Single Pistol powder for mid range loads with cast bullets in 357,41,44, mags & 45 colt?

DIBBS

DIBBS

Old Mountain Man-Tired occasionally Grumpy SOB
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Minuteman
    • Aug 21, 2008
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    3,864
    WARSHington State
    #1
    Is there a single powder that will work well for mid range loads and cast bullets in these calibers? I have H110/w296 for full power loads and jacketed bullets.

    Looking for good load density so double charges are not an issue. I do have some unique and HS-6, Bullseye as well but that doesn't fill the case. Maybe part of a can of WW231 as well.

    TIA
     
    #3
    Case fill is a big ask across those cartridges. That said, I like 2400 for full house loads. 231 for mid range target loads.
     
    #4
    Unique. It's an antique powder and leaves a lot of fouling... but it does what OP wants. I have used it nearly half a century for 9mm, .38/.357, and back in the Clint Eastwood heyday, .44 magnum. Full power gets 296 or 2400.
     
    #6
    Midrange powders I've had good luck with in .44s:

    HS-6
    AA#7
    Longshot
    W231/HP-38

    I've been playing a lot with 300 gr subs in my rifles lately, AA#7 has been excellent, HS-6 nearly as good, and Longshot also good, all of them have more headroom, but I've been impressed with the accuracy of AA#7 and HS-6 in particular.
     
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    #10
    Universal Clays is good. I’ve used it for years in .45ACP, .45 Colt, .44 Special and .44 Magnum with good results in all. Unfortunately, it meters only slightly better than Unique, so you will get some big charge variations. I was throwing 9.0 grains recently out of my Uniflow and got up to .4 grain spread.

    I have become a big fan of Ramshot True Blue. It doesn’t give great case fill, but it meters like graphite and is very consistent through my Uniflow. I’ve used it in the cartridges I mentioned previously plus 9mm and .38 Special. Despite the low load density, I can’t tell it’s the least bit sensitive about it, given the chronograph results.

    Ramshot Silhouette is also good, but it likes being ran around 20,000psi or better, from what I’ve read. I’ve only ran it in .45 ACP and 9mm. Both with fine results.
     
    #11
    You didn't say what bullet weights you were planning to use ? A bit of difference when loading 185 or 230 .45's or 200 vs 245's in your 44's
    If there are any Cowboy Action match's in your area , you might see what they use .
     
    Last edited:
    #16
    I use red dot (shotgun powder) in my .44 mag. It’s dirty like unique, but surprisingly accurate , cheap, and not that I care but it gave single digit sd’s. I was chronoing just to get my speed and stumbled apon that. You definitely need to be careful though as you could easily double charge a case.
     
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