Powder suggestions for Noob's to reloading...

[Super Spy]

I just un-boxed my pre-inherited RCBS Rock Chucker Pro Master Kit last night and I'm all excited to get started. I want some suggestions on some good powders to get started with.

The calibers I'll be loading for initially will be .45 ACP, .45 Colt and 7.5 x 55 Swiss. Soon that will expand to include 12 Ga (As soon as I buy a MEC Sizemaster) 5.56 NATO, 8mm Mauser, 308, 357 and 9mm....My neighbor gave me a 3lb can of Winchester 296 and some primers. I have some doubts about how useful the Winchester 296 will be as it seems better suited for .44 Magnum and other hand cannons.

I will primarily be loading for Cowboy Action Shooting, range trips, busting clays, and the occasional USPSA or IDPA match. Obviously the .45 Colt will be for Cowboy, and probably .45 ACP for Wild Bunch. The 7.5 x 55 Swiss will be for Wild Bunch as well as range blasting. I'm having very limited success finding any suitable loads listed for the 7.5 Swiss for Cowboy though it's been suggested that I can probably use something along the lines of 308, 30-06 or 303 British as a starting point. These will be very low performing loads probably around 1300 FPS so I have little concern about blowing up my gun, probably wouldn't even happen if I double charged it as the levels I'll be running. Obviously all the Cowboy loads will be lead bullets only.

Powders I've considered include:
Trail Boss
Winchester 231
Tight Group
Universal Clays

Powder Valley seems to have decent prices and a good variety to pick from. I have my C&R so get good deals from Graf's too. Gun Broker seems to offer some good deals on bullets. Any vendor suggestions?

Thanks!

[bumpo628]

For pistol powder:
I like Winchester 231 for 45 ACP and 9mm. It is the same thing as Hodgdon HP38, which is always priced lower.
WIN231-01 * WINCHESTER 231 - 1 LB. Yes $16.90
WIN231-04 * WINCHESTER 231 - 4 LB. Yes $62.50
WIN231-08 * WINCHESTER 231 - 8 LB. Yes $118.00
HODHP38-01 * HODGDON HP38 - 1 LB. Yes $15.65
HODHP38-08 * HODGDON HP38 - 8 LBS. Yes $110.50
Prices are from powdervalleyinc.com

For primers:
PVI or Wideners

http://wideners.com/itemview.cfm?dir=278|284|737

For lead bullets:

http://missouribullet.com/

For pistol FMJs

http://precisiondelta.com/product.php

[Chief-7700]

Winchester 231 and HP-38 are the same powder, just a different package.Works well with .45ACP it's smaller replacement the 9mm.

[Fjold]

Win 296 will work in the 357 magnum

Check Hodgdon.com for load data

[Ukiahgunnut]

I have been using Win 231 for years to load pistol ammo, and I like it very much. Always fires and is easy to measure and load.

Dave

[iareConfusE]

Been using only Titegroup for 9mm and .45ACP. It works well in my 9mm, very clean and feels great, but it feels snappy in my .45ACP, and it doesn't seem to burn all the way either because the recipe calls for only a small amount of the powder in such a large case. It gets my 1911 really dirty and spits out a bunch of unburned powder flakes.

[checkenbach]

I use TiteGroup for 9mm, .38, .357 and .45ACP, and it works great!!!
I'm going to start using American Select for .38 and .357 lead loads though, due to it's cleaner burning and less smoke than TiteGroup.

[Chief-7700]

I like:
Winchester 231
Bullseye
Titegroup
Unique
Don't care about the amount of smoke burning off the lube of 200 grain LSWC nor how dirty the gun gets. It's all about what the gun likes for the most accurate bullet powder combination. The guns get cleaned after each trip to the range or a match.
Chief

[EmmaGoldman]

Trail Boss is THE stuff for .45 Colt cowboy loads.

[GUNNTZ]

Some powders carry over for use in other rounds. So, if you are trying to minimize the types of powder on hand you might want to look at the load data for all your rounds, you'll most likely find common powders. Make a list of the acceptable powders and see if your book includes the burn rate of the powder in the index/back of book. Some rounds really like a slow or fast burn, depends. I've found H335, Win760 to be good for my loads in rifle and I'm using 700X and 800X in some of my pistol loads(these are big boy loads). Good luck and think safety all the time while reloading.

Your Load data for the swiss:

Hodgdon Powder Company
Cartridge Load Recipe Report - 9/29/2004
7.5 x 55mm Swiss
Load Type: Rifle
Comments: Hodgdon data 7.5 Swiss
Cartridge Information

Case: Norma Barrel Length: 31"
Twist: 1:10.6" Trim Length: 2.175"
Primer: WINCHESTER LR

7.5 x 55mm Swiss
Cartridge Load Data Starting Loads
_____
Maximum Loads
_____

Bullet Weight (Gr.) Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
125 GR. SIE SP H4831 .308" 2.800" 49.0 2639 52.0 2811
125 GR. SIE SP H4350 .308" 2.800" 47.0 2565 51.0 2839
125 GR. SIE SP H414 .308" 2.800" 46.0 2652 48.0 2829
125 GR. SIE SP H380 .308" 2.800" 44.0 2661 46.0 2797
125 GR. SIE SP BL-C(2) .308" 2.800" 41.0 2614 43.0 2739

125 GR. SIE SP H335 .308" 2.800" 40.0 2587 42.0 2692
125 GR. SIE SP H4895 .308" 2.800" 41.0 2639 43.0 2762
150 GR. HDY SP H4831 .308" 2.790" 47.0 2493 51.0 2659
150 GR. HDY SP H4350 .308" 2.790" 45.0 2420 49.0 2610
150 GR. HDY SP H414 .308" 2.790" 44.0 2529 46.0 2689
150 GR. HDY SP H380 .308" 2.790" 42.0 2536 44.0 2661
150 GR. HDY SP BL-C(2) .308" 2.790" 40.0 2450 42.0 2559

150 GR. HDY SP H335 .308" 2.790" 40.0 2442 42.0 2541
150 GR. HDY SP H4895 .308" 2.790" 40.0 2484 42.0 2578
168 GR. SIE HPBT H4831 .308" 3.060" 45.0 2477 49.0 2578

168 GR. SIE HPBT H4350 .308" 3.060" 44.0 2379 48.0 2524

168 GR. SIE HPBT H414 .308" 3.060" 42.0 2429 44.0 2519

168 GR. SIE HPBT H380 .308" 3.060" 41.0 2414 43.0 2502

168 GR. SIE HPBT BL-C(2) .308" 3.060" 39.0 2363 41.0
2404
168 GR. SIE HPBT H335 .308" 3.060" 39.0 2354 41.0 2399

168 GR. SIE HPBT H4895 .308" 3.060" 39.0 2388 41.0 2432

180 GR. HDY SP H4831 .308" 2.900" 43.0 2304 47.0 2424
180 GR. HDY SP H4350 .308" 2.900" 42.0 2250 46.0 2566
180 GR. HDY SP H414 .308" 2.900" 40.0 2237 42.0 2355
180 GR. HDY SP H380 .308" 2.900" 38.0 2213 40.0 2323
180 GR. HDY SP BL-C(2) .308" 2.900" 37.0 2189 39.0 2284

180 GR. HDY SP H335 .308" 2.900" 37.0 2184 39.0 2263
180 GR. HDY SP H4895 .308" 2.900" 37.0 2201 39.0 2296

Other links:

http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/pierre/loaddata.html

[Super Spy]

Thanks for the words of advice. Anyone know any of the details regarding the difference between loading for a K-31 and a K-1911? I know the K-31 has a fully supported case head and the K-1911 doesn't. I also see reloading die sets specifically for the K-31. If I get the K-31 dies, I can use these for both the K-1911 and the K-31 right? I won't be running any hot loads in the K-1911....just the opposite, I'll be running Cowboy strength loads for Wild Bunch. I'd just prefer to have one set of dies and not worry about the brass much in terms of what I fired it out of. I guess it's about time to spend money stocking up on components

Any worries about seriously undercharging rifle loads? It looks like for the speed I want out of 150 gr lead projectile out of my K-1911 I need to be between 20 and 25 grains. It sounds like I need a chronograph, load up 5 ea going up 1 grain at a time and see what gets me in the 1300-1400 FPS range. It doesn't sound like a kaboom is a worry I will have plenty of pressure to not end up with one stuck in the barrel, what other concerns do I have? I may get leading but I clean after every range trip and I understand if I keep the velocity around 1300 even leading isn't much of an issue. I will use jacket projectiles for normal strength loads.