You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Pistol Powder
- Thread starter Vernon
- Start date
steveNChunter
New member
Clays for .45 acp 230 gr plated lead target loads
Titegroup for .45 acp 185 gr jacketed loads
Power Pistol for all .40 s&w, .38 special, and 9mm loads
2400 for .357 mag loads
My powder selections are based largely on what I could find that was suitable at the time I started reloading, but it seems to work well so I've stuck with them.
My favorite load of all of them to shoot is the 230 gr .45 load. Super clean, soft shooting, and very accurate. Perfect range ammo for my 1911s and I'm loading them for 17 cents a round.
Titegroup for .45 acp 185 gr jacketed loads
Power Pistol for all .40 s&w, .38 special, and 9mm loads
2400 for .357 mag loads
My powder selections are based largely on what I could find that was suitable at the time I started reloading, but it seems to work well so I've stuck with them.
My favorite load of all of them to shoot is the 230 gr .45 load. Super clean, soft shooting, and very accurate. Perfect range ammo for my 1911s and I'm loading them for 17 cents a round.
I'm still stuck with Bullseye. Dirty but accurate.
"Stuck?" When the rubber meets the road, Bullseye is great stuff. Yep, it's ancient. Our grand parents were loading with it. Nothing high-tech or modern about it. Yep, it's not clean; "residuey," as I refer it. But you know what: it ignites easily, burns consistently, and above all, gets the job done with certain accuracy. And if that isn't enough (it is), there's also just a soft spot in my heart for it. Been loading with it since I've been loading. It was part of my first powder purchase back in 1984 (along with Unique and Blue Dot).
I struggle picturing my inventory absent Bullseye. Just don't see it happening.
my favorite pistol powders
#1) For 9mm & 45 acp => Power Pistol. Easy visual check since it mostly fills 9mm, superb accuracy + flash and boom. Who doesn't like flash and boom?
#2) really close to #1 though => also love CFE Pistol for 9 & 45
#3) HP-38 for 9 & 45 not quite as snappy but works really well
#4) Titegroup: I like it towards the upper 40% of the load range for 45. Low end loads are sootier than uncle augies GMC but past the midrange they're ok. The narrow range .4gr IIRC for 9mm makes me a wee bit nervous but it's ok if you're very, very careful.
#1) For 9mm & 45 acp => Power Pistol. Easy visual check since it mostly fills 9mm, superb accuracy + flash and boom. Who doesn't like flash and boom?
#2) really close to #1 though => also love CFE Pistol for 9 & 45
#3) HP-38 for 9 & 45 not quite as snappy but works really well
#4) Titegroup: I like it towards the upper 40% of the load range for 45. Low end loads are sootier than uncle augies GMC but past the midrange they're ok. The narrow range .4gr IIRC for 9mm makes me a wee bit nervous but it's ok if you're very, very careful.
Favorites?
I like Power Pistol for 9 and 45. Years ago, I really liked Vihtavuori vN340 for 45, but it got so darn hard to find and was pricey when I did find it.....
2400 can't be beat for .357Mag. I save the H110 for 7.62x38r ....
Red dot or 700x is OK for plinking loads in .45ACP and .38spec......
I like Power Pistol for 9 and 45. Years ago, I really liked Vihtavuori vN340 for 45, but it got so darn hard to find and was pricey when I did find it.....
2400 can't be beat for .357Mag. I save the H110 for 7.62x38r ....
Red dot or 700x is OK for plinking loads in .45ACP and .38spec......
There's a lot to choose from and over the past 36 months or so as shortages have come and gone, I took a risk or two and things paid off.
So, when I bought my first keg of Nitro 100 it came in an 8 lb jug labelled "not for use in handgun loads". Well, that's what I bought if for, and so that's what I loaded. Since then, Nitro 100 'New Formulation' has shown up is published handgun loads in increasing numbers, and amazingly, many of those loads are very close to the ones I put together. In .40SW and .45ACP, especially light charges with heavy slugs, it can be consistent and accurate. It's a great choice for IDPA loads and USPSA super-wimp loads. Shoots real nice.
Solo 1000 for similar loads in 40SW and 45ACP, and of course Clays--even better. We're talking 3.2-4.0 gr charges in both calibers and 180-200 gr bullets. You can definitely come up with some fun shooting action loads with those propellants.
For more serious 45ACP sd loads, I've taking a real liking to 4756. A few folks have said they're not so impressed, but I find that this powder, maxed out with Hornady XTPs, is a smooth-shooting, accurate, low-flash powder that's the one I choose for carry. Universal might be nice too, but I found it has to be loaded heavy or not at all, and it seems to produce a harsher bite on recoil and blast.
Right now, I think I'm in love with Power Pro 300-MP (Alliant) for my big boy 45 Magnum loads. It looks like its going to produce all the accuracy I'm capable of, but maybe with a bit nicer 'feel' in the upper end over 4227. In 45 Mag and 44 Mag I have had no experience with H110 since it just hasn't been on the shelves, but 4227 and 300-MP seem to do all I need them to do, since I'm not a hunter and punching paper, even with manly loads, affords more options I think. I dunno.
HS-6, HP-39, Titegroup, WSF or WST, and a few others have been nice to have in quantity to load ammo in quantity. Very seldom do I accidentally stumble onto a load that says 'wow'. 4756, Clays and Nitro 100 have done that in the 40SW and 45Auto. In 10mm I am just about to load No 9, and I have every reason to believe that will be The One in that caliber. 800X is off my list forever for any reason, any caliber. Longshot I have 8 lbs of because I could, and because I got the message 'try it again'...after struggling with it everywhere. Loud, blasty, and high recoil--destroying my 10mm brass even in moderate loads--I will try it again because smarter people tell me it's wonderful.
Gotta keep those options open in these tough days.
So, when I bought my first keg of Nitro 100 it came in an 8 lb jug labelled "not for use in handgun loads". Well, that's what I bought if for, and so that's what I loaded. Since then, Nitro 100 'New Formulation' has shown up is published handgun loads in increasing numbers, and amazingly, many of those loads are very close to the ones I put together. In .40SW and .45ACP, especially light charges with heavy slugs, it can be consistent and accurate. It's a great choice for IDPA loads and USPSA super-wimp loads. Shoots real nice.
Solo 1000 for similar loads in 40SW and 45ACP, and of course Clays--even better. We're talking 3.2-4.0 gr charges in both calibers and 180-200 gr bullets. You can definitely come up with some fun shooting action loads with those propellants.
For more serious 45ACP sd loads, I've taking a real liking to 4756. A few folks have said they're not so impressed, but I find that this powder, maxed out with Hornady XTPs, is a smooth-shooting, accurate, low-flash powder that's the one I choose for carry. Universal might be nice too, but I found it has to be loaded heavy or not at all, and it seems to produce a harsher bite on recoil and blast.
Right now, I think I'm in love with Power Pro 300-MP (Alliant) for my big boy 45 Magnum loads. It looks like its going to produce all the accuracy I'm capable of, but maybe with a bit nicer 'feel' in the upper end over 4227. In 45 Mag and 44 Mag I have had no experience with H110 since it just hasn't been on the shelves, but 4227 and 300-MP seem to do all I need them to do, since I'm not a hunter and punching paper, even with manly loads, affords more options I think. I dunno.
HS-6, HP-39, Titegroup, WSF or WST, and a few others have been nice to have in quantity to load ammo in quantity. Very seldom do I accidentally stumble onto a load that says 'wow'. 4756, Clays and Nitro 100 have done that in the 40SW and 45Auto. In 10mm I am just about to load No 9, and I have every reason to believe that will be The One in that caliber. 800X is off my list forever for any reason, any caliber. Longshot I have 8 lbs of because I could, and because I got the message 'try it again'...after struggling with it everywhere. Loud, blasty, and high recoil--destroying my 10mm brass even in moderate loads--I will try it again because smarter people tell me it's wonderful.
Gotta keep those options open in these tough days.
I haven't counted them lately but I'm willing to bet that I have a dozen... and the doesn't include the two powders that I kicked out the door and rid myself of!
Truth is that I like most of what I have but my post would become a novel if I talked about all of them. So if I have to pick "favorites" then I'll go with:
Bullseye
Power Pistol
Universal
AA#9
Just to be different, here are some powders that I have used that I just do NOT like and likely won't ever purchase again:
IMR-800X
Blue Dot
Lil'Gun
Green Dot
Unique
Truth is that I like most of what I have but my post would become a novel if I talked about all of them. So if I have to pick "favorites" then I'll go with:
Bullseye
Power Pistol
Universal
AA#9
Just to be different, here are some powders that I have used that I just do NOT like and likely won't ever purchase again:
IMR-800X
Blue Dot
Lil'Gun
Green Dot
Unique
Just to be different, here are some powders that I have used that I just do NOT like and likely won't ever purchase again:
IMR-800X
Blue Dot
Lil'Gun
Green Dot
Unique
The only one on your NOT list that is not also on mine is Lil'Gun, and that is probably only because I never got around to trying it .....
800X can do amazing things in 10mm... but you almost have to pick up each flake with tweezers. Not even God has a chance at metering 800X, it must be the WORST ever in that regard.
Lil'Gun is absolutely documented as a forcing cone eater... by none other than Freedom Arms. If you want velocity and you really want to wreck a revolver, Lil'Gun may be the best combination of those together.
Lil'Gun is absolutely documented as a forcing cone eater... by none other than Freedom Arms. If you want velocity and you really want to wreck a revolver, Lil'Gun may be the best combination of those together.
If you want velocity and you really want to wreck a revolver, Lil'Gun may be the best combination of those together.
Good to know.
Now our NOT lists are the same, for pistol powders.
oldreloader
New member
I use Bullseye, HP38, and AA#2.
yellowfang
Inactive
Unique for 9mm, 40s&w, 357sig, 357mag, 44mag, and am contemplating it's use for cast CF rifle loads.