If you could only have one reloading powder, what would it be?

[Redneck with a 40]

For me, its Unique. This powder shines in 38 spl, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Unique also gives adequate performance in 357, 41, and 44 mag. Unique is the do all powder in my opinion.

 

[armoredman]

Accurate #5, works well in 38 and 9mm, but Sportsman's Warehouse quit carrying it! Gotta get #2 and #7 now.

Never tried Unique.

 

[Walkalong]

I guess I would settle for Universal Clays if I really could only have ONE for EVERYTHING from 9MM to .44 Spl. to .45 ACP to.....

Or maybe............

 

[benedict1]

Unique--9mm, .38 Spec., .357 Mag, .45 ACP, 20 and 28 gauge skeet loads.

 

[NVMM]

Currently I'm burning Clays.

 

[SASS#23149]

Unique. I use it in all my pistols,my shotgun,and for plinker loads in my 30-30.
And it's available at several local stores and 'marts'.

 

[wally]

Another vote for Unique.

People say its dirty, but the dirt is sooty and doesn't gum up the works, most of my guns will go 1000+ without a takedown for thorough cleaning, I just wipe down after shooting, using a Q-tip under the extractor and on the breech face & feed ramp, then a couple of drops of Brake-Free or Dupont Performance Teflon Dry-Lube on the moving surfaces, cycle a few times, wipe down again and back into the safe until the next range trip.

Actually all the cheap .22LR ammo is far dirtier than my reloads using Unique.

--wally.

 

[Mal H]

Ok, I'm going to take a different slant on this improbable question. Politics and world affairs have to be involved for this to happen.

I do not believe in all the SHTF stuff, but if we can't get any powders but one, I have to believe it's because something drastic in the state of the Union has happened. Therefore I would want my rifle powder as opposed to handgun powder. So I would select a fairly universal rifle powder, say, 4895 (H or IMR).

If you're asking about handgun powders only, as most of the answers seem to imply, I would want W296 or H110.Although, I could easily "get by" with W231 or Univ. Clays.

 

[Idano]

Rifle: IMR-3031
Pistol: Unique

 

[ReloaderFred]

Since I load 26 different calibers, I couldn't get by with just one powder for all of them. For rifle calibers, I would need either IMR-4895 or H-4895. For pistol calibers I would need at least three, Winchester 231, Winchester 296 and Accurate #9.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[357mag357]

If I had to choose just one I would go with Power Pistol. It will reload everything I need. 38+p, 357Mag, 44 Spec, 44Mag & 9mm. If I could have two I would like H110 also.

 

[Slamfire]

Rifle: IMR 4895
Pistol Unique.

For pistol, I am trying to get down to Bullseye, Unique and 2400. That selection covers everything at an optimum level. But when you get down to it, Unique will adequately cover all the calibers I shoot. That is 32 S&W Long, 9mm, 38 Special, 357, 44 Special, 45 LC, 44 Magnum.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

unique or universal clays

 

[trickyasafox]

for rifle, i'd probably take imr4895 or even h335. they both will do just about anything you need. i haven't used it yet, but BL C2 seems good as well.

pistol: i agree unique is a great powder. 40sw, 45acp, 9mm, 9mm mak, 38spl. 357, the stuff covers some ground!

 

[R.W.Dale]

Rifle - VARGET & UNIQUE

Handgun - UNIQUE

 

[floridaboy]

Unique!

 

[cpaspr]

Like Mal H, I'm going to have to list one for rifles, one for pistols:

Rifles - 4895

Pistols - Bullseye. Not necessarily the best for all that I load for, but the only one that covers all of them with published data. That I'm aware of anyway.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I wonder if we could come up with a new thread not dealing with a subject that has been hashed so many times that it has gotten absolutely boring.:banghead: One should use the search option on this site and all questions would be answered...

I live in a free country where I can make a decient living (even retired) and can afford what ever powders I desire and I shelve a bunch and I couldn't do without any of them...One single powder just isn't enough...Look up the information in your friendly loading manuals...

Damn...This apple (soap) box is getting high...

 

[357mag357]

Well Bushmaster I am waiting. Are you going to come up with a good thread? I think the question is a worst case scenario type question. Didn't you see Red Dawn?

 

[TimT]

I cannot just have one powder-to think of that?!

 

[Walkalong]

We can have a rifle powder too ? Oh goodie......4895. Either flavor.

Does this mean I have to toss the dozen or so pistol powders and 1/2 dozen or so rifle powders I have tucked away.

Good thing I don't beleive in SHTF either...well, maybe a little, I do have a surplus of stuff.

 

[Cosmoline]

3031 and Unique--you guys read my mind. With those two I can load pretty much anything. Not always WELL, but it can be done. If pressed to one, I'd go with unique. Loading rifle cartridges with the stuff is dicey, but possible if you take great care. You end up with plinking loads, basically. Of course, it's also real easy to turn a rifle cartridge into a grenade with unique.

 

[BsChoy]

I have yet to try (for fear of loving it and burning a metric ton a year and having to change my fav powder) IMR of H 4895 but it seems like the best for ALOT of guns. So I will go with Varget for rifle and I only have Red Dot for pistol so that wins

 

[Art Eatman]

For just one powder for both rifle and pistol, I'd select 2400 or anything with a similar burning rate.

It works for hot loads in .357 and .44 maggies, I found out some forty years back. It works for mid-range and even fairly stout loads in an '06.

Sixty or seventy years ago, Phil Sharpe tried a bunch of 2400 in a .22 Savage HiPower with a 40-grain bullet. Around 3,900 ft/sec. Same sort of deal in an '06 with an 80-grain pistol bullet; about the same velocity.

Sounds fairly universal, to me.

 

[Brian Williams]

Lil gun and 4064