I've used Unique exclusively in my handgun loads for over 36 years, in .38 S&W, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and .45 ACP. I am anal about my reloading, using my scale to weigh every powder charge. Yes, I have a powder measure, but have rarely used it. -Ed.
.38 & .357 best powder
- Thread starter mboyda
- Start date
Vulcan Bob
Member
Well the old standards work well for me, Unique and 2400.
tcc1953
Member
I'm an old dude - been reloading 35+ years - Unique comes as close as you can to an all around powder for most handgun loads. Throw in Bullseye, H110, 2400, & WW231 and you can shoot pretty much anything with a short barrel. My cabinet has 8 lb. kegs of BE, Unique & 231 at all times......
brian45auto
Member
why limit yourself to one or two powders? there are so many to pick from.
there is no "best", only "better" and "not as good". i played the "as few powders as possible" game early on.
it's almost everyday you hear about a powder that does this, that, or the other thing better than the rest....so why not try it yourself?
current favorites include 2400, bullseye, unverisal, unqiue, ei, ie, ie, ie, ie........
there is no "best", only "better" and "not as good". i played the "as few powders as possible" game early on.
it's almost everyday you hear about a powder that does this, that, or the other thing better than the rest....so why not try it yourself?
current favorites include 2400, bullseye, unverisal, unqiue, ei, ie, ie, ie, ie........
Paul5388
US Veteran
I shot a few .38s today. They ranged from 125 gr Golden Sabers to 170 gr Keith and they were all loaded with SR4756. That's somewhere in the neighborhood of 1300 fps for the 125 and a little over 1000 fps for the 170 gr. I used a 4" pre-M28, M28-2 and a M14-2. #1 grandson helped me shoot them!
Smith357
US Veteran
For .38s I use Clays and Bullseye for most every bullet style.
For .357 I like Unique and Blue Dot for standard loads, and 4227 for heavy 180 grain XTP hunting loads from a long barrel.
For .357 I like Unique and Blue Dot for standard loads, and 4227 for heavy 180 grain XTP hunting loads from a long barrel.
mike from st pete
Member
I'm a fan of Unique for 38SPL and 357MAG. Mild loads leave some unburned flakes.
smiffundvessen
Member
Like many, I use Unique for .38 Special, .38 +P, and reasonable loads in the .357. If I need more snort in the magnum, I go with 2400. Actually, I could get by with just Unique only in all my revolvers.
Unique is bulky enough that double loads are obvious, a plus. It meters horribly, however, through my powder measures, the negative.
Unique is bulky enough that double loads are obvious, a plus. It meters horribly, however, through my powder measures, the negative.
Honestly, this is what reloading is all about. Try different powders with different bullet weights in YOUR handguns and decide which work best for you. Some have more muzzle flash, some are dirtier, some are not readily available, some are more forgiving. Try some different loads and powders from good reloading books and use what you like.
WILDPIG
WILDPIG
tcc1953
Member
Amen, brother. This is exactly the reason all women are not red-headed. There is no "one size fits all" in the reloading world.....
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
As the others are telling you, the .38 Special and .357 Magnum are two very different calibers. The pressures are so different you will need at least 2 powders to do both well because the burn rates of the powders need to be different. The .38 Special should use a fairly fast powder like AA#2, Clays, Bullseye, W231/HP-38 and so on. The .357 Magnum needs a slower powder to be at it's best like 2400, AA#9, W296/H110 and powder like that.
The old standby powder trinity is Bullseye, Unique and 2400. My "trinity is W231, HS-6 (W540) and W296.
I use W231 for the .38 Special, HS-6 for the .38 Special +P and either 2400 or W296 for the .357 Magnum. It's not the powder name that's important but getting the burn rate correct for the application.
I hope I didn't make things more confusing...
