Looking for powder for handgun loading

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

Hello,
I'm fairly new to reloading but have the interest and time to dig in and learn. Started some months back and being a safety conscious and scientific method type, I'm still in the load testing phase. Once I nail down the loads that I'll focus on, I may move from a single stage press to a multi-stage press. But that's for another thread. Right now, trouble is, and this is not 'breaking news' but I'm finding it difficult to locate for purchase much powder out there to get and keep me going.
I have pretty standard needs:
Rifle loading: .223/5.56, .308/7.62, .300 BLK. I've been able to accumulate a reasonable amount of well known, flexible and general purpose powders for these loadings.
Pisto loading: 9x19, 45ACP, .38/.357, .44S/.44M. For these, I've barely scratched the surface. I just can't find much out there. This is where I'm really seeking help.
And 'out there' are web orders. The gun supply shops in my area are few and far between (as far as I know), do not stock much reloading supplies and are very expensive. And I am looking for middle-of-the-road stuff so that I can gather as much reloading data from others who have used it. And preferably powders that are easy to pour and measure although I could deal with that if need be.
So any recommendations regarding: powders or manufacturers I should be searching for (I think I have the list but would like to hear from others), from whom to buy them (do they have them in stock now or soon?) and the likely trend in this part of the business (i.e. when will we see powders catch up with the other items that are recovering from the drought?).
Thx,
B

 

[Lafitte]

Here are some suggestions for pistol powder. Consult your manuals to see if any suit your needs. These are not "magnum" powders, just some suggestions for middle of the road loading.
Titegroup, Clays, HP38, Universal, 700X, Bullseye, Unique, Red Dot, WST, Promo, Clay Dot and of course there are many others. Consult your manual.

Good luck, Lafitte

 

[gonoles_1980]

You'd be better off looking at the loading manuals. There is an astronomical set of combinatorial based on bullet weight/type, caliber and powder. For my own use I have created my own list from research the powder manufacturer sites. My list is for a 38spl, 357 and 9mm. It's for 158gr (38/357) and 124gr (9mm). If I saw a load with that powder and any type of bullet that weight, I wrote it down.

9mm 124gr
IMR: (7) 700-X, (23) PB, (27) SR 7625, (39) SR 4756, (80) 800-X
Hodgdon: (6) Titewad, (44) CFE Pistol, (10) Clays, (14) Titegroup, (28) HP-38, (42) HS-6, (60) Universal, (32) Longshot
Winchester: (29) 231, AutoComp, (25) WST
Western Powders: (4) AA Nitro 100 NF, (12) AA Solo 1000, (27) Ramshot Competition, (32) AA #2, (41) Ramshot ZIP, (48) AA#5, (65) Ramshot Silhouette, (81) Ramshot True Blue, (93) AA#7
Vihtavuorire: (24) N320, (44) N330, (68) N340, (77) 3N37, (82) N350
Alliant: (4) Bullseye, (51) Unique, BE-86, (20) American Select, , (59) Pistol Powder (94) Blue Dot
38 spl 158gr
IMR: 700-X, PB, SR 4756, SR 7625, Trail Boss
Hodgdon: CFE Pistol, Clays, H4227, (36) HP-38, HS-6, Titegroup, Universal
Winchester: 231, AutoComp, WST
Western Powders: AA Nitro 100 NF, (27) Ramshot Competition, Ramshot ZIP, AA Solo 1000, AA #2, Ramshot Silhouette, Ramshot True Blue, AA#5
Vihtavuorire: N320, N330, N340, 3N37, N350, N32C
Alliant: Bullseye, Unique, BE-86, Pistol Powder, (15) Red Dot
357mag 158gr
IMR: 700-X, PB, SR 4756, SR 7625, Trail Boss
Hodgdon: CFE Pistol, Clays, (107) H110, H4227, (36) HP-38, HS-6, (102) Lil'Gun, Longshot, Titegroup, Universal
Winchester: 231, (108) 296, AutoComp
Western Powders: Ramshot ZIP, AA Solo 1000, AA #2, Ramshot True Blue, AA#5, AA#7, AA#9, AA #4100, (97) Ramshot Enforcer
Vihtavuorire: (92) N105, (101) N110, N320, N330, N340, 3N37, N350, N32C
Alliant: Bullseye, Unique, BE-86, American Select, Blue Dot, Pistol Powder, (100) 2400, 300-MP

 

[Seabeeken]

Powder valley has longshot and a few winchester shotgun powders

 

[wombat13]

Here's what I did. Find a powder burn rate chart. Copy it into a spreadsheet. Now you've got a nice list of most of the available powders. Next visit the manufacturer websites and checkout their load data for the chamberings and bullet weights you want to load. Put each chambering/weight in a new column with the list of powders in the rows. Now put the max velocity for each powder/chambering/weight in the corresponding cell. You will notice which powders offer good velocity across your loading needs.

For example, A max charge of Hodgdon Longshot will give the following velocities (according to hodgdon's data):

1,331 fps with 240 gr jhp in .44 mag
908 fps with 230 gr jhp in 45 AVP
1,203 fps with 115 jhp in 9mm

I don't reload for .38/.357 but here are powders that look good for the other three:
Longshot
CFE pistol
Autocomp
Hs-6
Hi-skor 800x
Now, just be sure to pm me if you find any for sale online.

 

[Toprudder]

9mm is easy, there are a lot of powders that work well in 9mm. 45acp is a little more picky as some powders don't work well at the lower pressures, but there are still a lot of powders that do. 38/357mag is more picky than either, as most powders will not come close to filling the empty space and a lot of powders are somewhat position sensitive.

My experience is that any powder that works well in 38 will work well in 45acp. Also, any powder that works well in 38 will do well in 357mag for reduced recoil loads. Full-tilt 357mag loads will require magnum powders, like H110/W296. I don't have any experience, but I think it would be the same situation with 44mag.

I like Titegroup and BE-86 for 9mm, 45acp, and 38spl (and 357mag reduced loads). HP38/W231 and CFE Pistol are also very good. 700x works well in 45acp and 38spl. Trailboss is great for reduced recoil loads in 38spl and 45acp.

 

[moxie]

For handguns, three powders will satisfy all your needs: Bullseye, Unique and 2400.

For .223/5.56, I like W748, RE-7, and RE-10x.

 

[Gadawg88]

To find pistol powder right now requires persistence, patience and time. The good news is it can be had given some quantity of those three things (and maybe a little luck thrown in). Others have listed some fine powder choices above. Make a list and prioritize it 1st choice 2nd choice etc. Then, get a list of online retailers that sell powder and bookmark them in your browser sorted so they are all together. Here are a few good ones:

Powder Valley
Graff and Sons
Wiedner's
Midsouth Shooters supply
Recobs Target shop
Third Generation shooting supply
Gamaliel supply
Ballistic products
Precision reloading
Cabelas
Bass pro shops

Check them every day, multiple times a day and be prepared to place an order the moment you see one of your choices available. You can not wait and think about it. The more choices you have on your list the better your odds, but be mentally prepared to wait a while. You never know when your gonna get lucky. Also check Gunbot.net and the link on this forum titled "Where are there reloading components for sale" started by bds many moons ago. Good luck.

 

[Toprudder]

To find pistol powder right now requires persistence, patience and time. The good news is it can be had given some quantity of those three things (and maybe a little luck thrown in).

Amen to that!

I've had pretty good luck lately (the last couple of months) picking up powder at the local gun shows. Get there when the doors open, and don't gawk at anything else until you have your powder. You may not find exactly what you want, but you can find something you can use. I think I'm up to 15 different pistol powders now.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

One option is to check for gun clubs in your area. Some have been making group buys on powder, which splits up the shipping costs.

 

[Potatohead]

If I've done this right, you can click below and see a burn rate chart. Different calibers will call for powders that occupy different ranges on the chart, or something like that-




http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=201184&d=1406931395

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

Yes, many of these are ones I've been looking for. Hard to find these days, though I haven't done a search in two weeks or so but many time prior to that.
B

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

One option is to check for gun clubs in your area. Some have been making group buys on powder, which splits up the shipping costs.

Thanks all. Lots of useful info here. I'm going to tag this thread and refine my search.
Regarding finding them at gun shows, this is the CA Bay Area. Very few gun shows with little to see at any of them.
B

 

[RussellC]

To find pistol powder right now requires persistence, patience and time. The good news is it can be had given some quantity of those three things (and maybe a little luck thrown in). Others have listed some fine powder choices above. Make a list and prioritize it 1st choice 2nd choice etc. Then, get a list of online retailers that sell powder and bookmark them in your browser sorted so they are all together. Here are a few good ones:

Powder Valley
Graff and Sons
Wiedner's
Midsouth Shooters supply
Recobs Target shop
Third Generation shooting supply
Gamaliel supply
Ballistic products
Precision reloading
Cabelas
Bass pro shops

Check them every day, multiple times a day and be prepared to place an order the moment you see one of your choices available. You can not wait and think about it. The more choices you have on your list the better your odds, but be mentally prepared to wait a while. You never know when your gonna get lucky. Also check Gunbot.net and the link on this forum titled "Where are there reloading components for sale" started by bds many moons ago. Good luck.

Nice list, I would add Wideners to that. If you have an area Cabelas to pick up at, you save shipping and hazmat....thet just dont have it all the time and it goes pretty quick.

Check the listed sources 3 times a day, morning, afternoon, and at night. Buy immediately. Before you know it, you will have a nice supply.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I would say just get on about 10 sites and do the "notify me when" option. Carry a cell phone with you 24/7 and when you get an email notification of powder in stock order it on the spot.

Plenty of info already about where and what to order.

 

[splattergun]

I have been seeing Red Dot, Unique, and Longshot rather frequently in the past 6-8 weeks. Certainly not always on the shelf, but more than any other pistol powders. These 3 are all good pistol powders, so keep your eyes open and be ready to snag some when it comes up.