Best all around smokeless powder

[jules]

For 38Special, 40S&W and 10MM. I'm looking for medium to upper medium loads for jacketed bullets in all weights that's clean burning and consistent metering. Looking for 1 powder that does it all.

[Ole Joe Clarke]

The best one is the one you like. There are endless arguments and posts about this very subject. Just read your reloading manual and make your own choice.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

[Kevin Rohrer]

What Joe said.

There is no "best" of anything; there is only what you use and like. If you are going to stick w/ one powder for all three, cross-reference those three cartridges in your manual and pick the common powder.

[HangFireW8]

The problem with your question is 38 Special does so well with faster handgun powders, and the rest with medium.

But the usual answer is Alliant Unique.

-HF

[NSB]

As much as I like Unique, and it works well in both rifle and handgun loads, it's not anywhere near being consistent in metering. The OP included that in his post. As others have stated, it's what works best in your gun. There definitely isn't a one size fits all here.

[Petrol & Powder]

It's all been said, there's no one "best" powder. If you wanted one powder that could be used in all of those applications; I would say ww231 [AKA, HP-38].

[jsizemore]

Before I decided to get as cheap as possible with my loading for handguns, I shot AA-No.5. Very clean when used in it's operating range and meters very well in Dillon's measures and pretty good in rotary measures. With the calibers you mentioned, you'll get about 1000 rounds out of a lb.

[Kestrel4k]

IMO 800x could be a candidate, as long as the .38Spl projectiles are on the heavy side. But why a person wouldn't want BE or Red Dot for .38's, I dunno. :)

[XDROB]

I don't know about those calibers, but I really like Power Pistol for my 9s and 380s.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[RogerDat]

Best across that spectrum would need to "give" something someplace. And probably won't be "best" possible choice in all three. What you are willing to give up is what makes it an individual choice. Very individual.

I like titegroup for clean burn but tends to have a narrow safe/good range of load weights for any caliber. Very thrifty as one doesn't use much. Which leads to a bad rap for being hard to confirm visually. Double charge is harder to see when it's only 3 - 5 grains. Don't know anyone that loads 10mm but the 40 S&W the folks I know don't use anything I feed revolver cartridges like .38 special. There is however load data for 40 and 10mm using titegroup.

[dragon813gt]

Those cartridges need different burn rates for top performance. W231 will work in both but will leave a lot to be desired in 10mm. You want a slower burner in the 10mm for top performance. That's why 800-X and Longshot are the preferred powders. You won't find people suggesting those powders for 38 Special.

[Walter Laich]

My best powder is Red Dot: use it from .32 all the way up to lightly loaded 45-70 as well as shotgun.

now I'm 71 and am not looking to shoot "things faster than a speeding bullet" any more.

[Tracy]

Trail Boss!

Not.:mrgreen:

[StratsMan]

As others have indicated, there's no GREAT powder to fit for all 3 of those rounds... 38 Special is a low pressure round, but the 40S&W and 10mm run at higher pressures... Any powder you select is likely to be a compromise for all... Now, if you were willing to have 2 powders (1 for 38's, one for the other two), you could get much better performance for all 3 calibers...

[salpal48]

No such thing

[jules]

I guess I should have stated that as being one individual powder for each of those three calibers not one for all three together.

[No Blue]

Shotgun powders like Red or Green Dot, Unique, American Select; those are as close to universal as anything.

If they don't meter like ball powder, it's pistol ammo; shooting at 25 yards and off hand doesn't really need or benefit from charges that are within a tenth of a grain of each other. You can't shoot that accurately offhand.

A rifle with a scope off a bench, that's where you need the accuracy.

[ulav8r]

BR-5 Recently acquired. Brand new, current production. This is a double-based ball
type powder, originally intended for 9x19mm ammo. Meters very consistently.
Burning rate is similar to Hercules Unique, which data can be used. Additional
data available on request. Clean burning with consistent results.
This is new powder, not pulldown.
$100/6# jug

At Bartlett Reloaders.

[dragon813gt]

I guess I should have stated that as being one individual powder for each of those three calibers not one for all three together.

It's going to be personal preference. Everyone has their favorites. For 38 Special I prefer W231/HP-38. It's the only pistol powder I used for many years. Any of the fast burners will work.

For 10mm, I don't load 40 S&W as I prefer the real deal, I like 800-X. You can forget easy metering. Meters like gravel. But it gives you top performance. Longshot is a better option if you want consistent metering.

Clean burning is in the eye of the beholder. I clean my guns routinely so it's the last thing I worry about. Keep the pressure up w/ whatever powder you're using and it's going to burn "cleaner" w/ less unburnt powder. None of them are dirty compared to black.

[Bzcraig]

It's all been said, there's no one "best" powder. If you wanted one powder that could be used in all of those applications; I would say ww231 [AKA, HP-38].

This would be my recommendation too

[Kestrel4k]

For 38Special, 40S&W and 10MM. I'm looking for medium to upper medium loads for jacketed bullets in all weights that's clean burning and consistent metering. Looking for 1 powder that does it all.


I guess I should have stated that as being one individual powder for each of those three calibers not one for all three together.
I confess to being a little unclear as to what you were asking for earlier; 1 powder that does it all, vs. one powder for each.

[jules]

I confess to being a little unclear as to what you were asking for earlier; 1 powder that does it all, vs. one powder for each.

Getting old I guess. I have been reloading for 30+ years but have not had a chance to try any of the latest and greatest. Just didn't know if anyone else has.

[Lloyd Smale]

I usually use slower powders in the 10 compared to the 40. My favorite is aa9 in the 10 and powders like power pistol, unique, universal clays ect for 40s for top end loads and AA2,231 for lighter 40 loads. I don't bother with pop gun loads in the 10. Doesn't make sense to me. If I want to shoot a 10 I want to shoot a 10. If I want less I shoot a 40. If I was held down and had to pick one powder to do it all it would probably be power pistol.

[kmrra]

I use HP38 for almost all my pistol loads , and it meters well

[HATCH]

I use unique for all my pistols for the most part.

22 tcm is h110/w296
300 bo is h1680
22 hornet is lil gun

But the rest is unique. Its not the cleanest but I got LOTS of it and it works.

[jmorris]

For 38Special, 40S&W and 10MM.

Many years ago I used to load those and 357, 45 ACP and 9mm all with 4.5 grains of 231. Never had to mess with adjusting the powder measure, I used different bullet weights though.

It worked but I really don't use 231 much anymore, in fact the 231 I have is old enough it's from when they put it in metal cans. A jack of all trades is often a master of none.

[Landy88]

Limit the .38 to heavy bullet, especially +p, loads and one for all gets very doable.

I've been working on these and the best powders are not the typical .38 fast and medium burners.

[str8wal]

I use Titegroup for 38+P, 9mm, 45 ACP and light 357 loads. Not the best for every one, but adequate for all.