"Go To Pistol Powder"

[dbshelton]

Is there a good single "Go To" powder I could start with for reloading 9mm, 45ACP, 38Sp, and 44Mag? It's about time I got the reloading equipment out of moth balls. The only extensive reloading I have ever done was 44Mag and that was over 25 years ago.

 

[loadedround]

Yes there is and it's called Unique.

 

[JDGray]

HS-6 would cover all the bases, but I've never got it to shoot well in my 45s. Power Pistol works great in 9mm, 45ACP.

 

[dbshelton]

Unique? That's the same as it was 25 years ago.

 

[dbshelton]

What about some Hodgdon H4227 I have that's 20+ years old?

 

[Ky Larry]

AA#2 for low cost plinking. AA#5 for hunting and social work. Both are very clean and meter well.

 

[Flash!]

Unique

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Unique.

 

[Walkalong]

Yes, Unique, Universal Clays, AA #5, etc will do it for you, but, with that selection of calibers, you will really need a minimum of two powders, and three would be better.

1. A fast one for lighter loads in .38 Spl, .45 ACP, and even 9MM.

2. A medium one for .38 Spl, .45 ACP, 9MM, and midrange loads in .44 Mag.

3. A slow one to get full performance from .44 Mag.


AA #2, AA #5, AA #9

Red Dot, Unique, 2400

WST, W-231, W296

Competition or Zip, Silhouette or True Blue, Enforcer

N310 or N320, N340, N110

Clays, Universal Clays, H110

And a number of other good ones not mentioned.

Unique? That's the same as it was 25 years ago

Then you are good to go. Unique is an excellent all around powder.

 

[Slamfire]

After you get tired of the recoil from full house 44 Magnum loads, try 8.5 grains Unique with a 240 L. I got just at 1000 fps in my 5" M629, the load was accurate, plenty powerful, and hurts less than the 1300-1400 fps loads.

I have not tried Unique in the 9mm, but it shoots very well in 38 Spl and 45 ACP. Don't let any tell you different!

 

[bluetopper]

Universal and Power Pistol will work wonderfully in all those calibers.

AND.....some may disagree, but Bullseye will too. I've done it with great results.

 

[kyo]

I know my bullseye canister says 38 special and 45 right on the label.
I haven't tried 44 mag with it, but I don't see why you can't. I think magnums need slower burning, and bullseye is the 3rd fastest burning powder on the market.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

Red Dot will do well with cast slug loads in all you mentioned.
Power Pistol for jacketed in all but AA#9 will do better for 'big boomer' loads in the .44.

 

[Mags]

HP-38 or its Winchester equivalent I also reccomend Universal but HP-38 is my first choice.

 

[Steve C]

Unique? That's the same as it was 25 years ago.

Unique has been around for around a 100 years. There's a reason a product lasts that long and that is because its very, very good.

 

[Haystack]

Your Hodgdon H4227 will work great for full house 44 Mag loads. Too bad it's discontinued now.

 

[Walkalong]

I can attest to that, and I still have some too.

 

[hydraulicman]

I would pick unique. Just don't expect it to meter like ball powder

I like power pistol for 9mm. It seems to work pretty well

 

[Nate1778]

I would say Unique as well, although Red Dot is quickly becoming my go to powder.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

Red Dot is faster than Unique. more bulk and cleaner than BEye. good for the cast slugs.

 

[bluetopper]

I get bad feedback every time I mention Bullseye for 44 Mag, but 7.5 gr of BE @1,000fps is a wonderful accurate target load for a 240gr cast lead bullet.

9.8gr is the listed max in the Lee manual, but 9.0 gr will get your attention at over 1200fps and is as much as I care to go.

Unlike other fast powders, Bullseye will not pressure spike and it performs very consistently under high pressures.

 

[alfack]

I like AA #2 for .380, 9mm and .45.

 

[stoveboltgunnut]

I like clays, or hp38 in all of those.

 

[evan price]

Titegroup for all but full power Magnum loads. Win231/HP38 works, too.

 

[rick300]

Anyone know where to get "Unique" right now? I can't find it anywhere. Thanks Rick