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robhic

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If you had a choice, what would you get (can only have 1...) between Bullseye, PowerPistol or AA#2 (or #7). I have Bullseye now and when I replace it I'm wondering if I should get more or try one of the others. Your pick or even a suggestion for another (not listed above) would be welcome.

I have Bullseye, Universal, TiteGroup and HS-6 at this time. I load only for pistol. No VV powders, please. Thanks for your thoughts.
 
If you plan on doing anything besides punching paper targets with a handgun, you're going to need more than one powder. There is absolutely no comparison between something like Bullseye and WW296. One is a great target powder for light loads and the other is a great powder for full power magnum hunting loads. No such thing as one powder that does it all. There are a few that will produce "lighter" loads and can still be jacked up for full hunting loads, such as 2400. Decide what you want the gun to do before deciding on what powder you want to use. I don't know even one single reloader that uses just one powder. What caliber and what bullet are you using, and what are you planning on using the gun for? Caliber? Need a lot more info.
 
robhic What is your intended use and caliber(s) to be covered?

Your TightGroup is close enough to the Bullseye and AA#2 speed to make them redundant.

HS-6 and Power Pistol are close enough to make PP redundant.

AA#7 is slower than the rest so if not quite full magnum is in your future then that is the one I would chose.
 
robhic What is your intended use and caliber(s) to be covered?

Your TightGroup is close enough to the Bullseye and AA#2 speed to make them redundant.

HS-6 and Power Pistol are close enough to make PP redundant.

AA#7 is slower than the rest so if not quite full magnum is in your future then that is the one I would chose.
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Thanks for that info. Intended use is more target practice and to also tighten up shooting skills. I've used the info in my manuals to try and tailor a powder to a "most accurate load" for various calibers.

Curious: Why #7 as opposed to #9 ? I shoot a bit of .357 magnum.
 
Curious: Why #7 as opposed to #9 ? I shoot a bit of .357 magnum.
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First, it was on your list.

Second, it will get you close to full speed with 158 gr. 357 and works better with 125 gr. bullets if you want to go light.

Third, if you have a 9mm or 40 S&W in your battery it has applications there too. Better for heavy 9mm, not quite optimum for 40 but works.

Fouth, if your 357 has a short barrel you will get less flash than you will with #9.
 
AA#7 is a great all-around powder they I use in 9mm hotter loads, and target and hot light-bullet (155gr Gold Dot at 1450 fps) loads for 10mm.
I used AA#2 for target loads for 380, 9mm, & 38spl, but have switched to HP-38/WIN-231 for those purposes, as well as very soft shooting 10mm. I've been impressed with the versatility of that powder over the last year or so.



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From personal experience, Power Pistol works well for 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 auto.

From the tables, it looks like it will also perform well enough for .38 Spl, .357 mag, .44 Spl, and .44 mag (lightweight bullets).

As I said, I only have been using PP for my semi-auto rounds, but as far as that goes, PP meters very well, is pretty clean, produces good velocity, and so far seems to produce a decently accurate cartridge.

Another powder I like for general paper-punching use is CFE Pistol, which performs about as I said above for PP, with the added bonus of actually removing copper from my pistols.
 
robhic What is your intended use and caliber(s) to be covered?
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^^^This.

Intended use is more target practice and to also tighten up shooting skills. I've used the info in my manuals to try and tailor a powder to a "most accurate load" for various calibers.


I shoot a bit of .357 magnum.
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^^^This is not enough info. Without knowing all the calibers you are loading for, or the intended purposes for all of them(SD/HD/Hunting/Plinking) it's impossible to legitimately tell you what powders or how many different powders you need.
 
You might also look into the Vectan line from Nobel sold through Graf and Sons. They might have 1 or 2 that will solve your needs.
 
If we do not know what CALIBER it is really hard to recommend anything

For most handgun calibers I could get by with HP38.W231
 
If we do not know what CALIBER it is really hard to recommend anything

For most handgun calibers I could get by with HP38.W231
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I'm loading .380, 38/357, 9mm and .45acp. I also forgot about the W231 I have in my list (above). So it looks like AA#7 might be a good addition or CFE Pistol.

I don't shoot max-type loads. Most are low-middle. For high power and SD stuff I use Golden Sabers, HST and Gold Dots I have on hand. My loading is all for recreational (non-hunting) use.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
I have been shooting Bullseye Pistol for the last couple of years. The most common powders in 45 M1911's are Bullseye and Tite Group. Shooters who used Bullseye could not find the stuff and found Tite Group an acceptable substitute.

Bullseye is an outstanding target powder in the 38 Special, 45 ACP, but it is not appropriate for magnum velocities.

Power Pistol is recommended for 9mm target shooters. I have not used it in anything else. I have read posts by Power Pistol shooters in the 45 ACP and they are pushing their bullets faster than what I am doing.
 
I tried Bullseye for about 50 rounds about 45 years ago. After cleaning the soot off my gun and cases I switched to HP38. I have used HP38 in 45ACP, 45 Colt, 9mm, and 38 Special. It works well and burns cleaner than Bullseye. Since I have started using TiteGroup My HP38 is no longer needed. I get better accuracy and consistency with TiteGroup than I did with HP38 and it burns cleaner. I no longer have a 45ACP but I still shoot the other three and all of them show more accuracy with TiteGroup than I was getting with HP38. I also end up using slightly less powder for the same velocity at lower pressures.

For my 357 I use only H110. After 45 years I have one load for everything I do with the 357. I use the Sierra 140 JHP, a CCI 550 primer and 19.1 grains of H110. This load is over the current SAMMI standard pressure and should only be used in Ruger or Contender firearms.
 
Since the OP sounds like a novice reloader, I strongly recommend he use a bulky powder that makes accidental double-charges impossible. And Bullseye is not one of them.
 
robhic What is your intended use and caliber(s) to be covered?

Your TightGroup is close enough to the Bullseye and AA#2 speed to make them redundant.

HS-6 and Power Pistol are close enough to make PP redundant.

AA#7 is slower than the rest so if not quite full magnum
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. . . ^^ Outstanding!! ^^

That said, each and every one has their own personality and can do at least one thing better than the others.

Bullseye is the undisputed (okay, maybe somewhat disputed, these days) champion of consistent burns in low pressure applications (like 38 Special target).

AA#2 is the best metering prowder - bar none. It's nice and fluffy and so it has a great fill rate. It runs super clean and makes a good amount of gas - perfect for 9mm range shooters with 115 grain bullets.

TiteGroup is very economical and runs clean in most any range shooter application. Really hard to beat with plated bullets.

HS-6 is an excellent propellant for beginner loaders. Its low energy content grants a lot of forgiveness with load work ups. Although not known for its clean burn or versatility, it can make some great ammo with heavy bullets, turned up near the top of the published scale - were it indeed burns quite clean.

Power Pistol makes bullets go fast. It's high energy content (just the opposite of HS-6) is capable of making some exhilarating ammo - especially in semi-auto applications. Defense level stuff.

AA#7, although not a full-magnum propellant, makes awesome full-power semi-auto ammo; especially with heavy bullets. Can't be beat in 9mm (or 357 Sig) with 147's. 10mm Auto with 180 grain bullets are truly impressive too - with 95% the performance, and far less flash and recoil than AA#9 - a much more usable, "balanced" round. AA#7 is quite possibly the must under-rated "big" propellant.

I have and use all the mentioned propellants - and many more. And right now, I'm in the process of paring down my inventory (the number of different propellants; not the total quantity). Of all the propellants mentioned here, Power Pistol is the only one I intend to purchase in the future. Which makes this post somewhat ironic :p.
 
I tried Universal for 380acp and found that I had to use the max powder weight to get it to cycle the pistol. Bullseye and HP38 worked better.
 
Hs6 and accurate 5 are very similar realistically, iirc, accurate may be less dense,the best idea is to choose your cartridge and intended use, then compare these specific powders.

I prefer ball and would choose not to use bullseye. I personally use 2, 5, and 6, as well as power pistol.

It was mentioned that #2 is low density, and yes, you won't double charge without it being missed on inspection.

380 with five looked good on paper but not in practice, two works well
 
A question I've been pondering is why don't the powder manufacturers offer smaller sampler containers of say 1/4lb. for those like the OP or myself who would like to try a different powder?

A 1/4lb would still allow enough to perform some good testing as many loads fall between the 4-6gr weight for pistols which would be about 350 rounds. Then if one finds it's not what they are looking for or it doesn't do what they want they aren't sitting there with 3/4lb that will never be used.
 
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