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Best overall handgun powder for reloading

M

Manzgear

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 10, 2011
406
2
46
Roundup, MT
I currently reload 380acp 9mm 38spl/357 45acp - I have been using blue dot and unique... I live in Buffalo NY which is cold most of the time pending seasons. I hear blue dot is not the best in the cold. I mainly load for saving money and stocking up on ammo for the future. I dont load handgun for precision like I do for rifle. is there one powder that I can use for all of those calibers that will serve me best to get and just stick with that? so i can just stop buying a pound here and there and just buy the 8lb container and use one powder for all of them.
thanks in advance for any advice. I hope this finds you well.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

Titegroup.

Versatile, cheap, goes a long way, burns clean.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

thanks guys- i really appreciate that. have a great weekend
MM
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

How about 1 more to try. Winchester 231. Very versatile and at a good price. Win231 and HP38 are now the same powder. Use it in many of my pistol calibers for lever guns.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

I've been looking for an all around powder to use in 9, 45 and .38 for practice rounds that would flow good through a Dillon 550 and I came up with HP-38. I have some on order but not loaded any up yet.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

For 38Special and 357, I have found nothing better than H110. But.

The question seems to indicate that there might be a single powder suitable for a good percentage of popular handgun cartridges. The reason why nobody ever thought of this before is the various barrel lengths, different bullet weights, availability of propellants and an interest in what works best in specific handguns.

Therefore, I would recommend getting away from the "one size fits all" mindset and deal with specific powders for specific cartridges for specific handguns. It's really not that hard to do, and the single powder concept actually solves nothing tangible. BB
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

I've used H110,..good stuff but I think its more for magnum type loads. I've pumped up some thumpy 44 mag and 454 casull with it. For paper and ease on the hand and wrist, I use Titegroup.

I can load up 5.5 gr of TG in my 44 mg with 240gr SWCs and they are like just a dream,.. accurate and very lite.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BuzzBoss915</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Therefore, I would recommend getting away from the "one size fits all" mindset and deal with specific powders for specific cartridges for specific handguns. It's really not that hard to do, and the single powder concept actually solves nothing tangible. BB </div></div>

Titegroup will load all pistol cartridges well...as long as "well" doesn't mean high velocity. It does achieve good velocity in some, like 38spl and 45 though.

If making good useable ammo for a lot of cartridges is your goal, and you don't want to mess with many powders, TG solves tge problem.

As for HP38 and Win231 - way too dirty for me.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

HP3/w231 load it in 380,9mm,and 40s&w.really clean and shoots 100% burn other than the 380.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BuzzBoss915</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Therefore, I would recommend getting away from the "one size fits all" mindset and deal with specific powders for specific cartridges for specific handguns. It's really not that hard to do, and the single powder concept actually solves nothing tangible. BB </div></div>

Titegroup will load all pistol cartridges well...as long as "well" doesn't mean high velocity. It does achieve good velocity in some, like 38spl and 45 though.

If making good useable ammo for a lot of cartridges is your goal, and you don't want to mess with many powders, TG solves tge problem.

As for HP38 and Win231 - way too dirty for me. </div></div>

I guess my motivation is different?
I hope the bureaucrats never find out that we only need one pistol powder...oops, accidental political comment, please excuse.
smile.gif
BB
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

Buzz:

Titegroup is rarely the answer for peak ballistic performance.

Example:

17gr TG + 350gr bullet in SW500 mag = ~1300fps

42gr H110 + 350 = 1850

But, TG sure is versatile, clean, and well-metering!
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

It is really good to hear everyones opinions on what their panacea is for the one handgun powder. However I get what you are saying BB on the just deal with it and use what is best for each specific cartridge. I guess I am just trying to keep things as simple as I can. once again. thanks to all who chimed in and gave great advice.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

I use Hodgdon Titegroup for 9mm and .45 Auto.

I can't comment on the peak performance or anything like that (sounds like folks with much more experience than me have tested that out) but it works great for my 9mm plinking/idpa/practice ammo and 45 ball loads.

FWIW, I'm a Bullseye shooter (yeah, I know, go ahead and laugh) but I'm working on my distinguished pistol badge through the CMP. We have a saying, accuracy starts around 800ft/sec with a ball gun (230gr FMJ). I get that velocity and it's muuuuch cleaner than other powders and this stuff meters VERY well.

Just my thoughts and experience.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

I too use titegroup in my 9mm sti. but i disagree with how clean it shoots. Now i bought 10lbs of the stuff so im in for awhile. I will be searching for something that shoots cleaner after i'm out. maybe nothing is out there, but i heard VV powders are avialable for 9&45. I'm only using my loads for range work not SD.

arborpro
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Buzz:

Titegroup is rarely the answer for peak ballistic performance.

Example:

17gr TG + 350gr bullet in SW500 mag = ~1300fps

42gr H110 + 350 = 1850

But, TG sure is versatile, clean, and well-metering! </div></div>

Okay, I understand what is being said, in response to simplifying powder stocking. I guess people have a different way of thinking, than I?

For the same cost and effort, in the example above, why would I use TG just because it meters well and I can use it in 9mm, etc.? For practice, shooting cans and why did you buy a 500SW when what you want is a 44Special?

Whatever. Some of this stuff, I just don't get it? I load for accuracy and performance because in my way of thinking, it's not cheaper than factory, even if I don't count my labor. So, it doesn't occur to me to waste my time with mediocre results. End of rant. BB
smile.gif
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

I second the suggestion for Power Pistol for your auto loaders and would also keep H110 or 2400 around for your 357 mag full power revolver loads.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

Buzz:

Even for "accomplished" shooters, the 500mag is a handful. Using the TG load is a good way to work up to the bombshell a 350@1850 is.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

Thank you for that, I understand. I actually fired a 500 a while ago. It was surprisingly pleasant, not what I expected, at all. (and I hit the can!) In fact, (call me crazy) it wasn't much different than my Redhawk with max loads? Of course, it was ported. Maybe they all are, I don't know and have little interest in finding out. BUT, if I had a desire to own one, I suspect it would be for hunting something and I'd be back to stuffing as much of the best powder I could find. I might need therapy, 'cause I can't help it? BB

PS, I get your point, I really do.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 5R milspec</div><div class="ubbcode-body">HP3/w231 load it in 380,9mm,and 40s&w.really clean and shoots 100% burn other than the 380.</div></div>

+1

I've been very happy with W231 for 9mm as well.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

Lots of good comments and powder recommends. I use Hp 38, Tite group, and not mentioned here yet, Accurate#2 as well as Accurate#5.

I like trying new powders, which is how I came to these. . Probably one of the only guys who doesn't care for Bullseye; but that's just me...
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

Titegroup
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

I've been using Unique in 380, 9, 38, 40, and 45 until recently. I prefer Bullseye for the smaller powder charges. The 380 and 9mm get Bullseye currently. Unique would be my choice if I could only have 1 pistol powder though.
 
Re: Best overall handgun powder for reloading

HP-38 / W231 will get you where you want with all those calibers and more. Lots of load data for mid-range to full powder loads....
 
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