Powder Selection Advice

[4DSJW]

Hi All, back in the olden days I did quite a bit of reloading for my S&W 686 (4.7gr Unique w/158gr LSWC in a .357 case), as well as other guns, mostly handguns. That was back when powder was readily available at reasonable prices, LOL. My go-to powder of choice was Unique, and it worked well enough for all the ammo I loaded. My only complaint was that there was a noticeable amount of un-burned powder in my low velocity target loads.

I'm going to get back into reloading as I'm shooting much more often now. I have to re-stock my supplies and buy powder (thank you for the condolences) and I would like to get recommendations on some good go-to powders for "everything". I will be sticking with low velocity loads for practice/plinking/steel challenge/IDPA/Cowboy Action. I might also get back into trap shooting (which may require a different powder?).

I have heard that W231 should work as well as Unique and might be cleaner burning, but I thought I would ask here because you folks know way more than I do about what is currently available. Bonus points if the powder is clean burning at the low end loads, generally available, and not at the top price point. I will be making low(ish) velocity loads for:

.38 Special
.357 Magnum
9mm
.45 ACP
44-40
12g (shotgun for Cowboy Action)

Thank You Muchly for Your Help!

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[golfish]

OP, take a look at BE-86, you might like that for 38/357. BE-86 equals Unique in a lot of ways. The loads are very similar if not exact.

I use w231/hp-38 for my 9mm, 10mm and 45acp loads. It's cheap and works really well for me.

Good luck to you.

[golfish]

DP again

[bigbossman]

700X will work well for all of those.

[Sandspider500]

572?

[4DSJW]

Thank you for the suggestions. I will start doing my homework on the recommended powders. Has anyone used Alliant American Select? Any comments? Thx!

[thegiff]

I've been using W231/HP-31 which are the same powder now BTW. Easy to load, not too expensive, lots of load data and not too dirty. I've been told and have found that it is true that all powders are cleaner when loaded hotter. And some powders are inherently cleaner. I haven't tried American Select, but I'm no longer averse to trying a new powder. I follow the standard advice and load a few at some test loads, I MARK THE CASES and TEST.. 3 or so moving up a ladder. Learned the hard way (always the hard way). dropped a test box and they scattered. Anyway, good times! Not so many that it feels bad to knock them apart. Then load a large batch. And I keep meticulous notes of performance and load data so I know what worked, how dirty or clean it was, how the cycling was, recoil, or whatever. Then if I can I just rinse and repeat. If I can't, a small amount of load development and load a big batch again.

[4DSJW]

Hey giff, thank you for the info. I think you meant to say that HP-38 is the equivalent of W231, correct? Your method is similar to what I used to do. I would load from just above minimum to just above my desired velocity range, in .5gr increments. Once I narrowed down the sweet spot for accuracy, I would change to .1gr increments to find the most accurate load. I usually loaded 20-24 rounds until I got close to a final load, then I would load 50 rounds of the last 2 or 3 options. Thx again.

[edgerly779]

I have winchester wst in sales foru. It works for my .38 spl 9mm and 1 1/8 ounces 12 gauge loads. Clean. It is same powder as in AA shells. I have 4 pounds new in canisters. Cheap

[bruce381]

231/hp38 is fine about 5 grains runs 38,357,41,45,44 mag all mid range.

[TAS]

Most of my reloading began with Bullseye or Unique (Titegroup for 45LC) to cover most loads but after a time, I started adding various other powders to try. Some of this was because of using different bullets or to seek different performance but sometimes, the powder I was looking for just wasn’t available. So, while keeping your selection to a minimum might be desirable, sometimes you have to venture out and try new things.

[hundy]

Second this one. I purchase it in the 8lbs jug, so I always have powder my pistol loads when things get scarce.

[357magnum]

W-231 for 9mm and .38spl
HS-6 for .357Mag

[edgerly779]

Winchester wst for 9mm, 38 spl. .40 sw. and shotgun. Powder matches used in AAs.