Best Powders to use with a Dillon Press

FloridaGuy · March 31, 2013, 07:12 PM

I just wanted to see what powders people have had the best experience with in a Dillon Press. I am loading the following rounds .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45 ACP and 9MM.

bamiller · March 31, 2013, 07:29 PM

I use Bullseye and Power Pistol without issue.

Misssissippi Dave · March 31, 2013, 07:34 PM

I have a 550b and SDB press. These like AA2 through AA9 powders, W231, WSF, and WST. Basically,if the powder is a ball type or flattened ball powder it should do well. Flake powders have not worked very well for me. I have only loaded pistol ammo on mine so I don't know how stick powders work.

AA7 and AA9 powders should work well for the magnum loads. AA5 works pretty well in 9 mm and can also be used in .45 acp. I prefer WST for 45 apc and 115 grain fmj/jhp loads in 9 mm. WSF will work for mid to upper range loads in 9 mm and .45 acp. WST is too fast a powder to try it at the upper ends for 9 mm and .45 acp. You also run out of space in the case to load WST very hot in 9 mm. AA2 can be used for light loads in 9 mm, .38 special and .45 acp. I haven't loaded anything in .45 colt so I can only guess about it.

Catfish · March 31, 2013, 07:50 PM

I`ve been loading on a 550 for over 20 years. For the rounds your loading I would recomand 2 powders. H- 110/ Win. 296 for the heavy loads and Bullseye for the lite loads. With any powder measure ball and flake powders measure real well, but stick powders do not work well. I will load the short cut powders if they are the only thing that will shoot well in that round.

jfrey · March 31, 2013, 08:07 PM

WSF works great in mine. Very consistent.

drklude · March 31, 2013, 08:19 PM

I've been using Universal in my xl650 in my .38's for the last 400 rounds or so. Meters well and consistent...no complaints.

m&p45acp10+1 · March 31, 2013, 08:21 PM

Any of the fine ball powders should work well in most powder measures that meter by volume.

TiteGroup, Bull's Eye, H-110, AA#9,Alliant 2400, and IMR 4227 meter like water in my powder measure. Rifle powders that have metered well are AA 2015, H-335, IMR 4320, and Reloader 7. They meter like water.

reload · April 1, 2013, 11:58 AM

Using HP-38 (aka W231) for 9mm in my Dillon SDB.

Kevin Rohrer · April 1, 2013, 04:56 PM

I have no problem with Unique.

If you have a problem using their measure, upgrade to a Quick-Measure.
It works with all powders.

WESHOOT2 · April 2, 2013, 10:50 AM

Bullseye
Power Pistol
2400
AA2
AA2 Imp
AA5
AA9
W231
W296
WSL
WST
3N37
N350
N110
Universal
H110
HS6
WAP
others....

March 31, 2013, 07:12 PM	#1
FloridaGuy Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2012 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 237	Best Powders to use with a Dillon Press I just wanted to see what powders people have had the best experience with in a Dillon Press. I am loading the following rounds .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45 ACP and 9MM.

March 31, 2013, 08:21 PM	#7
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Any of the fine ball powders should work well in most powder measures that meter by volume. TiteGroup, Bull's Eye, H-110, AA#9,Alliant 2400, and IMR 4227 meter like water in my powder measure. Rifle powders that have metered well are AA 2015, H-335, IMR 4320, and Reloader 7. They meter like water. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

April 1, 2013, 11:58 AM	#8
reload Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Posts: 43	Using HP-38 (aka W231) for 9mm in my Dillon SDB. Last edited by reload; April 2, 2013 at 10:53 AM.

April 2, 2013, 10:50 AM	#10
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	in my sixteen (now down to nine) Dillon measures Bullseye Power Pistol 2400 AA2 AA2 Imp AA5 AA9 W231 W296 WSL WST 3N37 N350 N110 Universal H110 HS6 WAP others.... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

March 31, 2013, 07:29 PM	#2
bamiller Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2010 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 455	I use Bullseye and Power Pistol without issue.

March 31, 2013, 07:34 PM	#3
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	I have a 550b and SDB press. These like AA2 through AA9 powders, W231, WSF, and WST. Basically,if the powder is a ball type or flattened ball powder it should do well. Flake powders have not worked very well for me. I have only loaded pistol ammo on mine so I don't know how stick powders work. AA7 and AA9 powders should work well for the magnum loads. AA5 works pretty well in 9 mm and can also be used in .45 acp. I prefer WST for 45 apc and 115 grain fmj/jhp loads in 9 mm. WSF will work for mid to upper range loads in 9 mm and .45 acp. WST is too fast a powder to try it at the upper ends for 9 mm and .45 acp. You also run out of space in the case to load WST very hot in 9 mm. AA2 can be used for light loads in 9 mm, .38 special and .45 acp. I haven't loaded anything in .45 colt so I can only guess about it.

March 31, 2013, 07:50 PM	#4
Catfish Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 171	I`ve been loading on a 550 for over 20 years. For the rounds your loading I would recomand 2 powders. H- 110/ Win. 296 for the heavy loads and Bullseye for the lite loads. With any powder measure ball and flake powders measure real well, but stick powders do not work well. I will load the short cut powders if they are the only thing that will shoot well in that round.

March 31, 2013, 08:07 PM	#5
jfrey Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Location: Coastal South Texas Posts: 557	WSF works great in mine. Very consistent.

March 31, 2013, 08:19 PM	#6
drklude Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Posts: 40	I've been using Universal in my xl650 in my .38's for the last 400 rounds or so. Meters well and consistent...no complaints.

April 1, 2013, 04:56 PM	#9
Kevin Rohrer Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,049	Most Everything Works I have no problem with Unique. If you have a problem using their measure, upgrade to a Quick-Measure. It works with all powders. __________________ Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer