Powders like CFE Pistol and Unique in 357

[Riomouse911]

Unique, HP-38, Bullseye, Power Pistol, AA-7, Enforcer, H110... I’ve used them all in .357 loads.
Of them all I prefer to use the old standby for most of my uses, Unique. It just does so much without being overly picky as to charge weight or bullet style.

Stay safe.

 

[Eugen]

So all powders work for some people for different reasons. !?

As a novice handloader I tend to get perplexed when I follow and try to understand such threads as "whats the best powder for...." There is never just "one" reported.
.

 

[Ironicaintit]

The curse of too many options!

 

[trekker73]

So all powders work for some people for different reasons. !?

As a novice handloader I tend to get perplexed when I follow and try to understand such threads as "whats the best powder for...." There is never just "one" reported.
.

Powders have different properties to offer people. For example 700-x, Red Dot, Bullseye, and WST have similar-ish burn rates, but Red dot is a lot bulkier so some guy might prefer it to avoid double charges, another guy uses a single stage press and hand weighs every charge so that does not affect him, another wants the easiest metering for high volume reloads, another guy wants the cleanest powder of the four as he hates cleaning guns, and someones gun may shoot the most accurate load with one powder vs another.

 

[lordpaxman]

So all powders work for some people for different reasons. !?

As a novice handloader I tend to get perplexed when I follow and try to understand such threads as "whats the best powder for...." There is never just "one" reported.
.

Just think of it like the reviews on that next Amazon purchase. Or, what the best press is, or what the best scale is, or....
I’ve not yet found the one powder to rule them all. I’d advise you to stay with published load data, and take good notes. Good luck!

 

[trekker73]

All the fellas who used CFE in 357, can I ask what your accuracy was like? Its a high density powder with similar case fill to green dot looking at the charts. Also it is a loud powder( subjectively)

 

[packetloss]

All the fellas who used CFE in 357, can I ask what your accuracy was like? Its a high density powder with similar case fill to green dot looking at the charts. Also it is a loud powder( subjectively)

There was a post detailing out the accuracy of powder and basically what it found was there was no difference in the accuracy of any tested powders. Now that's not to say any individual shooter might be more accurate with one powder over another, due to it's recoil profile, but in a benchrest they were all equal.

 

[sabbfan]

I’ve started using Titegroup in 357 and 44 mag for reduced power loads. Also started using it in 38 special and have been happy. I use 5.0 grains in 357 cases under Acme 158 coated SWC and get 950 FPS out of a 4” GP100. It meters well but might not offer the case filling you are looking for. It’s economical since a little goes a long way, and my loads in 357 and 38 have been very accurate. Still playing with it in 44 but it’s showing pretty good potential.

 

[murf]

I never tried BlueDot. Does it smoke a lot also? I love smoke at the open range!

my 180 grain (lead tc (truncated cone)) bullet load is enough bluedot to reach 1200 fps out of my 4.625" blackhawks. the load uses a standard primer.

luck,

murf

 

[lordpaxman]

It’s economical since a little goes a long way, and my loads in 357 and 38 have been very accurate.

Do you mean you’re getting tight groups? Hmmm

 

[sabbfan]

Do you mean you’re getting tight groups? Hmmm

The marketing guys actually got something right!

 

[Charlie98]

Not a big fan of TiteGroup... I bought 2# of it during the Dark Ages just because it was on the shelf. I've found it burns very hot, so I quit using it with cast bullets. I did finally find it's happy place... in the 9mm, where it does a creditable job. I think I've gotten about 45000 rounds out of the first pound... or so it seems... this garbage lasts FOREVER!!!

 

[Bfh_auto]

All the fellas who used CFE in 357, can I ask what your accuracy was like? Its a high density powder with similar case fill to green dot looking at the charts. Also it is a loud powder( subjectively)

I would rate it about the same as factory 357 for blast and accuracy.
Green Dot is less dense than CFE in my experience. Case fill is similar because the prefer charges are different.
I prefer H110 for 180's. Bluedot for 158's and autocomp for 125's.
All three have a lot of blast in revolvers. But performed exceptionally well in my carbine.

 

[trekker73]

There was a post detailing out the accuracy of powder and basically what it found was there was no difference in the accuracy of any tested powders. Now that's not to say any individual shooter might be more accurate with one powder over another, due to it's recoil profile, but in a benchrest they were all equal.

The powder may not be more or less inherently accurate than another powder, but it may be less suitable for a certain platform.Tiny charges of fast burners in a large case- the position sensitivity may affect accuracy compared to a slow burner with better case fill. Thats why I asked fellas how CFE pistol did for 357. its quite dense compared to say Unique.