POWDER TYPES AND INVENTORY

[chief38]

Since powders are a bit hard to get these days I have narrowed down & keep my inventory for all cartridge reloading to four different types and just buy in larger containers when available. I have narrowed down to these four:

W231 - for .45 acp
Titegroup - for .38 Special & .357 magnum
Unique - for .45 Colt
H4895 - for .38-55 & .45-70

I could go further I suppose but I like these 4 old standby's.

I shoot so little of .32acp, .380 acp, .25 acp, etc that I just use Factory ammo when I shoot those. Carry ammo is Buffalo Bore or Speer Gold Dot Factory.

 

[scooter123]

I've sort of gone the other way. Because I've found that calibers such as the 357 Magnum are most versatile if you have a variety of powders that allow you to use a specific powder for a specific weight bullet. So, for the 357 Magnum I have Accurate #5 for the light XTP bullets, #7 for mid weight jacketed and 158 gr. hard cast, #9 for the 158 gr. XTP handgun loads, and H110 or 2400 for the rifle loads with 158 gr. XTP's. Also have 3N37 for 38 special and a bit of Unique for Just in Case.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I've been reloading about 4 years now and picked one hell of a time, didn't I?! Not long after I started primers were nowhere to be found. Then bullets seemed to be in short supply but that's nothing compared to this powder situation.
I've learned to buy it when I see it, buy quantity when I can afford it and if it's popular just buy it. Down the road I can just sell it or trade it.
If nothing else switching powders so often has given me experience some may not see in such a short time.

 

[JBnTx]

I've been reloading about 4 years now and picked one hell of a time, didn't I?! Not long after I started primers were nowhere to be found. Then bullets seemed to be in short supply but that's nothing compared to this powder situation.
I've learned to buy it when I see it, buy quantity when I can afford it and if it's popular just buy it. Down the road I can just sell it or trade it.
If nothing else switching powders so often has given me experience some may not see in such a short time.

Brass cases might be next, so stock up now.

 

[chief38]

I've sort of gone the other way. Because I've found that calibers such as the 357 Magnum are most versatile if you have a variety of powders that allow you to use a specific powder for a specific weight bullet. So, for the 357 Magnum I have Accurate #5 for the light XTP bullets, #7 for mid weight jacketed and 158 gr. hard cast, #9 for the 158 gr. XTP handgun loads, and H110 or 2400 for the rifle loads with 158 gr. XTP's. Also have 3N37 for 38 special and a bit of Unique for Just in Case.

WOW!!! Sounds like you are really into fine tuning your re-loads. I can appreciate that as well. I am like that with other things such as tools. Most people say I have too many but I like specific tools for specific needs. Could I get away with a lot less? Sure! Just don't tell Mrs. Chief38

 

[hanno]

I just reload .38 Special and .45 ACP so keep a stock of Bullseye and Win 231/HP 38 on hand. That works for me.

 

[Nframeguy]

Since powders are a bit hard to get these days I have narrowed down & keep my inventory for all cartridge reloading to four different types and just buy in larger containers when available. I have narrowed down to these four:

W231 - for .45 acp
Titegroup - for .38 Special & .357 magnum
Unique - for .45 Colt
H4895 - for .38-55 & .45-70

I could go further I suppose but I like these 4 old standby's.

I shoot so little of .32acp, .380 acp, .25 acp, etc that I just use Factory ammo when I shoot those. Carry ammo is Buffalo Bore or Speer Gold Dot Factory.

W231 is one that is not easy to find these days. Winchester claims it cost more to produce than some of the others. Looking at your list, the titegroup will work in the 45acp and 45 colt.

Kevin

 

[arjay]

My stock is pretty lean.I keep BE,Unique,BP and 2400 for pistols,imr 4350 for rifle and 700x for shotgun.Of course,there's several lbs of other powders around Ive experimented with.Simple is good.

 

[Petrov]

Since powders are a bit hard to get these days I have narrowed down & keep my inventory for all cartridge reloading to four different types and just buy in larger containers when available. I have narrowed down to these four:

W231 - for .45 acp
Titegroup - for .38 Special & .357 magnum
Unique - for .45 Colt
H4895 - for .38-55 & .45-70

I could go further I suppose but I like these 4 old standby's.

I shoot so little of .32acp, .380 acp, .25 acp, etc that I just use Factory ammo when I shoot those. Carry ammo is Buffalo Bore or Speer Gold Dot Factory.

Are you planning on shooting any lead bullets?

 

[venomballistics]

one good thing about the shortages is that one is quickly forced off the traditional reservation of 231, unique, bulseye, and the rest of the old standbys to take a few of the new kids on the block out for a test drive.

Not much will get Unique to budge off its hard earned spot on my shelf, but some of the new stuff is worth doing some reevaluation.
CFE Pistol is one such powder. While its copper fowling abatement thing might be pointless, its ability to make top velocities in autos deserves some recognition.
Power Pistol, BE86, and other powders are also earning places.

On the back side of this, I doubt I'd be able to adhere to a 4 powder inventory scheme. It's going to expand given things learned through the crunch.

 

[NRA DOC]

231

If anyone in Washington State (Seattle-Tacoma area) is interested, I have just over a # of 231 that I would be happy to part with for $25 but can't/wont ship.

I have been using more Vihtavuori powders lately. N105 is the best magnum powder I have ever used. N340 is a really easy to use and versatile powder that I have stocked up on lately,

 

[fredj338]

If you only load for 3-4 diff calibers, that may work. I think in the other direction. Everyone should have at least 2 diff powders per caliber. This allows the most flexibility in finding something to load with. If there is cross over between the calibers you load for, even better. Sticking to one or two powders may allow you to buy volume when available, but if not available, you need alternatives. Keep in mind I load for 25 diff calibers. So while I could make just 2 powders for handgun & 2 for rifle work, I would be compromising quite a bit in performance across 25 calibers, but could be done.
All service calibers could be loaded with Unique or equiv.
223 & 308 could be loaded with Varget or equiv.
All magnum pistol could be done with 2400
All magnum rifles could be done with IMR4831

 

[Dan Christopher]

Ditto on the brass suggestion! Fortunately as my brass supply exists right now, as long as I don't do anything silly like buy a gun chambered for something different then I am good to go!

At times I have been tempted to add to the line-up, but I am happy with 45 Auto, 10mm, 44 Mag and 500 Mag...for now.

Primer availability has gotten quite a bit better locally, but powder is still hard to come by. It's out there, but you have to really watch out for it.

I've got 9lbs of Unique...a little shy of 1lb of Win 231...4lbs of Power Pistol...and a little under 8lbs of Win 296.

 

[Culina]

If only I could use 50BMG powder for everything, seams like that's all everyone has in stock.

 

[Dan Christopher]

If only I could use 50BMG powder for everything, seams like that's all everyone has in stock.

I know! It's ridiculous, isn't it?

 

[boatbum101]

I was fortunate enough to find some 2400 & Unique . Had to pay more than I wished but this is first I could put my mitts on in almost 2 years . Now if I could find some W231 / HP38 !
As an aside , Starline is making runs of 41mag & 357 mag @ their usual fair prices . I ordered both & 1 order ( I believe 41 mag because the date ) is in shipment as we speak . 357 run is scheduled for next 2 weeks . Get your orders in & stock up @ a good price . Powder seems to be more available in Ohio , Pennsylvania than down South . May everyone here have a Happy New Year & be safe this holiday .

 

[MEMPHISBELLE]

Just bought a keg of 231 online and 5k of small pistol and 5k of large pistol primers for 429.00 shipped. I use 231 in .38/.357, .45/.45 lc , .44spl/.44 mag , 9mm, .40s&w. All I do is shoot paper and cans and have lots of fun. If I want a big bang I use 2400 in the magnums. I don't load anything even close to factory loads as I shoot every weekend that's warm enough (35 or so) and I do not want to beat up my guns. I also use 231 because you can use less powder and get good performance. here is 6 shots at 10 yards resting out of my 686 power port, 3.5 grns of 231 and 158 grn rnfp. That is 16,000 .38 reloads from 8lbs of 231.

 

[Bkreutz]

If anyone in Washington State (Seattle-Tacoma area) is interested, I have just over a # of 231 that I would be happy to part with for $25 but can't/wont ship.

I have been using more Vihtavuori powders lately. N105 is the best magnum powder I have ever used. N340 is a really easy to use and versatile powder that I have stocked up on lately,

Sent you a PM

 

[SLT223]

I know! It's ridiculous, isn't it?

It's not that is being made is massive quantities, it's just sitting around because it's a low volume caliber.

 

[scooter123]

If only I could use 50BMG powder for everything, seams like that's all everyone has in stock.

Back in 2012 I was talking about this with a reloading dealer at a local gun show. When I suggested that maybe we should purchase some coffee grinders to re-process BMG 50 it got a good laugh from everyone present. To be honest there were times in 2012 when I seriously wondered if that was possible.

Good news for me is that by attending every single gun show in the area in the past two years I'm now at the point where I could probably go 3 or 4 years and not purchase any powder. So, by renewing as needed I should be well positioned for the next panic.