Do you load more older powders or new?

[amazingflapjack]

All of my hand gun loads are moderate to warm, and all I use in them is Unique.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I should have said that in Rifle, I use the IMR's. 4895, 3031 and 4831 are my primary powders.

 

[Engineer1911]

Accurate Arms #2, #5, #9 for 9 MM to 45 ACP

 

[dg101win]

Unique,231,Promo(Red Dot substitute) and 296.
These cover 38,357,44spec,44mag,45acp,45colt,12,20,28,410.
Oh and H322 for the 35Rem Contender. Been reloading since 1968.

 

[BUFF]

I started handloading for handguns about 1975 with Unique, Bullseye and 2400. I have added W-231 and -296. If I can't get what I need from those I will try something else, but it has been a rare situation where one of those won't cover what I want done.

 

[mwtdvm]

Old vs New

I look at it like the WSSM and RUM caliber craze.
If it's not broke do you need to fix it? I think my newest powder is Varget and I do like it in 22-250 and .243. I load all my .270's with IMR 4064. Not the fastest but the 5 rifles shoot well(1" or less) with the same load. H4831(I now use SC) goes well in the bigger boys. I would really like to go to the range and just "fiddle around" but working gets in the way. Maybe in a couple of years when I am gainfully unemployed I will be able to fiddle more with the newer stuff

 

[125JHP]

I try a lot of different powders but AA-5, AA-7, Unique & Bullseye are constantly found on my bench.

 

[browntown]

I burn through many pounds of green dot for my standard trap load. Herco for the back porch annies and the 20g. Blue dot and unique for the revolvers. I have some oddball powders I bought on a whim, but the old hercules powders suit me well. I'm finally through most of the old hercules cardboard kegs and moving into the alliant plastic jugs now. I've stuck with alliant mainly because the classic powders are still made in USA unlike most other powders. Accurate stuff is nice too, and I know some devotees, but I've never really had too much problem with alliant flakes.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was working on the bench yesterday and noticed that most of my powders that I am using are older. You know the "classics". Bullseye, Unique, 2400 etc. The ones I am burning off and not replacing are the newer powders. Lil-gun, Longshot, etc.

You seem to like the original "Powder Trinity". I also use a Powder Trinity but it's slightly newer but just as good or better IMO. My Powder Trinity is W231 (HP-38), W540 (HS-6) and W296 (H110). Like you I try a bunch of different powder but when they're gone I always come back to those 3. So, I quess the answer is, I also load older powders more than new...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I should have said that in Rifle, I use the IMR's. 4895, 3031 and 4831 are my primary powders.

When it comes to rifle powders I use older time test powders too. 4198, 3031, 4895, 4350 and 4831 are the powder most used in my reloading. Although, I have given AA5744 a try in the 45-70 in place of 4198 and I think it's a keeper!!! The recoil feels slightly different and it's a little smokey so it's a little like Black Powder which is nice in the Springfield TrapDoor... It's the one newer powder I think might stay on my bench.

 

[bogman]

Unique & 2400 are the only powders I use.

 

[all357mag]

Strictly Alliant powders anymore. 2400, Green Dot, Bullseye. H110, w296 are overrated. Use more powder for nothing!

 

[andyo5]

There is a reason why they are 'classic' powders.
I use mostly Bullseye, Unique, Blue Dot, 2400, and H4895.

 

[johnfly45]

I load mostly for .38 special, .45 ACP, and .44 magnum. Bullseye more than anything, 100+ year track record gives me comfort that it will behave predictably, use it in .38 wadcutters for target and 45's for USPSA. Titegroup in second place with plated bullets for practical pistol competition - meters well and burns clean, just wish it was cooler. Unique for .38 special lead bullets at 800 fps or so, .44 mag at .44 special velocities, too dirty for .45 ACP (at least when having to make revolver reloads on the clock are a consideration). Either Herco or 2400 for .44 mag hunting loads, but load so few of those that a pound can will cover all I need for a lifetime.

 

[336A]

I use the "classics" as well. I use more Unique than anything else for my .38 SPL loads and medium .41 magnum loads. When I want to load full up magnum ammo I use 2400. If I had a need for heavy for caliber bullets then I might use a slower powder like H110/296. Lately I have been really questioning the fad of using heavier bullets though. If a 220gr - 230gr .41 bullet or 240gr - 250gr .44 bullet can sail through both shoulders of an elk or drive into 4' of moose, what exactly is a heavier bullet going to offer aside from more recoil.

 

[bflobill69]

Alot of Bullseye. Its filthy imho, but I am very fond of the accuracy I get with it. Also use alot of IMR 700x and Clays... I guess that all qualifies as OLD STUFF!

 

[Fishslayer]

Bullseye, Green Dot, W231 and 2400.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I do a little bit of everything. I've found that powders from the time when the round was created give the best origenal type performance,e.g. 45/70 ffg,45LC ;fffg 338 Lapua likes US869, in modern handguns I load mostly SASS loads in WW231 and CLAYS and I'll say at the low end 231 may be very dirty, but it is cleaner than black powder. If it works, don't fix it!

 

[Forrest r]

I use a little of both. Some of the older powders are sooooooo good that the saying (if it ain't broke, don't fix it) comes to mind.

older powders:
Bullseye
hp-38/ww231
herco
2400
bl-c2
H414

New powders:
clays
universal clays
international clays
titegroup
varget

 

[lmcgust]

Newer than older for me...Titegroup for .38, WSF for 9mm, Bullseye for 45ACP, Reloader 15 for the .308 and maybe Benchmark for .223 which I'm testing now.
Regards,
Guy-