If you could have only one powder?

[davidheart]

As the title suggests. This thread is simply for giggles.

If you, for whatever reason could have only ONE powder, what would it be?

There is no limit to the amount of said powder you may have and no limit to caliber and bullet selection... but imagine this powder to you would be the only powder in existence.

What would you choose and why? I've included some of the most popular powders in the poll, but feel free to click "other" and list your reasons!

I've made a similar poll on cartridge choice: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?304491-If-you-could-have-only-one-caliber-what-would-it-be

[Ural Driver]

TiteGroup.........I am still gathering supplies to begin reloading..........my novice research shows it works well in .45 Colt and my 45/70..................and because it is the only one I have so far.......:idea:

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Unique.
the all around castboolit powder.

[runfiverun]

unique is a touch too slow for some of my uses.
Green-dot is more like what I'd need. [I shoot/load shotgun pistol and rifle]

[Lead Fred]

Unique
45ACP & 45/70
Dont need nuttin else

[smokeywolf]

IMHO, 2400 is the obvious choice. Good down to 218 bee and up to 45-70. Particularly good in necked 30 caliber cartridges.

[jmort]

For shotgun, handgun, and rifle it is hard to beat Unique. Red Dot could cover it all as well.

[wmaximusd]

Gold Bond...works with athletes foot and also with jock itch or just annoying chub rub or monkey butt.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

I would suggest that you have confused gun powder with powder coating.

I prefer baby powder myself...

[TXGunNut]

Gold Bond and baby powders seem to use the same active ingredient: talc. The only universal powder I use is Gold Bond. For propellants in the cartridges I shoot it's a tossup between Unique and FFg and neither is a good answer. There was a time when one powder sufficed and even then it was offered in several different granulations. We're way past that now.

[Hickory]

Unique can do it all, rifle, pistol, shotgun.

[jonp]

I vacillated between Red Dot and Unique but Unique wins the one powder race. All you have to do is pick up a manual and see how many times it pops up as I did when I started reloading on a real small budget so it was one of the first powders I bought

[Outpost75]

I see from the powder choices that almost nobody appears to be using a progressive machine like a Star, or a Dillon, which rule out a particle size like Unique. That is why I chose Bullseye. I use it to assemble cast bullet loads in everything from the .32 ACP to the .375 H&H and the larger pistol calibers like .44-40, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. While it is not the powder of choice for full charge loads in the larger calibers, you can safely equal the velocities and energies of blackpowder rounds such .32-40 (most .30 cal. rifles), .38-55 (in the .375 H&H), .44-40 (medium velocity .44 Magnum <1100 fps) and .45 Colt in typical hunting rifle and revolver calibers, which I find quite adequate for the majority of my hunting and shooting.

[StrawHat]

I guess it depends on what cartridges you reload. I load for a 50-70, the 45 long Colt, a 45-70, 44 Colt, 38 Special and a few other similar cartridges. For those and the shotguns, I can certainly use only black powder.

Even the 45 ACP can be loaded with black, but I prefer something with a bit more oomph.

If black powder is out, it would be Unique or Bullseye.

Kevin

[tazman]

CFE Pistol----- It works in all my cartridges.

[OS OK]

165868
Hodgdon Hi-Skor 700-X
​It'll meter just fine, go a little further per pound and I won't have a fit over it….otherwise I'd vote Unique.

[Pine Baron]

Tough choice between Red Dot and Unique. Both good for pistol and shotgun. Have to go with Red Dot, though, that's what I have the most experience with. Wait, I change my vote to FFFG (what was I thinking?)

[472x1B/A]

Unique.
the all around castboolit powder.

I agree.

[mozeppa]

Gold Bond and baby powders seem to use the same active ingredient: talc. The only universal powder I use is Gold Bond. For propellants in the cartridges I shoot it's a tossup between Unique and FFg and neither is a good answer. There was a time when one powder sufficed and even then it was offered in several different granulations. We're way past that now.

so... when you shoot rabbits and squirrels , do they smell baby soft when cooked?:bigsmyl2:

[C. Latch]

If I couldn't have but one powder I guess I'd have to rely on factory ammo for rifles and have one medium-slow pistol powder that would work for 9mm, 45ACP and 45 Colt. I'd say 800-x but I'd want something that would meter well, so maybe herco or blue dot or something in that realm.

I'm itching to build a centerfire rifle in a wildcat caliber, and if that happens I'd have to give up pistol reloading and keep H1000 or something similar as my one powder.

[GhostHawk]

I went through exactly this choice some 2.5 to 3 years back.
Powder was scarse, hard to find anything other than slow rifle powder.

I did not expect one choice to be the best at everything. But it had to be able to function in every caliber I load for. When the time came to choose Unique, bullseye, etc were not to be found at all. I was able to get quantities of Red Dot at 3 times in the last year.

It works well in my pistols, from 7.62x25 to .45 acp. Shotguns are a slam dunk.
And I quickly found that as long as I did not expect it to cycle the action of semi auto rifles. That it would work just fine for light loads. Now mind that a light load of 13 grains of Red Dot behind a 310 grain gas check bullet in a .444 is nothing to mess with.

My favorite load seems to have settled in at 4.6 grains. It seems to work in everything. .223, .300BO, .357 mag, 7.62x39.

Sitting on a nice big pile of Red Dot, with lots of primers in the box has me sleeping really well at night.
I am as ready as I can be for whatever comes.

[ascast]

Unique - proven as stated above repeatedly. However, I reserve to option to change if somebody tosses out good data to make a Garrand cycle properly. I know the FN49 is much more versatile.
Also, a 3/4 vote for talcum powder.

[BUCKEYE BANDIT]

Thanks alot Joshua,couldn't sleep at all last night trying to decide. Unique (just hope the Garand doesn't mind a little straight pull work)[smilie=s:[smilie=s:[smilie=s:.

[davidheart]

So far Unique is the clear winner. It's funny to me because I've never even seen a pound of it on the shelves and I've never tried it out. Bullseye is the only thing close I've been able to get my hands on and I can use it in almost any caliber. :D

[tdoyka]

i really like rel7(444 marlin, 30-40 krag, 45-70) in rifles.
i want unique for my pistol, 44 mag.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

2400 for me

[rking22]

Alliant 20-28 , burns like Unique and meters like Bullseye! Great in the 20 and 28ga and usable in anything Unique is (so far). 10 grains gives about 1250 in my 375Win with a Lee 250 and puts them touching at 50 yards. That would be my "big gun" and 4.5gr does small game in the 32-20. Starting to test in he 45ACP shortly. Would really miss 296 for my 410s thou :(

I voted Unique cause I have a bunch and haven't finished working up loads in everything else :)

[BigMagShooter]

unique

[sandman228]

Its a toss up between red dot and unique for me

[shoot-n-lead]

Bullseye...no contest as it works well with most of my cartridges.

[TCFAN]

Bullseye is my number 1 favorite powder. For me it will work good in everything I load for.Maybe not the best but usable and very low cost per shot.
If I could have 3 choices it would be Bullseye first and Unique second and 2400 third......Terry

[maxreloader]

Unique then Bullseye then 2400 for me.

[therealhitman]

700X would be my choice.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Unique seems to have the broadest range of application as some of the faster stuff isn't really the best for larger cartridges. LLS

[runfiverun]

the toss up between red-dot and unique many have teetered between is why I settled for green-dot.
it's between red-dot and unique.
it meters well in the Dillon and will load both 12 and 20 gauge.
it works well at lower amounts for rifle loads without gas checks and fills the case enough to push gas checked boolits to 1800 fps without too much trouble.
it also will push 44 mag and 45 colt loads to reasonable enough velocity's to be effective hunting tools, and still is fast enough to work in the smaller 9m type cases.

[Standing Bear]

Goex real BP. Most of my shooting is w a flintlock and .22. CF pistols get Clays. CF rifles get IMR4895. Uh, wait that's 3. .Oh well.

[robg]

2400 gets my vote.

[KYCaster]

I can't even imagine life with only one powder.....wouldn't be worth livin'.

....So, I suppose any ol' powder will work for that one last ditch round you're saving for yourself!

Jerry

[fast ronnie]

4895 for most, unique for some. 700x for shotgun

[yancey]

I have other powders i like better than Unique. If i could have only one powder , Unique would be the powder for me.

[Tracy]

2400, hands down. If I could have a second powder, either Bullseye, Red Dot or 700x would suffice.

Why 2400? Because I can load everything reasonably well with it. .357 and .44 Mag, .45 Colt, and it's the only powder I use in .45/70. I've loaded 12 guage with it, and it works well. 16 and 20, even better. For .410 it's perfect. Works well in .38 Special and .32 SWL; also .32/20. Very, very good in .30-30, reasonable in .308 and even .30-06. Very good in .223 too, and I can even tune an AR-15 to function with it.

[Clay M]

I guess for only one powder Unique would be hard to beat, but for rifles only I like H4895.
Just picked up another 8 pounder.
I can use it in my .22 PPC or my .405 win.

[Kevin Rohrer]

Silly to mix rifle and pistols powders in one poll.

[Bullwolf]

It would be a tough choice for me between Red Dot, and Unique.

Maybe runfiverun is onto something using Green Dot and splitting the difference.

I'm just more familiar with Red Dot & Unique in Shotgun and Pistol. Could likely download most Rifles using either powder.


- Bullwolf

[Clay M]

Silly to mix rifle and pistols powders in one poll.

I chose H 4895 because for handguns I would choose the .22LR

[roysha]

I voted other. For me it is BL-C2, (or it's surplus equivalent 844-846) with Unique second.

[koehlerrk]

I voted for other... Give me piles and piles of Schutzen FFFg. Will work just fine in pistols, rifles, and shotguns. And it smells good!

[irishtoo]

i stock two powders......goex 3f and unique. if i had to chose one......goex 3f. it will do all i require. irishtoo

[Chill Wills]

I'd have to pick the most versatile one, FF Swiss.
It could handle everything I need to do for the rest of my life.


In fact, you said in unlimited amounts!

Where do I sign up?

Michael Rix

[Blackwater]

These are always interesting questions, but hopefully, will remain just theoretical ones. I picked Unique because it's the best powder I could think of to load 12 ga., cast bullets in rifles and most any handgun available. This leaves out longer ranged j-bullet rifle loads, but if I could only have one powder, that kind'a implies that I'd also be dealing with closer in threats, and for that, cast in rifles will suffice pretty well, as it also would for hunting in most situations. I just shrugged, and picked Unique, but I'd be VERY unhappy if I couldn't get quite a few more.

[PaulG67]

Red Dot,

[jonp]

the toss up between red-dot and unique many have teetered between is why I settled for green-dot.
it's between red-dot and unique.
it meters well in the Dillon and will load both 12 and 20 gauge.
it works well at lower amounts for rifle loads without gas checks and fills the case enough to push gas checked boolits to 1800 fps without too much trouble.
it also will push 44 mag and 45 colt loads to reasonable enough velocity's to be effective hunting tools, and still is fast enough to work in the smaller 9m type cases.

When I first joined I'm pretty sure I posted a poll similar to this one due to the shortage and mentioned I ran across lb's and lb's of Green Dot at Green Top in Richmond, VA but had never used green dot. I was thinking of long term and the best all around powders to have on hand to handle the majority of shooting over a broad range of calibers and keep that in stock. Not the best in everything but would work in about everything in a pinch. I think most voted for unique. I know i settled on unique and promo and have, err..., some on hand. As for rifle I settled on 3031 or 4064. Best powders for all around to have on hand I thought.

[Budzilla 19]

One word: Herco. Since I "discovered" it's uses in pistol rounds, and shotshells, guess I'd have to say I like it and it will work for about everything I load. Just my.02.

[Mal Paso]

I voted for Other. Unique meters like Drain Rock! Other works well in a lot more cartridges and is more consistent in powder measures. I use Other more than all the listed powders combined.

[bangerjim]

Other.

And ETR7 is it! I use it for everything pistol/subsonic these days.

[OldManMontgomery]

Other. Power Pistol to be precise. Power Pistol is very similar to Unique; just a touch slower. I do load it in everything I have in the 'handgun size' cartridge category. (Which includes .22 Hornet and .32-20.) I have no doubt it would serve in the rifles - mostly manually operated - at reduced velocities. (Probably not the .22-250 as much as the .308, but, we're compromising.)

If allowed, my 'other' powder would be H-4895. That will do a fair - at least - job with most stuff from .22-250 to .35 Whelen. But it can't be the 'only' as I have too many handguns.

Only one powder? I'm still not giggling.

[flint45]

Only one powder! I would go crazy.Sorry

[Shawlerbrook]

I chose Varget for the levergun rifle calibers I load.

[OnHoPr]

These as the OP stated these are really Daaahhhh polls, but I guess it is typing fodder at the coffee shop. Basically, it really doesn't matter unless you are shooting paper or targets on one hand or game on the other. Then a finer point may arise. Generally most all of the shotgun powders will suffice in the tasks of pushing projectiles through barrels of hand or shoulder weapons. You will get more shots for paper or targets with the faster powders. On the other hand you will get more velocity and heavier payloads with the slower powders. So, if you are more into busting more clays, shooting paper, and cans the faster powder would be more economical. Titewad is going to the be the extreme fast powders. Not really a good choice if you sorta have to shoot a bigger game animal. Green Dot and faster for the fast powder. If you needed to fill the freezer for the next 10 or 15 years the slower powder will probably have an edge. Herco, 800x and slower would give you better payloads and velocity. Steel would be getting on the side of maybe to slow to bust a few clays and for the little auto handguns. I guess that is why Unique has always come into to play as the top choice for this question. I will say that I have more Green Dot than any other powder though. I did have a bunch of Steel as well, but the 30-30 and 12 ga kinda consume it.

[Hick]

Anything fast! (Unique or Bullseye would be fine, although I use lots of 700X because I can get it for a good price). I can put a fast powder in my rifles and pistol, but its hard to put slow powders in my pistol.

[marlin39a]

I went with Red Dot. Would keep them all running.

[garym1a2]

I am a bullseye fan. When powder was tight I could find BE and keep my 9mm, 40 and 45 Glocks fed. Great powder for paper punching.

[abqcaster]

I'd have to say 800X its cheap and very versatile. I have found manufacturer's data for it in all but one the calibers I shoot.

[bullseye67]

Everything "Outpost75" said.....Bullseye is a do it all powder and very frugal charges.....

[Tracy]

I am a bullseye fan. When powder was tight I could find BE and keep my 9mm, 40 and 45 Glocks fed. Great powder for paper punching.

I like Bullseye too, but I couldn't find it when powder was tight, and still can't find it locally. I haven't seen any Alliant pistol/shotgun powder locally in a few years, except BE-86 and occasionally Promo.

[Bazoo]

Unique vote here.

[Whiterabbit]

I could probably figure out all my loading with F BP (I will turn it into FF and FFF and FFFF as needed), I selected Other for probably 4198. I think I could do all with 4198. I'd have to think about it. Otherwise, H4350. That covers all rifle, then I just have to figure out what cartridge lets me use H4350 in pistol AND lets me shoot at the indoor range.

[CHeatermk3]

Only one? 2400

[izzyjoe]

Red dot would do for me, rifle, shotgun ,and pistol!

[Whiterabbit]

OK, this thread has me now thinking.

H4350. Can anyone name me ONE cartridge chambered for a pistol (revolver or semi auto, contender or bolt action does NOT count!) that thrives with H4350 in some sort of variant?

I think H4198 is as close as you can get in a long frame BFR (tried H4895, no go) with a few cartridges.

Anyone know otherwise? 450 marlin BFR with a custom 12-15" barrel maybe?

[sharps4590]

It's certain there is several powders which would work and work admirably. Obviously some will not be the most efficient in some cartridges, perhaps a lot of cartridges but that was not the question. Ffg would work for me but I chose Unique. Red Dot, 2400 and others would no doubt do as well but I have the most experience with Unique in handgun, rifle and shotgun and an adequate supply on hand.

[Bigslug]

OK. . .we all know that these "If you could only have one____" threads tend to get silly. Four pages of posts about "If you could only have one powder", and not a single joke about products from the mountains of Columbia? I'm disappointed in you guys.:kidding:

My range includes big cartridge cases that will hold about half dozen of some of my little cartridge cases. Some of the big ones normally use charges that weigh as much as the entire cartridge for the little ones. One gunpowder for all things cast?? To quote Marlon Brando; "THE HORROR! THE HORROR!":shock:

I dunno. . .Outpost75 seems to be having good luck with 2400 in the .32ACP of all things, and I know it works in a .30-06.

2400 then?

[Whiterabbit]

I'm still interested in how I can make H4350 work in any pistol besides a contender or XP-100

[adrians]

Other.
I stocked up on 4759 but when it's gone Red Dot is it.

[JSnover]

OK. . .we all know that these "If you could only have one____" threads tend to get silly. Four pages of posts about "If you could only have one powder", and not a single joke about products from the mountains of Columbia? I'm disappointed in you guys.:kidding:


2400 then?

If I could have only one it would probably be Unique or 2400. I'd hide all the others and pretend I only had one.

[runfiverun]

I know you can stuff a 45 colt or 44 mag case full of 4895 and it works.
IMO 4350 would be pushing things too far for the smaller cases, and many of the big ones like the 45-70 too.
going faster than the 4895 would only improve things in the revolver rounds.
I have used AA-2230 in the 357 maximum and know it works in the 375 Winchester too, 4350 might work in some of those types of cases.
I know 4831 will do fairly well in the 30-30.
speeding up to the 4350 range would be a step forward and could do okay in the contender type pistols.

[Whiterabbit]

that's strange. I have never had luck with 4895 in a 460S&W case, and that's MUCH more like a 45/70 than a 45 colt. Had no idea you could get away with it in a colt case. Color me surprised.

So basically the revolver has to have the largest possible case and smallest possible bullet for 4350 to work. So we are talking like 30-30 BFR, here.

[Kestrel4k]

Am a relative newcomer here, but Red Dot is absolutely my #1 choice.
Although I can certainly understand the votes for 2400.

[Shiloh]

Gotta go with Unique.
Shotgun, pistol, cast boolits powder.

Shiloh

[Reverend Al]

If I could only have ONE powder? Seriously? You are a cruel, CRUEL man!

:not listening:

[Gaseous Maximus]

Unique, handguns, shotguns, rifles.

[Iowa Fox]

Viewing the poll results its easy to see why Unique has been out of stock for a while.

[ejcrist]

Very tough question. I answered "other" because I'd have to go with 2400 if I had to choose just one. Unique is right up there as a close second though since it works well in everything. That's a tough choice.

[GhostHawk]

Lots of Unique lovers, as for me, still love my Red Dot.

[MT Gianni]

If I could only have one powder I would only have one rifle.

[singleshot]

I went with red dot...my pistols and shotguns take priority, but I struggled between that and unique. It's easier to load subsonic suppressed rifle with red dot so I went with that.

[needausername]

I chose 'other' because 2400 was not listed. I had to do a double take though since we're on a cast bullet forum and there was no 2400 or 4227 listed. I like Unique too, but it's the Subaru Brat of powders for me. It'll do everything.... half way.

[GhostHawk]

Scored my first 8 lb jug of Promo last night at BPI. 121$ plus 30$ hazmat. 19$ a pound even with the hazmat. Grin

Puts me up in the mid 20 lbs of Red Dot and Promo.

Call me one happy camper!

[robg]

Can 2400 be added to the list to see the real winner?

[jonp]

I chose 'other' because 2400 was not listed. I had to do a double take though since we're on a cast bullet forum and there was no 2400 or 4227 listed. I like Unique too, but it's the Subaru Brat of powders for me. It'll do everything.... half way.

which is exactly the point. It can do about everything in a pinch whereas, say, H110 will leave you high and dry for a bunch of stuff.

[tstowater]

I want 2 powders: H4895 and Red Dot or Unique to cover most of the bases. I had a couple others to add, but that's outside the question posed. I shoot too much rifle to allow a handgun/shotgun powder to control.

[Duckiller]

If I could only have one powder I would give up reloading and just shoot factory ammo. Would shoot less but wouldn't do funny reloads.

[mold maker]

The premises of the question is an answeri its self. If you could get only one powder you would have no choice. If there is a could have a choice you wouldn't be limited to one.
If you had no choice it would behove you to learn to share and cooperate in order to fill your needs.
There is always a way although sometimes it takes an unfamiliar twist.

[GhostHawk]

I have over 20 lbs of Red Dot/Promo now. 3 lbs of IMR 4895. I only have one auto that won't function on Red Dot. Yugo SKS. Mostly because the Red Dot works well in most rifle calibers at around the 4.5 grains area. Yeah they are slower, just means you need to know what that load will do in your rifle. At 8-12 cents a shot I can afford to burn the ammo to gain that experience. With a couple of exceptions most rifle rounds are pushing hard on the 20$ a box of 20 or a dollar a shot. Gaining experience with those costs ya plenty.

Getting into shotgun reloading now, yeah more Red Dot loads.

YMMV

[Texas by God]

I voted for Uniquely unique Unique. Rifle shotgun handgun and simulates the bump up effect on a bullet base like blackpowder. Nine #s at my house! Best, Thomas.

[Geezer in NH]

Goex FFFG

[Oleman]

One powder is never going to happen just like one gun is never going to happen in this house.

[mdell49]

Bullseye...no contest as it works well with most of my cartridges.
The Holy Trinity:lol:

[fatelvis]

I just used my RCBS Uniflow for the first time in about 10 years throwing 8.5grns Unique for my 44 mag. I was a bit apprehensive about straying from my Chargemaster, given everyone talks about how crappy Unique meters. It was smooth flowing, and at most, (even with my inexperienced measure handling) varied .1 grn on either side of my 8.5 target weight. Good enough for me!

[copdills]

red dot

[pcmacd]

I'D HAVE TO HAVE FOUR (which is the minimum I could get by with...)

One for handguns: Scott 1000. It works for almost anything and leaves little residue behind. Accurate #5 or #7 (seven! yes!) would be second choice here.

One for raffles (that's what they shoot a skirrel w/in Kentucky): Varget. It's versatile, but not great for MAGNUM loads. H or IMR 4895 would either be a close second or turd.

~~~~~~~~~~~
If I got a turd, it would be either 2400 or W296/H110 for magnum handgun loads. Accurate #9 might be OK, too.

And for laaaarge cap raffles: H4831 or / H1000. H4831 would be preferred; it is most versatile in more loads, and will work with the huge magnums, albeit at a lesser velocity.

~~~~~~~~~~~
So you got my vote for TWO, and my vote for FOUR (which is the MINIMUM I would rather work with!)

Nice thread.

mac

[Landy]

Either 4831.
I just started loading handguns, so in extremis I could give it up.
In about x57mm capacity and up cases it can reach full power with select bullet weights; and in smaller cases a full case is still a useful, if powder hungry, reduced load.

[NoAngel]

I think I would have to have 3031
It's what I load my .358 Winchester with which happens to be the greatest most accurate cast bullet load "I" have ever assembled. I also enjoy shooting the gun and 3031 will feed every other rifle I own.
If it's only ONE powder, I'd kiss my pistols goodbye in favor of a solid rifle.

[GrocMax]

I'm a varminter, and all my calibers work well with WC844- 20 Prac, 223AI, 6x45, 6TCU, 6BR.
2nd choice would be Accurate 2200.

[shootsblanks]

well, considering I only reload for my 3030, and i don't have any of those on my shelf.. other,
power pistol works for me (I got lucky with this powder, my wife just bought the big jug of gunpowder at the gun store as a surprise and it worked out!)

I don't have a chrony but another members quick load calculations say I can safely go as fast as 1714fps with my 177gr flat nose, and that gives me ok hunting accuracy (5 shots 3.5 moa) for deer and is still travelling (according to hornady) over 1400fps at my 125 yard zero and is only 2.3" high at 75, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer at 125 or a bear at 100.
3 grains pushes a round ball at I don't know how fast, but the partridge around here don't seem to like it very much.
and 7 grains gives me a nice soft target load that hits bang on at 50, it groups better than my hunting load at about 2moa, does not lead with my pb 160rn, and the tin cans hate it.

[Landy]

well, considering I only reload for my 3030, and i don't have any of those on my shelf.. other,
power pistol works for me (I got lucky with this powder, my wife just bought the big jug of gunpowder at the gun store as a surprise and it worked out!)

I don't have a chrony but another members quick load calculations say I can safely go as fast as 1714fps with my 177gr flat nose, and that gives me ok hunting accuracy (5 shots 3.5 moa) for deer and is still travelling (according to hornady) over 1400fps at my 125 yard zero and is only 2.3" high at 75, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer at 125 or a bear at 100.
3 grains pushes a round ball at I don't know how fast, but the partridge around here don't seem to like it very much.
and 7 grains gives me a nice soft target load that hits bang on at 50, it groups better than my hunting load at about 2moa, does not lead with my pb 160rn, and the tin cans hate it.

Good work.

That's real versatility out of one cartridge and one powder.

[shootsblanks]

Good work.

That's real versatility out of one cartridge and one powder.

thanks! like I said it was all luck, my wife knew I wanted gunpowder for my birthday but she didn't know what kind, so she bought the big jug haha.

[Budzilla 19]

Might better hang on to both of them! Wife and powder. Hahaha! Gotta love a woman who will buy gunpowder! You got it covered well.

[Papa smurf]

Unique

[Soundguy]

I almost said imr 4064, but varget mostly covers that.

Hard to find one powder to cover long, short and smooth.

Titegroup, if I get to choose the guns I guess, otherwise trailboss. Reload just about anything ling or short.

[colchester]

H 4350 has become my new favorite

[Camba]

Blue Dot for me.
I can reload pistol, shotgun, and rifle.

[oldblinddog]

Varget: I can make both cast and match loads in .308 Win. (but there is no way I'm going to settle for one powder: SR4759, Unique, RL17 and Bullseye are all required as well).


somebody wake up Hodgdon and tell them to make some 4759!

[308Jeff]

I vacillated between Red Dot and Unique but Unique wins the one powder race. All you have to do is pick up a manual and see how many times it pops up as I did when I started reloading on a real small budget so it was one of the first powders I bought

Agreed. It runs 100% spot on in my Hornady LNL AP's too.

[paul h]

I've used Unique in every handgun round I've loaded from 9 mm to 480 and in rifles all the way up to 500 Jeffrey. I can't think of a powder that will work as well in so many different chamberings, and it produces exceptional accuracy when you find the sweet spot for a given chambering.

[Kosh75287]

Shotgun, Pistol & Revolver: Alliant Unique, Alliant Herco, or AA#5, in that order. Rifle: H4895, IMR-4064, or Varget, also in that order.

If logistics allowed, the triad of Bull's Eye (or Red Dot), Unique, and 2400 would cover any foreseeable need for pistol propellants, plus a few things in rifle cartridges. For Rifles, IMR-4227 (which could also take the place of Alliant 2400, if need be), and any of the previous rifle powders I mentioned would cover all needs in my armamentum.

Someone also mentioned IMR-3031, which I like PLENTY well! I just have trouble getting it to meter to my satisfaction, so I end up trickle-charging it.

[texasnative46]

JonB in Glencoe,

AGREED 100%. = The famous "The Load" by C.E. Harris is just one suggestion for a perfectly serviceable hunting load for most cartridges which have a capacity equal to or greater than .300 Savage & that can be loaded with Unique.

just my OPINION, tex

[lawboy]

Unique. I would then buy factory ammo for stuff like .223 and .308.
Unique would get be by for handguns (45acp, 40 s&w, 44 Mag., 45 Colt, 9mm, 38spl., 357 mag.) and large bore straight wall cases such as 45-70. I could also run mild loads in 300 AAC Blackout and maybe even 7.62x39. Lots of compromises, but I could still shoot a lot of what I own today.

[GhostHawk]

Let me put it this way.

Since reading about Harris's "the Load" and finding out that fast powders like Red Dot could be used across shotguns, rifles, pistols. I started looking for load data for every single caliber I had.

And I started buying Red Dot. That was 3 years ago.

After getting my latest 8 lb jug of Red Dot that puts my stash up to 23 lbs of Red Dot and 8 of Promo which is getting used in shotguns.

I have yet to find a rifle caliber with which a simple effective load with Red Dot can not be found which is both safe, effective, and thrifty.

For lower powered loads, from .223 to .357 mag 4.6 grains is my first choice. I do not know why, but this load is accurate in everything in which I have tried it.

In .357 mag at 50 yards it put 3 boolits in one ragged hole. Not a cloverleaf, tighter than that.

In the Mosin Nagant I like 10-13 grains behind the Lee .312 beagled or leemented out to .314 gas checked and sized to .314 lubed with BLL.

In the .444 Marlin I use the .430 310 gr wide meplat round nose gas checked over 13 grains of Red Dot.

No chrony so strickly WAG but I would say 1500 -1650 speed wise.
I suspect these would go lengthwise through any critter on North America.

Whats more the 4.6 grains load costs me about 1.6 cents per shot including shipping and hazmat.
And it will make a LOT of shots for a pound. Over 1500 in fact. Thats thrifty.

I use Red Dot in my pistols, from little 7.62x25 to .45 acp, lots of 9mm from 3 grains to blue whistlers over 4.5 grains in my Hipoint Carbine.

It runs everything. One powder yeah, I live it. I do use a little bit of IMR 4895 now and then for my Yugo SKS.

Red Dot works in it also, but it turns it into a Yugo version of a K-31 swiss straight pull bolt.

You do have to take extra precautions to guard against double charges. Fact of life, be careful or pay the price.

[copdills]

unique has always been my favorite powder

[jonp]

Let me put it this way.

Since reading about Harris's "the Load" and finding out that fast powders like Red Dot could be used across shotguns, rifles, pistols. I started looking for load data for every single caliber I had.

And I started buying Red Dot. That was 3 years ago.

After getting my latest 8 lb jug of Red Dot that puts my stash up to 23 lbs of Red Dot and 8 of Promo which is getting used in shotguns.

I have yet to find a rifle caliber with which a simple effective load with Red Dot can not be found which is both safe, effective, and thrifty.

For lower powered loads, from .223 to .357 mag 4.6 grains is my first choice. I do not know why, but this load is accurate in everything in which I have tried it.

In .357 mag at 50 yards it put 3 boolits in one ragged hole. Not a cloverleaf, tighter than that.

In the Mosin Nagant I like 10-13 grains behind the Lee .312 beagled or leemented out to .314 gas checked and sized to .314 lubed with BLL.

In the .444 Marlin I use the .430 310 gr wide meplat round nose gas checked over 13 grains of Red Dot.

No chrony so strickly WAG but I would say 1500 -1650 speed wise.
I suspect these would go lengthwise through any critter on North America.

Whats more the 4.6 grains load costs me about 1.6 cents per shot including shipping and hazmat.
And it will make a LOT of shots for a pound. Over 1500 in fact. Thats thrifty.

I use Red Dot in my pistols, from little 7.62x25 to .45 acp, lots of 9mm from 3 grains to blue whistlers over 4.5 grains in my Hipoint Carbine.

It runs everything. One powder yeah, I live it. I do use a little bit of IMR 4895 now and then for my Yugo SKS.

Red Dot works in it also, but it turns it into a Yugo version of a K-31 swiss straight pull bolt.

You do have to take extra precautions to guard against double charges. Fact of life, be careful or pay the price.

I've got 4 8lb jugs of Promo on my shelf because of what you just described. That and the Unique I have loads everything I load if I want it too

[fiberoptik]

Easy!! Swiss BP! =8:^)
Covers squirrel guns to gages to 50-140's! Keeps my .50's happy [emoji4]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TES]

smp 735/rifle or smp 350/pistol

[GhostHawk]

I've got 4 8lb jugs of Promo on my shelf because of what you just described. That and the Unique I have loads everything I load if I want it too

It may not be the best powder at every job. But it does work with every caliber I have tried it in.
And it has surprised me some times on just how accurate a slower load can be some times.

I think if you have a lot of semi-auto's it might be a tougher sell.

[rosewood]

Unique if only one powder. I just bought my first lb a few months back and have used it in 45-70 and 45 colt. I only recently realized how versatile it is. I have to say though, Unique is hard to find around here.

If I could have only 1 rifle powder, I would go for RL15. So far, I have used it in everything from .223 to 30-06 with good results.

Rosewood

[mdi]

I just scanned the posts so far, didn't read them all. But if I had to use just one powder I might get some Fg black powder. For some uses I would grind Fg up a bit finer to mebbe FFg or for some handgun use FFFg...

[adam_mac84]

watching answers here... id like to find an emergency pistol/rifle powder

[cjensen]

Swiss black. Since only 1, I would have to say 2 F. Better would be 1 1/2 & 3 F. I could do just fine with this.

[sparkyv]

Varget.

Shoots very well in all my rifle calibers, 223Rem to 308Win. And in this theoretical world, I'd give up my handguns. If I could also keep my handguns, then I pick Universal to keep them fed.

But it sounds like I need to try Unique.

[oldblinddog]

watching answers here... id like to find an emergency pistol/rifle powder

That would be Unique. It is a rifle powder that also works well in pistol and shotgun applications.

[Kosh75287]

That would be Unique. It is a rifle powder that also works well in pistol and shotgun applications. I'm not sure I believe that Unique started as a rifle powder, unless it's for use in carbines chambered for pistol rounds. Perhaps this was offered as a wry jest, the beginnings of which, I am not aware.

I would have ZERO trouble believing Unique started life as a shotgun powder found to have great versatility in pistol rounds, or the converse. Unique appears to have great versatility for powering sub-par-performance cast bullet loads in almost ANY small or medium capacity rifle rounds, and some large capacity black-powder rifle calibers. Trying to get jacketed-bullet velocities with Unique and cast bullets sounds like an engraved invitation to disaster.

I have 6-7 pounds of alliant promo with which I can reload all pistol calibers (except 7.62x25, for which I don't even have dies), and get max or near-max performance. I have a little bit of Unique & Herco + a pound of BE-86, for medium-serious rounds in my .357 and .45 Colt. I also have a half-pound or more of Alliant 2400 + some IMR4227, if they need to use "ROMP & STOMP" loads.

I have WW748, IMR-4895, AA-2460, IMR-4064, and a few others which don't come to mind, all in 1 lb partial bottles. If I had none of this and wanted to be sure I had powders for all likely uses, I'd want an 8-lb jug of Alliant Unique, or Alliant Herco, and an 8-lb. jug of Varget, H4895, IMR-4895, or IMR-4064. As I use up the others, I'll probably resupply with 2 of the six I just listed. If I could stand the logisitical slings & arrows of a 3rd powder, I'd want something like Alliant 2400 or maybe IMR-4227.


But it sounds like I need to try Unique. I kinda wish every pistol of shotgun reloader could be started out with a half-pound of Unique, so they can see how it behaves for them. If they absolutely cannot stand its use, it's only a half-pound & will be used up soon. If they DO like it, then so much this better. My BOILER-PLATE endorsement of Unique is that it is not the cleanest-burning, nor easiest-metering, nor most economical of all pistol powders but it is, without doubt, the most versatile propellant I've yet used. There ARE many propellants I have never used over the years, but of the ones I have, only Herco gets close to the characteristics of Alliant Unique. AA#5 comes in a distant 3rd. It works well in small and large capacity rounds with chamber-pressures above ~12,000 p.s.i., but seems a little erratic, below this level.

With charge weights at or above 4.0gr., 3 of us could discern no accuracy difference between ammo charged with a powder measure, and ammo trickle-charged individually into the cases. We saw what we thought were measurable differences in .38 Spl ammo loaded with 3.5/Unique/158LSWC, when shot at 35 yards, but we were measuring in 1/16" to 1/8" differences. Differences between measure-thrown and hand-trickled 3.5/Unique/158LSWC measured in the 1/4" to 3/8", when fired in a scoped Marlin lever carbine from a bench at 50 yards. Interestingly, we experienced no keyholes nor other indications of tumbling, which we were prepared to see with so light a load.
Okay, end of dissertation...

Sorry.

[308Jeff]

Nice writeup, Kosh.

I don't remember why Unique was my first selection for pistol powder when I started reloading, but I'd wager it was seeing it listed over and over in the manuals I read as my primer to reloading.

I've never had any negative experiences with the often mentioned complaints (dirty/doesn't meter well), and that's probably why I ended up with so much of it. Matter of fact, I just loaded up some 40 S&W test rounds today in anticipation of moving that caliber over from Titegroup. Titegroup is certainly more economical, but I've never liked that it was snappy in an already snappy round.

We'll see how it goes.

[John Boy]

If you could only have one powder?
Other ... FFg black powder! :2_high5:

[Kestrel4k]

I initially voted for Red Dot, but may have to change to 'Other' - Blue Dot.

Hunting season is just about to start here (deer & elk for me this yr).
IME, one of the best 'pistol' powders for bottleneck rifle cartridges is BD.

It can do everything from heavy-bullet .38Spl, all the way up to obtaining useful (if not optimal) velocities in .223Rem, .308, and .350RM.

[oldblinddog]

I'm not sure I believe that Unique started as a rifle powder...

It did. It is not a joke. And I learned this fact here on this forum. It has been around since the nineteenth century, back when all bullets were lead.


"Hercules and now, Alliant Unique is one of our oldest staple reloading powders having been in continuous production since the late 19th century. Introduced primarily for mid-range rifle loads, Unique quickly became a standard for shotgun and handgun shooters as well."

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hercules+and+Alliant+Unique%3a+the+reloader%27s+in fallible+standby.-a0183552859

Also: http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/GeneralReference/L&R-Smokeless.pdf see pages 33, 37 and 40, 42, 44 and 46.


In the 30-40 Krag, 7 to 9 grains of Unique was good from 100 to 200 yards with a 150 grain lead bullet for practice.

Looks like "the load" of (almost) ten grains of Unique has been around for a long time.

I am using it in several loads right now in .308, .30-06, and .338-06 that are shooting very well. I especially like what I'm seeing with the Lyman 33889 250 gr bullet over 20 grs. at ~1690 fps in the .338-06.

[KenT7021]

For only one powder I would go with Unique.It may have been the first powder I ever used.When started reloading I used only Unique,Bullseye,and 4895.I started reloading with cast bullets rather than jacketed.

[3006guns]

That would be Unique. It is a rifle powder that also works well in pistol and shotgun applications.

Correction: Unique was originally a shotgun powder from the dim, dark passages of time. Like most shotgun powders it burns relatively fast, so it makes a good cast boolit powder for just about anything. It would be my choice if I were restricted to just one powder. Of course, since I have a couple of 8lb. containers of the stuff, I'm a little prejudiced.

Ironically, it's difficult to find any current shotgun loading info on Unique, but plenty on just about everything else!

[oldblinddog]

Correction: Unique was originally a shotgun powder from the dim, dark passages of time.

No, it wasn't. Try reading the links in post #135.

[ulav8r]

Read the links. Infallible was introduced as a shotgun powder. About 6 years later Unique was introduced as a rifle powder. Both were the same composition, but Unique flakes were about 1/3 thicker, .008 thick vs .006 thick..

[oldblinddog]

And Bullseye is the same formula as well. Introduced as a pistol powder.

[jonp]

"I don't remember why Unique was my first selection for pistol powder when I started reloading, but I'd wager it was seeing it listed over and over in the manuals I read as my primer to reloading."

That's why it was one of the first powders I bought. With little money I wanted to find the powder that worked in the widest variety of calibers I would shoot and Unique constantly popped up

[jonp]

It did. It is not a joke. And I learned this fact here on this forum. It has been around since the nineteenth century, back when all bullets were lead.



https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hercules+and+Alliant+Unique%3a+the+reloader%27s+in fallible+standby.-a0183552859

Also: http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/GeneralReference/L&R-Smokeless.pdf see pages 33, 37 and 40, 42, 44 and 46.



Looks like "the load" of (almost) ten grains of Unique has been around for a long time.

I am using it in several loads right now in .308, .30-06, and .338-06 that are shooting very well. I especially like what I'm seeing with the Lyman 33889 250 gr bullet over 20 grs. at ~1690 fps in the .338-06.

Thanks for the interesting links. I saved the sight for future use

[copdills]

Unique for both 12ga and 20ga

[Mr_Sheesh]

I'd change the rules :P H414 for some things, H4198 for some, Unique for others, how could I live with just 1 powder? Ack!

[rsrocket1]

I don't particularly care for it because there is usually a better powder for each application, but Titegroup can be used for just about everything I shoot except muzzleloaders (and that's because I'm not desperate enough to test it but I'll bet I could safely make it work).

It works well in 9/38/40/45 pistol applications from slow to medium speed.
It works well in 12 ga 3/4 to 1-1/8 shot loads, slugs and buckshot but bridges terribly in my Mec 9000GN so I have to hand weigh each charge.
It works in rifles from subsonic to 1400 fps cast bullet loads

For handgun, I'd rather use Red Dot for low speed loads, Unique or BE-86 for medium speed loads and PP for high speed loads.

For Shotgun, I'd rather use Titewad or ExtraLite for target loads, Green Dot for mid speed loads and Unique for heavier buckshot and slug loads.

For Rifle, Red Dot is prefered for low recoil cast loads, RL-7 for high speed cast loads and Varget/H335 for full speed jacketed loads.

But if there were only 1 powder produced from now on, I would choose Titegroup. Fortunately, that is not true and never will be true.

Titegroup starts burning too slow which is why you end up with half scorched pistol brass, really smokey lubed bullets and gas cutting on bare lead bullets. It then burns really hot due to its high Nitroglycerin content. It then seems to take forever to burn completely and requires a near maximum handgun charge to burn cleanly. It clings to everything in the reloading room and takes extra effort to completely clean out of a powder hopper.

On the upside, during the last powder shortage, it was often the only powder regularly on the shelves and is priced cheaper than most other powders especially in the 8 pound jugs.

[wildcatter]

I would have to say 2400, the only cartridge I load that would suffer would be 45acp, but for 38, 357, 45 colt, 460 S&W, 22 hornet, 358 win. I think this would be the most universal powders for the cartridges I prefer, plus all my revolvers are rugers and these are what I load for and hunt with 90% of time.

[Steppapajon]

It was hard to decide but Green Dot would probably work best for me. It will work for all my revolvers my 30/30 and my 20 ga. shotguns. Not a
perfect powder but it fills a lot of niches

[stubshaft]

Unique, because it IS.

[GhostHawk]

Went to the range sat with my new neighbor.

Shot .45acp Hipoint Carbine (Red Dot 5 gr) .30-30 in a Handi rifle 185 gr gas checked over 4.6 gr Red Dot.

Shot Hipoint C9 9mm pistol 3 gr Red Dot. Shot 2 H&R Revolvers in .32sw long Lee .314 90 gr TC over 2 gr Red Dot.

Shot the Ruger Mk III 22/45 with Red Dot sight Federal factory loaded ammo.
Shot Heritage Rough Rider with the .22mag cylinder and a 50 round box of old .22mag.

This one was surprising. I have never been that impressed by this little single action pistol shooting .22lr. Groups seem to wander, not that tight, not that easy to know exactly where to hold to hit.

But, shooting .22mag loads. Group was tight, shot to POA. Was wearing a nice set of hearing protection headphones and the noise did not bother me at all. I was seeing a roughly basketball sized fireball with each shot.

But she certainly liked the more expensive ammo.

All in all 3 hours of highly enjoyable time was spent. Both the Hipoint .45acp carbine and the Handi rifle were putting rounds dead center in bullseye at 50 yards. Good enough for today, we'll see about stretching longer another day.

And except for the 22's, all rounds were loaded with modest amounts of Red Dot and cast boolits.

[500Linebaughbuck]

if i could have only one powder? i would say unique but i'll go with 2400.

2400 does my 30-30, 30-40 krag, 44 spl, 44 mag, 444 marlin, 45-70 and 500 linebaugh.

[Dan Cash]

Went to the range sat with my new neighbor.

Shot .45acp Hipoint Carbine (Red Dot 5 gr) .30-30 in a Handi rifle 185 gr gas checked over 4.6 gr Red Dot.

Shot Hipoint C9 9mm pistol 3 gr Red Dot. Shot 2 H&R Revolvers in .32sw long Lee .314 90 gr TC over 2 gr Red Dot.

Shot the Ruger Mk III 22/45 with Red Dot sight Federal factory loaded ammo.
Shot Heritage Rough Rider with the .22mag cylinder and a 50 round box of old .22mag.

This one was surprising. I have never been that impressed by this little single action pistol shooting .22lr. Groups seem to wander, not that tight, not that easy to know exactly where to hold to hit.

But, shooting .22mag loads. Group was tight, shot to POA. Was wearing a nice set of hearing protection headphones and the noise did not bother me at all. I was seeing a roughly basketball sized fireball with each shot.

But she certainly liked the more expensive ammo.

All in all 3 hours of highly enjoyable time was spent. Both the Hipoint .45acp carbine and the Handi rifle were putting rounds dead center in bullseye at 50 yards. Good enough for today, we'll see about stretching longer another day.

And except for the 22's, all rounds were loaded with modest amounts of Red Dot and cast boolits.

The bore on your .22 is too big for .22 long rifle. Few .22LR/.22 Mag convertable refolvers shoot well with .22 LR

[redhawk0]

Here's a thread that escaped my perusing...I vote "Other". Black Powder is versatile and can be easily made at home. It would be my #1. If it has to be commercial powder for the poll...then I'd choose Red Dot....(I have a recipe for making it too....so...still a homebrew if need be)

redhawk

[sniper]

Only one powder? (Sob!) But...you listed pistol and rifle powders. Two is fair...H4350 or Varget for most rifles/calibers, and Unique for handguns.

But...I almost forgot...:oops: Unique has provided some accurate loads in my rifle, if not really high velocity. Would probably do for Deer, pigs, coyotes, and the like at ~100 yards.

Of course I don't know if it would be suitable in handguns, but Hodgdon's "light" rifle loads of 4895, for low recoil and effectiveness at ranges shorter than kittycorner across the back 40 would probably do for long guns.

I think somebody here mentioned it, but I had never heard of Promo, let alone seen any on any LGS shelf until about 10-12 months ago.(1 lonely can!) No mention in any manual or scholarly reloading 'zine. what does it do? How well does it fill a .357 Magnum case, compared to Unique? Decisions, decisions! Will it never end?:mrgreen:

[sniper]

"i don't remember why unique was my first selection for pistol powder when i started reloading, but i'd wager it was seeing it listed over and over in the manuals i read as my primer to reloading."

that's why it was one of the first powders i bought. With little money i wanted to find the powder that worked in the widest variety of calibers i would shoot and unique constantly popped up

Exactly ! :cool:

[35isit]

I chose Unique because there is a load for about everything. You can get enough in a shotgun shell for self defense or to take game. 38/357 and 44spl/44mag anything mild to wild. Cast boolits or j-words. My SBH loves 12ish grains and a 200gr Hornady.

[GhostHawk]

I keep trying new calibers, new guns, Red Dot keeps working. In everything.

But it may not cycle a semi auto rifle.

But it will shoot, and it will score.

[tranders]

I don't particularly care for it because there is usually a better powder for each application, but Titegroup can be used for just about everything I shoot except muzzleloaders (and that's because I'm not desperate enough to test it but I'll bet I could safely make it work).

It works well in 9/38/40/45 pistol applications from slow to medium speed.
It works well in 12 ga 3/4 to 1-1/8 shot loads, slugs and buckshot but bridges terribly in my Mec 9000GN so I have to hand weigh each charge.
It works in rifles from subsonic to 1400 fps cast bullet loads

For handgun, I'd rather use Red Dot for low speed loads, Unique or BE-86 for medium speed loads and PP for high speed loads.

For Shotgun, I'd rather use Titewad or ExtraLite for target loads, Green Dot for mid speed loads and Unique for heavier buckshot and slug loads.

For Rifle, Red Dot is prefered for low recoil cast loads, RL-7 for high speed cast loads and Varget/H335 for full speed jacketed loads.

But if there were only 1 powder produced from now on, I would choose Titegroup. Fortunately, that is not true and never will be true.

Titegroup starts burning too slow which is why you end up with half scorched pistol brass, really smokey lubed bullets and gas cutting on bare lead bullets. It then burns really hot due to its high Nitroglycerin content. It then seems to take forever to burn completely and requires a near maximum handgun charge to burn cleanly. It clings to everything in the reloading room and takes extra effort to completely clean out of a powder hopper.

On the upside, during the last powder shortage, it was often the only powder regularly on the shelves and is priced cheaper than most other powders especially in the 8 pound jugs.

I agree with your thoughts. Has a few shortcomings,but very versatile.

[pricedo]

Imr-3031 & imr-4064

[Traffer]

Went to the range sat with my new neighbor.

Shot .45acp Hipoint Carbine (Red Dot 5 gr) .30-30 in a Handi rifle 185 gr gas checked over 4.6 gr Red Dot.

Shot Hipoint C9 9mm pistol 3 gr Red Dot. Shot 2 H&R Revolvers in .32sw long Lee .314 90 gr TC over 2 gr Red Dot.

Shot the Ruger Mk III 22/45 with Red Dot sight Federal factory loaded ammo.
Shot Heritage Rough Rider with the .22mag cylinder and a 50 round box of old .22mag.

This one was surprising. I have never been that impressed by this little single action pistol shooting .22lr. Groups seem to wander, not that tight, not that easy to know exactly where to hold to hit.

But, shooting .22mag loads. Group was tight, shot to POA. Was wearing a nice set of hearing protection headphones and the noise did not bother me at all. I was seeing a roughly basketball sized fireball with each shot.

But she certainly liked the more expensive ammo.

All in all 3 hours of highly enjoyable time was spent. Both the Hipoint .45acp carbine and the Handi rifle were putting rounds dead center in bullseye at 50 yards. Good enough for today, we'll see about stretching longer another day.

And except for the 22's, all rounds were loaded with modest amounts of Red Dot and cast boolits.

I reload 22lr. I do not use Red Dot at the moment but others use it and have good luck with it. Had I known that Red Dot would have worked in 22lr I would have bought it and would be using it now. One thing I really like is that it doesn't take much. 1.5 grain of Red Dot is roughly equivalent to 1.88 grain of what I am now using. AND in the future I hope to use Green Dot for use in 22lr. It is cheaper and uses a very small amnt.

[Soundguy]

Imr-3031 & imr-4064

Got to love imr 4064.

[granville_it]

H4895

[DX250]

I would have to go with a black powder. It is about the most versatile powder around. App bp era handguns and rifles and all modern straight wall cartridges would be a breeze and I am sure I could load it into most bottle necks also. As a side note I may need to try and see if I can get my 300blk ar to cycle on black powder (probably a bad idea).

[flounderman]

I bought 50 pounds of wc 852 when Clinton got elected, from Pat McDonald. It will make almost any caliber go bang. Maybe not a first choice, but not a bad one and I think it was around 5.00 a pound. The 860 was about half that.

[MOA]

I agree with DX250 if I only have one, I want one that will work for handgun, rifle and shotgun. Black is the only one that works for all. As everybody knows at one time there was "only one powder". Lol

[RogerDat]

But mom....
During the shortages I found I liked titegroup it was available and worked well in pistols. But I really had to scrounge to find useful powders. Tried BL-C(2) and yes it worked but I found letting the ammo sit in the sun at the range changed the power noticeably.

All I can say is since I can now purchase 8# jugs of desirable powders and do not have to be limited to a single choice I bought in quantity > 10# :
Unique
4895
Varget (couple of auto loaders love that powder)
Titegroup (left over from when it was what I could get might be little less than 10# worth)
2400 (also probably short of 10# but not by much)

That 2400 works in pistol and there are some decent loads for the rifle as a plinking load.

All the posts about Red Dot have me thinking maybe I should look into it a bit more.

I can't help but think that there is a need for a rifle, pistol, and maybe auto load rifle and/or shotgun powder. So 3 or maybe 4 powders is realistic for stocking a pantry. Being able to get multiple calibers from one powder is nice but why cast and carefully reload if one is going to use a powder that is sub par for that application?

For one powder I guess Unique but man has to think about the holy black, would hate to give up C&B or ML and it can do rifle in a pinch, revolver is no problem for the black.

How about I just stock up so I don't have to worry about running out? :-)

[evoevil]

I would not deal well with that

[doctorxring]

Blue Dot.

I can load anything I have from 9mm to 44 mag to 223 to 30-06
to 45-70 and everything in between and have done it.
And produce very accurate and powerful enough loadings
producing 80% of max velocity in rifle cartridges if needed easily.

Blue Dot is a FAR under appreciated universal powder.
I think it's much better than Unique. And not one bit
position sensitive. No "filler" needed or desired.

I get nervous if my stash goes below 5 pounds.

dxr

[medic15al]

It would be between Bullseye and Win. 231..... And Black Powder!:lol:

[White Oak]

H4895 for Rifle and Titegroup for handgun will cover everything I shoot.

But thankfully I don’t have to settle on just one.

[Bigdave35180]

2400 absolutely for me....purely for nostalgia reasons, and because I have burned it way more than any others. I wore out my first 3 screw Ruger 44 loading with my first actual press, a Lyman Spartan and 2400 loads. I guess I may have been influenced by Elmer Keith! It was a big step up from hammering by hand with a Lee Loader. A school friend of mine and I would spend all week loading on that old Lyman, and then go out on the weekends and just burn up that old Ruger. And when I got my first Lyman 55 measure, it got even better. Even though I use many powders, and there are others better than 2400, maybe?, it is still my go to powder in 44 mag and 357, and when I finally got a Freedom Arms 454, guess what, it worked just great in it and made big ole one hole groups at 25 yds with it. Just give me my 2400, I'll make it work....

[Rug480]

I suppose 2400 for me as well. I only load for my 480 Ruger but know how versatile it can be

[robg]

2400 is my pick great powder in my 357/308/45-70

[Schreck5]

I pick Red Dot (Promo) because its so versitile. Oh wait, real BP would probably be my bestest 1st pick.

[gpidaho]

Unique, good for rifle, pistol and shotgun loads. Gp

[Ozark mike]

Real black powder

[tobywan45]

Whereas I can use wholly black in all of my straight walls. I can use red dot in almost everything so it's red dot.
(Unless it had to be homemade)

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

[poppy42]

Unique! hands down! one of the oldest and most versatile powders. Good for 30-06, 9 mm, 9x18 Makarov, 45, shotguns, and on and on ... not necessarily the best metering but so what. In just pistols I use a lot of win231/HP-38 (same Powder difference label)

[LawrenceA]

Blackpowder is the only choice that can feed my 54 ML,45ML, 45-70, 32-20, 25-20 and 12g. It would be interesting to see black in the modern stuff like 30-30 and 6.5 swede.

If it had to be smokeless than being in OZ only ADI powder around sooooo Trail Boss. Can use in hornet up to 45-70.

[vtech26]

What Poppy said. Second choice would be Bullseye.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[MrHarmless]

I would probably agree with 2400. Not so much for auto-loader pistols, but it's wildly versatile.

[besk]

Unique or 2400

[GhostHawk]

5 years later it is still Red Dot for me. I'm happy with it. Its only real shortcomings as I see it is that it may not cycle a semi auto rifle. And it will never match the speeds of the slower powders.

Accuracy yes, super trifty yes, fun to shoot yes. And speed is not required for penetration. Mass is required, but speed can be as low as 800 ish fps. It is after all what makes the 1911 and the .45acp so effective.

Shooting 800 to 1600 fps does require you to learn the rainbow and judge distance.
But at 6-10 cents a round you can afford to burn some ammo learning that rainbow.

[Thunder Stick]

If limited to one pistol powder: Unique.
If limited to one rifle powder: WW748.

[Kosh75287]

For pistols & revolvers, Alliant Unique, Herco, or BE-86, or Accurate #5. For rifles, H4895, IMR4895, IMR4064, or Varget. I could "get by" on a rifle propellant as fast as IMR3031, but I'd hate to.

[LinotypeIngot]

Rifle: Varget
Pistol: CFE Pistol or Longshot, possibly BE-86

Honestly I'm not too picky about pistol powders, but Varget is just superb for the most common rifle calibers.

[Yooper003]

Right now for me and the guns I load for it has to be 5744 or shooters world Buffalo rifle.have been loading everything from 223 to 45/70. Including 357 mag & 44 mag.

[takasaki]

Red dot,

[clearwater]

Reloder 17 and Unique

[Nueces]

If limited to only one, I'd have Bullseye, Unique and 2400. And black.

Prove I have more than one, neener.

[wc870]

Such an unfair question! like having to choose to keep only one of your children! LOL rifle,Varget pistol, Unique

[relics6165]

Unique works in everything, in some manner. It's excellent in shotgun, pistol, and works in reduced rifle loads. Its, it's......................unique!

Red Dot does too....................

[NObamain2012]

Since my beloved SR 4756 is discontinued, I've switched to Herco.

[BIGOX]

Unique or Red dot? Since I have a bunch of 97 primers I still need to use, I guess I'll go with Red dot.

[shampine]

H4895 for me , I shoot rifle only . I see I need to look into Unique before I start my journey into cast .

[DAVIDMAGNUM]

Without a doubt, Swiss 2F. 44WCF, 38-55, 45-70 and yes...357 Magnum (in an 1892 Winchester)

[TNsailorman]

I can't answer that question as it is too confining. For rifle it would be either IMR 4895 or IMR 4530. For pistol it would be Unique or W231. There is no such thing as one powder for both rifle and pistol and expect full capabilities for each. my .02 anyway

[TN/TX99]

Unique for handgun, and 4064 for rifle (M1 Garand).

[Eddie Southgate]

It seems that I at some time voted in this poll but I'm not sure why or how . The whole concept is foolish . No one that reloads is gonna have just one powder . If I ever get below 10 different powders it will be because of several large fires .

How about a poll for " If you could only have 1 primer , what would it be and what would you put it in ? Or , would you just save it to auction on GB ?

[perotter]

It seems that I at some time voted in this poll but I'm not sure why or how . The whole concept is foolish . No one that reloads is gonna have just one powder . If I ever get below 10 different powders it will be because of several large fires .

How about a poll for " If you could only have 1 primer , what would it be and what would you put it in ? Or , would you just save it to auction on GB ?

I know and have known a lot of guys who reload that only have 1 powder. Even more that only have 2 powders. But they aren't hobby reloaders, but are practical reloaders.

But I had an uncle that in fact bought and tested every single powder that came out. That included fast or slow lots of surplused powders. And when he died most of the cans of powder only ever had a bit gone. Some of them hadn't been made in 40+ years and my cousins or I couldn't find load data for them. But he was what he liked doing and didn't harm anything.

FWIW. I'd reload that primer multiple times so that I could put it in several different rounds. Plus treat that primer like great-grandpa's axe. You know that axe. It's 150 years old, well use and still in great shape. Of course handle has been replaced 5 times and the head been replaced twice.

[Eddie Southgate]

I have known a few that started loading and quit shortly there after that only ever had one or two powders . Never personally knew any that had loaded for any real length of time and only used 1 with the exception of one guy that only reloaded for a Black Powder cartridge rifle that he could not buy ready rolls for . Of course there are millions (or more) people in this world who reload and I only personally know a few thousand of them so I guess anything is possible .

[rockrat]

Unique or Universal clays. Now if I got one for rifle too, then varget (or shooters world Precision, which is darn close)

[500aquasteve]

I have been loading just over 3 months now, for the 500 S&W only. Loaded about 300 various 500 loads and have tried lilgun, IMR SR-4759, CFEBLK, and H110.

H110 I have to say is by far the funnest of the above. Have not had the range option to fully implement chronography with my loads, and my crimping is still being tailored for better accuracy, but for a handful of adrenaline entertainment with my 3.5" 500 cannon - H110 all the way.

[Bigslug]

Been using 5744 for cast rifle a lot. It disappointed in a 32-20 (ish) rifle. Haven't tried it in pistol.

Varget maybe? 4064?

[jtihlarik]

Bullseye is what I use for my 45 Acp works great. Tho as far as I’ve noticed I do not think that there is much range in using it for reloading other caliber rounds.

[YippyKiYay]

I had to chew on this a while..but Unique pretty well covers pistol, shotgun, and rifle. Its not perfect for everything, but it'll git er dun.

[Scrumbag]

Viht N140

[Savvy Jack]

I would have chosen RL-7 because it is what I use in my 44-40 rifle with great accuracy and velocity at 260 yards. Next would be IMR-4227 for both revolver and rifle as well as High Velocity rifle loads, again for longer distance shots.

In a real world, I would choose the 30-06 and whatever powder is best for that cartridge.

[Photog]

I could live with only having Power Pistol. Don't let the name fool you, it will work in rifles too. Its a touch slower than Unique, and meters great. It allows me to get up to 1700fps in rifles with cast boolits and works in handgun cartridges too. I will have to admit that I have never tried Unique, but haven't needed to either. PP burns well even in small charges in large cases, is not position sensitive and is very consistent. Works in low pressure 38 spl up to mid range 30-06. I have actually toyed with the idea of consolidating to 3 or 4 powders (compared to the 19 I have on the bench). If only there was powder available :sad:

[marlin1895]

Imr 3031

[Electrod47]

Red dot

[444ttd]

2400 for revolvers
imr 4895 for rifles

[200grain]

Bullseye if for pistols
IMR 4350 for me an my old 1903

[dnegative]

One and one only, probably 2400

Otherwise unique/varget

[rfd]

Real Black Gunpowder - the perfect companion to naked lubed, or cloth patched and lube, or paper patched lead based boolits.

[r80rt]

Unique fior me, I use that @#%#! for everything.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Not surprised to see Unique leading the poll. Sure wish I could find 8# of it.

[MUSTANG]

Not surprised to see Unique leading the poll. Sure wish I could find 8# of it.

I found and bought an 8 pound jug of Unique at Machine Gun Charlie's in Kalispell last Thursday. They have a couple of numerous powders - but alas - No Primers.

[Scrounge]

IMHO, 2400 is the obvious choice. Good down to 218 bee and up to 45-70. Particularly good in necked 30 caliber cartridges.

I'll second that one!

Bill

[cabinarms]

Unique is always a great pick
for one powder. I can use Blue dot in almost any handgun, but fair amount of rifles. Awesome in my 45-70, just a combo of being versatile with well rounded performance.
for a single powder choice usable in both many rifle & most any pistol. Blue Dot.

[Noah Zark]

Unique, of course.

Are there other powders available?

Noah

[lolbell]

I could get by with Unique. Would it be stellar in every thing I load for, no, but I could get by without being too handicapped.

[Red River Rick]

Black Powder....................you can use it in any cartridge.

[goryshaw]

UNIQUE for handguns and 4895 for rifles they dont compete but they cover everthing between them.

[Jack Stanley]

Life would be harder without Unique . Once it's stabilized in the measure , Uniflow or Dillon , it works just fine for anything I've put it to .

Jack

[jaysouth]

I just got a couple of jugs of BR-5, it is supposed to be a ball powder replacement of Unique. It sings in 9mm and .45 ACP. 7 grs of it in a 30-30 with a 150 gr. bullet is sheer range fun.

[Nobade]

Black powder of course. Any more it is the only powder I use so I'm there.

[Dekota56]

I use mostly Bullseye, it works very well with my hand guns 45 Auto and my 9mm

[remy3424]

I would go with Smokes Wine Red, seem to give the best coverge for me!

[schutzen-jager]

for decades it has been red dot - .32acp , .32 S&W , 9MM p , .38 super , .38 S&W , .38 spec. , .45acp. , 12 ga. , 30.30 cast , .308 cast , 30/06 cast -

[BLAHUT]

I use blackhorn 209 for most every thing, just need mag primers, sometimes hard to light, told by blackhorn factory>>

[Milky Duck]

H4895...AR2206H as I use it in .223 and did use it in .308w it CAN be used in .270w...not ideal but it works, pretty sure it goes in the .45/70 too 2208 definately does.... but black smelly stuff works well... trail boss would just about have to be up there with most versitile,although pressures can be rather high compared to other powders for same velocity.

[Wal']

AP70N which is Universal & Unique in American..........[smilie=1:

[versa-06]

I would choose IMR-Hodgdon 800-X. A little slower than Unique, but more forgiving, more velocity, & usually prints heavy boolits lower on the target.

[Rapier]

I choose 4227, Corn Flakes would go great with 4227.

[justindad]

Might turn that Vihtavuori N350 works in every pistol I like to shoot. I’ll find out pretty soon.

[Ramjet-SS]

Unique covers them all Universal is close.

[35 Rem]

I guess I would select Unique if forced to choose only one but it would sure neuter about half the rifles i own and make them worthless. I have a bunch of 22 centerfires, 17 Remington, 25-06, 257 Weatherby, 270 Winchester that would be so throttled back using Unique as to be useless.

The handguns would be happy though as Unique shines there.

The larger bore rifles that I shoot cast in would still be capable of killing deer. The 32-20 Marlin 1894 loves Unique so nothing would change.

I prefer Red Dot in my shotgun loads because i like lighter loads with less recoil but have all the stuff I need to load Unique in 12 Gauge so that wouldn't be a significant problem there either.

[B1GB1RD]

was raised on bullseye for everything handgun, thats my go to for our matches, and most of my pistols.

[Minnesotam7]

Tite Group for what I shoot

[Chena]

For cast, Unique.

[R-71]

Unique if I could only have one, If I could have one for rifles and one for handguns I'd pick HS6 and Varget. I use those 2 for every cartridge I currently load.

[tarbe]

I still say Unique. Been using it for 47 years and I love it.

[rbuck351]

They don't make one powder that will work with near max loads in 300H&H and 38 spl. Two would work such as red dot and 5010 by using duplex loads. I have enough powder from fast to slow that I don't think I will ever have to buy any more so the one powder thing is not an issue to me.

[Tall]

Back when I thought a President Dukakis was a possibility I bought a (what I thought was) lifetime supply of Unique powder by Hercules. I still have over 4 pounds left so it probably is.

[huntinlever]

I use blackhorn 209 for most every thing, just need mag primers, sometimes hard to light, told by blackhorn factory>>

OT, but have you ever used Fed 209A's? I understand the recommend them with their BH 209.