do it all powder

tnloader · January 17, 2012, 03:10 PM

I'm looking for a do it all powder for .380, 9mm and .45 acp. any suggestions? not sure yet what bullet weight I'll be using yet for each caliber. I'm new to reloading and really don't want to have to buy a different powder fro each caliber.

**Mike Irwin** · January 17, 2012, 03:35 PM

Bullseye, Unique, WW 231, HP 38, AA 5 and numerous others.

My personal suggestion?

WW 231. Exceptional powder that has been my personal 'go to' since the early 1980s.

David Bachelder · January 17, 2012, 03:39 PM

Hodgdon Universal.

Shootest · January 17, 2012, 04:37 PM

Another vote for WW 231, it’s clean burning, meters well, almost completely handgun universal, great stuff.

rbursek · January 17, 2012, 04:50 PM

Misread, I thought you said 308, instead of 380

huntinaz · January 17, 2012, 04:52 PM

I was also thinking W231.

m&p45acp10+1 · January 17, 2012, 05:33 PM

I do not reload for .380 ACP though I do load for .45 ACP, 9mm Luger, .38 spcl./.357 Mag, and .41 Rem Mag. I use Bull's Eye, and TiteGroup in all. I use the BE more than TG as I use BE for all of my cast lead loads, and for full wadcutters in the .38 spcl.

win308 · January 17, 2012, 05:59 PM

Unique.................

dacaur · January 17, 2012, 08:51 PM

unique, power pistol.

PunchinPaper · January 17, 2012, 09:06 PM

W231 For me as well....I like Unique too but W231 meters alot more accurately in my R.C.B.S measure.

Nosparetime · January 17, 2012, 10:03 PM

Hodgdon Clays

mumbo719 · January 18, 2012, 08:01 AM

Bullseye, Power Pistol

grandpajoe · January 18, 2012, 10:22 AM

I'm going to have say HP38/WW231 and Unique. I use those 2 more than anything else for pistol (380, 9mm, 357, 45 ACP, 44 mag)

overkill0084 · January 18, 2012, 11:51 AM

I've used Bullseye successfully in all those.
I used AA#5 in them as well, but the .380 required more development. Bullseye already worked well, so I didn't bother.
Unique works well in 9 mm & .45 acp. I suppose it would work in .380, I just haven't tried it myself, thus I can't verify.

3kgt2nv · January 18, 2012, 04:49 PM

i use unique for almost all my handgun loads with great success.

tnloader · January 19, 2012, 03:24 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to go with WW 231 and see how that works for me.

Jim243 · January 19, 2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

I think I'm going to go with WW 231 and see how that works for me.

Good choice, except for mag calibers.

Jim

BigJimP · January 19, 2012, 04:28 PM

Hodgdon Universal or Hodgdon TiteGroup are my personal choices...depending on which one you can find locally. Universal is more readily available in my area.

**Mike Irwin** · January 19, 2012, 04:33 PM

"Good choice, except for mag calibers."

231 is a GREAT choice for Magnum cartridges.

Just not magnum loads.

I've used 231 VERY successfully for many years in .357 and .41 Magnum with cast lead bullets.

You get mid-range magnum loads, but you can't get all the way to top end magnum loads, but still quite a bit of thump.

When I want to go full bore, I'll use either WW 296 or AA 7.

Tim R · January 19, 2012, 05:24 PM

I will also agree 231 is a good all-around powder for use in the cartridges you listed. Bullseye is another good powder for your list. Having a single powder for a list of cartridges often times work and sounds logical but is not always the best solution. @31 does meter well, Bullseye not so well. I have burned way more Bullseye in 45 ACP than I have with 231. But the 231 works very well here too. I think you will be happy with your choice over all. Just be careful and check your powder levels before seating a bullet. A double charge of 321 or Bullseye is going to make your pistol into some smaller parts.

**Mike Irwin** · January 19, 2012, 07:31 PM

"A double charge of 321 or Bullseye is going to make your pistol into some smaller parts."

Well, it really depends on the pistol and how much of a double charge the double charge is.

I skrooed up a few years ago and dumped 9.8 grains of 231 under a lead 230-gr. bullet.

My Springfield 1911 A1 Milspec came through it just fine. The magazine was trashed, though.

But, I was originally going to fire that round out of my S&W Model of 1917 Brazilian Contract. Had I done that I have no doubt the cylinder and top strap would have bounced off the ceiling. Thank God I forgot the clip and was too lazy to punch the cases out by hand.

tnloader · January 19, 2012, 10:51 PM

FYI
the .45 is a glock 30
the 9mm is kel-tec pf9 (soon to add glock 19)
and .380 is an LCP.

Fleet · January 19, 2012, 11:18 PM

Unique without a doubt.

scsov509 · January 20, 2012, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Unique without a doubt.

Universal has almost the same burn rate but is cleaner and meters better. I held on to Unique for a long time until the boys here finally talked me into trying Universal, and I haven't looked back since.

Regarding the OP, 231 and Power Pistol are my favorite two powders for overall versatility. Either one would suit you well for what you're proposing.

PunchinPaper · January 20, 2012, 04:44 AM

I even load light target loads of W231 for 357 & 44 Mag Cartridges with great results. But For heavy MAG loads I favor 2400 & W296. W231 is a very versitile powder.

January 17, 2012, 03:10 PM	#1
tnloader Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2012 Posts: 3	do it all powder I'm looking for a do it all powder for .380, 9mm and .45 acp. any suggestions? not sure yet what bullet weight I'll be using yet for each caliber. I'm new to reloading and really don't want to have to buy a different powder fro each caliber.

January 17, 2012, 03:35 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Bullseye, Unique, WW 231, HP 38, AA 5 and numerous others. My personal suggestion? WW 231. Exceptional powder that has been my personal 'go to' since the early 1980s. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 17, 2012, 03:39 PM	#3
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Hodgdon Universal. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

January 17, 2012, 04:37 PM	#4
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	Another vote for WW 231, it’s clean burning, meters well, almost completely handgun universal, great stuff. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

January 17, 2012, 04:52 PM	#6
huntinaz Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: az Posts: 1,332	I was also thinking W231. __________________ "When there’s lead in the air, there’s hope in the heart”- Hunter’s Proverb "Feed me, or feed me to something. I just want to be part of the food chain." -Al Bundy

January 17, 2012, 04:50 PM	#5
rbursek Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2011 Location: Milwaukkee, WI Posts: 152	Misread, I thought you said 308, instead of 380

January 17, 2012, 05:33 PM	#7
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I do not reload for .380 ACP though I do load for .45 ACP, 9mm Luger, .38 spcl./.357 Mag, and .41 Rem Mag. I use Bull's Eye, and TiteGroup in all. I use the BE more than TG as I use BE for all of my cast lead loads, and for full wadcutters in the .38 spcl. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

January 17, 2012, 05:59 PM	#8
win308 Member Join Date: December 13, 2004 Posts: 41	Unique.................

January 17, 2012, 08:51 PM	#9
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	unique, power pistol.

January 17, 2012, 09:06 PM	#10
PunchinPaper Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2011 Posts: 148	Ball powders are your friend. W231 For me as well....I like Unique too but W231 meters alot more accurately in my R.C.B.S measure.

January 17, 2012, 10:03 PM	#11
Nosparetime Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 100	Hodgdon Clays

January 18, 2012, 08:01 AM	#12
mumbo719 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Tampa Bay, FL. Posts: 346	Bullseye, Power Pistol

January 18, 2012, 10:22 AM	#13
grandpajoe Member Join Date: June 10, 2011 Posts: 53	I'm going to have say HP38/WW231 and Unique. I use those 2 more than anything else for pistol (380, 9mm, 357, 45 ACP, 44 mag)

January 18, 2012, 11:51 AM	#14
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	I've used Bullseye successfully in all those. I used AA#5 in them as well, but the .380 required more development. Bullseye already worked well, so I didn't bother. Unique works well in 9 mm & .45 acp. I suppose it would work in .380, I just haven't tried it myself, thus I can't verify. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

January 18, 2012, 04:49 PM	#15
3kgt2nv Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: hudson valley NY Posts: 517	i use unique for almost all my handgun loads with great success.

January 19, 2012, 03:24 PM	#16
tnloader Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2012 Posts: 3	Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to go with WW 231 and see how that works for me.

January 19, 2012, 04:28 PM	#18
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Hodgdon Universal or Hodgdon TiteGroup are my personal choices...depending on which one you can find locally. Universal is more readily available in my area.

January 19, 2012, 04:33 PM	#19
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	"Good choice, except for mag calibers." 231 is a GREAT choice for Magnum cartridges. Just not magnum loads. I've used 231 VERY successfully for many years in .357 and .41 Magnum with cast lead bullets. You get mid-range magnum loads, but you can't get all the way to top end magnum loads, but still quite a bit of thump. When I want to go full bore, I'll use either WW 296 or AA 7. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 19, 2012, 05:24 PM	#20
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	I will also agree 231 is a good all-around powder for use in the cartridges you listed. Bullseye is another good powder for your list. Having a single powder for a list of cartridges often times work and sounds logical but is not always the best solution. @31 does meter well, Bullseye not so well. I have burned way more Bullseye in 45 ACP than I have with 231. But the 231 works very well here too. I think you will be happy with your choice over all. Just be careful and check your powder levels before seating a bullet. A double charge of 321 or Bullseye is going to make your pistol into some smaller parts. __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.

January 19, 2012, 07:31 PM	#21
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	"A double charge of 321 or Bullseye is going to make your pistol into some smaller parts." Well, it really depends on the pistol and how much of a double charge the double charge is. I skrooed up a few years ago and dumped 9.8 grains of 231 under a lead 230-gr. bullet. My Springfield 1911 A1 Milspec came through it just fine. The magazine was trashed, though. But, I was originally going to fire that round out of my S&W Model of 1917 Brazilian Contract. Had I done that I have no doubt the cylinder and top strap would have bounced off the ceiling. Thank God I forgot the clip and was too lazy to punch the cases out by hand. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 19, 2012, 10:51 PM	#22
tnloader Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2012 Posts: 3	FYI the .45 is a glock 30 the 9mm is kel-tec pf9 (soon to add glock 19) and .380 is an LCP.

January 19, 2012, 11:18 PM	#23
Fleet Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2011 Posts: 108	Unique without a doubt.

January 20, 2012, 04:44 AM	#25
PunchinPaper Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2011 Posts: 148	I even load light target loads of W231 for 357 & 44 Mag Cartridges with great results. But For heavy MAG loads I favor 2400 & W296. W231 is a very versitile powder.

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