Powder

gcsod45 · August 28, 2008, 01:39 PM

Is there a common powder that can be used for loading 9mm, 40 cal and 45 colt. Not looking at special loads just something common.
Thanks

Loader9 · August 28, 2008, 02:47 PM

If you are using a powder measure, look at Accurates #5. If you are weighing every round, look at Unique. Both are about the same burn rate but the AA5 is a ball powder and measures extremely good. You can also use HS-6 for all of the above and is a favorite of mine in all of those cases. It's also a ball powder but a little slower burning than the AA5. I get the best accuracy from the HS-6.

zxcvbob · August 28, 2008, 02:56 PM

Green Dot. (I actually like Red Dot better, but GD will get you higher muzzle velocities.) Titegroup is also supposed to be good in all three of those, but be careful with it in the .45 Colt because it will just be a tiny amount of powder in that huge case.

If you only asked about .40SW and 9mm, I would have said Bullseye or WSF.

scsov509 · August 28, 2008, 03:32 PM

+1 on AA5 or Unique for these calibers. AA5 does meter better, but I've never had enough of a metering problem with Unique to turn me away from it. Power Pistol is not bad either as long as you aren't looking to get max velocities in your 45 Colt. It meters really well and is excellent in 9mm and .40.

BigJimP · August 28, 2008, 06:03 PM

Hodgdon TiteGroup. I use it for all 3 you mentioned - and for .45 acp,
.357 mag and .44 mag as well Its a very good powder - and available almost everywhere. Its clean burning and meters very consistently.

RidgwayCO · August 28, 2008, 06:44 PM

VihtaVuori has pretty good numbers published for their N340 in these three cartridges.

http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_...deJuly2008.pdf

W. C. Quantrill · August 28, 2008, 06:58 PM

Unique and AA#5.

crowbeaner · August 28, 2008, 08:22 PM

Unique, AA#5, or IMR SR 4756. The AA #5 and SR 4756 will meter like water.

gcsod45 · August 28, 2008, 09:14 PM

45 colt being in a 1921 colt new service so not worried about loading heavy a nice easy loadis fine

fourrobert13 · August 28, 2008, 10:14 PM

Bullseye powder works for all 3. I can attest that it works well for 9mm & 40, but I haven't loaded any 45 colt.

joneb · August 28, 2008, 10:54 PM

I really like Unique but I have switched to AA#5 for .38spl / .357mag lead and plinker plated bullet loads, and it works very well for .45acp, I miss Unique for lead .44spl loads

I like AA#5 as it meters very well and it burns cleaner at lower pressures.

zxcvbob · August 28, 2008, 11:25 PM

Quote:

I really like Unique but I have switched to AA#5 for .38spl / .357mag lead and plinker plated bullet loads, it work very well for .45acp, I miss Unique for lead .44spl loads I like AA#5 as it meters very well and it burns cleaner at lower pressures.

I'm pretty sure AA#2 is almost identical to Unique -- except for the meters like oatmeal part. You might want to give it a try.

joneb · August 29, 2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

I'm pretty sure AA#2 is almost identical to Unique

I think that Unique is a bit slower than #5, and #2 is between Bullseye and W-231, I have considered trying #2 but If it takes the place of BE and W-231 that would make my primary pistol powders AA# 2,5,and 9

zxcvbob · August 29, 2008, 10:59 AM

I've run some numbers in Quickload, and AA#2 and Unique load data comes out just about identical. AA#5 seems to be about like Herco but perhaps a little slower (I didn't pay close attention to that one).

AA#7 is just *slightly* slower than Blue Dot, and it meters like water (that's a good thing, until you skip a primer and the powder runs out the flash hole all over the place. Don't ask me how I know this)

scsov509 · August 29, 2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

until you skip a primer and the powder runs out the flash hole all over the place

It's so good to know that I'm not the only one...

WESHOOT2 · August 30, 2008, 10:04 AM

If QUIKLOAD suggests that AA2 and Unique are similar, suggest tossing TURDLOAD program.

For the original query, recommend one size does not fit all, but W231 is IME the safest choice.

Power Pistol will also work.
So will about forty others.

rfulmer · August 30, 2008, 10:21 AM

Unique is a good all round powder that has a receipe for about any non-magnum pistol load you would ever want to load. Pretty much every reloading manual I have looked at has plenty of info for Unique powder.

SL1 · September 3, 2008, 06:31 AM

Power Pistol will give high velocities in 9mm and 40 S&W and can also be used for mid-power loads in the 45 LC. (It was designed for the 9mm and seems a little faster than Unique in the older, large pistol cases like the 45 LC.)

SL1

Stumper · September 3, 2008, 09:12 AM

Here is a link to ADI's powder equivalency chart. Please note that it is not NOT Not for extrapolating data from one powder to another. It merely shows powders grouped with other powders that are within 5% of one another in burning speed in the standard "closed bomb" test and thus suggests which powders are likely to be useful in similar applications with similar (NOT INTERCHANGABLE) charge weights.

Useful info in considering switching over to a new powder and also for creating caution if you see hugely differing suggested charge weights for powders in the same group. http://www.adi-limited.com/handloade...quivalents.asp

Regarding the original question. Most pistol powders will have tested loads for all of your selected cartridges. Like others my first thought for good performance in multiple calibers has long been Unique. 231 should prove useful and economical in all of yours also. I've long used Red Dot in most pistol loads ( I bought a lot of it long ago).

Sevens · September 3, 2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

(that's a good thing, until you skip a primer and the powder runs out the flash hole all over the place. Don't ask me how I know this)

I say that's a good thing! Yep, messy, but it sure lets you know right away that you fugged up rather than pretending it's a good round.

It's a lot easier to clean up a few grains of spilled powder than it is to pull an already seated and crimped (but no primer) round!

Don't need to ask-- of course I've done both!

August 28, 2008, 01:39 PM	#1
gcsod45 Junior Member Join Date: March 13, 2008 Location: Safford Az Posts: 12	Powder Is there a common powder that can be used for loading 9mm, 40 cal and 45 colt. Not looking at special loads just something common. Thanks

August 28, 2008, 02:56 PM	#3
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Green Dot. (I actually like Red Dot better, but GD will get you higher muzzle velocities.) Titegroup is also supposed to be good in all three of those, but be careful with it in the .45 Colt because it will just be a tiny amount of powder in that huge case. If you only asked about .40SW and 9mm, I would have said Bullseye or WSF. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth Last edited by zxcvbob; August 28, 2008 at 03:47 PM.

August 28, 2008, 08:22 PM	#8
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Unique, AA#5, or IMR SR 4756. The AA #5 and SR 4756 will meter like water. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

August 28, 2008, 09:14 PM	#9
gcsod45 Junior Member Join Date: March 13, 2008 Location: Safford Az Posts: 12	thanks 45 colt being in a 1921 colt new service so not worried about loading heavy a nice easy loadis fine

August 28, 2008, 10:14 PM	#10
fourrobert13 Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: South West Ohio Posts: 336	Bullseye powder works for all 3. I can attest that it works well for 9mm & 40, but I haven't loaded any 45 colt. __________________ Be aware of yourself and everything around you.

August 28, 2008, 02:47 PM	#2
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	If you are using a powder measure, look at Accurates #5. If you are weighing every round, look at Unique. Both are about the same burn rate but the AA5 is a ball powder and measures extremely good. You can also use HS-6 for all of the above and is a favorite of mine in all of those cases. It's also a ball powder but a little slower burning than the AA5. I get the best accuracy from the HS-6.

August 28, 2008, 03:32 PM	#4
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	+1 on AA5 or Unique for these calibers. AA5 does meter better, but I've never had enough of a metering problem with Unique to turn me away from it. Power Pistol is not bad either as long as you aren't looking to get max velocities in your 45 Colt. It meters really well and is excellent in 9mm and .40.

August 28, 2008, 06:03 PM	#5
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Hodgdon TiteGroup. I use it for all 3 you mentioned - and for .45 acp, .357 mag and .44 mag as well Its a very good powder - and available almost everywhere. Its clean burning and meters very consistently.

August 28, 2008, 06:44 PM	#6
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	VihtaVuori has pretty good numbers published for their N340 in these three cartridges. http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_...deJuly2008.pdf

August 28, 2008, 06:58 PM	#7
W. C. Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2008 Location: No Man's Land Posts: 354	Unique and AA#5. __________________ NRA Life Whittington Center Life

August 28, 2008, 10:54 PM	#11
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	I really like Unique but I have switched to AA#5 for .38spl / .357mag lead and plinker plated bullet loads, and it works very well for .45acp, I miss Unique for lead .44spl loads I like AA#5 as it meters very well and it burns cleaner at lower pressures. Last edited by joneb; August 28, 2008 at 11:28 PM.

August 29, 2008, 10:59 AM	#14
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I've run some numbers in Quickload, and AA#2 and Unique load data comes out just about identical. AA#5 seems to be about like Herco but perhaps a little slower (I didn't pay close attention to that one). AA#7 is just slightly slower than Blue Dot, and it meters like water (that's a good thing, until you skip a primer and the powder runs out the flash hole all over the place. Don't ask me how I know this) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

August 30, 2008, 10:04 AM	#16
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	modeling vs blowed-up gun If QUIKLOAD suggests that AA2 and Unique are similar, suggest tossing TURDLOAD program. For the original query, recommend one size does not fit all, but W231 is IME the safest choice. Power Pistol will also work. So will about forty others. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

August 30, 2008, 10:21 AM	#17
rfulmer Junior Member Join Date: August 15, 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 14	Unique is a good all round powder that has a receipe for about any non-magnum pistol load you would ever want to load. Pretty much every reloading manual I have looked at has plenty of info for Unique powder.

September 3, 2008, 06:31 AM	#18
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	Power Pistol will give high velocities in 9mm and 40 S&W and can also be used for mid-power loads in the 45 LC. (It was designed for the 9mm and seems a little faster than Unique in the older, large pistol cases like the 45 LC.) SL1

September 3, 2008, 09:12 AM	#19
Stumper Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 438	Here is a link to ADI's powder equivalency chart. Please note that it is not NOT Not for extrapolating data from one powder to another. It merely shows powders grouped with other powders that are within 5% of one another in burning speed in the standard "closed bomb" test and thus suggests which powders are likely to be useful in similar applications with similar (NOT INTERCHANGABLE) charge weights. Useful info in considering switching over to a new powder and also for creating caution if you see hugely differing suggested charge weights for powders in the same group. http://www.adi-limited.com/handloade...quivalents.asp Regarding the original question. Most pistol powders will have tested loads for all of your selected cartridges. Like others my first thought for good performance in multiple calibers has long been Unique. 231 should prove useful and economical in all of yours also. I've long used Red Dot in most pistol loads ( I bought a lot of it long ago). __________________ "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." Theodore Roosevelt "If only God has magic, how does Santa get down the chimney?" Natalie Peters age 4