Best Rifle and Pistol Powders for Cast

[jim4065]

Hope this is in the right section - didn't know where else to put it.

Time to buy some powder. Since most of my reloading experience was with the J-Words, I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. I've got a lot of BP for the 43 Spanish roller and quite a bit of IMR4227 for the 310 Cadet so:

1) Am I better off with Unique or AA#5 for my pistols? Calibers will run from 32ACP thru 38 Special and up to the 40 S&W. Pretty much all cast, mostly target and plinking with some store-bought stuff for carry.

2) Most of my rifle shooting is with the Moisins - and I've got to shoot up a bunch of surplus ammo for them. My present favorite is an old 30/30 - with an even older Swede '94 Carbine when I want to fuss with it. The other guns are all 30 caliber, with the exception of a Ruger Deerslayer - and I don't think I want to shoot lead thru it. So mostly medium to small 30 caliber cases.

What's the best target/light load/ plinker powder for the rifles? I really don't want to get back to having 8 or 10 metallic powders again. Throw in some 12 and 16 gauge reloading and it's tiresome to keep up with. Ideas?

I guess what I'm asking is: If you could have only 1 rifle and 1 pistol powder - what would they be? And for what it's worth - price matters.

[Bent Ramrod]

If I could have only one powder it would be Unique. It really is "unique," though perhaps less so now than formerly. You can put some kind of reasonable load together for almost any rifle, pistol or shotgun with Unique.

[Bass Ackward]

I would go with Unique and 4198.

The reason for the 4198 as it is a case filling bulky powder that eliminates the "need" for a filler if you use a magnum primer.

Plus you have the option with it of running either slow or faster velocities too compared to faster powder selections.

We all know how I hate the "F" word.

[44man]

I don't think there is any best powder for cast because they can shoot with most powders. But I agree that when on a tight budget, Unique, 4198, 4759, 296, etc would all be decent choices. (296 for the Ruger.)
Only question I have is about the Ruger! It will shoot great with cast as long as the boolit fits the magazine. You are missing a lot of fun with it and can shoot it more because the cost is less.

[KCSO]

I would go for Red Dot and Reloader 7 if restricted to two, although AA5744 would be a tie with Reloader 7.

[9.3X62AL]

With Unique and 2400, you could service shotshells--handguns--and cast boolit rifles pretty well.

[bishopgrandpa]

You already have the 4227. Add 2400 to the list. I have a blackhawk and old deerfield that both use same load of 2400. Use it in the 30-30 as well. Both have taken deer.

[1Shirt]

Red Dot, 2400, and Unique not necessarily in that order. Application for cast in Rifle and handgun. Cheap by comparison to most over the counter powders when you compair the quantity used for loading. Good Luck!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[mag_01]

If I had only one powder it would be 2400-----If I had a wider choice it would be Bullseye---2400---AA5744-----Imr 3031----Mag

[Buckshot]

................For me if limited to one powder it would be Unique. If I could have 2 and used it pistols and rifles it would be Unique and either 4198, 4227 or SR4759 you choose :-). If I could have 4 powders it would be Bullseye, Blue Dot, SR4759 and IMR 3031.

...................Buckshot

[ron brooks]

Would not WC820 fill the 2400 niche pretty well and at a lower price?

Ron

[Ricochet]

Yes, but it's likely not as flexible at lower pressures and loading densities as 2400. It's an extremely fine powder with a high percentage of deterrent to slow down the burning rate.

[Safeshot]

For light to mid range loads with cast bullets, pistols or revolvers, I like Bullseye. It is well suited to Cowboy Action Shooting in my opinion. Gives good ignition, accurate, and you can find loads listed in the loading manuals for almost any caliber.

[klausg]

I'm fairly firmly in Bent/Bass/Buckshot camp, (pardon me if I missed one); Unique is probably my favorite handgun powder, followed closely by a tie between 2400 & Bullseye. If I was forced to choose I'd go with the 2400 as I use it a lot in cast rifle loads, of course I use Unique there a lot also. For strictly rifle I like IMR 3031 & 4064, they are pretty much my go-to's when I don't know what else to try, cast or j-words. I haven't loaded shotgun in quite awhile, like 30 years or so, afraid I can't help much there.

-Klaus

[357maximum]

They called it unique because "this one powder will damn near do it all if you need it too" just would not fit on the label.

If I could only have 4

unique
4200
LilGun
3031

I could load everything with that assortment right there...might not all be barn burners, but I could load em all...my lil shotguns too...:-D

[sundog]

Interesting choices. I'll play. 231 and 4227. That sorta excludes some souped up rifle loads that 4895 or 4064 is good for, but I could get by with 4227 if I just had to.

[ron brooks]

Ricochet,

Thanks. I thought it would work. I understand it's not as flexible, but for the price I sure can live with it. :-)

Thanks,

Ron


Yes, but it's likely not as flexible at lower pressures and loading densities as 2400. It's an extremely fine powder with a high percentage of deterrent to slow down the burning rate.

[twoworms]

I feed my handguns for plinking loads Unique, I load Varget in my 204, 223, 243, 257Roberts, 260, 308,7.62x54R, 3006, 7.7Jap,8x57, 375H&H and my 45-70. As you can see I like Varget. I load H1000 in my 257WbyMag. H50BMG and IMR5010in my 50BMG.

Tim

My pick, Unique for handgun plinking loads Varget for most rifles.