Only 2

[btroj]

Long as cabin fever is setting in and the boys seem frisky for a good heated discussion why not rehash the old "If you could only have 2 powders what would they be" thread. In the past it was usually 3 but heck, we are better than that, I think we can live with just 2![smilie=b:

Me? For cast I could love with bullseye and 2400.

[Beagle333]

I currently only have two powders. :-( Unique and RedDot. I guess I can live with em. :smile:

[Dan Cash]

Unique and Reloader 15 covers mild through serious thumping.

[Sweetpea]

I found a pound of Unique yesterday...

Only took a year...

[felix]

The two that are still remaining in the closet. Half the fun of reloading is finding what works with what you have. ... felix

[MT Gianni]

Red dot for usuable pistol loads from 32 Long to 45 Colt. 4895 for the rifles.

[jmort]

Unique and Blue Dot

[oldpapps]

What are the limits?
a) pistol only.
b) pistol lead only.
c) pistol and rifle, lead and jacket.

My views:
Option (a) - 231/HP38 and 2400
Option (b) - 231/HP38 and either of the 4895s
Option (c) - 231/HP38 and 748 (this is a hard choice - 748 works well for me with jacketed rifle and most lead rifle but xxx4895 does too.)

As you can see, I like 231/HP38 for most pistols. Can I have three?

Enjoy,

OSOK

[Jack Stanley]

I suppose it's going to depend a lot on what a shooter has to feed and how they do that . I don't see your idea of Bullseye and 2400 out of line at all though I would probably choose Unique and 2400 . I don't think either would run a Garand with jacketed bullets properly but who knows ? ..........

Jack

[jmort]

If you like shotgun, I do, then most of these fall short.
Unique will work in handgun, rifle, and shotgun and Blue Dot will work in hand gun and shotgun. I'm talking about lead. I suppose the best sleeper combo would be:

Unique for handgun, rifle and shotgun
4759 for rifle and (heavy) shotgun

[mdi]

1. Black powder
2. Smokeless powder

[btroj]

1. Black powder
2. Smokeless powder

There is always one in every crowd. Well done I must say. Well done.

[Doc_Stihl]

Unique and Varget

[ShooterAZ]

For me it is Unique and IMR4895.

[paul h]

Unique and Reloader 15 covers mild through serious thumping.

Those would be my choices as well, would cover 38 sp, 357 mag, 45 acp, 45 colt, and 480 with unique though giving up the magnum loads, and RL-15 would take care of the 223, 243, 308, 350 rem mag and 500 Jeffrey. The only round that would be left out in the cold would be the 221 fireball.

[1bluehorse]

For a real minimalist, absolute survival condition I would choose 2400.......357, 44mag, 45 colt, and 45-70...don't know how it would work with some of the more "in fashion" (9's, 223, 40, etc) guns, but it's acceptable and more in the one's I mention...

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

form my small arsenal, Unique and H4831,
might not be perfect, but will make everything I own go bang

[tengaugetx]

That's easy, I only had two until the shortage. I use Bullseye (until I ran out) and IMR4895.

[Whiterabbit]

IMR4198 and H4895. no brainer. The rest are purpose specific.

[btroj]

IMR4198 and H4895. no brainer. The rest are purpose specific.

Someone doesn't shoot a handgun....

[.30/30 Guy]

IMR4895 and 2400. But I would miss Bullseye.

[Sweetpea]

Someone doesn't shoot a handgun....


C'mon... I can use those in my wheelguns...

I'ts just like using an expensive slingshot!:guntootsmiley::guntootsmiley:

[Magana559]

Titegroup and h4198

Covers everything I shoot

[Rick R]

Unique and Varget

+1 Covers everything from .380 to .458 Lott with those two.

If I could have only one powder I'd choose Unique.

[goodolejim]

1. Black powder
2. Smokeless powder

Now that's thinking outside of the box!!!

[digger44]

Unique and 2400

[JayinAZ]

Unique and 2400 for me.

[Outpost75]

Instead of just fanticizing about it, I have actually been doing it since Zero's first election.

Bullseye and 4064. On the rifle powder would have preferred RL15, but I bought 32 pounds of what I could get of each at the time.

[PS Paul]

Unique and 4350.

[Love Life]

What does it matter? With Doe Run closing there won't be anymore boolits/bullets to shoot.

[Tucker]

Unique and Blue Dot

['74 sharps]

Schuetzen 2F

Trail Boss

[1Shirt]

2400/Unique!
1Shirt!

[Outpost75]

What does it matter? With Doe Run closing there won't be anymore boolits/bullets to shoot.

This is BS. The ammunition industry very seldom uses primary lead. Hasn't since WW2. The great majority is from recycled lead, and with lead wheelweights being phased out, there is lots of recycled lead on the market and demand will drop, prices will stabilize. Lead ore mined in the US can be shipped to Mexico for smelting there at lower cost than if it were done in the US. Sierra, ATK, SAAMI and NSSF say this will have little or no impact.

By spreading all of this defeatist **** you are just feeding the trolls and the hoarders.

[chsparkman]

Green Dot and 2400

[jmort]

"By spreading all of this defeatist **** you are just feeding the trolls and the hoarders."

He was just kidding. "Why so serious?"

[jmort]

"Someone doesn't shoot a handgun...."

Or a shotgun

[Love Life]

Sorry... I was just trying to be helpful. I wasn't sure if everybody had heard that Doe Run was closing.

[Pb2au]

2400 and Unique.

[smokeywolf]

Bullseye is my favorite for 38 SPL and most of the time 45 ACP. But, Unique works in both those and does well in 38-40 and 44-40 rifle. I've even put it behind 505 grn. boolits in a trapdoor with considerable success.
2400 works in every rifle caliber I have.

There you have it; Unique and 2400.

smokeywolf

[762 shooter]

Unique or Universal Clays and other.

What ever the other is I'll find something that shoots it.

762

[aya]

Herco and Vihtavuori N-110.

[colt 357]

Unique and Varget if all else fail homemade black podwer and reload primer with book matches. of course this is with cast boolits

[telebasher]

Goex FFF and FF

[avogunner]

Unique and IMR-4895 for me.

[PS Paul]

What does it matter? With Doe Run closing there won't be anymore boolits/bullets to shoot.

Man, the disturber of poo- again! Ha ha!

[waco]

I guess it would have to be unique and 4895

[Tatume]

WC860 and M9. One is a Winchester ball powder intended for the 50 BMG and the other is a flake powder for the 30 Carbine. If I could have a third it would be IMR4895.

[Jailer]

Unique and 4895.

[dragon813gt]

I can't do just two because I shoot every variety of firearms. The biggest problem is the magnums because they require their own powder for full performance. Same with slow burning rifle powders. If I had to make two work.....I would switch everything over to black powder.

[Bzcraig]

What does it matter? With Doe Run closing there won't be anymore boolits/bullets to shoot.

What's a Doe Run, anything like a dog run? Do you have a good 357 mag load you'd like to share?

[varmint243]

WST and H414

[Menner]

Red Dot and 4895

[Petrol & Powder]

For me it is Unique and IMR4895.

/\ I could live with that but I depending on my pistol/shotgun needs, I might substitute WSF or WW231 for the Unique.

[Petrol & Powder]

Goex FFF and FF

Well there's a path I didn't consider !

[KYCaster]

Two powders???

NO FREEKIN WAY! Out of the question.

Jerry

[waksupi]

A few years ago, The Deacon, DeanD, myself and a few others were sitting around a campfire, and the question came up, if you could only have one gun? The Deacon got a real woebegone look on his face, and said, 'Oh, I could never do THAT!"

[detox]

Bullseye and 2400, but if i had to choose just one it would be Unique...i think?

[geargnasher]

Just two powders? Unique and WC867. With that, one can make anything they need.

Just one gun? SB2 with a 12-gauge barrel, .30-06 barrel, and .22 Hornet barrel.

Gear

[jmort]

I have an SB2 with factory fitted .223 and .308 and 12 gauge, pretty much the same except I'd still go with Unique and Blue Dot
or Unique and 4759

[runfiverun]

there is no possible scenario [except black powder] where I could make 2 powders work for me unless I quit using half of my guns or really,really lowered their range of usefulness.
I could get by with 2 different ones for 12 gauge and revolver use, if I didn't load steel shot, or use my 20 gauge anymore.
I could however get by with one rifle powder if really pressed [imr 4895]

[OBIII]

I'll have to go with Unique/4895. Unique does whatever I want it to in all the pistol calibers I shoot, 9mm - 45 colt, and 4895 works in my rifle calibers, .223 to 30-06. Being as I have a stock of both I am good to go.
OB

[geargnasher]

I have an SB2 with factory fitted .223 and .308 and 12 gauge, pretty much the same except I'd still go with Unique and Blue Dot
or Unique and 4759

I mentioned the "one gun" thing in the context of being able to obtain any common components. If limited to two powders AND one gun, I'd go with Unique and 4895.

Gear

[btroj]

What does it matter? With Doe Run closing there won't be anymore boolits/bullets to shoot.
That is a topic for the "if you could only use one alloy" thread......

[btroj]

One gun? Not even going to discuss something that silly. What's next- who would you pick between Obama and Hillary?

Such silliness

[geargnasher]

Hillary's got no chance. bummer's gonna issue and executive order to suspend the term limits and crown himself king.

Gear

[btroj]

As long as he lets me have more than one gun.......

[303Guy]

Clays and H4350.

Clays for real light loads, H4350 for heavy loads with j-words. Clays under H4350 plus filler for intermediate loads.

[captaint]

If Obummer can get elected twice - then Hillary has a very good chance. Way too good, in my opinion. I find her just scary, period. Oh, and Red Dot and H or IMR 4895. Mike

[oldarkie]

for me it would be red dot and 4895 any flavor,oh by the way I saw a doe run the other day but could not get a shot.

[dragon813gt]

So I guess I need to give 4895 a try. Just went through manuals for what I load, and will most likely in the future, and it works in all of them.

[Harter66]

Well the duckin' aint been worth a coot here in about 3-4 yr so steel shot is of little issue for now.
So Unique and IMR 4350. They're just about all I load anyway.

If any of those election forcasts come to pass...........I'll be expecting y'all in Lexington......

[303Guy]

There seems to be a pattern here. The slowest 'fast pistol powder' seems to be Unique and the slowest rifle powder seems to be 4350. H4895 seems to be the winning rifle powder which is not surprising since it works in a wide range of calibers and can work well with quite low pressure (around 28,000 Cup). Unique can be used wherever the faster powders work. My only favour for Clays is its bulkiness and for H4350 is the full case and best performance in the Brit. H4350 does not produce top performance in the 308 because it produces 303 performance with a compressed charge. That may be better for cast though. I would choose 2400 over Unique or Clays for cast in the 303 Brit but might also go with H4227 or H4198. I might go with W748 for higher velocity cast but H4895 would be a close contender. I chose W748 because it's a ball powder which doesn't peen a naked base cast boolit so much. 2400 is one I need to try since I hear so much in its favour.

[rbuck351]

Actually, this is easy. W231 and H870. If 870 is a little slow, add 231 and reduce 870 until pressure comes up to where you want. If 231 is too fast, add 870 and reduce 231 until it slows it to where you want. You can make it work pretty good for most any cartridge. It may not work quite as well as the perfect powder for your what ever round, but it can be made to work pretty good.

[303Guy]

Now you're talking! That's been my thinking (but didn't know what powders to do it with). I'd think that W231 isn't the only powder one could use?

[Lloyd Smale]

Id just need one and it wouldnt matter which as long as it would push a bullet into my brain because who would want to live in a world with only two powders.

[imashooter2]

Can't be done with my collection. 3 yes, but 2 no.

[dverna]

I avoid stressing my brain when there is little point in thinking this way. I use whatever I need/want for a specific purpose. When it comes to performance, there are enough issues to deal with without compromising on something like powder. Have I used "lesser" powders? Yes!

But I learned from my mistake and buy large quantities of powder when they are available. For example I currently have about 12 jugs (8 lbs. ea.) of Promo (surprised no one less here lists it as it is the same as Red Dot but at a significant savings). It serves for trap loads and will work in pistols and light rifle loads but I still have quite a few jugs of HP38 (W231), Unique, 700x, International Clays - because those powders are "better" than Promo in specific applications.

I do the same with "rifle" powders. I can compromise but choose not to.

Powders will last decades if stored properly. Buy often and buy a lot. You do not lose it, if you do not use it - it can be sold at a profit if you ever need/want to get rid of it.

These "what if's" are good for cabin fever, but are dependent on calibers/gauges used, if you are feeding a semi-auto, and whether for plinking, target, or hunting.

Don Verna

[dondiego]

dverna - I thought that I had a lot of powder! Holy smokes!