If you had only one powder to buy (44 mag/spc)

[sparkz]

Hey all
I am new to brass loading as in I have yet to cast and load my first Boolit
but as i was reading here and then went to look at whats around local for powder/ primers
NONE can be found not a one.... and the $25 bux for hazmat on the web hurts so started to think..
and as I wanted to load 44Mag and later .45Apc
I thought I better fine or start to find what i need now,
so question is
If you had only one powder to buy to load 44mag and or .45auto for target and paper poken
whAT Would it be?

my son and I hope to start to collect what we can along the way, but with the panic we might get bit in the A$$
if it stays like it is and i think its gona get worse before it gets beter

our molds are Lee
tl430-240-swc
429-200-rf

Thanks for playin and
share any good known 44mag recipes ( light are good for us to start on)
we hope to have some more recipes in a few books we had planed to buy as well


Thanks guys

Patrick

PS; anyone out in Eastern Kentucky?
we are Near Hazard, like to have someone local to ask a dumb question to once in a while

[bayjoe]

Unique -Very vesatile powder

[Calamity Jake]

^^^^^ What he said!!!

[Taylor]

Harlan...I use Winchester 231 for 44 and 45,it last and does poke holes in paper.

[Floydster]

Unique.

[472x1B/A]

Only one? Unique!

[canyon-ghost]

<<<< In that gun, 44 Special flattop, only Unique!

I've been loading 7.4 grains of Unique behind that 44-200 RF that originated as a 44-40 bullet. It's been accurate out to 50 yards, so far. I hit a 3" round steel target at that range, twice! But, your gun may like more or less. The standard for 44 spl has long been 7 to 8 grains of Unique. It shoots soft enough that it seems pretty accurate regardless of the exact tenth grain you shoot with.

Love my flattop,
Ron

[birddog]

unique or power pistol will both work, but then so does black powder.
Charlie

[Mal Paso]

If you had only one powder to buy (44 mag/spc)

2400 is the only powder I buy for 44 Mag/Special 900-1500fps

Then you said 45apc which is a low pressure round not suitable for 2400.

Unique

[wantoutofca]

Unique all the way!

[Ben]

Unique !

[turmech]

Many will work, bullseye, red dot and unique to name a few. I have used all three in 44 mag and 45 acp. Unique would be my favorite of the three.

[David2011]

Unique. Winchester 231 is an excellent choice as well but Unique is extremely versatile. Win 231 is pretty clean even at slightly reduced loads. Loaded to .44 Special level it leaves the barrel of my .44 Mag (14" single shot) looking like it was just cleaned. I've never used in in .45 ACP but will next time I load some.

David

[Rockchucker]

I'll go with Unique also.

[Idaho Mule]

Unique for sure. 231 will work also, but I think Unique would be the better choice. JW

[FISH4BUGS]

231 for all paper pokin' loads. 44 mag can be loaded up there but will not reach maximum velocities with 231. Go to 296 for magnum velocities.
I use 231 for 380, 9mm, 38, 357, 44 and 45, and shoot them in submachineguns too....well not 38,357 and 44 anyway. Mac 380 is such fun with cast and 231.
But just one powder? 231 hands down.

[Ickisrulz]

I hate having bunches of powder containers around. Therefore I buy 8 pounders on one powder for handguns. Unique is what I use for 44, 38 and 45 ACP.

[geargnasher]

I don't know if it's just me, but I'd use Unique since it's extremely well-suited to all three of those except for the most-hottest-fastest .44 Magnum, but it will get you plenty of pop in that one too.

Go ahead and buy 8lbs of it, it doesn't eat and will be scarce for a while. It works surprisingly well in just about anything that you can cram a cast boolit into.

Gear

[DCM]

Unique if you can find it.

[Kraschenbirn]

Just for something completely different...Herco!

[Larry Gibson]

If you had only one powder to buy to load 44mag and or .45auto for target and paper poken
whAT Would it be?

our molds are Lee
tl430-240-swc
429-200-rf

For those uses with those bullets I use Bullseye. I get all the accuracy and power I want for just such uses and I get more loads per pound of powder. As noted by many Unique would be my second choice. If most of my shooting was going to be with the 45 ACP Bullseye is really the prefered choice. Unique if most of my shooting would be with the .44 Mag. A slight comprimize either way but Bullseye still will fill your needs the best either way.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

anything you can get ahold of from bullseye through herco will do the job.
pick one.
i have used 231,titegroup,clays,red-dot,and of course unique in both of them.
i wouldn't even blink if all i found was accurate #2 or#5 or green dot,or american select,or whatever.
right now in the 44 and 45 acp i have rounds loaded with titegroup,231 and unique.
i have some 44's loaded with 800-x,steel,herco,and 2400 strewn about the loading shelves,and a few 45 acp's loaded with red-dot in there somewhere.
i have 223's,30-06's and 308's there with three or four different powders too.
they all shoot well enough to do what needs done.

[MtGun44]

Have to say that Unique would be my choice if I HAD to limit it
to one. I also like some of the faster powders for mildest loads, but
Unique will run from mild to pretty darned hot with no problems and
good to excellent accuracy.

Bill

[hithard]

As a first time loader, Unique or Herco.

With these powders you will know when you throw a double charge, kinda nice for the first time reloader, untill you become more proficient in technique and build positive reloading habits.

These powders are also more easily loaded up and down in regaurds to FPS. I would also second on the eight pound can. Just as long as you store it in a cool dry place you will have it for yrs and yrs.

Check your PM's

[429421Cowboy]

Yep, Unique if i could only have one! I load pistol and shotgun with it now, will likely be moving to some rifle loads with it soon as well. With Unique, if you suddenly start loading for another pistol caliber, chances are likely you will find many useful loads with Unique no matter the round. I like having a bulky powder to prevent double charges, especially learning to load, its what i started with.

My .44 mag load is 9.5 gr Unique under a 240 SWC, or 6.5 Unique under the same boolit for Specials. My usual .44 Special load is 5.0 gr of Bullseye and a 240 for a nice load that doesn't buck a heavy revolver much but still packs about the same snort as a .45 acp load.
But right about now, you're gonna be stuck with what you can get, which might be some off the wall powder!

[Blacksmith]

Take a look in your loading manuals. Unique will load both of those rounds and a whole lot of others, that's why it's UNIQUE.:bigsmyl2:

Unique is one of the powders that should be on every reloaders bench. I looked for some more today and the store was out. Not an emergency I still have some but I'll get some more the next time I see it.

[johnnybar]

Anything you can find with the following words: "IN STOCK" ...as long as there is light to moderate load data for both cartridges. You can cherry pick a favorite after the craze subsides.

PS. Guess what I would use:
61920

[Sasquatch-1]

I also agree with most here on Unique. I also use it in 9mm and 38/357's. Although for hotter loads in the 44 I use either 296 or 2400.

[44man]

I have to agree with Unique, it will do it all for you.
The stuff has been around forever for a reason.

[375RUGER]

unique or 700-X
7.1g 700-X 240g SWC in the 44 mag is not exactly a light target load but you can reduce it.

[10x]

Unique is my go to powder for most calibers and cast bullets.
It is almost the universal pistol powder giving reasonable pressures, and velocity with usually pretty good accuracy.
In 38 special, 45 colt, and 44 mag I work up from starting loads and find a load that gives the least powder fouling on the case and the gun.
This seems to be the most accurate load with Unique as well.
An interesting powder that has done all I expected it to do with every gun I have used it in.

[winelover]

Another vote for Unique----there is a reason it's call that!

Winelover

[Bob Krack]

Unique is the only powder that I can think of that you will be able to find loading info for anything and everything from .25acp through .30-06 and most shotshell loads.

Not my favorite powder for some loads but if I could only have one, I would not be thinking twice about the decision I already made. -- Unique

Bob

[jmort]

Unique

[bobthenailer]

IMO for paper targets or plinking loads for velocties of 800 to 1,100 fps i would use Tightgroup powder for my fist choice and Bullseye for my second choice, but it gets the gun dirtier than with TG .
Ive been using these 2 powders for the 357, 44 mag , 45 ACP & 454 Casull for loads in the 800 to 1,100 fps for a long time with excellent accuracy with every cast bullet designe/weight & gun tried in .
As a bonus these powders have a low charge weight to acheve these velocties , so its more econmical to use
with the 45 ACP & a 200 gr bullet try 4.0gr to 4.5gr with either powder
44 mag with a 200 gr bullet 5.5 to 7.0gr with either powder, you will be pleased !

[km101]

Unique! Dont worry about the hazmat fee. Buy it if you can find it!

[Case Stuffer]

WW231, HP38 , HS6, and the list goes on and on. Go to an on-line site such as

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=hodgdon%20load%20data&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdata.hodgdon.com%2F&ei=1lQmUaaVL4m49gSO9YCwAg&usg=AFQjCNFNfOcaFu_e9tYxpoNs7gEK7eZ9fg&bvm=bv.42661473,d.eWU

which I find handy as you can sort by cartridge,bullet wieght,power etc. and not have to look thru numerious pages to find a load for a certain combo.

[Moonie]

No question, Unique, was my first powder and I use it in anything I need a moderate load for, 38, 357, 9mm, 44, 45(acp and colt), 30-06, 8x57, on and on and on.

[Boz330]

I don't disagree with Unique but if you are trying to buy now there isn't any. It is a great powder and I have plenty but if you can't get it, it is of little use to you. The people who specialize in powder don't have it, so it is a pretty moot point. If you believe the hype being put forth there isn't going to be any for a long time, in the mean time there are some shotgun powders that are available for a little while. At least till folks figure out there is another option. You can be a nice guy and not scarf it up or you can shoot.
I saw the handwriting on the wall several years ago and followed my Scouts motto from my boyhood.

Bob

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

power pistol it's the only pistol powder i use and i load 9 to 44mag

it was what i started with it and it is working

unique would be my second choice , but power pistol meters so well , and i have heard some complaints of unique not metering as well in some disc measures

I am also using it in 30-30 plinker loads

[John Allen]

I also have had great luck with unique. My groups always seem better with it. It is a little dirty but a quick swipe with a wet patch and a follow up with a dry and you are good to go.

[sparkz]

Sounds like the vote for unique has it, we use it for shot shels but hard to find, and load red dot, but i do love the winchester powders for shot shells as its real clean burn,, but now i just gota find some unique to be bought and nice as we can load all we have with it,

time to do some huntin for powder/s

thanks guys


Patrick