Need Powder Source

campingnights · January 25, 2015, 12:15 PM

Well, just got my reloading bench set back up again and realize that unlike a couple of decades ago, when I last reloaded, picking up a can of powder ain't as simple as it used to be. Currently I have a can of Unique (also 20 years old) which won't last all that long. Any good mail order sources of powder out there? I'd prefer Unique as I'm familiar with it, but I'd also like pistol powder suggestions. I shoot 9mm, 38 special and 45 long colt. Thanks guys

Kframe · January 25, 2015, 12:59 PM

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526500

Nick_C_S · January 25, 2015, 01:40 PM

Powders have been hard to get for a couple years now. "The Big Shortage" started from panic buying as a response to the political climate. We seem to be on the tail end of the shortage - things are starting to improve; albeit, gradually.

Quote:

Any good mail order sources of powder out there?

A good starting point is here: http://www.gunbot.net/reloading/Powder/

It's a site were a like-minded computer-savvy person set up a macro that automatically queries various on-line sources for powder and reports out. So it's kind of a who-just-got-in-what site.

There is a hazmat fee when buying powders on line. The fee is a single charge (usually in the 20-30$ neighborhood) for each transaction - NOT each item. So the hazmat fee is the same if you're buying 1 pound or 20. Obviously, it's to your advantage to buy enough on each transaction to make the hazmat fee more cost-effective.

Quote:

I'd prefer Unique as I'm familiar with it, but I'd also like pistol powder suggestions. I shoot 9mm, 38 special and 45 long colt.

Depends on the purpose for which you're going to load. But as I see it, 38 Special and 45 Colt (it's not actually "45 long colt" - and the cowboy action folks will straighten you out on that right quick

) are in the same pressure range and have nearly interchangeable powders. Great choices are names you are probably familiar with: Bullseye, & Win 231 (which is also labeled as HP-38 - it's the exact same stuff). Also in the fast range is Accurate Arms #2 ("AA2"), which is an excellent metering powder. It's also slightly slower than B'eye or 231, so it behaves better if you plan on spunking them up just a little bit. All three are faster than Unique, but work great.

In the medium speed range, Unique is a great choice, but Accurate Arms #5 ("AA5") also works well - like AA2, great metering and very consistent burning.

Now 9mm (technically "9x19") operates at a little higher pressure, so not only can you use the aforementioned propellants, but you can also use HS-6, Power Pistol, and AA7 for the hot stuff (AA7 being purely for hot rounds with heavy bullets). All three of these like to be loaded up a bit to yield high performance rounds - if that's your purpose. I don't recommend these for 38 Spl or 45 Colt however. Other may disagree. But I find that they need some pressure to run clean and consistent - as they're designed. On an aside, AA2 is an extraordinarily good powder for 9mm - for both 115g and 124g bullets - especially the 115's. It's a bit fast for defense level rounds, but it makes excellent, consistent, clean, general purpose range shooters.

There are other choices too, but these are the ones with which I have personal experience. Now, if you can just find some of these

Things are still hard to find. You may need some patience.

campingnights · January 25, 2015, 02:58 PM

Thanks Nick, your information was helpful. Looks like I'll have to bide my time and keep track on the gunbot. Never liked Bullseye, had a friend that almost blew up his revolver with that, his mistake not the powder. Last powder I ordered was a huge canister of Al-7. Fed off that for several years, but alas they aren't around anymore. Looks like I'll seek AA 5 and 2. Thanks

MightyMO1911 · January 25, 2015, 03:31 PM

You'll pay rather dearly for it, but reloading unlimited has quite a bit.

dwhite · January 25, 2015, 03:37 PM

Campingnights, where are you located? Some kind soul may be nearby you could get some from.

All the Best,
D. White

campingnights · January 25, 2015, 05:58 PM

Mighty Mo 1911, Thanks I'll keep it in mind.

D White, I'm in Saginaw, MI

campingnights · January 25, 2015, 06:01 PM

American Reloading has Commercial #1 powder. I think it's a repackaged Spanish powder. Any of you guys try it?

WCWV · January 25, 2015, 06:22 PM

Campingnights: You can go to gun broker and find some. It can get costly though. When I ordered it, I just try and get the most bang for the buck on the Haz-mat shipping costs but I have found a few places there that were great to deal with and I will buy from them again.

hartcreek · January 25, 2015, 07:47 PM

In Michigan I would try Bimart. Bimart out here has most always been a goodsource for powder but their primer prices are higher then Cabellas.

MightyMO1911 · January 25, 2015, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campingnights

American Reloading has Commercial #1 powder. I think it's a repackaged Spanish powder. Any of you guys try it?

Yep. It's commonly called csb1 and it's made by Maxaam. Rio shotshells uses csb powder. I have a couple pounds and really like it.

January 25, 2015, 03:37 PM	#6
dwhite Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2007 Location: Wake County, N. Carolina Posts: 379	Campingnights, where are you located? Some kind soul may be nearby you could get some from. All the Best, D. White __________________ 10th Amendment - The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

January 25, 2015, 12:15 PM	#1
campingnights Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2014 Location: Frozen North Posts: 272	Need Powder Source Well, just got my reloading bench set back up again and realize that unlike a couple of decades ago, when I last reloaded, picking up a can of powder ain't as simple as it used to be. Currently I have a can of Unique (also 20 years old) which won't last all that long. Any good mail order sources of powder out there? I'd prefer Unique as I'm familiar with it, but I'd also like pistol powder suggestions. I shoot 9mm, 38 special and 45 long colt. Thanks guys

January 25, 2015, 12:59 PM	#2
Kframe Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 1999 Location: MN Posts: 640	http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526500

January 25, 2015, 02:58 PM	#4
campingnights Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2014 Location: Frozen North Posts: 272	Thanks Nick, your information was helpful. Looks like I'll have to bide my time and keep track on the gunbot. Never liked Bullseye, had a friend that almost blew up his revolver with that, his mistake not the powder. Last powder I ordered was a huge canister of Al-7. Fed off that for several years, but alas they aren't around anymore. Looks like I'll seek AA 5 and 2. Thanks

January 25, 2015, 03:31 PM	#5
MightyMO1911 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2014 Posts: 122	You'll pay rather dearly for it, but reloading unlimited has quite a bit.

January 25, 2015, 05:58 PM	#7
campingnights Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2014 Location: Frozen North Posts: 272	Mighty Mo 1911, Thanks I'll keep it in mind. D White, I'm in Saginaw, MI

January 25, 2015, 06:01 PM	#8
campingnights Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2014 Location: Frozen North Posts: 272	American Reloading has Commercial #1 powder. I think it's a repackaged Spanish powder. Any of you guys try it?

January 25, 2015, 06:22 PM	#9
WCWV Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2015 Posts: 137	Campingnights: You can go to gun broker and find some. It can get costly though. When I ordered it, I just try and get the most bang for the buck on the Haz-mat shipping costs but I have found a few places there that were great to deal with and I will buy from them again.

January 25, 2015, 07:47 PM	#10
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	In Michigan I would try Bimart. Bimart out here has most always been a goodsource for powder but their primer prices are higher then Cabellas.