is to squeeze as many rounds as possible out of a pound of powder, its your ticket.
For this relatively unimportant benefit, you forfeit performance, and safety margin.
Unique...
if there ever was a single powder to start with, this is it.
it works well in nearly everything and is used in volumes that make variations like double charges fairly obvious.
It also plays better than most at low pressures.
yes it gets dirty down there, but it displays some extra immunity against becoming erratic. Squibs become less likely.
In any given caliber, there is likely a better powder than unique. However, for that one powder better, there will be several others worse.
Unique does not suck.
Its been one of the hardest to find.
the age old question "if you could have only one ...." was answered rather definitively in the shortage.
Many fill in the blank with Unique.
Others of very worthy note.
Universal
Power Pistol
BE-86
CFE pistol
AA5
AA7
