The most what?
What is your favorite powder for handguns?
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Bullseye was the first powder I loaded with. Liked the accuracy, hated the filth it left behind. Never could get it to run in my old High Power.
I switched to 452AA then later, to it's replacement WST. Used it for my USPSA ammo for a lot of years. (9mm, 40 & 45 acp)
When I finish up the last keg, I'll be switching to the new Winchester 244. Just as accurate, just as clean but a bit more temp stable.
Jeff
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🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻 Tough to beat the attributes of VV powder….if you want to pay for it!🙂
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Versatile, I’m sure.
There’s a handful that are a Jack of most Trades…master of none. Question is…how good are you??
I’m perfectly content shooting many of the versatile powders and stopped chasing the nth a long time ago!🙂
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Widest range of calibers for one powder. Unique comes to mind immediately, but I’ve also been able to use HP-38 for a pretty wide variety of applications—haven’t seen a can of Unique in 3 years.
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4.3 gr of green dot in 9mm,45 acp and 40 S&W.
This is a mild load but VERY accurate.
Works in alot of other calibers also.
We have been using this for years.
There is other data out there also,you just have to look for it.
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If I could only have one handgun powder it would be Accurate #5. It'll work on old low pressure rounds and some newer higher pressure cartridges to an extent as well.
Ideally a fast powder too, lots of good choices there. To round it out, some A #9 for warmer loads.
Ideally a fast powder too, lots of good choices there. To round it out, some A #9 for warmer loads.
I have a cavate to my reply. I load primarily for accuracy rather than how many calibers I can load with a particular powder. That said, here's my list.
Bullseye. One of the oldest smokeless powders it has shown great accuracy in Bullseye type loads in 38 spl and 45 acp. during the lean years, it has been pressed into use in a varity of handgun calibers. Very fast burning and only really suitable for light target type loads.
Win 231 / HP-38. Wide variety of load data in most handgun calibers. I've had some loads show great accuracy.
Accurate #2. Lots of load data for a variety of calibers but unlike it's namesake, I've never come across any loads that stood out accuracy wise.
Win 244. Updated target powder. Looks like 231/HP38, shoots more like WST. Lots of data on Hodgdens web site.
Unique. Another old powder that's been loaded into just about everything from 32 S&W to 45/70. Large flake powder that doesn't flow through most powder measure's and must be hand weighed for best results.
BE-86. All the versatility of Unique without any of the shortcomings. Flows through powder measures like water. Falls between Unique and Power Pistol with a flash retardant. I've been able to find accurate loads in everything from 9mm to 45 Colt.
Hope this helps.
Jeff
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If they had left it alone I would still be using Unique (though I admit it was sort of dirty) - but since I'd have to rework all my data (I have done it in .44 Spl for a friend and have a general idea) I just moved on to modern powders which are in the same range.
I'd say the same thing of SR-4756 but they don't even make that any more 😕
I guess the best I could do these days would be HS-6, but I'm thinking Longshot might do as well, and there are likely some newer powders I haven't even tried might do that too.
I do still have a little bit of Old Unique, I'm saving it for special uses. I have a bit of old Herco as well but they tell me it has changed as well.
I am to the point of not trusting any of the new lots of powder and always have to start over when I buy a new can of anything.-- which is why I am loath to buy any powder in lots of less than 8 lbs.! Mind you, most of the time, middle of the road loads are not more than 10% different.
Riposte
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Depends on the quality of your powder drop too.
My RCBS Uniflows with small metering screws in them usually have no problems with it.
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I agree. Once upon a time, I loaded my magnum cartridges "flat out" and I tended to go with 2400, H-110 and Win-296 for those - they likely would get about 100 fps more velocity from my 8 3/8" barrels than hot loads of Unique.
But I've found that 9 gr. of Unique (speaking of the old Unique, which is gray colored) would get around 1050 to 1100 fps in my 5" 29 and 4 5/8" Ruger and was very pleasant to shoot! And would do about everything I wanted to do in a handgun - but that was also the beginning of the realization that the .45 Auto Rim and the .45 Colt were also even more effective with no more recoil - that said, I like the .44s (both spl. and mag) and shoot them regularly!
BTW, I pulled some factory full house .44 Magnums once - I forget whether they were Winchester or Federal - they were loaded with something like 8 gr. of a relatively fast powder - which sort of shocked me, since they got around 1300 fps!
I shot my first wild boar with a 240 gr. Norma JHP - which went 1530 from my 5" Model 29 - the hog really wasn't impressed (though I hit it in the heart) and it finally did "wilt" - the dogs were so close I could not risk another shot. From that time on, a 240 to 250 gr. .44 SWC at 1000 fps has been just fine with me....actually even at 800 fps it should be just fine...but I'd likely want more in bear country...or elk or moose country!
Riposte.
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Just an idea: you might want to save a few samples of your old powder containers. I still have the little 1 pound square metal pop-top can of Hercules Herco (the 1st reloading powder I ever bought at the age of 15) and at least a few sample containers of the cardbord cylinder cans of Hercules Red Dot, Green Dot, Blue Dot, 2400, Bullseye, Unique,etc. Also the old steel screw top cans of W296 and W760. A raft of metal screw top cans of the original Dupont IMR series, etc. And so on through the takeover of one brand by another - think Alliant and Hodgdon.
The reasons to save samples of them are that they make great decorative displays of your lifetime of shooting and handloading for your man space. Also collectors will buy them. Lastly, they bring back fond memories, at least to me.
The reasons to save samples of them are that they make great decorative displays of your lifetime of shooting and handloading for your man space. Also collectors will buy them. Lastly, they bring back fond memories, at least to me.
That's the only key there - if you can buy an EIGHT POUNDER for an empty can ;-)
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It must have been at least a week since this question was last asked.
Unique
Unique
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With baffle right??Depends on the quality of your powder drop too.
My RCBS Uniflows with small metering screws in them usually have no problems with it.
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