Your pistol powder "trinity"

[VAdoublegunner]

A comment in another thread got me thinking about the pistol powder trinity. I guess we all have at least 3 for different power loads and chamberings to suit almost all of our handloading situations.

It appears on reflection that mine is:

WSF (good for most autopistol cartridges and I have developed loads for most straightwall cartridges at moderate target and plinking levels; I get exceptional accuracy, and it meters great; also I use it in a lot of shotshell loads)

PowerPistol (excellent mid to upper range powder for jacketed bullets in many auto and straight pistol cartridges, seems to be a favorite of Brian Pearce's too)

WW296 (a long time favorite for most magnum level loads)

I keep a few others around for special applications (Unique and Blue Dot primarily) but those three serve most of my pistol loading needs and I could live without those two if necessary.

What's yours?

 

[moxie]

Bullseye
Unique
2400

 

[Skip Sackett]

I have several threesomes. Depending on caliber.

45ACP
AA#2 or Bullseye
AA#5
SR4756

45Colt
Trail Boss (Don't use this much)
Unique
H110/W296 (Linebaugh type loads for a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible)

38spl
Bullseye
Unique
SR4756

357Mag
Bullseye
SR4756
H110/W296 or AA#9

44Mag
Bullseye (200gr bullets for competition)
SR4756 or Unique
H110/W296 or Lil' Gun(Depending on what I shoot them out of. Carbine gets Lil' Gun for sure!)

Hope this helps but know it really doesn't haha

 

[Rule3]

HP 38/W 231
Bullseye
2400

I have a lot of the others, Unique, H110, HS 6 some rifle powders but for handguns the above 3 are pretty much it.

 

[joedaddy]

I really only use two regularly:

Bullseye
Powerpistol

I have several others, but these two get the lion's share of the workload with 38/357, 40 and 45's.

Excellent question though. Had me pondering.

 

[max]

231, Unique and 2400. I am an old timer.

 

[11e40]

231,unique & imr 4227 for magnum.

 

[Maximumbob54]

HP-38, Win 231, and HP-38.

Oh and I also like Win 231....

Or HP-38....

 

[ACP230]

I use Unique and Bullseye most. Have made a few loads with H110 although I used it most in M1 Carbine loads.

 

[SW CQB 45]

45acp (N310, WST, 231)
38 special (B/E, WST)
9mm (WSF, AA2, N320)

I want some Ramshot Silhoutte for Nina

 

[OFT II]

Bullseye
Unique
2400

The above works for me.

 

[TAROMAN]

WST
Universal
2400

 

[Snapping Twig]

231, Unique, 296.

All non magnums get 231. Clean burning, efficient and meters well in my Dillon.

Unique for midrange loads in 45Colt, 44Spl and I might try it in my acp, but so far 231 is handling that well.

296 for magnums. Oddly enough, I read a Skeeter Skelton article years back about non magnum primers for 296, tried it and found it to ignite perfectly every time and a more accurate result which moderated and improved my marksmanship.

Skeeter also wrote about not sizing the front driving band, leaving it as cast. This is easily accomplished by setting the sizing stroke short on your sizer/luber. I find this has prevented leading and improved accuracy also.

I recently bought correct sizing dies, but I still don't do the front driving band and any leading (minor) has all but disappeared.

 

[venomballistics]

Unique
2400

Yeah I should have a 231 or bullseye entry but it seems Unique fills my needs across all performance expectations short of full house magnum loads where 2400 takes over

 

[mkk41]

H-110/W-296 for heavy bullet magnum loads and .30 carbine.

Blue Dot for all other magnum revolver cartridges.

HP-38/W-231 for auto-pistol and mild .38 special target rounds

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A comment in another thread got me thinking about the pistol powder trinity. I guess we all have at least 3 for different power loads and chamberings to suit almost all of our handloading situations.

It appears on reflection that mine is:

WSF (good for most autopistol cartridges and I have developed loads for most straightwall cartridges at moderate target and plinking levels; I get exceptional accuracy, and it meters great; also I use it in a lot of shotshell loads)

PowerPistol (excellent mid to upper range powder for jacketed bullets in many auto and straight pistol cartridges, seems to be a favorite of Brian Pearce's too)

WW296 (a long time favorite for most magnum level loads)

I keep a few others around for special applications (Unique and Blue Dot primarily) but those three serve most of my pistol loading needs and I could live without those two if necessary.

What's yours?

I'm guessing that has something to do with what I posted lol...

Mine is:
W231 (HP-38)
W540 (HS-6)
W296 (H110)

 

[tops]

231, Unique and 2400. I am an old timer.

I am really an old timer. Unique and 2400. 231 looks like transposed numbers to me. Larry

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I'm guessing that has something to do with what I posted lol...

Mine is:
W231 (HP-38)
W540 (HS-6)
W296 (H110)

Absolutely, ArchAngelCD! Made me think about it, thought it was an interesting issue.

I throw in some Lil'Gun on occasion too, but mostly confined to carbines or the Contender these days.

 

[gmiller0737]

Bullseye
Unique
2400

Exactly what I use in that order too.

 

[Alk8944]

Bullseye
Unique
2400

There is nothing that needs doing with a pistol/revolver cartridge that cannot be done very well by these.