Need advice on powder and primer selection

[Egan]

I'm about to get started reloading (terrible time price-wise, I know) and I need some direction on how to choose powder and primers. I reloaded as a teenager for pistol and shotgun, but never purchased or selected the components directly. Fast forward 20 years and I've got most of my equipment - some new, some inherited - but I'm not sure what to do next.

I've gone through my Lyman and Lee books and there are many different powders recommended for the calibers I am going to reload. For me, I think it would be ideal to find a powder common to several of the calibers so as to reduce cost and the risk of using the wrong powder. Is this a typical practice or do people actually use different powders for each caliber? Which types would you recommend?

Same question with regards to the primer vendors - is any one vendor ideal for a given primer size or are there favorites for different calibers? Any recommendations?

For reference, right now I will be reloading:

Pistol:
5.7x28
9mm
.40S&W
.45ACP

Rifle:
.223
.50 Beowulf

This will all be target ammo and/or SHTF stock. None of this is high precision, bench rest type stuff.

[Jonathan Doe]

For 38 and 45 pistols, I use Winchester 231 powder with Federal match primers. 357 and 44 Mag: Win 296 with Federal Mag pistol primers of proper size.

Rifles, primarily for 223 and 308's, I use IMR 4895 and 4064 powder and Federal match primers. Magnum rifles: IMR 4350 with Federal Mag rifle primers.

My loads never failed me.

[Beelzy]

Unique for the handgun ammo, H335 for the rifle.

Those two powders with the right manuals (Hornady or Sierra) will cover a
lot of different bullets.

[God Bless The Mauser]

For .45 ACP I've used Ramshot True Blue and .223 I've used Ramshot TAC. They both work great.

[BigBamBoo]

..............

[bruceflinch]

Iv'e found recipe's for the 9, 40 & 45 in both W231 & Unique.

[GrayWolf09]

The right powder/bullet combination is the one that your rifle or handgun likes the best. Pick several powders and try several bullet weights with each. See what shoots well and what does not. It is a painstaking process sometime but if you persist, you may be rewarded with some outstanding accuracy.

So choose wisely weedhopper!

[bruce381]

I always liked Ball powders they meter great so i have use Winchester also it was avalible from the fun shows from miwall so i have stuck to them.

pistol 231
magnium pistol 296
rifle 748


Accurate arms is good to.
bruce