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Old May 9, 2012, 08:15 PM   #1
Old 454
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What is your favorite powder that you can use in nearly all your calibers?

I have found that Accurate #5 is a really nice powder, I use it in 45ACP, 40 S&W and 357 mag.
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Old May 9, 2012, 08:23 PM   #2
PhilGarn
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I'm loading TiteGroup and finding it to do very well in 40 S&W and 38/357.
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Old May 9, 2012, 08:25 PM   #3
Axelwik
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For handgun Unique or 231 will work in almost anything.

For my magnums, however I typically use slower powders to get the most out of them (2400 and H110).
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Old May 9, 2012, 08:41 PM   #4
tom234
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HERCO is my main powder for .38 Special through .45 ACP [including .357 mag, .40 S&W, 10mm, and 44 mag] from target to moderately heavy loads with heavier bullets. It burns slower than UNIQUE and faster than BLUE DOT.
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Old May 9, 2012, 09:01 PM   #5
res45
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Alliant 2400 all with cast bullet loads.

38 Spec. & +P

357 Mag.

7.62 x 39

30-30

7.62 x 54r

300 Sav.
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Old May 9, 2012, 09:09 PM   #6
wncchester
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"What is your favorite powder that you can use in nearly all your calibers?"

I have no such powder. I choose the best performing powder for each of the several cartridge I load for and rarely use the same powder in more than a couple. If I was willing to limit my ammo's performance I'd just stick to factory stuff. YMMV.
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Old May 9, 2012, 09:18 PM   #7
black mamba
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HP-38 (W231) works for about 85% of my handgun shooting needs, and is very economical. I use Accurate 4100 for the heavy loads, but that does not account for very much of my shooting.
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Old May 9, 2012, 09:31 PM   #8
jepp2
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Quote:
I have no such powder. I choose the best performing powder for each of the several cartridge I load for and rarely use the same powder in more than a couple.
+1, same here. I really believe one of the biggest mistakes a reloader can make is using the wrong burn rate powder. If the concern is that unused powder will go to waste, it just doesn't make sense.

First of all - powder that is properly stored has a very long shelf life. Second - the cost of the bullet is the most significant cost of reloading a round, and to use a powder that is poorly suited for the load you are developing will not yield the best results.

But hey, everyone is free to make their own decisions and live with the results.
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Old May 9, 2012, 09:58 PM   #9
wingman
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I use AA5 in 380, 9mm,40cal and 45acp. excellent powder.
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Old May 10, 2012, 12:11 AM   #10
mmb713
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I'm using Universal for most everything in 9mm, 45 Auto, 45 Colt and 357 midrange loads.
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Old May 10, 2012, 12:34 AM   #11
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I really like AA#5 but I would also need #2 and #9 to load all of my handgun loads well
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Old May 10, 2012, 05:24 AM   #12
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Power Pistol for all my Semi Auto loads
A use a little 2400 for my mags
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Old May 10, 2012, 08:02 AM   #13
David Bachelder
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Universal.
9mm, 38 Special, .40 and .45

Meters and performs well.
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I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06
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Old May 10, 2012, 08:33 AM   #14
serf 'rett
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Target loads for pistols - W231.
Full power - Power Pistol.
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Old May 10, 2012, 08:34 AM   #15
Blind Dog Jake
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Unique

12,20 and 28 ga.
357 mag
38 s
41 mag
44 mag
25-20
45-70
And some others over the past 40 years, I'm sure.
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Old May 10, 2012, 08:37 AM   #16
rclark
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Unique. It covers light to medium loads easily and almost gets you into magnum territory. 2400 takes me into Magnum territory although rarely needed. That said, I have my favorite powders that I use in 'each' caliber. Red Dot in .357, Unique/universal in .44Spec, Unique in .44Mag, IMR 4227 in .45 Colt, and Bullseye in .45ACP.
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Old May 10, 2012, 08:37 AM   #17
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I have several that I really like, and by nature I don't have anything that is dedicated to just one thing. But if things get stupid like they did in 08 with the stockpiling and shortages, one fall-back powder to run everything is a good thing. Since I cast for nearly everything I shoot, I have a Red Dot load for everything I cast--rifle and handgun.
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Old May 10, 2012, 09:50 AM   #18
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I find myself using more and more of Bullseye. It's great for my light plinking needs as I fine myself shooting more low to mid range loads than any real heavy hitters.I guess I'm just getting old or smarter.
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Old May 10, 2012, 10:28 AM   #19
William T. Watts
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Quote:
I have no such powder
I agree with Wncchester, I have 6 or 7 powders in my cabinent, I'll use a slow powder H4831 or IMR7828 for 270/280/243, a medium powder I.E. 4064 or RL15 for 22/250,30/30,307,30/06, IMR4895 for my Garand, W231 for 45ACP. I look for a powder that will produce high velocity with high loading density of 80% if possible, that's not possible for my 45 using W231. The other side of the coin is if I pick up a new caliber it's a good bet I'll have it covered with the powder I have.. William

Last edited by William T. Watts; May 10, 2012 at 10:33 AM.
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Old May 10, 2012, 10:40 AM   #20
spacecoast
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Titegroup works well in everything from .380 ACP to .44 magnum. I haven't tried it yet in .25 ACP, but it will likely work well there, too. Plus, it's very economical.
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Old May 10, 2012, 10:45 AM   #21
uncyboo
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Quote:
I have no such powder. I choose the best performing powder for each of the several cartridge I load for and rarely use the same powder in more than a couple. If I was willing to limit my ammo's performance I'd just stick to factory stuff. YMMV.
+2. I load for performance, not economy.
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Old May 10, 2012, 10:54 AM   #22
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For handgun loads I use Bullseye and Unique. For rifles I mainly use H380, which works great in the medium capacity cartridges - .300 Sav, 30-40 Krag, 30-30 and .303 Brit - that I load for. I'm pretty old school I guess, and I love my 30 cals.
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Old May 10, 2012, 11:12 AM   #23
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Quote:
I have no such powder. I choose the best performing powder for each of the several cartridge I load for and rarely use the same powder in more than a couple. If I was willing to limit my ammo's performance I'd just stick to factory stuff. YMMV.
+3
I use 231/HP38 or Unique for most of my stuff, and could probably do everything I need to do but not what I want to do. For that I need my 296 and longshot as well.
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Old May 10, 2012, 02:03 PM   #24
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I believe that I could shoot everything I own with just two powders. 4895 and Unique. That would handle, in a pinch, everything I load for, from .38 Special through .45-70. I've got several other powders, but if I was forced to pare down to just two, those would be the two I kept.
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Old May 10, 2012, 02:49 PM   #25
Edward429451
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I have my specialty powders, but the most versatile powder that I have and loaded in the widest range of cartridges...wait for it...Unique. No surprise there. I've load Unique in 38, 357, 9mm, 44 Special, 44 Mag, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 30/30, .308 Winchester, 45/70, and 12 Gauge shot loads, 12 Ga slugs.

Unique may not be the absolute best, but it is acceptable in a wide range of applications. This stuff is unique, it must have been given to us by the Aliens.
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