Looking for new powder option...

[urnoodle]

I haven't done much reloading in the last 2 or 3 months but I'm beginning to gear up for the cooler months. I'm looking for a single powder option for 9mm, 40 S&W and 45ACP. As one other member mentioned, I am getting more 45acp with small primers so now I really only have to buy CCI small pistol primers. If I can reduce to one powder too that would be great. I currently use Accurate Arms #5 for 9mm, Alliant Power Pistol for 40S&W and Win 231 for 45acp. I want to get away from AA#5. It seems to have caked on residue unlike the other 2 powders. I use a Lee Pro Auto disk powder measure which also seems to throw the AA#5 all over the place. I still buy my personal protection ammo so I'm looking for a target powder that burns clean, meters without a mess and works well in short barrel 1911s. Any suggestions for the bullet configurations I use?

These are the bullets I use:
9mm
115gr FMJ Montana Gold
124gr JHP Montana Gold
124gr cast LRN

40 S&W
165 gr JHP Montana Gold
180 gr FMJ Armscor
175 gr cast SWC

45 ACP
230gr JHP Montana Gold
230gr FMJ Armscor
228gr cast LRN

[AndyC]

Universal, TiteGroup, Clays...

[MoJo]

Of the three powders you are using WW231/Hodgdon HP38 would be the one I would pick. The two powders are identical they are clean burning and versitile. I have used all three powders and find the Accurate #5 to be the least satisfactory and Power Pistol too limited in load choices. Go with the 231/HP38 I don't think you'll go wrong.

[urnoodle]

Thanks! It seems like these days its more difficult to find powder locally so more than one option gives me a higher probability of finding something. I looked for Win231 last weekend but I could not find anyone that had it in stock. I don't buy large quantities so I just can't justify paying a hazmat fee.

[george]

VV N 320. Single base, so it doesn't leave that nitroglycerin soot on everything.

[DocV]

I recently added Bullseye to my powder collection. It meters well and consistently and has replaced W231/HP38 as my go-to powder. Clays is another of my favorites. Although Clays does meter consistently, my powder meter finds Clays to be a bit on the crunchy side.

[michael e]

I use titegroup. I know a lot do t like it but it cover a lot of calibers and has been good. I use several powders just because I get board and like to play around with diff loads. But titegroup is only one I buy in 8 lb jug

[powerboatr]

I was using western and accurate #7 for the 380, 9m and 45acp
the 45 worked well but left to much residue, made for a long clean up after 150 to 200 rounds
so i recently switched to #5 for the 45
WOW what a difference, clean burns, great day at the range so far, it also seems to burn faster than the #7 but thats just a seat of the pants feeling
I also dropped to #2 for the 380 and 9mm to see how it ran. It to works very well
i plan to run a few 9mm on the #5 to see how well it does, because i like only having one powder to worry about, makes life easier.

one thing i found with the #2 is its very LIGHT so it fills the casing to get the load weight, but after 200 rounds through the 9mm its very very clean

[Jumping Frog]

Don't overlook the Ramshot powders.

I've used both Zip and True Blue with great results and will buy them, again. Both of them meter great and consistently, without the spilling I get from AA #5 or #7.

Silhouette is next on my "to try" list. All of

All three of the Ramshot pistol powders have published loads for all of the bullet weights you listed, both jacketed and cast.

One thing I like about Ramshot is they list far more loads for semi-auto pistol rounds than most other manufacturers.

As the above posts mention, I have also used Clays, W231, Titegroup, AA #5, AA #7, and Bullseye. They are all decent powders. But I still prefer Ramshot.

[urnoodle]

I'm still a newbie to reloading. I haven't yet reached that confidence level where I play around with the loads yet. If I don't see load data published by the powder manufacturer that matches my bullet, I won't load it. I'm sure the more experience I gain, I'll probably get to where I want to color outside the lines a little bit. I'm still nervous that I've forgotten to put powder in the case or that I stuck the wrong powder in it. Knock on wood I haven't gotten a squib load yet. If I don't have an FTE or FTF then I count it as good load and continue to load it the exact same way. So I have 9 loads, 3 for each caliber that I've stuck to. How did you all find the powder you like best? Did you stick to the first one you've tried or did you try one for a while with all your calibers and then move to a different one until you figured out which powders work the best for each caliber?

[OldCannon]

Titegroup or VihtaVuori N320.


*Edit: VihraVouri load tables here http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reload ... relodata/6

[michael e]

To the how did you find powder you like question. I would buy my normal for target loads and pick up a lb of something different to try. A couple of my books show the powder/bullet combo that gave best results. I would see what several suggested and try that. It just gives something new to do. I can't shoot every day but can load up few different loads to try out during the week.

[MoJo]

I'm still a newbie to reloading. I haven't yet reached that confidence level where I play around with the loads yet. If I don't see load data published by the powder manufacturer that matches my bullet, I won't load it. I'm sure the more experience I gain, I'll probably get to where I want to color outside the lines a little bit. I'm still nervous that I've forgotten to put powder in the case or that I stuck the wrong powder in it. Knock on wood I haven't gotten a squib load yet. If I don't have an FTE or FTF then I count it as good load and continue to load it the exact same way. So I have 9 loads, 3 for each caliber that I've stuck to. How did you all find the powder you like best? Did you stick to the first one you've tried or did you try one for a while with all your calibers and then move to a different one until you figured out which powders work the best for each caliber?

I have been reloading since 1960 when my dad started letting me help him. I have tried many different powders over the years and like a lot of them. So, how did I arrive at my favorite powders? By doing what you are doing asking questions and trying different powders. Back when I started reloading the selection of powders were nothing like they are now. Handguns were loaded with Bullseye, Unique, or 2400. There were a few other powders, these were the most popular and most widely used. There were only 2 big powder manufacturers back then, Hercules, and DuPont now Alliant and IMR. Hodgdon only sold surplus powder, Accurate and Ramshot weren't even on the radar.

A good way to see if you might like a certain powder is to get a small sample from another reloader and try it. Most reloaders I know are very willing to share a little of their powder with a newbe. Now, my favorite powder - - - Unique. Why? Because I can load all the different calibers I shoot with it, Is it the "best?" No but, it's not the worst either. I can produce accurate, safe, factory level loads with it in .38, .357. 40 S&W, .45 ACP and, 9mm with it. As a bonus, it is useful as a propellant for reduced power cast bullet loads in rifles and as a shotgun powder.