I feel like I'm being phased out

Yep, I know the feeling well. I've got data for some of my guns that goes back 50+ years now. Working up new loads, with the newer powders just doesn't interest me at 70 yrs old.

For handgun use, I like and use 231, for light & medium target loads, with Unique for slightly higher end of medium work. 2400 or more recently 296 fills my hunting loads in most calibers.

For rifle (no magnums in my safe), it's 4064, 4895, 3031, Re-15, Bl-C2 or 748.

For cast bullet shooting with the long guns I like 4227, 4759 (found 12# for $200 at a gun show last year), or 2400.

Rod
 
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I got tired of looking for 231. Went with Unique.
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Yeah, I don't consider the two interchangeable. They're not even in the same burn rate range. Unique clearly being an intermediate burner.

During this last shortage, I tested a lot of propellants, looking for a substitute for W231. There isn't one. Depending on the application, other propellants will suit the need (some extremely well), but there is no powder that does everything like W231. I suppose one could say the same for any given propellant - as no two are exactly alike (except for W231/HP-38, etc. etc.).

Bullseye is the closest to W231 that I have found. But it is definitely faster and yet, leaves behind more residue. A clean burn is not one of B'eye's strong suits.

Red Dot is closer in burn rate, but is even sootier than B'eye.

AA#2 is good stuff, but it is slower than W231, and so it doesn't work as well for pure target light-poppers as W231 (which is where I load mostly).

TiteGroup is the same burn rate as AA#2 (from my experience), but it downloads far worse than AA#2, and then you have the ridiculous heat of TG that makes it unacceptable for lead (which is were I load mostly).

The super-fast burners of Nitro 100 and VV N-310 are great for pure target shooters (38 Spl 45 ACP), - which is were I load. But they are too fast for anything else; so they completely lack the versatility of W231.

Well I guess I have too much time on my hands today. Excuse my ramble :p
 
Powder Valley has HP-38 in both 1 & 8 pound containers in stock.. Get it while they have it, I might add I have never ran out of any of the powders I use nor been unable to replace what I have used.. But on the other hand I don't shoot thousands of rounds yearly either!! William
 
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