Favorite powders for revolvers

Charlie98 said:
I can load everything I want with Unique, but I have to admit an admiration for IMR4227. I use it in .41MAG going into my Marlin 1894... where it excels. Further, it also works swimmingly in some cast bullet rifle cartridges.
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IMR 4227 is MY go too accuracy load in .44 Mag. IMO it's outstanding ,granted a slight loss of velocity but in a Magnum who really notices and I'll trade speed for accuracy ANY DAY .
 
sparkyv said:
Me too. I'm still learning where this fits in my lineup.
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I know where BE-86 fits I’m my lineup… it doesn’t. I found it to be quite picky with case fill and/or bullet seat depth. Granted, I didn’t do an exhausting multi cartridge test with it, but shooting it next to my Unique control groups, it was lackluster. I burned up the pound I had, and I’ll leave the rest for everyone else… :)
 
Charlie98 said:
I know where BE-86 fits I’m my lineup… it doesn’t. I found it to be quite picky with case fill and/or bullet seat depth. Granted, I didn’t do an exhausting multi cartridge test with it, but shooting it next to my Unique control groups, it was lackluster. I burned up the pound I had, and I’ll leave the rest for everyone else… :)
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I never tried it. Don’t intend to either. Not unless I run out of Unique, No.5, and HS-6 all at the same time and none of the above are available. It’s not that I don’t like load development - I do - but I just don’t see any sense in adding yet another medium burn, general-purpose powder to the stable. Frankly, I think I’m done experimenting until I can retire and get serious about it.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
I never tried it. Don’t intend to either. Not unless I run out of Unique, No.5, and HS-6 all at the same time and none of the above are available. It’s not that I don’t like load development - I do - but I just don’t see any sense in adding yet another medium burn, general-purpose powder to the stable. Frankly, I think I’m done experimenting until I can retire and get serious about it.
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I posted about my trials trying to find a powder to replace Unique a few years ago. I wanted to try some of the newer powders... BE-86, SportPistol, W244, primarily... but competing against Unique and W231. They did not do well. They were all very sensitive on case fill and bullet seat depth, and I very often had to bump max data to get equivalent numbers I was getting from Unique. Disclosure: I was loading these in autoloading cartridges... 9mm and .45ACP... but I did take a very short detour into the .45 Colt, thinking maybe I was missing something. All in all, I was very disappointed... and just circled right back to my tried-and-true Unique. I'm not saying the new powders can't or don't work, but there is no denying they do not have the flexibility of something like Unique.
 
So far, I'm getting very good accuracy and velocity in a few 10mm trials. Just loaded up 192 BE-86 rounds today under Sierra JHPs, Brazos hardcast FPs and XTPs. We'll see how they do.
Charlie98 said:
I know where BE-86 fits I’m my lineup… it doesn’t. I found it to be quite picky with case fill and/or bullet seat depth. Granted, I didn’t do an exhausting multi cartridge test with it, but shooting it next to my Unique control groups, it was lackluster. I burned up the pound I had, and I’ll leave the rest for everyone else… :)
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GeoDudeFlorida said:
I never tried it. Don’t intend to either.
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Austin Albright said:
Do you get better accuracy results with BE-86 or Silhouette. Mostly interested in 9mm Luger. Handgun and PCC
I seem to get really good results with old Winchester 452AA in the handguns for target loads.
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I like Silhouette better in “full power” 9MM with 124 Gr bullets. Being picky here, BE-86 is good here.

Nothing has beaten BE-86 for midrange .357 loads. You get the accuracy and very little velocity variation from powder position in the case, an area where most powders suffer here.
 
For light stuff like .38 special, it's 231/hp38 hands down.

For midrange .357, .44 Mag, or warmer .45 Colt, I go with Power Pistol every time. Power Pistol is typically thought of as a semi auto pistol powder only, and is way underappreciated for revolvers.

For full power magnum loads, you just can't beat 296/h110. It also has a great peppery smell when you touch off a round.
 
We're really just speculating unless we have data. Me and junior shoot Silhouette for matches... if there is a best I'd use it. Are we talking 35, 41 or 43 caliber. Best is what works for you but at 100 yards in 35 caliber I love Silhouette. For 200 yards when more is needed #9 rocks. I have said and will say again, powder is just fuel for your needs.
 
I'm not sure about the speculation thing.

Those of us who take the time to pay attention to powder in handgun loads normally look at chronograph numbers.

I get what you're saying about data though. Except that chronograph numbers are the literal equivalent to data.
 
I usually shoot 3f black powder in my percussion revolvers. I have also shot a fair amount of Pyrodex in the past with good results. It seems to be a little harder to clean up. It shoots well enough I think because of the short direct flash channel to the powder. If I didn’t have black powder, I wouldn’t hesitate to use Pyrodex P.
 
I only shoot mag, so I like bluedot and #9. I have 2400 but I've been holding it and only run a few tests. Shooters World heavy pistol is decent but a full grain faster than #9. It's a better option for midrange mag loads than #9 as it ignights easier.
 
For full throttle loads in 357 or 44mag or 460 S&W, 2400 or N110 for less flash, or H110 if you want the flash.

For medium velocity loads in 357 mag, or full loads in 38spl, BE86. I’ve even worked up a nice load in 7.62 Nagant using it. (Plus BE86 works well in so many semi-auto handgun calibers).

For really soft loads in 38spl, Trailboss.
 
Toprudder said:
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For really soft loads in 38spl, Trailboss.
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IMO TrailBoss is not all it's advertised to be. It was supposed to replace IMR SR4759 but it's not even close.

Many reloaders think.Trailboss is a low pressure powder but it is not. Because of that fact the recoil isn't as soft as one might think.
Like I said in my post I feel W231/HP-38 or similar speed powder like Zip, W244, AA#2 and a few others will serve most reloaders very well.
 
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