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Old December 16, 2012, 10:06 AM   #1
Beginner 1960
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Looking for a new powder

hello,looking 4 a new powder to try,I'm loading 38sp,357 and 44 mag.

I have hp-38,unique and 2400 on hand. was looking for something a little slower than the unique, and a ball powder so it meters better, was thinking of either AA-5 or AA-7?

Loading from lite target to seim hot rounds,any suggestions?

thanks for ur opions and input
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Old December 16, 2012, 10:22 AM   #2
griz
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#5 is well suited to the 38 special in typical loads. I haven't tried it in the faster rounds. If I remember correctly, #7 is too slow for 38. I used a few pounds of it in 9mm, but didn't try it in revolver rounds.
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Old December 16, 2012, 10:33 AM   #3
Sarge
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I believe HS6 is what you're looking for and it has never produced an inaccurate load in any handgun cartridge I've tried it in, which include the ones you mentioned and the .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
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Old December 16, 2012, 10:35 AM   #4
chiefr
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I have been reloading the 44 Mag for 35 years. Tried most every powder and always returned to the powders that give me the best results. 2400 & 296.
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Old December 16, 2012, 10:42 AM   #5
buck460XVR
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Quote:
Loading from lite target to seim hot rounds,any suggestions?


You will be hard pressed to find any ONE powder to do all of that WELL in .38, .357 and .44. If you are looking for one powder that will just work for those purposes then you already have found it....Unique. Having 2400 also means you have most bases covered. Powder costs are similar for most varieties of burn rate. Having two different 4 lb jugs cost no more that one 8 lb jug, but will give better performance. I have found IMR4227 to be a tag more accurate in my revolvers than 2400 and is just as versatile. When I want full tilt magnum power I use H110/W296. Unique will always be on the shelf. While Unique does not meters the best by weight, and many folks don't like it because of this, it does meter well by volume and consistent volume means it shoots consistently. While your charge weights may vary by +/.1 or .2gr, if the volume is consistent, so will be your accuracy.
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Old December 16, 2012, 10:58 AM   #6
Beginner 1960
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Thanks guys 4 the info am just looking to try something differnet,just really don't like the real fast burning powders

Have 2 twenty something year old cans of H110 and Blue Dot I need to get rid of.

Will always have more than one kind of powder, that is if i can afford it
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Old December 17, 2012, 09:46 AM   #7
Mike Irwin
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AA-7 is an excellent powder in .357 Mag. and .41 Magnum. I don't have a .44, but I suspect it would sing in that, too.

But, I'm not sure that it would be suitable for .38 Special. Maybe with 158-gr. jacketed bullets and close to +P loads...

I think, though, that you're going to have problems finding one powder that is truly suitable for all three of those cartridges.
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Old December 17, 2012, 10:10 AM   #8
solocam72
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I have always used H-110 in my .44 and .357 magnums, had great luck with it over the years, just recently stocked up on some of it. The winchester 296 and H-110 are nearly identical
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Old December 17, 2012, 10:16 AM   #9
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I've used AA#7 in 9mm Luger, 38 spcl, 357 mag, 40 sw, 44 spcl, 44 mag, and 45 acp. My 38 spcl data came from this site. http://www.loaddata.com/members/listing.cfm?type=1 I had to join. It was worth it at the time. AA#7 wasn't the best choice, but it was accurate in our model 10. I don't remember the exact load, though I do remember it being with a 158gr swc. It's been years since I loaded it, and have since moved back to RD, BE, and Unique. It does work really well(for me) with all the other cartridges listed, especially 9mm, 357 mag, 40 sw, 44 spcl. and 45 acp.

The old Accurate manuals actually listed 38 spcl AA#7 data. You may be able to find one of them. You could also call Sierra bullets and talk to a tech. I've had them mail data to me, for obsolete cartridges and other products, as well as their own.
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