Powder Decision Help

[Rusty W]

The Tulsa Gun Show is in a few weeks. I live about 1-1/2 hrs away and go every year. I'm going to spend a little money on powder and primers and can't decide on what to buy in bulk. Powder Valley is going to be there. I can order online and they'll bring the order with them to the show. I just can't decide on what to get a lot of. Here's what I shoot cast boolits in.

Pistol/Revolvers
32 long, Mag. The long shoots great with TB, The Mag with AA#7
327 Fed Mag. Best so far has been AA#9
9mm...Clays
38/357...231 for 38, 2400 & H110 for .357's
44 Mag Best with 2400
45 ACP/ 45 Colt..ACP likes 231. 45 Colt eats nearly anything from H110, 2400, Unique, Red Dot, Universal, HS6, & TB.

Rifle Calibers
.223 Jacketed...BLC2 w/55gr shoots best
22-250 Jacketed..IMR 8208XBR..52gr MK, 1 hole groups @100yds
.243 Jacketed...IMR 4350 & H414, shoots under 1" @ 100 yds w/ several bullets
30/30 Jacketed...BLC2....Cast...Trailboss
.308 Jacketed..BLC2....Cast...Unique & 2400, still working on cast loads
30-06 Jacketed..H414...Cast..Unique
45/70 Jacketed..H4895..Cast...Trailboss, Unique, & 2400

I have on hand about 13lbs of 231, 8 lbs of Unique, 4 lbs of Clays, & about 20-25 different burn rates of 1 lb'ers. I shoot handguns mostly and can't decide on AA#9. It shoots great in the .327 but I haven't tried it in the other calibers, yet. I don't see much written about it. It seems like H110 or 2400 gets the most attention, maybe that should tell me something right there. I'm not looking for a "one powder does it all". I have the fast & medium covered, just looking for a slow powder for the magnums.
On to the rifles. I shoot the 22-250 the most, it's my go to rifle. I mostly hunt varmints. Coyote season is open year round here. I don't have much shooting time with the IMR 8208XBR powder. I don't know how it'll work in other calibers, so I don't want to buy 8lbs of it just for the 250. H4985 is decent in just about everything I've shot it in. I've just had better accuracy with others. IMR 3031 is excellent in the 45/70 for the 300gr to 405gr bullets & boolits I shoot in it.

What would/do you buy in bulk that works the best for you?

[ColColt]

I can't help you with the rifle powders as it's been literally decades since I've reloaded for them but do recall using IMR 4198 a lot it seems and/or IMR 4064 but the following powders I keep on hand for pistols, and there's good data for each for the 38/357 clan and 45 Auto as well. I highly recommend Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook and a recent Speer manual will cover, most of your needs along with perhaps Hodgdon's online recommendations.

38/357: 231, HS-6, AA#5 Unique Power Pistol, Universal, 2400

45ACP: AA#5, HS-6, Unique

45Colt: 9 gr of Unique-hands down best load for me

These powders have consistently given me great groups and all I need. If I run out of one, any of the others can easily substitute.

[mpmarty]

I had a similar experience a year or so ago and bought:
25# Varget
25# BLC-2
16# Red Dot
16# AA-9 (best cleanest powder for 10mm)
16# Power Pistol
Wish I'd bought some 5744

[MtGun44]

Unique, BLC2.

Bill

[bobthenailer]

Im one of those nuts that have probley at least 25 different powders for pistol and rifle combined! I let the gun tell me what powder it likes and use that powder .
If i have worked up loads in a previously owned pistol and get another in the same caliber , I allways try those loads first loads , if they are up to my accuracy standards in the new pistol , I have my new load .
I have found in at least 1/2 or more instances a repeatable accurate load for one cal handgun will work equally well in another like cal handgun .

[neilin]

Unique.