One handgun powder to rule them all...

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Well, this is the available load data for Universal - you be the judge as to which "one handgun powder to rule them all ..."

10mm Auto
25 Auto
32 Auto
32 H&R Magnum
32 North American Arms
32 S&W Long
32-20 Winchester
327 Federal Magnum
357 Magnum
357 SIG
38 Short Colt
38 Long Colt
38 Special
38 Special +P
38 Super Auto
380 Auto
40 S&W
41 Rem Magnum
44 Colt
44 Rem Magnum
44 Russian
44 S&W Special
44-40 Winchester
45 Auto
45 Colt
45 G.A.P
45 S&W (Schofield)
45 Super
454 Casull
9mm Luger
9x18 Makarov
 
OK, here is the combined W231/HP38 load data as they are now the same powder:

10mm Auto
25 Auto
30 Luger
32 Auto
32 H&R Magnum
32 North American Arms
32 S&W
32 S&W Long
32-20 Winchester
327 Federal Magnum
357 Magnum
357 SIG
38 Long Colt
38 Short Colt
38 Special
38 Special +P
38 Super Auto
38 S&W
38-40 Winchester
380 Auto
40 S&W
41 Action Express
41 Remington Magnum
44 Colt
44 Remington Magnum
44 Russian
44 S&W Special
44-40 Winchester
45 Auto
45 Colt
45 G.A.P
45 Super
45 S&W (Schofield)
45 Winchester Magnum
9x18 Makarov
9mm Luger
9X23 Winchester
 
Titegroup doesn't show load data for 357 Sig, but it's another contender for the "one handgun powder to rule them all ..." title:

10mm Auto
25 Auto
32 Auto
32 H&R Magnum
32 North American Arms
32 S&W Long
32-20 Winchester
327 Federal Magnum
357 Magnum
38 Long Colt
38 Short Colt
38 Special
38 Special +P
38 Super Auto
38-40 Winchester
380 Auto
40 S&W
41 Remington Magnum
44 Colt
44 Remington Magnum
44 Russian
44 S&W Special
44-40 Winchester
45 Auto
45 Colt
45 G.A.P
45 Super
45 S&W (Schofield)
454 Casull
450 Extreme
460 S&W Magnum
475 Linebaugh
480 Ruger
500 Linebaugh
500 Wyoming Express
500 S&W Magnum
9x18 Makarov
9mm Luger
 
I currently reloading 9mm, .45 ACP, and .38 special all with W231. I'll soon be adding .357 sig and .40 S&W to the list. From what I've read using W231 in .357 sig s not advisable if I'm looking for full power rounds. Is there another powder that can be used to load all 5 cartridges? It's a requirement that it meters well, as they will be loaded on a 550B.
Click to expand...

As said above, you can use W231/HP-38 for your 40 S&W and .357 Sig ammo but you won't be able to load them to their full potential. You really need a slower powder for that. Longshot will work very well and is probably the best choice IMO. Other choices are Power Pistol, AA#7 or Universal. Longshot will deliver good velocity and accuracy across all the bullet weights in the 40 S&W. As a matter of fact, if you buy some Longshot I suggest trying it in your 9mm ammo. I have a strong feeling you will like it a lot. My son's favorite 9mm ammo is made with Longshot.

BTW, just because a powder is listed for a caliber doesn't make it the best choice or even a good choice. Again as said above, limiting yourself to just one powder is cheating yourself of the full potential of the calibers you are shooting. I use W231/HP-38, W540/HS-6 and W296/H110 for most of my handgun reloading and would not do without any of them. I have used a lot of others but mostly come back to those 3 plus a few others. (like TrailBoss, Longshot and AA#5)
 
BTW, just because a powder is listed for a caliber doesn't make it the best choice or even a good choice. Again as said above, limiting yourself to just one powder is cheating yourself of the full potential of the calibers you are shooting.
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree. I kinda failed on my powder reduction attempt down to about two powders as I am now thinking that I will probably settle with about five or more powders.
 
I kinda failed on my powder reduction attempt down to about two powders as I am now thinking that I will probably settle with about five or more powders.
Click to expand...
I think we have all tried one time or another but come to the realization it just doesn't work!! LOL

Like I said above, I use W231/HP-38, W540/HS-6 and W296/H110 for most of my handgun reloading but I also use TrailBoss, Longshot and AA#5 but also use Power Pistol and Lil'Gun too. I got all the way down to EIGHT pistol powders... I did good right?? :rolleyes: I only use Power Pistol and AA#5 for replicating Speer short barrel ammo and Lil'Gun for heavy .357 Magnum ammo for use in my Carbine. I actually have 3 extra powders for only 3 loads but they do those loads very well. (I'm not too nuts, ya-think??)
 
I gave up trying to keep powder inventory to a minimum number of powders. Besides, it's fun to try new things. I have well over a dozen pistol powders on hand.
 
For an all around powder, Unique is the one you want to have on your shelf.

I have seven different pistol powders and I still keep coming back to Unique.
 
unique and universal have the same burn-rate. Aside from powder "shapes" the burn-rate is most important. I have a buddy who uses titegroup for all his pistols and shotguns. I need at least two pistol powders to cover the needed burns

+1 for unique
 
If I had to choose only one pistol powder, it would be hands down W231/HP38.
Click to expand...

Same here.... loading 38 spcl, 45 acp and 9x19 with it. Results are just fine.

I split an 8 lb. keg with a buddy and let me tell ya, at 4.5 gr per throw, it will be lasting me a while.

For .357 mag I'm using 2400

I've been meaning to pick up a pound of Unique, but they never seem to have it in stock when I swing buy Cabellas or KTP (which isn't very often).
 
231 took over bullseye but it is similar and fast pressured, unique is good for most, 2400 is for big boomers good stand by...

When getting complicated and high pressure many have a lot of ideas to gain the max velocity, but if you want good shooting, the 3 bulls eye, unique and 2400 are hard to beat...

Lil Gun is one many rave about also:confused:
 
Me too!

originally posted by Walkalong:
I gave up trying to keep powder inventory to a minimum number of powders. Besides, it's fun to try new things. I have well over a dozen pistol powders on hand.
Click to expand...

I'm always satisfied with my powder inventory.....except I'd really like to try one more.

And then I'm really satisfied with what I have...except I'd really like to try......
:rolleyes:

Well, ya'll know how it is.

ST

:)
 
I've come to the conclusion that I only "need" five pistol powders:

1) Trail Boss (.38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, & .45 Colt: lead bullet plinkers)

2) Accurate #2 (.380 Auto: lead plinkers & jacketed factory duplication; 9mm Luger: lead plinkers)

3) VihtaVuori N340 (midpower+ in everything I load): Sort of like Unique, only better.

4) VihtaVuori 3N37 (9mm Luger: factory duplication loads)

5) VihtaVuori N105 (.44 Special & .45 Colt: lead bullet hunting loads)

Of course, I've got a lot more than just these five pistol powders, but the others won't be replaced as they're used up.
 
When getting complicated and high pressure many have a lot of ideas to gain the max velocity, but if you want good shooting, the 3 bulls eye, unique and 2400 are hard to beat...
Click to expand...
Those 3 are the original "powder trinity". My powder trinity is a little different, W231/HP-38, W540/HS-6 and W296/H110 are my choices. I used to write only the Winchester names but since they are the same powders I now write the Winchester and Hodgdon names.
 
. . . One handgun powder to find them,
One handgun powder to bring them all,
And in the darkness bind them.

Oh sorry, I thought you wanted to know the rest of the lines.

. . .Uh, probably Unique.
 
Pistol powders on hand right now:

Alliant: Bullseye, Red Dot, American Select, Green Dot, Unique, Blue Dot

Accurate: Nitro 100, Solo 1250, AA #2, AA #5, AA #9

Hodgdon: Clays, Universal, HS-6, Longshot, Lil Gun

Vihtavuori: N310, N320, N330, N340, 3N37, N110

IMR: SR-4756, SR-4759

Ramshot: Competition, True Blue

Winchester: WST, W-231, WSF, W-296

I think that's it. I used up my Power Pistol and my Solo 1000.
 
Hmm, I've got:
AA #7 and 4100
Alliant Promo, American Select, Bullseye, Unique, Herco, Power Pistol, and 2400 (used up my Green Dot and Blue Dot)
Hodgdon HP38, Titegroup, and International (have almost used up the TG)
Rex III
Winchester WSF and 296
and Blackpowder, of course :D

About a third of these will not be replaced when I use them up.
 
For top loads in all the aforementioned calibers: Alliant Blue Dot. :cool:

Been using it for decades.

M
 
Unique or another medium burning powder would be ok for all those calibers, but I buy my handgun gunpowder by the pound, so it's no problem to have multiple powders and experiment with them.

The experimenting and coming up with the very best loads for each caliber is the fun and reward of reloading for me.
 
Well, beating a dead horse here, but Unique is my all around handgun powder, too. It just works. I like Bullseye a little better for lightweight .38 loads, and I like AA#7 better for warm .357 and .45 acp, but 95% of all my handgun loads use Unique.
 
In the flavor of what Walkalong posted,
Here are the pistol powders I have on hand right now: (15 in total)

Alliant: Green Dot, Unique, Power Pistol, 2400

Accurate: AA#5 & AA#9

Hodgdon: Clays, HP-38, Universal, HS-6, Longshot, H110, Lil'Gun

IMR: TrailBoss

Ramshot: True Blue

Winchester: W-231 & W-296 (same as HP-38 and H110 but I do have both)
 
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