Powders? Which one?

[Trakker]

I am starting to get the tools for reloading.
Right now I am trying to decide on a powder to start with.

I am thinking of Hodgdon Lil'Gun for 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum.
Any preferences over the other powders?

Thanks

[sargenv]

Lil' gun is a relatively new powder. I bought some to try with my 41 magnum, and it appears to be pretty good velocity wise. Your other choices are Win 296/Hodgdon H110, Alliant 2400, and Accurate arms #9. I'm sure I may be forgetting one or two more. I've used Blue dot for 357 magnum for years, but now there is a report about over pressure problems with the 125 gr and under bullets. If you want to load light target loads for either, Trail Boss, while expensive, will prevent you from ever having a double charge due to it's being really fluffy for the charge weight. I think the most you can put into a 357 mag case is about 3 ish gr. In the 44 mag I think that increases to about 5 gr. Comparitively volume wise, H110.296/Lil Gun/2400/AA9 is about 18-24 gr. for the 44.

I'd reccomend at least one or two powder manuals and maybe a general reloading booklike the Lyman reloading manual for general loading principles and other tidbits of knowledge you might not always find on here.

[kurac]

I use H110 or W296 for the .357 and .44 Magnums, it meters well, fills the case and gives a good performance. Yes it can have a large muzzle flash but that usually happens when you get lots of velocity out of short barrels.

[buffybuster]

Lil'Gun is great for maximum loads in the 357 or 44Mags, It's NOT a good powder for reduced loads. If you're looking for maximum heavy bullet loads for the 357mag/41/44mag then Lil'Gun, H110/W296 will work very well. If you want moderate magnum loads then I would recommend Unique. You can still get magnum performance but also make reduced power loads for plinking. Check you manuals and each powder manufacturer has a website with data.

[Turbinator]

For .357mag reduced loads, I've used Win231 to create target loads equal to light .38spl loads. Works very well for target practice if your looking to save your wrists during a casual day at the range.

Turby

[f4tweet]

I like Titegroup for my .357 Mag plinking. Around 7.8 gr with a 158 gr Rainier RN bullet. Nice plinker.

[rayra]

buy a nice reloading manual from Lyman or Speer, peruse the loading tables for the calibers you'll be shooting in, choose a powder that is useable across your range of handgun bullet preferences.

[f4tweet]

Lee Second Edition

[bohoki]

i use 3 powders

bullseye for 9mm 45
2400 357 44 mag 30 carbine
win748 223 308

guess i'm a weirdo cause i donk know why they hae so many kinds of powder

[GW]

Unique