"Powder to start with"

[smokjunkee]

I'm just starting to reload. Equipment is starting to come in & I should be ready to go soon. Initially I will be loading 45ACP, 9mm & 38sp. Can I get some recommendations for all around powder & primers to get myself started.
Thanks for any help.
SJ

 

[kellyj00]

winchester 231 or hodgdon clays.

 

[Eagle103]

I'll second the Hodgdon Universal Clays for plinking stuff but I'll add Power Pistol for higher powered fun. I like Winchester primers best but CCI work well too.

 

[Walkalong]

W231 or Universal Clays.

 

[SDC]

I use Titegroup for all of these rounds, but you have to be very careful with it; the charge weights are so low that you can double-charge a case and not notice it, so the key (as with all reloading) is PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Welcome to the fun!

Smokejunkee--Welcome to The Magnificent Obsession--Reloading! You will never be the same, but you'll like the change.

Re. 45ACP and .38Sp--I use and like Win231 for light target loads in these cartridges. No experience with 9mm, but it will probably work there, too. For the primers, you'll need Large Pistol primers for the .45, and Small Pistol for the .38 I've used Winchester and CCI pistol primers--both sizes--and had good results. No observable difference in POI when switching between these primer brands, and I shoot Bullseye League, so a change would be noticed.

But I'll echo SDC's warning:

but you have to be very careful with it; the charge weights are so low that you can double-charge a case and not notice it, so the key (as with all reloading) is PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

This is true with Win231 also. And a double--or even triple--charge is possible, which could really ruin your afternoon. Not to mention your handgun, and your shooting hand.

Be careful. Be safe. Enjoy.

 

[okeybug]

I started out with Unique and still to this day after 30 plus years of reloading still find myself using the stuff. I hear the newer stuff is cleaner burning but I still have a lot of the older stuff to use up first. It's still one of the best out there.

 

[smokjunkee]

Thanks for all the input everyone!

 

[bakert]

For a new reloader Win 231 is a very good powder to start with for .45ACP, 9MM, and .38Sp. You might want to try others later on, especially in the 9MM and maybe in the .38 for just a bit hotter loads but for the .45 I stay with 231. I use Win primers mostly and occasionally CCIs because those two brands are the ones usually available where I live.

 

[Slamfire]

W231 and Unique are excellent powders. I have been using Bullseye in the 9mm, 38 Spl, and 45 ACP with outstanding success. I load on a progressive press so the chances of double charging with Bullseye (or W231) is low. There is always a risk of double charging when using a single stage, because charging is conducted off press, and you can get distracted. With a progressive you will find that you can load a lot of ammunition with Bullseye because the Charge weights are low. I use 4.0 grs with a 125 LRN in 9mm, 3.5 grs with a 158 L in 38 Spl, and 4.5 grains with a 230 LRN in the 45 ACP.

Bullseye is an outstandingly accurate powder and will provide consistant accurate ammunition up to standard velocities. It is the oldest powder on the market, over 100 years, and there is lots of loading data for it. It is not a magnum velocity powder. What I like is the excellent accuracy and the low extreme spreads I get. The lowest ES and SD's of any powder I have used. This is important for semi automatics as they work best with a consistant kick in the chamber.

I think all of my handgun reloading is more than adequately covered with Bullseye, Unique and 2400.

The only other powder I could recommend trying, in your calibers, is Unique. That powder is one of the most flexible I have used, but I think for your applications, Bullseye is the best.

 

[redneck2]

I'd throw in AA5. Meters extremely well. I use WW-231 and Universal, but if I had to stick to one, I'd consider AA5.

I don't think there's a "right" answer. I suspect there's not a bit of meaningful difference in any of the three. It's more personal preference IMO.

 

[sansone]

hodgdon HS-6 is ball-shaped so meters very well, and burns a little slower than Unique. you can add that to your list of pistol powders

 

[tbtrout]

Win 231 and CCI primers

 

[1shotdown]

I Just Loaded My First 200 Round With Hodgdon Hs6. Metered Ok. Shot Very Well .

 

[CZ57]

Ramshot True Blue powder & CCI-500 primers.

You won't outgrow it.

 

[Sunray]

Bullseye and regular primers. Small pistol primers for the 9mm and .38. Large pistol primers for the .45. No crimp for the 9mm or .38. Taper crimp only for the .45. Carbide sizer die for all three. Read your manual twice and follow it religiously. A copy of The ABC's of Reloading wouldn't hurt either. Your local gun shop or Amazon.

 

[The Bushmaster]

W-231 and pay attention...This powder is clean and accurate in the calibres that you mentioned...

 

[Walkalong]

W-231 and pay attention...

Yes. All I used for many a year in 9MM, & .45.

Still have part of one of the old 3Lb cans.

 

[icecorps]

Wow, lots of different opinions on this one! I have a similar question. I've just about got everything ready to start reloading (.40S&W and .38 Super) and need to chose a powder. Clays was suggested to me, but in my Lyman reloading manual it is not listed in most of the "formulas" and I was thinking a more common powder might be easier to find recipes for.

I am not interested in building up a recipe from scratch, just want to make Major power factor for USPSA matches.

 

[CZ57]

icecorps: the old standbys for general purpose are 231 and Unique and now Universal as a Unique substitute. Bullseye is another that gets considered, but a bit more applicable to the .45 ACP than other cartridges because it is a very fast burner. This has been the situation for a long time.

Ramshot True Blue has not been around a long time and a lot of people have not tried it yet. Many can't yet get it locally. If you can, it's worth getting. It is very uniform ballistically and covers a wide range of cartridges. It's a little slower than Unique so its not necessarily fair to compare it to 231. It works very well in .45 ACP loads and it is the best powder I have used in .40 S&W. Ramshot Silhouette is probably one of the best choices available also, and was formerely sold as WAP. It is the original .40 S&W powder and will get you major PF loads fairly easily with jacketed bullets. True Blue seems to work equally well with jacketed or cast.

 

[1shotdown]

i just bout a m&p40 does anybody shoot reloads in a gun like that. i heard it is not fully supported and will blow up

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Unique

I agree with okeybug, Unique is the shiznit. This is the most versatile powder around and the new formula burns alot cleaner. So far I have loaded 3500 rounds of 40 S&W ammo, 155 grain, 165 grain, 180 grain, all Rainier bullets. Unique has performed excellent in all of the loads. Unique "fills" the case also, so a double charge is highly unlikely, another plus in my book. Unique will give good loads and performance in a broad spectrum of handgun calibers. I don't have any reason to use any other powder, Unique has worked awesome for me in my 40's.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I'm glad I, checked this thread, I, was going to ask about a do all ball powder for my .9mm, .38, and, .45, are there any other ball powder’s that would fill this role other then HS6? I would like to find one then just buy a few pounds at a time.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm glad I, checked this thread, I, was going to ask about a do all ball powder for my .9mm, .38, and, .45,

AA# 2, AA# 5, WSF.....

 

[CZ57]

RRK: Ramshot True Blue is a dense ball powder that meters exceptionally and has a burn rate between Unique and HS-6. As far as flexibility, I've loaded it in all three calibers with excellent results.