Need help with types/brand of powder

[wolfe2701]

Going to two gun shows Saturday May 2 2015. Have looked for pistol powder at the last 4 or 5 shows. Saw 1lb titegroup at the last one already gone. Are there other powders (shotgun or rifle) that can be used for 38/357 range loads?
Thanks for any help.

 

[mule69]

Most reloading manuals list the powders that are most used for certain calibers. Also, Hodgdon has a web site that is very helpful. Just select the caliber you are reloading for and the site gives you a list of powders.

 

[littleriver1]

look at IMR 700X , 800X and American Select

 

[11e40]

can always use good ol' unique.

 

[DWalt]

Unique and 231/HP-38 are the most versatile powders for the .38 Special and .357 Magnum. And many other calibers, such as lighter loads in .44 Mag.

 

[ROK]

Last winter, during the Great Powder Drought, I would take my Hornady hardcover with me to shop. If I found a powder I wasn't familiar with, I'd look up what I could use it for. Saved me from some bad purchases.

Locally powder selection is much improved. And the book is in the car, just in case I see something unfamiliar.

 

[Magload]

I just bring up Hodgdon's website on my cell phone.

 

[wolfe2701]

Thanks for the help. Will be searching Sat. morning.

 

[fredj338]

Since you are new to this, stick to powders you can find data for. So hit the books & burn rate chart. Reality, anything I can shove into a case can be made to work. You do need to know how, but any powder from 4227 & faster can be made to work.

 

[MyDads38]

Good luck finding any Alliant powders, but Bullseye (38 target loads) or Red Dot or Unique. Hodgdon TiteGroup (I now have 16 lbs of it) or Winchester 231/Hodgdon HP-38 would work also. Haven't used 700X yet but have 2 lbs on hand.

 

[gwpercle]

I was/am looking for pistol powder also, got out loading books and made list of every powder that was listed for 38 spcl/9mm luger /45 acp , heard local Cabela's had powder...got there and discovered they had ONE pistol powder, 700X , but I knew it could be used in all three, had my list, 6 or 8 bottles (14 ounce) were all there was. I bought one....maybe I should have bought two. Bring a list and buy whatever you can get.
Beggars can't be choosers!
Gary

 

[MichiganScott]

I just stumbled across a pound of CFE Pistol. It looks like it will work fine for top end .38 Special and .45 ACP loads and mid-range .357. It's a ball powder, so it should meter extremely well. I can't wait to get some loaded up to see how it shoots.

 

[scooter123]

For the 38 special the only powder I use is Vihtavouri 3N37. It meters very well, is clean shooting, not at all position sensitive, and it's a nice low flash powder for the 38 special. BTW the ONLY bullet I load 38 special with is a 125 grain plated from either Extreme or Rainier. Because 38 special for me is specifically for training new shooters or working on my double action trigger technique.

For 357 Magnum I'm sort of all over the map. Because I have revolvers with 4 and 6 inch barrels plus two rifles in 357 Magnum. As a result I load with 125, 140, and 158 grain Hornady XTP's in both Handgun and Rifle configurations and 158 grain Berry's Hard Cast for Cowboy Silhouette Matches. Yeah, I shoot the 357, I like the challenge and I am not so interested in winning that I game the system. Plus I've found that the 357 feeds a lot smoother in my Winchester. So, I have a bunch of different powders I can use for 357 Magnum.

For Handgun loads my preferred powders are Accurate #5, #7, and #9. Because they meter superbly and I can select a burn rate for a specific bullet. Generally #5 goes to the 125 grain XTP's, #7 to the hard cast and 140 grain XTP's, and #9 to the 158 grain XTP's. If I run out of one of the Accurate powders my fallback powders are the 3N37, Unique, and Longshot. You may also not that I do NOT load my handgun loads with H110 and there is a reason for that. I find that H110 in a handgun produces way too much muzzle flash and that BAHOOM muzzle blast can get tiresome rather quickly.

For my Rifle loads I'll choose a slower powder for the Jacketed bullets and usually load with Accurate #5 with the Hardcast bullets. Because I've found that #5 limits the velocity produced from my rifles and I don't have to deal with leading in the barrel. As for specific powders, my preferred powder for Rifle loads is H110/296. I just love the way this powder performs in a rifle and it meters wonderfully. However, as a consequence of the recent powder shortages I've learned to accumulate some fallback stock so I have a couple pounds of 4227 and 2400 in my stash for just in case.

 

[Magload]

I like CFE Pistol and am using it in 9mm, 38 Spel. 357, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Been running a lot of chrono test on loads this week. I got the CFE Pistol when I was down to my last 2 ozs of TiteGroup. I have 8# of CFE Pistol being delivered tomorrow.

 

[Bkreutz]

Here's a list of 9mm powders that I used when the shortage was at it's worst. All of the ones listed have data for 9mm loads. Some of them work better than others but they all "work". Currently I only use CFE Pistol and Autocomp.

 

[rwsmith]

Red Dot is good

Alliant Red Dot is good for a target-medium load

Alliant Blue Dot is a magnum powder

Unique is good for low to medium hot, very versatile

Bullseye is the target powder, economical like Titegroup

Alliant 2,5,7,9 are good 2 is like a target powder. 9 is like a magnum powder. 5 and 7 kinda mix it up in the middle.

H110 or Win 296 are for HOT loads and don't reduce well.

Alliant 2400 is a great magnum powder that is almost as powerful as 296 and 110 but more reduceable.

Win 231 is a good one.

The Vihtavuori powders are excellent but EXPENSIVE.

Don't confuse Titegroup with TiteWAD. TiteWad is bad news.

 

[wolfe2701]

Went to the gun show in Pensacola Fl. today. There was powder, primers, bullets, brass, and more powder. Had the lists above but did not need them ( I will keep them for the future). When I left there was still a table or two loaded with pistol powder.