I am about to pull the trigger on a reloading setup. I shoot 38 in j frame, 38 and 357 in k frame, and 38 and 357 in Marlin 1894.

Is there one powder that works pretty will in all of these uses? If not, I would like to keep it down to two.

There are so many powders and loads out there, its hard to know where to start.

Question 2, are small pistol non-magnum primers acceptable for 38 and 357, or are magnum primers required? Again would like to keep to one primer to support all, less likely to get mixed up.

Thanks all,

I use HP38 for all handgun loads. .38, .357, 9MM, .380, and .45. Win231 is the same powder. Meters dead on. I even use standard small pistol primers for both .38 and .357.

What reloading manuals do you have? Should have 3-4, read and re read. Unique powder is as its name implies , very versatile. Then what bullets do you plan onloading?

I'm all about unique

Me too...........

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

I was going to say Win 231/HP-38, until you listed the Marlin. The 231 will get you great results in .38 special and .357 up to moderate loads in handguns. If you want the full capability of your rifle or full house magnums, you may have to look at a slower powder. I tried going down this "one powder to rule them all" path in the beginning, too. There is a reason they make different powders for different applications.

Small pistol regular primers will be fine in the 231, but slower true magnum powders may require a magnum primer listed in the book(s). Study up! And never trust loading data that is not published in a book or by the manufacturer online. Same goes for opinions in forums, mine included.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

The best powder for your needs is undoubtedly Winchester 231/HP38 Hodgdon designation. Will give good standard pressure loads for your J frame and K frames but is basically a mid range .357 powder. Will reach close to 1200 FPS with a 158 gr cast bullet in .357 revolvers. No one powder is good for light .38 loads through full bore .357 loads. If you go to two powders buy magnum primers. They give better performance with slow powders in the tall .357 case and provide better consistency in light .38 loads with minimal effect on velocity.

There are several powders that will "work" but you will be making a compromise if you want a single powder to cover standard pistol loads as well as the magnums. Take a look at CFE Pistol though that would be my choice for an everything powder. There may be a better choice but I haven't discovered it yet.

I think that after some experience with reloading, you'll end up with several powders. For optimum performance with different bullet weights and low to high velocity loads, it is about mandatory.

For starters though, you can't go wrong with either 231 (HP38) or Unique or a powder that matches their burn speed.

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Keep your powder dry.

You'll need two powders. I use AA#5 for .38, and for lower powered .357 loads. When I want full power. 357, I switch to AA#9.

If you must use only one powder , then unique. 231 and HP 38 are great for the mild loads also. I highly recommend 2400 for warm .357 though. None of those powder requires magnum primers.
Always use published data.
Good luck,
David.

Unique and Power Pistol would be in upper two for one powder . Power Pistol meters real nice, burns clean, and makes for a snappy 357 load. Unique is just an awesome all around powder. I would use it in every thing if it was the only powder I had.

I've settled on Bullseye for light range ammo, Unique for heavier 38Sp and moderate 357, and 2400 for full-boat 357.

I also have Power Pistol but prefer Unique for 38/357. The Power Pistol is great in 9mm tho.

If I could just have one, it would be Unique. Two, I'd add 2400.

If you're just starting out, buy the manuals and look at what they have for starting and max loads. Pick the propellant/powder that has the widest range on this, and start at the bottom. There are a lot of other variables on what you're doing, but this is the conservative approach that will keep you safe, where you'll find the book will never have the exact powder or bullet listed for what you want to do.

I used to think Unique was the one I’d use if I only used one. That was before I found Power Pistol. I have good accurate loads with it for every handgun cartridge I load. Extreme spreads are always lower than comparable Unique loads. They’re all hard to find right now unfortunately.

If I was just loading.38’s it would be WW231/HP38 hands down.

Dan

I’ve only been loading for 8 years, so there are more experienced people here, but I am super careful and I don’t intend to make mistakes. There are better powders than HP38 for .357, but I decided long ago to keep with one powder only. No chance of mixing them up as I switch calibers. I even use a separate hopper for rifle loading so no chance of mixing them up. I don’t need to push the .357 to its full potential to punch paper.

I've used a lot of different powders. I load for several chamberings. Trying to choose one powder there's compromises to make with each choice.

I prefer higher density loads, (more powder) in large volume cases to easily identify light or heavy charges.

Any of the powders suggested so far in this thread will work about as well as the other. As stated above, when you get started and powders are easier to find hopefully at better prices you'll want different burn rate powders to try.

I've used more Unique and Universal than most others for general purpose loads. I still use keep and use these two powders on a regular basis.

Today I buy more CFE Pistol. Hodgdon provides a lot of data for this newer powder. It works well for me most handgun applications.

You're not going to get magnum performance from a .357, but these will safely provide enough oomph with heavier bullets to satisfy most general needs.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

It is going to be what you can find in this day and time

Dogdoc is right, whatever powder, bullets, brass, and primers you can find are likely what you are going to be using. As others have said, HP-38/W-231 is a versatile powder for 38 Special and mid-range 357 Magnum loads. Unique will likely give a little more velocity in the 357 Magnum before you reach the safe pressure limit, but it is not a slow burning powder, which is what you need for full velocity 357 Magnum loads.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

If you have or can find them, Alliant Red Dot and Blue Dot would serve you well. I have used both sp and spm primers; either work well with these powders.

If you absolutely must have just one powder: Unique.

To get max potential out of your .357 Mag loads for hunting or SD (especially out of the rifle) use 2400 or WW296/H-110 (same powder). The latter will require mag primers, however.

If you're just going to plink and punch paper: Unique.

I use several, but
Unique
Bullseye
231
are my go to powders.

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213th FBINA

You're going to end up with a couple/few powders. Jack of all trades, master of none is OK but part of reloading is getting optimal performance.

The last few years, I've been fixated on the Accurate line of AA2, AA5, AA7 and AA9.

I think either 5 or 7 would bridge the 38/357 spread.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

For about twenty years I got by with Unique and mid range loads , standard pressure 38 special , +P 38 and mid range 357 magnum ...
All did wonderfully !

Unique sucks at light target loads and does only fair at heavy 357 magnum loads .

Try as I might ... Unique wouldn't "do-It-All .

Light target loads kept eluding me ... one day the light bulb clicked on and I bought that magic light load powder ...Bullseye . 2.7 grs , 148 gr to 160gr wadcutter , 38 special case ... Is Simply Amazing .

Heavy magnum Loads ...2400 is my magic .

If I can't get Bullseye - Red Dot, Accurate #2 or Ramshot Competition will do .
No Unique - Universal , Accurate #5 or Power Pistol .
Can't get 2400 - Accurate #7 , Accurate #9 or H110.

You can get by with one powder but you will suffer somewhere along the line ... For one powder go with a mid-range like Unique ... it covers a lot of ground ... and don't believe all that horse pucky about being dirty and smoky ... your burning gunpowder and making gunsmoke for cryingoutloud ! It also Works and Works Well !
Most important ... lots and lots and lots of loading data is available for this powder , it's been around awhile .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Accurate brand powders are almost always available too. Hodgdon has them now at the new regular prices, if you cant get any local and have to ship. Plus, A5,7 and 9 are great for either caliber. My gavorite 38/357 loads come from these powders.

I have used Titegroup for at least 20+ years for 38 special and 357 Magnum. Works well for me and goes a long way in these days of inflated pricing and hard to get products.

wow, that is an awesome response, greatly appreciated. My loads, like many of you will vary from mild to wild. HP38/W231 sounds like what I will use for most of my loads. For extra punishment on hot 357 rounds for the K frame and especially the Marlin it sounds like 2400 might be the one, with magnum primers. So cool to have a round with so much versatility, a soft 105 grain 38 at maybe 800 fps the J frame, 158 grain barn burner for the K frame (self abuse), and possibly the same round for the marlin. I don't hunt, but its really cool to send 357s at 2000+ fps out of the marlin . thanks for the great input, much appreciated.

I started reloading in 1972 and started casting bullets in 1973. The first two cartridges I reloaded were 9X19 and .38 Special.

First, I will second the comments above on good reloading manuals. The best, in my opinion, are the Lyman Handbooks; good factory-tested load data along with excellent tutorials on everything from the basics to advanced techniques and troubleshooting problems.

Primers: standard small pistol primers will do everything you need in both .38 Special and .357 magnum.

Bullets: I use hard cast lead bullets exclusively in .38 and .357. They do everything I have ever needed from practice and training ammo to hunting ammo.

Powders: I've probably tried just about everything over the years. Eventually settled on Unique for these calibers. Specific loads that have worked well for me:

1. .38 Special, modest load for regular practice is 4.5 grains Unique with 158-grain cast SWC.

2. .38 Special, "standard load" for field use is 5.0 grains Unique, 158 cast SWC or 150-grain cast SWC-HP.

3. .38 Special +P load is 5.4 grains Unique, 158 SWC or 150 SWC-HP.

4. .357 magnum "standard load" is 7.0 grains Unique, 158 SWC or 150 SWC-HP.

5. .357 "Lite" (range practice load) is 6.5 Unique, 158 SWC or 150 SWC-HP.

My revolvers range from a S&W Model 37 Airweight Chief Special, K-frames (Model 10 3", Model 64 2", Model 19 2.5", Model 66 4", Model 19 6"), L-frame Model 586 4", and N-frame (Model 27, Model 28). At various times these have handled everything from paper punching to small game and a few Colorado mule deer.

Still using pre-pandemic supplies of primers and powder. With homemade cast bullets I load all of these for 5 to 6 cents per round ($2.50 to $3.00 per box of 50). I still pay attention to this because I started reloading just to be able to afford shooting, and now that I can afford just about anything I want I can't break the old habits.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

I would not use magnum primers with 2400. In fact at least one loading manual warns not to use them and I've not seen loading data that specifies them for 2400.
Hercules (now Alliant) 2400 powder and load data for it was developed long before magnum handgun primers were invented. I believe that there is a danger that using magnum primers for near max loads of 2400 could raise pressure to unsafe levels.

Regarding powder choice, I want to mention that I started reloading handgun ammo in the late 60's. I used Bullseye, Unique and 2400 to cover the whole range from light to full bore. During the powder shortage a few years back, I had to learn about other powders and developed quite a wide variety. It was fun to try new powders and I really like CFE Pistol. However, the pandemic has taught me that I can't, and really shouldn't, go out and buy every new powder I read about. So I've been simplifying and am going back to Bullseye and 2400 for the light and heavy ends of my loading spectrum. CFE Pistol will probably do the loads in the middle, but I'll still keep some Unique around; it is a unique powder.

George

\
Here you go ... my 50+ years loading 38/357 & Unique has yielded the same exact pet loads...
... except for my Ruger Blackhawk it's - #4 357 Magnum "standard load" is 7.5 grs. Unique w/ Lyman #358156 , gas check , cast , SWC , 155 grains ... either hollow or soilid point .
This may have come from Skeeter Skelton but is extremely accurate in the Blackhawk .

Other revolvers may prefer 7.0 grs of Unique ...try them .
And don't go lower than 4.5 grs Unique as in load #1 ... it just doesn't burn right below that low pressure in a 38 spcl.
I've tried ... Bullseye if you want lighter loads .

This post is giving you probably the combined reloading experiences of 100 years ..1967 for me = 54 years , 49 years for Lobo ... yeah you got 103 years here ! You can write these loads down and take them to the bank ... They Work !

As always ... Awesome Post LoboGunLeather...well said .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Look at as many reloading manuals as you can find!
Primers(mag or standard) is determined by what powder you use
Powder(fun or business) is determined by the gun, caliber, bullet, & purpose

NOT ONE POWDER fits all the above! You will find one powder that will be a compromise in most of the above!

Would you wear hip boots to run a marathon? BUT, hip boots have a purpose!
jcelect

I've consolidated my powders and instead of lots of different 1 lb bottles I have 8-10 lbs of the few that I use.

I won't go into detail about the cartridges I load but I find I can use 3 powders for everything I shoot with good results.

One rifle powder, one magnum revolver powder and one standard pistol powder will cover a lot of bases. I do have some 1 lb bottles of powder left over from years of loading shotgun ammo (like SR-7625) but I won't replace it when it's gone.

Don't buy ball powder that requires magnum primers. Keep it simple.

A good standard pistol powder will work for the firearms you have. You have some good advice already about what to buy.

When you get ready to explore the upper end of 357 you will want a slower powder like 2400. It works for 357 and some other things also like 44 Mag, 30 carbine and 300 BLK. 2400 will also work for 38 spl +P but not all of my 38's are rated for +P so I avoid loading it for 38 spl. Alliant has the load data.

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That's just somebody talkin.