I can't believe I passed on some Universal

[Clovishound]

Went into LGS today to look at something. Did the obligatory walk by the reloading section. They had 5 or 6 bottles of Universal on the shelf. This was my go to powder prior to the great shortage. Price was $33. I decided I could get along OK with the Titegroup and HP38 I have on hand. Anything $26 a bottle or less, and I would have taken some home.

On another front, I saw several different types of Clean Shot for $22 a bottle. They had fast, medium and slow available. I was tempted to try some.

 

[jd67]

I just bought a 8lbs jug of it the other day first ive found in over 2 yrs..lucky I buy ahead

 

[MasterTech1960]

I love Universal , that being said , I would have passed on it at that price too. I picked some up this passed April in PA . for $23.00 pound. That is about as high as I go......for now. Two weeks ago , I was able to pick up some CFE Pistol for $19.25 and CFE 223 for $21.50 . I have passed on powder at gun shows when it is jacked up. Went to a show in VA. and a guy had a sign on his table "$10.00 off per pound but of course his powder starting price was 35.00 a pound. Saw that and kept trucking. I don't play games like that.

 

[Wishoot]

My local Cabelas had Universal for around $25/lb. Only grabbed one bottle.

 

[Nemo288]

I can see why Recobs sold out of Universal. They had it @ $21.50/lb.
I picked up a 4 pounder last time I was up there.
That will keep me shooting for quite awhile.
In another thread about this powder some were complaining it shot dirty and left debris.
I have never noticed this.
It shoots cleaner than the Unique it replaced in my 44 loads at all pressure levels even at 750 fps.
I hated they way Unique would drop flakes under the extractor in those light loads.
Universal does not do this.

 

[Nevada Ed]

$33 a pound............... Yea, right......
you did the right thing.

It is an "Average" powder.... nothing, super about it, so not worth "Super prices".

I found it cleaner than Unique in pistols but less fps on maximum loads. (per data)
Dirty in low to medium 1 1/8oz. 12 Ga. loads until close to a three dram load or more.

Save your $$ for better Hodgdon powders.

 

[Geo. T.]

Well Yeah!

I sure would have passed on it at that price! Powder prices are finally coming down. They will likely never be less than 20 a pound again! Geo. T.

 

[rwsmith]

Things aren't quite as bad....

I may have bought it because even though things are not as bad as they were, medium burning powders have still been hard to find. I admire your restraint. If we pay a fortune for powder they'll just know that we will pay a fortune for powder. Does that make sense?


I'd tell them, "Heck, I can buy Vihtavuori for $40 a pound, why would I want that stuff?"

 

[Clovishound]

Well, they didn't have it marked, so I took it to the counter and had them scan it. When they told me the price, I said, "Sorry, at that price I think I will stick with the Titegroup I have right now."

 

[Co Th G]

Went into LGS today to look at something. Did the obligatory walk by the reloading section. They had 5 or 6 bottles of Universal on the shelf. This was my go to powder prior to the great shortage. Price was $33. I decided I could get along OK with the Titegroup and HP38 I have on hand. Anything $26 a bottle or less, and I would have taken some home.

On another front, I saw several different types of Clean Shot for $22 a bottle. They had fast, medium and slow available. I was tempted to try some.

I'd be passing too. I think the most I've spent per pound, even during the "shortage", was around $23. I'm buying my favorite powders online now for less than $20/lb.

 

[Co Th G]

I sure would have passed on it at that price! Powder prices are finally coming down. They will likely never be less than 20 a pound again! Geo. T.

Wrong. You can buy powder for less than $20/lb all day long. Titegroup for sale now for $14.70/lb.

 

[rwsmith]

I have beaucoup fast powder.....

Wrong. You can buy powder for less than $20/lb all day long. Titegroup for sale now for $14.70/lb.

I have a LOT of fast powders and some magnum powders. What I don't have are the medium powders. Fast powders peak rapidly in pressure and you can only get so much out of them. Slower powders don't handle reduced loads as well. I want some medium powder. WAH!!!

 

[Co Th G]

I have a LOT of fast powders and some magnum powders. What I don't have are the medium powders. Fast powders peak rapidly in pressure and you can only get so much out of them. Slower powders don't handle reduced loads as well. I want some medium powder. WAH!!!

What are you looking for specifically?

 

[glenwolde]

That's pretty pricey. That's been in stock around here for a while at one of the LGS in town. He's got every size canister and the 1# are $18.95. Other stuff comes and goes, but Titegroup shows up on a regular basis, and last week they had some Trail Boss.

They also have plenty of 700X and 800X but a lot of pistol shooters can't deal with metering those two. I use both, but W231 is my favorite and it is rare to find that. I haven't seen Bullseye or Unique in forever. But Universal is a good alternative to Unique for me.