One powder for everything

[ArchAngelCD]

As noted, it's not about saving $$ but simple logistics. I could get by loading all 12+ handgun calibers I shoot with unique. Problem, if I didn't stock enough unique, I am in trouble. One powder for all can be a blessing or curse in times of shortage like today.
So I have at least 3 acceptable loads for all 20+ calibers I load for. That gives me options as many powders can be used for diff calibers. I could get by with 2 handgun & 2 rifle powders, but there would be compromises.

EXACTLY!!!

I can get along with only 3 handgun powders but I like to load what I think is the very best choice for each cartridge. If I could only get W231(HP-38), W540(HS-6) and W296(H110) I would be just fine but I'm glad I can get more than those 3, especially in a shortage. It's good to know Zip or Green Dot will load the .38 Special similar to W231.

 

[alwslate]

Nothing wrong with simplicity. I'm sure that many handloaders shoot
purely for fun and relaxation and aren't concerned about optimal loads
for each cartridge. Any of the fast burners that are used for shotshells
and can be found in 8 lb jugs could be used to load all the common
handgun calibers. One overlooked advantage would be economy.
Promo is sold only in 8 lb jugs and is cheap. Anyone could buy several
jugs when available and be set for the next 20 yrs. One powder, a
scale and a few dippers is all a handloader actually needs to keep
his guns in ammo. Many of "us" would not be satisified with that
approach of course but there's nothing wrong with simplicity. It's
all in what you want.

 

[fredj338]

8 lb jugs could be used to load all the common
handgun calibers. One overlooked advantage would be economy.
Promo is sold only in 8 lb jugs and is cheap. Anyone could buy several
jugs when available and be set for the next 20 yrs. One powder, a
scale and a few dippers is all a handloader actually needs to keep
his guns in ammo. Many of "us" would not be satisified with that
approach of course but there's nothing wrong with simplicity. It's
all in what you want.

Correct, if the point is to just make the gun go bang. Maybe for a casual shooter, that works fine. If hey only consumed 16# of pistol powder over 20yrs, I would call that pretty casual. Btw, I like promo, just not available around here like the rest of he sg/pistol powders.

 

[OFT II]

I got by for years using only Bullseye and Unique. If I had to pick one, it would be Unique.

Since the shortage I now have too many different kinds of powder.

Mr. Smith, I'm with you but I like to keep some 2400 around also.

 

[SMSgt]

I hate to break the hearts of those who think only new reloaders seek one powder, but I've reloaded since 1975 and use one powder in all three handgun calibers I reload. Why? Because I want to. My HP-38 works well and does what I want.

Never used a chrony, never change powders once I find what works, and when they go where I aim, that's good enough.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I hate to break the hearts of those who think only new reloaders seek one powder, but I've reloaded since 1975 and use one powder in all three handgun calibers I reload. Why? Because I want to. My HP-38 works well and does what I want.

Never used a chrony, never change powders once I find what works, and when they go where I aim, that's good enough.

I agree with you but I don't like doing that. If I had to I could also get along with using only W231/HP-38 but I choose not to.

I use nothing else in the .38 Special and 45 Auto but I moved away from W231 in the 45 Colt in favor of HS-6. While i can get good performance with W231 in the .357 Magnum I get much better performance with W296 instead. Like I said above, I can load anything handgun with 3 powders and do it very well instead of just OK.

 

[JeepinSoldier]

As posted above, I just like simplicity.

I can load .380, 9mm, .38 Special, and .45 ACP with 231/HP 38 so that is what I use.

296 will load both .357 Mag and .30 Carbine so those calibers get that.

748 loads both .223 and .30-30.

 

[lebomm]

I would be confident that FFFg would propel any bullet from any gun that new reloader has, large caliber or small, handgun OR long gun.

 

[MyDads38]

Just plain and simple and easy to be able to use one powder for all your loading, if you can do it. I'm fortunate enough that I can, and that makes me happy

Bullseye is my "go to" powder of choice. I only load cast bullet plinking loads for my 38 Spec, 9mm and 45 auto. Until the "shortage", I had no reason to use/try anything else. I now have several different powders on my shelf out of necessity :-(

Last week, I was finally able to get an 8 lb. jug of Bullseye; first I had found since last fall! Besides the Bullseye, I now have 11 lbs. of various powders that can be used, but I really have no desire to work up loads with all of them. I may sell some to other reloaders who don't have much/any powders so they can continue to shoot as well. But for me, one powder just makes sense.

 

[Hook686]

Certainly different strokes for different folks. I use two powders ... Unique and 2400. I use the Unique for most everything except magnum revolvers, M1 carbines and Marlin Carbines, though I could use the Unique with the Marlins also if need be. I use these two simply because they cover well all my handguns and carbines (including the USGI M1 Carbine) and I cannot confuse the two powders ... easy for me to visually tell them apart. If I had to limit myself to only one powder, it would be the Unique.

 

[walnutred]

On October of 2008 I panic bought two 8 lb kegs of powder, one of which was Bullseye, and two sleeves of primers. A few months later I sold the other keg and half the primers for about what I had in the whole order because by then everyone was in a panic.

Bullseye is not the only powder I use, but I do use it for cast bullets in 32 Long, 9x17, 9x18, 9x19, 38 S&W and 38 Special which covers a lot of what I shoot that I reload for. At that time I also bought a couple small cans of 231 which handles the 45 ACP and 45 Colt. I'm not saying I believe in only having one powder as I probably have around 18 different types of powder on my reloading shelf. However based on what I'm seeing in stores and online reloading is no longer a question of "What combination of components will work best in my particular firearm". The question has become "Given what components are available what is the best load I can develop?".

 

[sw282]

'0nly 0ne powder' is like saying'0nly 0ne gun'......lt aint gonna happen

 

[Nemo288]

But beware of the man who uses only one gun!

(And it would be Unique for me).
Universal (ADI AP70N) hasn't been made for over a year due to problems at the Australian plant where
it is created.

ADI manufacturing problems

I like it too but it will also leave unburned flakes at lower pressure albeit much smaller ones.

===
Nemo

 

[rwsmith]

Well, now I do too.

Mr. Smith, I'm with you but I like to keep some 2400 around also.

I got into .357 just a few years ago. After using just Unique and BE in .38 for over 25 years I now have 2400. And I like it.


PS I also got by with only IMR4895 for rifle about the same length of time. 4895 was versatile enough (!) to move a .30-06 at around 2200fps, but when the shortage hit, I started using lead in the rifle and the SR4759 proved to be really neat stuff for 1800 fps in the same rifle.

 

[Moe Mentum]

Maybe one powder can cover pistols, but when you are reloading for pistols, shotguns, and rifles its impossible to use just one powder.

 

[gregintenn]

It sure seems like you'd be giving up one of the main benefits of reloading, which is versatility, by not stocking several powders.

 

[fredj338]

It sure seems like you'd be giving up one of the main benefits of reloading, which is versatility, by not stocking several powders.

This all depends on how many diff calibers you load for. If its just 9mm & 45, easy to get just one powder to work. If you load for 10 + handgun, one powder is a huge compromise. Same for rifle; load sim case cap/calibers, you can get by with one. Load for say 223 & 06, much harder to get by w/o compromise. If forced by availability or regulation, I could get by with one rile & one pistol powder for all 24+ calibers I load for, but I would never get the most out of many of the calibers I own.

 

[gregintenn]

This all depends on how many diff calibers you load for. If its just 9mm & 45, easy to get just one powder to work. If you load for 10 + handgun, one powder is a huge compromise. Same for rifle; load sim case cap/calibers, you can get by with one. Load for say 223 & 06, much harder to get by w/o compromise. If forced by availability or regulation, I could get by with one rile & one pistol powder for all 24+ calibers I load for, but I would never get the most out of many of the calibers I own.

I'm loading for a bunch of different calibers. I guess that is something I took for granted that every reloader did.