Which powder to go with for pistol?

[Bwell]

I found a store around my area that has some powder in stock, they have:

Green Dot
Bullseye
Clay dot
Universal Clay
Accurate #7

I will be loading for 9mm, 40 s&w, and 45 ACP. I want a good all around powder for these rounds, and I was leaning toward the shotgun powder because its not easy to double charge. I was going to go Red Dot but they dont have it in stock.

If you have any more recommendations let me know.

[Bwell]

I forgot to mention that I will most likely be shooting cast boolits.

[fredj338]

If it is Universal, Not Clays, then Univ will give you good results across those calibers. Green Dot is an old sleeper, will also work fine but you won't find much data for it.

[NavyVet1959]

I use a lot of Alliant Promo (it's a Red Dot equivalent, but without the red specks in it) for most of my handgun calibers as a default powder to go to. It's $92.50 for 8-lbs (vs $109.25 for Red Dot) at PowderValley. I suspect that most of the powders that you list can work in those calibers even if they might not be the optimal powder for some of them, but you might have to work up your own loads. Get your reloading manual and create a spreadsheet detailing the cost of the various loads for each of the calibers and powders if your main concern is economics. These days due to the lack of powder availability, we really need to be willing to work up loads for whatever powder we can come across.

Accurate #7 is listed for all of those calibers though.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_1-23-14.pdf

[mrblue]

I'll vote for bullseye. I like it.

[RacingRedGT]

Umm.. I say buy it all. Pistol Powders are like gold right now. Rifle powder isn't too bad to find but around here in Kansas City finding Pistol Powder is like spotting a "Quadracorn"

[ACrowe25]

Vote for BE

[runfiverun]

I'd have sucked it up on the spot and bought them all.
bullseye has been around a looong time, universal clays is super similar to unique, green-dot is a sleeper powder many over-look but works super well in many shot-shell and handgun applications, #7 is down there with unique burn speed, and clay-dot is up there in the red-dot area.

[MtGun44]

Bullseye.

Bill

[oldfart1956]

Bullseye. Meters like sand thru an hourglass in every measure I've ever used. A pound goes a long way! (147gr. lead in 9mm. is 2.8gr. starting load as per Lyman!) Also listed for .40s&w and .45 a.c.p. to. One of my most accurate loading powders. I drove 250 miles roundtrip last weekend to score a pound. (sigh..) Picked up another 1911 and $300 worth of primers and other powder just to make it worthwhile. :) Audie...the Oldfart..

[TCLouis]

Of that listing, Bullseye.

Promo in the big ol jug from Powder Valley does a lot for me, rifle and pistola.

[RobS]

Universal Clays would work better for the 9mm and 40 S&W than the other quicker powders. My vote would be for Universal Clays especially if you are planning on shooting 230 grain boolits from the 45 auto.

[Bullwolf]

For the calibers you mentioned I would have grabbed Bullseye. It will work well in all 3 calibers, and as others mentioned it meters easily and is an economical powder choice. (A little Bullseye will go a long way)

I would have been hard pressed to leave without grabbing the Green Dot as well since I never seem to find it in stock anymore.




- Bullwolf

[C. Latch]

I'd have sucked it up on the spot and bought them all.

+1. Trade other shooters for stuff you don't need.

[MtGun44]

No such powder as "Universal Clays" currently made and distributed - there is "Universal".

Bill

[pastor]

i always used clays but it is unavailable in my area, i was getting low on powder and went to my local gun supply shop, they had very little powder but they did have some #7 i bought 2 pounds and i have had very good results with it, in fact i might not go back to clays

[smokeywolf]

Another vote for Bullseye.

smokeywolf

[bobthenailer]

Although i dont reload for the 40s&w, for the 9mm & 45 acp, bullseye or tightgroup powder would be my picks ! although i usually get my absulate best accuracy in the 9mm & 38 super with WSF, power pistol & HS-6 powders with cast boolets.

Bullseye and Tightgroup powders are my go to powders in 357 mag , 44mag, 45 lc & 454 casull for loads up to 1,100 fps with cast boolets

[winelover]

I've had good luck with AA#7 in 9mm and cast. Bulleye is also a great cast powder but there is a chance for double charging. That's why I prefer Unique.

Winelover

[johnc486]

Talk about fortunate, you are, just having ANY powder available locally is great. My picks (what I load):
1. 45 ACP-Bullseye
2. 9MM & 40 S & W- Universal
3. 38SP. - HS6

If I could only have 1 it would be Bullseye for sure.

[EMC45]

I would say Bullseye and Green Dot, with Bullseye getting the nod due to metering little better. Both are good powders.

[WallyM3]

Bullseye, though they're all nice to have in your armory.

[Bwell]

I will be using a Lee Loadmaster for loading, I dont really think double charge will be a problem, but more or less getting an accurate charge. I sure hope he still has the bullseye when I get there tomorrow.

[Walter Laich]

I used Bulls Eye forever in all my pistol and shotgun loads. A bit dirty but hey, small problem as far as I'm concerned.
Also like Red Dot but notice that wasn't one of the choices

[Shiloh]

Too bad Unique isn't in the selection. From what you have to pick from, I'd go to Bullseye. It is my preference for .45 ACP/

shiloh

[novalty]

Another vote for Bullseye.

[woodbutcher]

:grin: Way back when,I used to load a swaged158gr HBWC with 2.5grns of 231 Winchester ball powder.Very good results.
"Accidently":wink:loaded about 200 of them backwards.
Made a real good small game load.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Bwell]

Well, when I got there they were out of Universal, Bullseye

[Bwell]

Well, when I got there they were out of Universal, Bullseye, and Clay Dot.

I ended up getting 2 lbs of 700-X and alb of Accurate #7.

Anyone ever used 700-X and like it? I knew I should have gone the day I called…

[C. Latch]

Anyone ever used 700-X and like it?


I use it in .45 ACP and have loaded a very few .45 Colt with it. It is a very efficient powder for .45 ACP. It will get a 230-grain lead bullet to nominal .45 ACP 'factory ammo' velocity with about as little powder as any powder I know of.

[1Shirt]

Bullseye!
1Shirt!

[Bwell]

Anyone use 700-x for 40 s&w?