At a gun show this last weekend and was offered some shotgun powders..cheep! Fellow had a full 8 lb keg of Super Target and 7 1/2 lbs of Super Field. Price was right. I bought 'em both for 120 bucks. Full keg is no problem to sell I'm sure but..my question. I can find load data for the powders on Hodgdon's site...but does anyone here have any experience using either in handguns. I no longer load 12 ga shotshells which is the primary use for the powders..In fact I am going to sell the 12 ga conversion for my Spolar Gold loader....so the only use I would have for this is in handguns. I load a fair amount of 45s 38s some 9s and I just picked up a couple of new guns to play with..Found a S&W 66-2 4 inch gun..and a new Ruger Single 7 in 327 Federal. That one looks interesting. Anybody have experience with either of these powders in handguns? I load 'em all except 40 S&W and 10 MM. Any comments on the powders either pro or con? I would appreciate them.
Question on powders.
- Thread starter Skeet 028
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I have used IMR 700-x for 38 and 357 mag. with good results. It is not my favorite powder but there is data for it and I have not had any problems with it using the published loads.
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novalty
Member
WST (assuming this is your Winchester Super Target) is pretty popular for 45acp. You should be able to find load information on Hodgdon's website for the calibers you listed.
WST is indeed Win Super Target. I didn't relly need loading data. I can get that from the Hodgdon site. I was just wondering how some of the other reloaders here on the S&W site liked the powders if they had used 'em. I am such a stick in the mud on the powders I use in handgun loads but the price was ..as they say...right...so I had to buy the ones mentioned above. Having never used 'em I was just wondering about other loaders impressions. I also bought some other powder that I have used in the past. Namely AL-5. Got 6 lbs of it for 10 bucks. It was a good 20 ga powder but have enough 20s loaded here.Have loading data and a lot of cases to use it in....And I am cheep. LOL. It is an unopened 3 Kilo keg. I used Alcan powders extensively in the "distant" past. Good powder. I have so many 32 38 357 44 sp 9mm 45 empties and bullets I just figured I'd load it all up just to save the storage space. Probably more than I will ever shoot in my lifetime.
4barrel
Member
4 1/2 gr. of WST meets the power factor in 45 acp for IDPA with a 200 gr. H&G 68 and very accurate at 50 yards on the bench. I like 4.7 with a heavy slide.
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I do not use WST myself but know a lot of folks that do and really like it. So from that, I would say yes it is a good handgun powder. Probably really good for the 45 ACP. In between Bullseye and HP 38 as far as burn rate, Kinda a
medium burn
I had a similar experience with Longshot, I was "given" 8lb of the stuff and now it is one of my favorites for 9mm.
medium burn
I had a similar experience with Longshot, I was "given" 8lb of the stuff and now it is one of my favorites for 9mm.
No kidding. I have a bunch of Longshot(used it for the 28 ga) but never knew it was good for the 9. I will have to use it up too. I have sooo much older powder. Even Win 295(actually a version of WC 820).
I USE LOTS OF WST AND WSF.
WST IS AN EXCELLENT .38 AND .45 MATCH VELOCITY POWDER
WSF IS A GREAT 9MM AND 230GR FMJ 45 POWDER
YOU DID WELL . ENJOY THEM . JP
WST IS AN EXCELLENT .38 AND .45 MATCH VELOCITY POWDER
WSF IS A GREAT 9MM AND 230GR FMJ 45 POWDER
YOU DID WELL . ENJOY THEM . JP
It is good for other high pressure rounds also, It is a slow powder, Good for 40 SW and 357 Mag, lots of calibers.
DWalt
Member
WSF is excellent for top loads in .38 Super.
Most any shotgun powder will be satisfactory for handgun loads, and also light loads in rifle. There is "the Load" which is essentially 13 grains of any reasonably fast shotgun powder in virtually any CF rifle case from .30-30 up, and any bullet. It will generally produce black powder-level ballistics (i.e, 1500-2000 ft/sec) and is good for plinking and small game hunting. And also cheap.
Most any shotgun powder will be satisfactory for handgun loads, and also light loads in rifle. There is "the Load" which is essentially 13 grains of any reasonably fast shotgun powder in virtually any CF rifle case from .30-30 up, and any bullet. It will generally produce black powder-level ballistics (i.e, 1500-2000 ft/sec) and is good for plinking and small game hunting. And also cheap.
Collo Rosso
Member
Favorite for me for 9mm, 38 spl and 45acp.
Well I just set up the 650 to 38 Sp. Got to get the tumblers going. Though the cases are pretty clean I will run 'em through for an hour or so...and get all the bullets out.. Gonna check the data... I have about a 1000 HBWC plated to load first then get into the SWCs. Got 8000 bullets at a gun show cheep...Berry's plated stuff..then I will load some cast bullets and then change the dies a bit and load some 357s with the expensive jacketed slugs. I only have about a 1000 357 cases. . I have a lot of 9sand 45s. Got a 4 lb Green Dot and will probably load the 9s with it. Trying to get all the cases and bullets together. All that stuff looks much better loaded than sitting on a shelf separate. Already loaded 22 full cases of 20 ga shotshells.. Once I get done...I may just sell most of the Dillons. I'll have more'n a lifetimes' supply of ammo. I don't box ammo up though. I put it in those plastic bins you can get at Wally World. I used to use 50 cal ammo cans but if they are sealed and ya have a fire..they do turn into little dangerous cans.
fredj338
Member
WST is my fav 45acp powder for any target to std vel load, any bullet wt or type. It's also a great min PF powder for the 9mm & 40. It burns very clean, terrific accuracy & low recoil.
WSF is like a better metering Unique. Works well in anything Unique does.
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fredj338
Member
LS is a really good choice for max effort loads in any service caliber. A top choice for 357sig & 10mm.
WST
Bought a pound of WST. Loaded some 45 acp 200hp's with 4.5. After a range session took a look at my targets and bought all the gun shop had.
Bought a pound of WST. Loaded some 45 acp 200hp's with 4.5. After a range session took a look at my targets and bought all the gun shop had.
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Since Bullseye became unobtanium I've pretty much replaced it with Green Dot in .45ACP, .38SP and 9mm target loads.
Wasn't Bullseye originally a shotgun powder?
