Pistol Powder

V

Vernon

Inactive
Was curious on what everyone's favorite powder for loading hand gun ammo. I've only loaded 45acp with Ramshot Silhouette. Am very happy with the performance but am keeping an open mind to others.
 
Three powders. Bullseye, Unique, 2400.

I use Bullseye in the 32 S&W Long, 9mm, 38 Special, 45 ACP. Bullseye was the original powder used in the 1910 cartridges that later became the 45 ACP.

I use Unique in the 44 Special, 45 Long Colt. Unique can be used in every application I use Bullseye, and in some of the applications I use 2400. Unique is very flexible.

I use 2400 for magnum cartridges: 357 Magnum, 44 Magnum. While I am of the opinion that H110/W296 is the better magnum powder, you have to use maximum loads only with that powder. I can cut charges of 2400, say going from 22.0 grains with a 240 in the 44 Mag to 17.5 grains, without any safety issues, and it still shoots well.
 
Silhouette is pretty slow for a .45 powder, unusual choice.

I like Bullseye for general .45 and light .357 loads, but I think my favorite is VV N310. Just a great target .45 powder, meters perfectly, leaves no residue, super accurate. 4 grains under a 200 grain SWC is my recipe for a target load.
 
I've used both unique and Win231. I'm now using Win231 for all of my reloading ammo that I shoot. It works great for the shooting that I do. But it's been hard to find. So when I run out I'm going back to unique.
 
I have 22 handgun powders by 99% gets done with:
Bullseye, Power Pistol, and H110.

I have 21 rifle powders, but 99% gets done with
Blue Dot, H4895, and H4350

I have over 60 cartridges I handload but most of my time is with:
380, 223, and 7mmRemMag

I get over 100 TV channels but 99% of the time it is:
FOXNEWS, Comedy Central, ESPN

I registered with over 100 gun forums but most of the time is with
TFL, 24HCF, LRH

I could drive a zillion places but 99% it the miles:
Meet the wife for dinner, see the grandkid, grocery store, go hunting

There are lots of science talking heads on youtube, but I like
Sean Carroll, Brian Greene, and Carolin Crawford.

For investing I believe in
GOOG, AMZN, AAPL

There are lots of things to eat for lunch, but I live on
Salami, nuts, cheese.
 
I like the usual standard powders like W231, Unique and 2400 but I've done some extensive testing over a chrono this year with Hodgdon CFE Pistol in 38, 9mm and 45 acp and am finding it to be a staple on the bench. Very consistent velocities with low pressure in the 130 power factor arena.
 
Hangun Powders

I use a few powders for handgun:

Nitro 100; V-V N310; Bullseye; HP-38/W231; TiteGroup; AA#2; Unique; AA#5; HS-6; Power Pistol; AA#7; W296.

Heh, that's all.

But for 45 ACP, my overall favorite is HP-38/W231 (they are the same, under different labels). It runs very consistent in the low-pressure, large caliber application. Bullseye is good too. For full power rounds, especially with 230gn bullets, HS-6, Unique, and Power Pistol work well.

There's a lot of ways to go, but the thing to keep in mind with 45 ACP is that it is a low pressure cartridge, and so it's best to lean toward faster propellants.
 
9mm/380/.38spl choices are 238/hp38, titegroup, hs-6 and CFE is growing on me.

Magnums 4227, titegroup, h110, lil gun, hs6
 
I use Bullseye, Power Pistol, Unique, Trailboss, H110 and Titegroup. If I had to pick a favorite it would be Titegroup.
 
I've tried many powders, but if I could only have three for everything they would be HP-38 for light to medium loads, HS-6 for medium to heavy loads, and Accurate 4100 for max magnum loads. All three meter great, shoot clean and with great accuracy for a wide range of bullet weights.
 
Good choices black mamba. I could live with those.

For me, it would be Bullseye, Power Pistol, and AA#7. I could do without a super slow full power magnum revolver powder. But if I could have a 4th choice, it'd be W296. (I've never used AA 4100; but I have no doubt it's great stuff.)
 
A good buddy of mine who shot IPSA back years ago said he had the best performance using WST for .45 acp . He has quit shooting since then and now I have an almost full 8# keg of WST at my disposal... ;)
 
I thank y'all for all the great input. Will be exploring the above powders and trying some out. Thanks again.
 
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