Best Powder For Paper Targets

[Sam Casey]

I enjoy loading for target shooting. I use commercial ammo for personal defense. I have used Unique for my light reloads because I have it on hand for shotguns. Now that powder seems be more available, appreciate suggestions as to best pistol powder for target loads in terms of Reliable Metering, reasonable volume, and decent accuracy for 38spl, 40 & 41mag.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Target loads = lower velocity. Generally means faster powders. Your calibers are A bit of a dissimilar mix, but w231 may work.

 

[colt_saa]

I switched from Unique over to 231 for the 38 Special/357 Magnum and 41 Magnum target loads

 

[fredj338]

Unique is a great powder but not at its best below midrange load levels. I used red dot for years in the big 45colt for light loads. Also works well in any caliber for that app. Terrific accuracy with lead & coated bullets. Other good choices are WST, Ramshot comp, green dot, all are high loft fast burners.

 

[Nevada Ed]

With a pound of power and loading a target load for the 148gr in a 38 special...........

3.5 grs. of Unique will get around 2,000 loads.
2.7 grs. of Bullseye will get around 2,590 loads.

11.8 boxes of more ammo.

 

[gwpercle]

I tried to make unique work for target loads for years, just didn't want to have more than one powder. Unique is at best OK for target loads.
I bought Bullseye and found it much more suited for target and cast bullet loads. Have branched out to try Red Dot and 700X.
Those three are excellent and I wished I had tried them sooner, wasted a lot of time trying to make Unique do something it's not intended to do. At the time I didn't know that. Unlike Unique, Bullseye, Red Dot and 700X burn completely at lower pressures developed by target loads.
Gary

 

[fredj338]

I tried to make unique work for target loads for years, just didn't want to have more than one powder. Unique is at best OK for target loads.
I bought Bullseye and found it much more suited for target and cast bullet loads. Have branched out to try Red Dot and 700X.
Those three are excellent and I wished I had tried them sooner, wasted a lot of time trying to make Unique do something it's not intended to do. At the time I didn't know that. Unlike Unique, Bullseye, Red Dot and 700X burn completely at lower pressures developed by target loads.
Gary

Red dot has about 1.5x the loft of BE too, a better fit in larger cases IMO.

 

[H Richard]

I use 231 for .32, .380, 9mm, 38 Spec, 45 acp. Target and mid-range. It meters beautifully, and is often cited as most accurate loads in the Lyman manual.

 

[AzShooter]

I find Bullseye to be the best, followed by Red Dot and 231 in that order.

Depending on the bullet you use, Bullseye will be just fine. Especially if you shoot full wadcutters. 2.7 grains will work real well.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Over the years I had little problems making most powders work with lead target loads or light jacket loads in barrels that are 4" long or more...........
Some of the slower powders may need to be bumped up to get accuracy and a better burn but they generally pan out.

Now, if you are trying to get slow target loads in a 2" or less snub nose 38 special,
you will find out in a hurry, that some powders need a major testing to find out what this little revolver will like.
Again, the little 148gr lead bullet is my first choice for this revolver.

Good loading.

 

[lrrifleman]

Hello. I have been using WW231 almost exclusively for my target velocity 38 Special, 41 Magnum, 9mm Luger, and 45 ACP loads. Prior to the 231, I used Bullseye, but that seemed to be a dirtier burn. I have not seen 231 on any shelves locally for a while, so I am being forced to try Titegroup. Titegroup and 231 require only a few tenths of a grain more to perform like Bullseye.

 

[rwsmith]

The formula....

The general formula is a heavy, slow lead bullet powered by a fast target powder such as Bullseye, Titegroup or any of the better target powders being offered.

Often these will be soft 'swaged' bullets that easily conform to the rifling. For .38 special the HBWC is King.

You can use any combination and all guns are different, but the above has a great track record.

 

[SLT223]

Takea good look at Hodgdon Clays. Smoking accurate low velocity target loads and cleanest powder there is.

 

[M1A]

I use Titegroup, W231, & W296, depending on cartridge and availability. I do not light load anything, never have. If I want light I go to .22 LR and .38 S&W.

 

[ACP230]

I shot a lot of .45 ACP loads made with Unique when I was a Bullseye
shooter. Also used it in .38 Special for plinking and small game hunting.
No problem making accurate loads.

It is also my favorite powder for .41 Magnum loads. Shot bowling pins and steel plates with several .41s LSWC bullets weighing from 210 to
230 grains in weight. No problems in those games either.

 

[Sam Casey]

Thanks for input. I will try a can of W231 if I can find it and continue using Unique in meanwhile. I do like the way ball powders meter; WSF is one of my favorites to crank out 20ga on MEC hydro.

 

[daniel lawecki]

I been using Titegroup since Clays can't be found in my area. In my .45 LC, .45 ACP, .38Spl, and in the .44Mag. In fact I just loaded 500 .45Acp with a cast 200swc. I find this to be a good powder and can pretty much can be found most anywhere.

 

[gnystrom]

I am under the impression 231/HP38 being discontinued. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[M1Lover]

I agree with SLT223: I always found Unique to be dirty and left my guns stinky and sooty, so for .45ACP in my Colt 70 Series pistols, I really like Hodgden Clays powder. I highly recommend you try the powder. H.

 

[TAROMAN]

Bullseye.
Aptly named 117 years ago.

 

[JBnTx]

I am under the impression 231/HP38 being discontinued. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong.

You're wrong. Plain and simple.

 

[hangnoose]

HANDGUN POWDERS

All my handgun barrels are now 4" or less. I believe in faster powders for shorter bbl.'s. Ball powders do seem to meter better. On hand now I have some bullseye, 2400, titegroup & the most of unique. Bullseye is saved for 38 special 148gr wc's, 9mm gets titegroup, 357, 40 & 45acp gets unique. For 357 hunting loads I would use the 2400 for it's excellent velocity & accuracy, but I hate the ^ noise & recoil.. If you want 1 powder for all your calibers it could be done, just expect to spend more time working up your loads & a chrono would be a big help, almost a requirement. Let us know what you find & good luck.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Unique is a great powder but not at its best below midrange load levels. I used red dot for years in the big 45colt for light loads. Also works well in any caliber for that app. Terrific accuracy with lead & coated bullets. Other good choices are WST, Ramshot comp, green dot, all are high loft fast burners.

I have a lot of Unique but keep it as a back up-- for the range these days and for quite some time the call has been W231, and Red Dot for 45 colt, 9 mm, etc. 41 mag. etc., 800X will get the call for serious hunting loads. Just works for me.

 

[lrrifleman]

I am under the impression 231/HP38 being discontinued. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong.

I had been told that Bullseye and 231 were very expensive to produce due to the residue, and I had read somewhere along the line in the past few months that they would most likely be discontinued.

I justify visited the Powder Valley site, and while the had many powders listed as out of stock, there seemed to be a lot more that were listed as out of stock/no back order. I called and was told it was more likely that those powders would be a long time from future delivery as opposed to their being discontinued. At this point, I don't know what to believe. I have found Powder Valley to be a good barometer of powder availability.

 

[Moe Mentum]

I use w231, but when I couldn't find any during the shortage, I started using Red Dot, and what difference in accuracy. The Red Dot is much better in my 9mm, and .38 spl . I would never have believed it.

 

[Huskerguy]

I use Titegroup for both 38 and 40 and these loads are very accurate on the low end and managable to shoot. I shoot both lead (my own pour) in my 38's along with some plated bullets. With the 40 I use only plated bullets so far. I started using W231 a couple years ago in my 38's with good succes but overall I like the TG better. I find 231 a bit more dirty at the low end I shoot. I shoot for accuracy first, comfort second. Both meter well and are available in my area.

 

[fredj338]

I had been told that Bullseye and 231 were very expensive to produce due to the residue, and I had read somewhere along the line in the past few months that they would most likely be discontinued.

I justify visited the Powder Valley site, and while the had many powders listed as out of stock, there seemed to be a lot more that were listed as out of stock/no back order. I called and was told it was more likely that those powders would be a long time from future delivery as opposed to their being discontinued. At this point, I don't know what to believe. I have found Powder Valley to be a good barometer of powder availability.

Going forward, many old fav powders will be discontinued. It's mostly economics. If it cost more to make, they'll make something else. Why I tell reloaders to have more than one load for each gun/caliber, you may find out your fav is no longer made. W231/HP38 could be on that list. If you find some, I suggest you buy all you think you need, not just 1#.

 

[Troystat]

Unless you have really heavy duty paper targets and need more power Give either Bullseye, or 231/HP-38 a try, on another forum somebody mentioned WST but I have not used that one.

 

[caz067]

target loads

I like Trail Boss for 38 spl & 41 mag. , or 231. Both great powders.

 

[Ruzneb]

I have found Titegroup to be an excellent powder for both .38 Spec full wadcutters and .45 ACP semi wadcutters for low velocity powder charges. It burns very cleanly. BUT-it is very caustic when it comes in contact with plastic or paint. I use a Hornady progressive that came with a polystyrene powder tube. After loading 250 rnds I poured the Titegroup back into it's container, but powder was stuck to the inside of the tube. I tried swabbing it out with alcohol-no luck. I removed the tube and washed it with hot water and soap. No luck. The Titegroup had adhered to the inside of the tube. I called Hornady and they said it was static electricity, which was simply untrue. Powder had also adhered to the inside of the hopper, which is painted. I couldn't clean it, either. I ended up using paint remover and Q tips to clean the inside of the hopper. I also bought plexiglas acrylic tubing to replace the Hornady tube. It is impervious to Titegroup. I left the inside of the hopper bare metal. I use Sprayon SP610 anti-static spray on the outside of the tube.