First powder for new reloader?

[patentnonsense]

OK, so I'm starting with 10mm (and .44 and 45 ACP) - the reloading books give me lots of loads for different powders, but which of these powders is a good simple choice to start with?

I want to stick with one powder as long as I can, because that eliminates one source of errors. I want to load full-power loads, but I have no interest in pushing maximums; and I don't need super-competition accuracy, because ANYTHING is more accurate than me right now.

Thanks,

 

[molonlabe]

Check here
http://www.accuratearms.com/
Accurate No 5 lend itself well except for magnum levels in which case you would want a slower burning powder like No 7. If you are talking about 44 special than No 5 will serve your purpose.

 

[Mal H]

Since you stated that you want full power loads, I agree with molonlabe on the choice of AA #7 with the calibers you listed. It meters excellently and will serve you well. Another very good choice would be 2400. The problem is going to be using only one powder with the high pressure rounds like 10mm and .44 (Mag?) and the relatively low pressure .45 ACP. I think 2 powders is going to be the minimum number for all types of loads in those calibers. AA #7 and AA #5 -or- 2400 and 231 for example.

 

[Zak Smith]

For full-house .44RM, the two best choices are H110 and #2400.

For moderate .44RM, 10mm, and .45ACP, I like using Titegroup-- it's my standard powder for 9x19, .40SW (long - almost to 10mm specs), .45ACP, and .44RM.

-z

 

[stans]

One powder is not going to let you load 10mm, 44 Magnum and 45 ACP to full velocity. The 45 ACP is a low pressure round and powders slower than Unique and AA#5 usually don't work all that well. The round just does not build enough pressure to make the slow powders burn cleanly and completely.

In 10mm AA#7 would be my first pick for full power loads.

In 44 Magnum I would pick W-296 or its twin, H-110 for full power loads.

You can use Unique or AA#5 as a single choice powder, but you will only get mid-range type loads in 10mm and 44 Magnum.

AA#5 might be you best bet, especially since you are just starting reloading. It meters very well and will allow you to start with some fairly soft rounds and work up.

 

[HankB]

Take a look at SR-4756. It fills sort of the same niche as Unique, but is a whole lot cleaner. You can probably find data at the IMR website.

It will NOT give you "full power" loads in .44 Mag - H110 and 296 are best for that, as already written.

 

[patentnonsense]

Thanks - that's very helpful.

Do other companies besides Accurate have their reloading databooks online?

And that was an interesting comment about 4756 burning clean - how do I find which powders are especially clean or dirty? Some advertising says the powder is clean, but none seem to admit being dirty! Are some powder makers more likely to be clean or dirty than others?

 

[Jim Watson]

Alliant, Winchester, and Hodgdon all have at least some load data online. They also will furnish FREE load data pamphlets which are a lot more convenient to have next to the reloading press.

I read a lot about clean and dirty powders. With one single exception, I do not find that it matters much. I have never shot a recommended load that will cause my gun to malfunction between routine cleanings. The greatest source of powder residue is trying to make a powder serve too many purposes, especially by using a medium or slow burning powder for light loads or in a low pressure cartridge. For example, I find AA #5 to be too slow for standard loads in .45 ACP; I get a cleaner gun, and more importantly, less velocity variation with AA #2.

That one exception? EXTREMEMELY light loads in revolvers. It doesn't take much unburnt powder from inefficient low pressure loads under the extractor star to bind up cylinder rotation. I use Clays for powder puff .45 ACP revolver ammo for IDPA SSR. But that is for around 600 fps and is not in the recommended load range for any powder I know of; a specialty application that took a good deal of fooling around to get to.

 

[Handgunr]

I have to agree with the others regarding the calibers given.

If it were me, with the powders I've used over the years, maybe 231 and 2400 would be my choices there.
Unique, for years, has been a good "all around" powder.

That being said, I've had three pounds of AA#5 sitting in the cabinet untouched for better part of 9yrs.
I had just loaded some mid-range SWC rounds in .38 brass about a month ago, and the showing was dismal. But in all fairness, this could've been attributed to other factors too.

I know that AA#5 is recommended for .38 and .45ACP loads, but more play time with it will tell.


Bob

 

[Jeeper]

I would second the reccomendation for Tite Group. It is pretty clean and very versatile. Like others have said to go to max on 44 and 10 you will need something else. H110 and W296(they are the same powder) are the hottest ones for 44. Another recomendation is universal clays. It is pretty good for 44 and 45 and 10. It is a good general powder to have around for basically all pistol loads. Those would be my recomendations above others.

 

[Werewolf]

I'm going to third the rec on Titegroup for the .45ACP. Another good powder for .45 is HP38.

For the .44 like others say H110 is the way to go for a full power load. Can't speak to the 10mm cartridge as I have no experience with it at all.

 

[Zak Smith]

In .45ACP, my standard load is a 200gr West Coast plated RN with 5.1gr Titegroup seated to about 1.260".

In 9x19, I like 4.2gr Titegroup with a 124gr West Coast plated RN at 1.130" nominal.

I'd have to look up my plinking loads in .44 with TG.

-z

 

[larryw]

Take a peek at Vihtavuori N340. Fast enough to work well with 45 and 230gr bullets, slow enough to work well with 10 and 44.

Some example loads I like.

10MM: 7.0gr of N340 and a 180 gr jacketed bullet gives about 1150fps out of a 5" bbl.
45ACP: 6.0gr of 340 and a 230gr FMJ give the magical 860fps out of a Govt 1911.
44Mag: 11.0gr of 340 and a 240gr JHP gives 1250fps out of a 7.5" Redhawk.

All these loads are under max and burn extremely clean.

You can download data from the site at http://www.vihtavuori.fi/ Click the Reloading link on the left and go from there.

 

[redneck2]

FWIW...

I load 10mm (G20 and Delta Elite), 44 mag (29 S&W), and 45 acp and 45 LC with AA5. It's not going to give the best max velocity in the larger rounds, but it'll get the bullets downrange quite well. It's also very clean.

Yeah, I use H-110/WW-296 for heavy 44 mag and 45 LC, and I use Blue Dot for heavy 10mm. But for one powder for everything, AA5 has been "it". Clean, meters very well, and seems consistent. There may be others that work as well, but after using AA5 I quit looking.

If I couldn't get AA5, I'd probably try Universal Clays first. It's supposed to be the modern equivalent of Unique without the filthy mess.

YMMV

 

[Zero]

Follow good reloading practices!

If you follow good reloading practices, it will not be necessary to try and use one powder for all the calibers you are loading. Use the appropriate powder for the job. As long as you consult your data carefully, does it really matter if you have to switch powders to go from 10mm to .45 acp?

I don't see how it can.

 

[larryw]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning to reload by keeping things simple and standardizing where ever possible. Actually, there is a lot of smart thinking behind his inquiry. And as twelve other responses to this thread have shown, there are good and safe answers.

 

[Jeeper]

It doesnt matter to switch powders but WHY NOT buy stuff you can use in multiple guns.

 

[WESHOOT2]

carefully considered response

Alliant Power Pistol, your 'one-powder' choice: 10mm, 44 Magnum, 45 ACP.

 

[only1asterisk]

WESHOOT2 beat me to it!

Power Pistol will deliver good results with the above listed rounds as will HS-6, AA#5 and Longshot. Any will allow you to load 45 ACP and get full power loads from your 44 Magnum. If you want to push the limit on you 44 you will need a slower powder that will not work in the 45 ACP. In my opinion, the bit of extra velocity you get from a slow powder is not really worth chasing. Worst case your only talking 100-150fps of a 1300fps load.



David

 

[patentnonsense]

VERY helpful responses - thanks guys!
The new press arrived yesterday, and I'm in the process of setting it up - haven't even bought powder and primers yet. Now I see how heavy the pull can be, I may need to build a new bench for it too.

More newbie questions will undoubtedly follow in future threads! Thanks again,

 

[Razor 10]

My opinoin would be for you try Hodgdon Longshot, it metres pretty well and gives good performance without the flash of say... Power Pistol. But for max 44 mag loads you really need H-110.



Nick

 

[Harve Curry]

Unique

 

[Ala Dan]

Lots of good choices here, but for the cleanest burning
powder you might want to take a glance at Hodgdon
Universal Clay's. Compare it with Alliant Unique
if you will, as far as performance is concerned.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[djl4570]

I agree with the suggestion of Accurate Arms #5. It's a ball powder, meters very smoothly and has been very consistant in all of my .45ACP and .45 Colt loads. AA#5 is nearly ideal for .45ACP with 230g bullets and should give you decent performance in 10mm.

With AA#5 your max loads in .44 Magnum will be somewhat less than full power I doubt that you want to explore full power magnum handloads just yet. Load and shoot a thousand rounds without blowing up a gun before jumping into magnum territory.

When you want the full power magnum loads in .44 Magnum you'll need a slower burning powder. I like Hodgdon HS-7, Accurate #7 and Accurate #9 and for the really full power loads, H110. The powder I choose depends on barrel length. There's little point in shooting a slow burning powder in a 3" or 4" barrel. AA#5 or HS-7 will give me adequate to excellent performance in these barrel lengths. Stepping up to 5" or longer the the slow powders like AA#9 and H110 begin to make sense.

Unique is a flake powder that meters about as well as oatmeal, very frustrating for someone new to loading.

 

[TooTaxed]

I've been quite satisfied with Win #231 for my pistol loads...but I load mostly target and moderate loads rather than "full tilt boogie"! Used to also use Bullseye, Herco, Red Dot, and Unique, among others, but found the #231 to be accurate, economical and clean-burning in my loads. I use #231 in 9x18, 9x19, .38-Spl, .357 Mag, .40 S&W, .45 auto, and .45 Colt.

I've standardized partially to take advantage of large quantity can purchases, simplify storage in my small shop, and minimize the possibility of accidently using the wrong powder.

I still have a number of powders for my rifle loading, but have pretty well standardized on 4895 for 6.5 x 55, .308 Win, and .30-06, which accounts for about 90% of my rifle loading...economical in loads and pressure, highly accurate (Varget would do as well). .223 and .45-70 get their own powders.