powder suggestions for novices

Roland Thunder · September 8, 2011, 05:43 PM

Which powders would you suggest for novice reloader

CWKahrFan · September 8, 2011, 05:47 PM

Loading for... handgun? rifle? shotgun?... what calibers?...

armoredman · September 8, 2011, 05:49 PM

Accurate Arms carries a wide variety of easy to use ball powders, in clearly marked color coded containers. Ball powders tend to meter easily for those who get frustrated try to meter flake or extruded powders. Also they have a VERY detailed loading recipe guide available free for down load off their website.
I started with Accurate, and still use them.

Roland Thunder · September 8, 2011, 05:50 PM

45 acp

excelerater · September 8, 2011, 05:59 PM

everyone has their favorite
I am liking PowerPistol right now.....9,40 and 45

jimbob86 · September 8, 2011, 06:11 PM

I also like Power Pistol for .45 ACP .....

I have also used vN-340, IMR700X, Red Dot and even Blue Dot for .45 ..... Blue Dot ..... meh.

I have found that the flake powders don't meter as well as the really short extruded powders like vN-340, or PP ........

chris in va · September 8, 2011, 07:14 PM

I've been using Universal for 45 and 9mm in about 8000 rounds so far with good results. Didn't care for Unique just because it had huge flakes that were difficult to work with.

mehavey · September 8, 2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

45 acp [powders]

Assuming you are loading variants on the standard 230gr/860fps load, any of these powders would be fine:

Winchester 231
Hodgdon Universal
Alliant BULLSEYE
Alliant UNIQUE

YARDDOG(1) · September 8, 2011, 08:41 PM

Alliant UNIQUE
+1 on Unique more forgiving JMO ; )
Y/D

Ozzieman · September 8, 2011, 08:46 PM

Lot of good suggestions, many I have tried but for all autos I now use Winchester 231.

GeauxTide · September 8, 2011, 09:08 PM

231, Unique, Power Pistol

farmerboy · September 8, 2011, 09:26 PM

look in your manual, find one that also can be used also with other calibers you load for or may load for in the near future. I use Unique also because it is very universal for alot of calibers. My opinion is it burns clean, they remade it now. It is accurate and universal.

jimbob86 · September 9, 2011, 12:31 AM

Quote:

I use Unique also because it is very universal for alot of calibers. My opinion is it burns clean, they remade it now. It is accurate and universal.

Flake powder ...... I can't get exact metering......

farmerboy · September 9, 2011, 01:10 AM

exact metering? c'mon with like 40 cal 38 or 357. Close enough that you should be able to hit whatever at say 20 yrds. If not it may not be the powder charges!!! haha but then if you thought that way and when you shot like crap then I guess you would not have that excuse. But I guess you could come up with another one though.

mikld · September 9, 2011, 05:45 PM

First I'd advise the OP to get The ABCs of Reloading, and the Lyman Handbook of Reloading. Read both then re-read the sections on powder and note the charciteristics of each powder listed. Then decide on a load and purchase the components. I use Unique a lot and I agree, it isn't an easy metering powder, compared to some. I ain't in no hurry so I dip and weigh each load (use a Lee dipper/scoop and trickle up to my chosen load)...

farmerboy · September 9, 2011, 05:52 PM

I drop slightly low and then trickle up too myself.

orionengnr · September 10, 2011, 11:10 AM

I have had positive results with W231, Bullseye and Green Dot.
I tried Unique, but experienced some of the same difficulties noted above.

10Ringmagic · September 10, 2011, 11:27 AM

I have never loaded .45ACP but I load .38Spl, 9mm, .40, .44Mag, and have had good success with W231.

doug66 · September 10, 2011, 04:34 PM

After 25 years + I've returned from where I started:

Bullseye

Unique

Don P · September 10, 2011, 06:50 PM

Hodgdon Titegroup and Winchester 231

wncchester · September 11, 2011, 04:06 PM

"Which powders would you suggest for novice reloader"

You are looking through the wrong end of the scope. I would suggest you check your loading manual or an autoritatve web site and see what performs best with the bullet weight you plan to use.

jfrey · September 11, 2011, 10:55 PM

Unique or WSF. Both work well in 9mm or .45 loads.

Jim243 · September 12, 2011, 12:05 AM

Win 231 the easies to load without a mess.

Jim

Red Dog · September 12, 2011, 10:09 PM

HP38/231

4runnerman · September 12, 2011, 10:12 PM

Unique and Titgroup for me.

September 8, 2011, 05:43 PM	#1
Roland Thunder Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Gwinnett County Georgia Posts: 1,137	powder suggestions for novices Which powders would you suggest for novice reloader __________________ Do not follow where the path may lead, go, instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

September 8, 2011, 05:50 PM	#4
Roland Thunder Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Gwinnett County Georgia Posts: 1,137	45 acp __________________ Do not follow where the path may lead, go, instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

September 8, 2011, 08:41 PM	#9
YARDDOG(1) Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: GATOR COUNTRY HA HA HA! Posts: 721	Alliant UNIQUE +1 on Unique more forgiving JMO ; ) Y/D __________________ There's a GATOR in the bushes & She's Callin my name >Molly Hatchett<

September 10, 2011, 06:50 PM	#20
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,213	Hodgdon Titegroup and Winchester 231 __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

September 8, 2011, 05:47 PM	#2
CWKahrFan Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2010 Posts: 2,016	Loading for... handgun? rifle? shotgun?... what calibers?...

September 8, 2011, 05:49 PM	#3
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,480	Accurate Arms carries a wide variety of easy to use ball powders, in clearly marked color coded containers. Ball powders tend to meter easily for those who get frustrated try to meter flake or extruded powders. Also they have a VERY detailed loading recipe guide available free for down load off their website. I started with Accurate, and still use them.

September 8, 2011, 05:59 PM	#5
excelerater Junior member Join Date: June 27, 2011 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 694	everyone has their favorite I am liking PowerPistol right now.....9,40 and 45

September 8, 2011, 06:11 PM	#6
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	I also like Power Pistol for .45 ACP ..... I have also used vN-340, IMR700X, Red Dot and even Blue Dot for .45 ..... Blue Dot ..... meh. I have found that the flake powders don't meter as well as the really short extruded powders like vN-340, or PP ........

September 8, 2011, 07:14 PM	#7
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I've been using Universal for 45 and 9mm in about 8000 rounds so far with good results. Didn't care for Unique just because it had huge flakes that were difficult to work with.

September 8, 2011, 08:46 PM	#10
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	Lot of good suggestions, many I have tried but for all autos I now use Winchester 231.

September 8, 2011, 09:08 PM	#11
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,514	231, Unique, Power Pistol

September 8, 2011, 09:26 PM	#12
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	look in your manual, find one that also can be used also with other calibers you load for or may load for in the near future. I use Unique also because it is very universal for alot of calibers. My opinion is it burns clean, they remade it now. It is accurate and universal.

September 9, 2011, 01:10 AM	#14
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	exact metering? c'mon with like 40 cal 38 or 357. Close enough that you should be able to hit whatever at say 20 yrds. If not it may not be the powder charges!!! haha but then if you thought that way and when you shot like crap then I guess you would not have that excuse. But I guess you could come up with another one though.

September 9, 2011, 05:45 PM	#15
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	First I'd advise the OP to get The ABCs of Reloading, and the Lyman Handbook of Reloading. Read both then re-read the sections on powder and note the charciteristics of each powder listed. Then decide on a load and purchase the components. I use Unique a lot and I agree, it isn't an easy metering powder, compared to some. I ain't in no hurry so I dip and weigh each load (use a Lee dipper/scoop and trickle up to my chosen load)...

September 9, 2011, 05:52 PM	#16
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	I drop slightly low and then trickle up too myself.

September 10, 2011, 11:10 AM	#17
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,208	I have had positive results with W231, Bullseye and Green Dot. I tried Unique, but experienced some of the same difficulties noted above.

September 10, 2011, 11:27 AM	#18
10Ringmagic Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Location: MI Posts: 315	I have never loaded .45ACP but I load .38Spl, 9mm, .40, .44Mag, and have had good success with W231.

September 10, 2011, 04:34 PM	#19
doug66 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 116	After 25 years + I've returned from where I started: Bullseye Unique

September 11, 2011, 04:06 PM	#21
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"Which powders would you suggest for novice reloader" You are looking through the wrong end of the scope. I would suggest you check your loading manual or an autoritatve web site and see what performs best with the bullet weight you plan to use.

September 11, 2011, 10:55 PM	#22
jfrey Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Location: Coastal South Texas Posts: 557	Unique or WSF. Both work well in 9mm or .45 loads.

September 12, 2011, 12:05 AM	#23
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Win 231 the easies to load without a mess. Jim

September 12, 2011, 10:09 PM	#24
Red Dog Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2010 Posts: 217	HP38/231

September 12, 2011, 10:12 PM	#25
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	Unique and Titgroup for me.