Which powder for both shotgun/handgun loads.
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jmorris
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Powders ideal for 12ga won’t be for magnum loads in a 357.
12ga is going to be the biggest hurdle finding a charge that works with the given shells and wad you pick, so I suppose I would pick the slowest one you can find and hope it will at least give you decent 38 spl loads.
12ga is going to be the biggest hurdle finding a charge that works with the given shells and wad you pick, so I suppose I would pick the slowest one you can find and hope it will at least give you decent 38 spl loads.
243winxb
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Alliant Unique powder. https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Powder.aspx?powderid=3
entropy
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Not entirely true. It depends on the intended use in each type gun. But a good basic idea in that you should pick the powder as a shotgun powder first, keeping wad and hull choices in mind. If you're loading for .357, you'll just have to stick with the power range your shotgun powder has listed for your powder.
Blue Dot makes wonderful hot field (duck and pheasant) loads, and is a great top-of the red-line .357 powder, but you can't load Trap loads with it. Red and Green Dots make good Trap loads, (just heading out to fire off some of them this morning) and light (Red) to medium (Green) .38 loads. Same goes for 700 and 800X.
Unique is the most versatile powder mentioned thus far, though even it has limitations in crossing over.
I loaded oodles of .38 Spl. with 700-x back in the day, and could do so with the Green Dot I prefer for Trap loads now. I also loaded some pushing the red-line 125 gr. JHP .357's as well as a hot duck/pheasant load with Blue Dot.
Seymour380
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I've used Red Dot for 380 acp, 38 special, and 357 mag. I understand that it is a good shotgun powder but I can't confirm that. It was the only powder on the shelf when I started reloading 6 years ago and I bought an 8 lb. keg. Red Dot is not the easiest powder to meter, and finding load data can be problematic- be careful with old load data which tends to run too hot. It is the fastest powder I have used for pistol reloading. Good luck with your search!
Charlie98
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The way I would do it is find a powder that works for what you want to load as far as the 12GA, then see if it will work with metallic. Truthfully, I haven't had a problem finding handgun powders... so even if you wound up with 2 different powders, that may be the best course of action.
Like 243, I would automatically recommend Unique, particularly for .357... but all the years I loaded 12ga, I used WST, not Unique... which wound up working really well in .45ACP.
Like 243, I would automatically recommend Unique, particularly for .357... but all the years I loaded 12ga, I used WST, not Unique... which wound up working really well in .45ACP.
I have been using Red Dot for years for pistol loads as well as 12 gauge shotgun loads. Just got to each manufactures site and cross check the powders between shotgun and pistol. You will find plenty of powders that work for both shotgun and pistol, though maybe not the gauge vs. caliber you are always interested in.
Depends on what your local gun stores shelves have on them. On-line buying is fast and furious if something becomes available.
Titegroup was never a consideration of mine, until this year when I saw a 4 pound can at LGS, which I bought.
I’d say “Best” right now is tough to achieve. “Functional” may be a better goal.
Dudedog
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Never used it in shotgun but Longshot lists good vels in 12 guage for hunting loads.
Not quite full power .357 loads but decent vels there for almost full powder loads.
If you want one for both it (Longshot) might be a good choice. (but you are giving up some vel in .357 compared to say H110)
If you want target/light loads for either Red Dot/Promo would work.
Not quite full power .357 loads but decent vels there for almost full powder loads.
If you want one for both it (Longshot) might be a good choice. (but you are giving up some vel in .357 compared to say H110)
If you want target/light loads for either Red Dot/Promo would work.
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brewer12345
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People complain about how it meters, but 800X is a real possibility. When I started reloading in '13 it was one of the only powders I could get. I quite like it for 20 gauge hunting loads.
Dudedog
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Seem to recall something about Blue Dot in .357 with 125s being a don't do.
(I may not remember correctly, but if you want to shoot 125s in the .357 you might want to check)
(I may not remember correctly, but if you want to shoot 125s in the .357 you might want to check)
35 Whelen
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Unique.
Random 8
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As you mention hunting, I assume you're talking heavy field 12 Ga loads. HS-6 or WSF will get near maximum velocities in 1 1/8-1 1/4 12 guage loads, and I've seen quite a bit available lately. Longshot will get a bit more velocity, and be useful for up to 1 1/2 oz turkey loads. Not sure of the compatability of the latter for .357. There are loads, but I have no experience. HS-6 is a fine .357 powder, but will not achieve maximum velocities. I use this powder for heavy 1 1/8, 1 1/4 oz 12 guage loads, as well as near-max .357 loads and full power 124gr 9mm. It is excellent in all above applications. I prefer my H110-158 grain loads for hunting, but if pressed, would have no qualms about using it for deer sized game with a 158, especially in a rifle length barrel.
Blue dot is mentioned, but is only useful in the heaviest of 12 Ga loadings.
Unique is great for lower velocity 1 1/4, mid to high speed 1 1/8 oz loads, and a good mid speed powder for .357 cast loads, but defineately light for .357 hunting loads.
Herco is an interesting option, but I have limited experience so I cannot speak directly to that one. I do know it is very bulky.
Blue dot is mentioned, but is only useful in the heaviest of 12 Ga loadings.
Unique is great for lower velocity 1 1/4, mid to high speed 1 1/8 oz loads, and a good mid speed powder for .357 cast loads, but defineately light for .357 hunting loads.
Herco is an interesting option, but I have limited experience so I cannot speak directly to that one. I do know it is very bulky.
frankmako
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unique and clean shot
entropy
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I did it for years, even up to compressed loads. I wouldn't recommend compressed loads, however. I was young and dumb. Alliant doesn't list a 125 JHP load, but my Speer 9th Edition lists 13.5 gr. as the starting load, and 14.5 as the maximum. The 13.5 lists an MV of 1382, 526 ME, and the 14.5 lists an MV of 1490 and ME of 615. With the wisdom of age and experience behind me, I would think there is no reason to exceed the 14.5 gr. load, and I would only load that for an L frame or larger.
KandBA
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Unique and Clays work for me.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Longshot makes nice almost full power .357 loads. (call it 3/4 power or so, it gives up about 200 fps to H110 across all bullet weights )
Some Hodgdon data for .357 with a 158
Bullet Powder Powder Len Start Gr Vel Pressure Max Gr Vel Pressure
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon H4227 .357" 1.580" 14.5 1402 34,600 CUP 16 1520 42,600 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 296 .357" 1.580" 15 1418 28,600 CUP 16.7 1591 40,700 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon H110 .357" 1.580" 15 1418 28,600 CUP 16.7 1591 40,700 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Lil'Gun .357" 1.580" 16 1504 24,100 CUP 18 1577 25,800 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Longshot .357" 1.580" 7.3 1258 31,700 CUP 8.4 1394 43,200 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP IMR SR 4756 .357" 1.580" 5 896 17,500 PSI 6.5 1146 29,900 PSI
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon HS-6 .357" 1.580" 8 1182 28,000 CUP 9.5 1375 41,900 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Winchester AutoComp .357" 1.580" 6.2 1058 25,700 PSI 7 1181 33,200 PSI
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Universal .357" 1.580" 5.8 1026 32,100 CUP 6.3 1133 39,300 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 231 .357" 1.580" 6.2 1108 33,700 CUP 6.9 1220 40,000 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon HP-38 .357" 1.580" 6.2 1108 33,700 CUP 6.9 1220 40,000 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP IMR SR 7625 .357" 1.580" 4.3 812 16,700 PSI 5.8 1075 29,600 PSI
158 GR. HDY XTP IMR PB .357" 1.580" 3.7 747 18,800 PSI 4.9 984 31,700 PSI
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Titegroup .357" 1.580" 5.4 1135 32,600 CUP 6.1 1229 41,900 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP IMR 700-X .357" 1.580" 4.5 949 21,900 PSI 5.7 1149 31,200 PSI
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon CFE-PISTOL .357" 1.580" 6.1 1107 26,100 PSI 6.9 1233 33,700 PSI
158 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 244 .357" 1.580" 5.5 1061 26,200 PSI 6.2 1204 33,100 PSI
Hodgdon lists data for Longshot in .357 for 110s to 180s.
GeoDudeFlorida
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I think everyone has pretty much summed up my advice - all of the Alliant "Dot" powders were originally formulated for shotgun loads and someone figured out they would also work for some handgun loads. The same is true for IMR 700x and 800x - both were developed for shotguns and some handgun reloader figured out they were also good handgun powders.
My best advice to anyone looking to build up a personal load book - a book of pet loads - is to get some older reloading manuals - published data from the 50's-through-early-90's - and as many current published resources as possible, see if there's loading data for a powder/load combination listed for both shotgun and handgun in the calibers/gauges you're interested in, and start making notes. Documentation is your friend!
Most (NB: not ALL but MOST) of that older 50's, 60's and early 70's published data is based on observation, not rigorous pressure-test data, or was tested using older pressure-testing equipment which wasn't particularly accurate, so be cautious, start with minimal loads and work up to a "good" load for YOUR firearms, and compare data along historical lines. For example, compare the birding loads using Unique, Blue Dot (introduced in 1972), Red Dot (1932), Green Dot (1965), 700x, 800x, etc. from the Lyman's 40th Edition to those in the 44th, 45th, 46th, 49th and 50th to see if any were dropped, modified, or remain the same. If a load is consistent across time, it is probably a pretty good load.
As some folks have noted, Unique has published loading data for rifles, shotguns and handguns dating back to its introduction in 1899. My uncle taught me when I started handloading in the 70's - at the ripe age of 14 - "Unique is universal, but Universal is not unique." He meant by that, Unique is the only truly universal powder - at least in terms of published data - and it does almost anything you could ask of a smokeless powder, but it doesn't do everything and some things it will do it does very poorly. Universal on the other hand is a purpose-made powder which does what it is designed for very well; and it also does a lot more but not everything. Most smokeless powders are pretty flexible but STICK to published data! Use the starting loads to start with - they really are for starting out - avoid experimenting with loads based on what the burn-rate charts say and learn the signs of excessive pressure - you'll be fine, I hope.
Even old published data is better than a WAG. Somebody tried that load and lived to write about it.
ATB
My best advice to anyone looking to build up a personal load book - a book of pet loads - is to get some older reloading manuals - published data from the 50's-through-early-90's - and as many current published resources as possible, see if there's loading data for a powder/load combination listed for both shotgun and handgun in the calibers/gauges you're interested in, and start making notes. Documentation is your friend!
Most (NB: not ALL but MOST) of that older 50's, 60's and early 70's published data is based on observation, not rigorous pressure-test data, or was tested using older pressure-testing equipment which wasn't particularly accurate, so be cautious, start with minimal loads and work up to a "good" load for YOUR firearms, and compare data along historical lines. For example, compare the birding loads using Unique, Blue Dot (introduced in 1972), Red Dot (1932), Green Dot (1965), 700x, 800x, etc. from the Lyman's 40th Edition to those in the 44th, 45th, 46th, 49th and 50th to see if any were dropped, modified, or remain the same. If a load is consistent across time, it is probably a pretty good load.
As some folks have noted, Unique has published loading data for rifles, shotguns and handguns dating back to its introduction in 1899. My uncle taught me when I started handloading in the 70's - at the ripe age of 14 - "Unique is universal, but Universal is not unique." He meant by that, Unique is the only truly universal powder - at least in terms of published data - and it does almost anything you could ask of a smokeless powder, but it doesn't do everything and some things it will do it does very poorly. Universal on the other hand is a purpose-made powder which does what it is designed for very well; and it also does a lot more but not everything. Most smokeless powders are pretty flexible but STICK to published data! Use the starting loads to start with - they really are for starting out - avoid experimenting with loads based on what the burn-rate charts say and learn the signs of excessive pressure - you'll be fine, I hope.
Even old published data is better than a WAG. Somebody tried that load and lived to write about it.
ATB
When you look at load data on Hodgdon's website, you will notice a "Buy Now" option to the far right. Click on that and it will take you to their website where they are now directly selling powder. You won't find awesome prices, or a quick webpage, for that matter, but you might have better availability there.
Is that CUP for Lil' Gun correct? That is kinda crazy.
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