Bullseye,Unique, 2400.
With all three on hand, you can't go wrong!
Bullseye,Unique, 2400.
With all three on hand, you can't go wrong!
Single best all-around powder?
Unique hands down.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
If I could only have one powder for the rest of my life, without a doubt it would be Unique. You can load anything from light .38 special wadcutters to bottleneck rifle cartridges to .45/70
For more robust hunting level loads in rifles with cast, either 3031 or 4895 will do nicely. So I’d have to say I’d never want to be without Unique and 3031.
2400 is amazingly versatile for magnum pistol or mid range rifle loads, I like it a lot but I could live without it if I had to
Airplanes and guns should always be made out of metal.
For Rifle my choices are W748 and IMR4350. Pistol I like W231.
My most used powder is Unique.
I wish they would have kept the Hercules name.
It was Iconic, The burly man with the lion skin on his head!
Unique for me. cast bullit in rifles and a lot of pistols
Unique or Herco in Pistol/Revolver. H4895 in rifles.
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool become servant to the wise of heart. Proverbs 11:29
...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40
Carpe SCOTCH!
I MO.
For rifles , I like RL 7
I use to use SR 4759
But I guess they don't make it any more.
My other choices are 5744 , and light loads Unique.
For pistols , I use Unique or 2400
For me and cast rifle: IMR4227. In a pinch 5744/Buffalo Rifle or maybe Unique and/or Red Dot.
Semi auto Pistol w/ plated or coated bullets for USPSA shoots: HP38
Given this is the CB Loads/Military Rifles sub forum, powders for use in military rifles with cast bullets;
If you're just plinking or shooting to 100 yards then, with the appropriate cast bullet, any of the faster pistol/shotgun powders will do nicely. Red Dot, Unique, Bullseye, etc. PB cast bullets may be used here.
If target shooting for best accuracy out to 200 yards then 2400, 4227 and RL7 are my recommendations if a filler is not used. Either H or IMR 4895 with a dacron filler under a heavy for caliber bullet works very well also. The use of GCs is advised.
If shooting beyond 200 yards, either H or IMR 4895, or slower burning extruded powder through 4831 with a dacron filler [if load density is less than 80%] under a medium to heavy for caliber cast bullet. The use of GCs is advised.
Of course, there are numerous other powders that can be used. The above is just my recommendation.
Larry Gibson
“Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
― Nikola Tesla
I have found nothing better than Reloader No. 7 for 30-30 Win, 308 Win, and 30-06 Springfield.
DRB #2276 President's Hundred 2021
When I go online looking to buy powder, it's been my experience that the powders that work best with cast bullets are the ones that are sold out. If I had to choose 1 powder for rifle, and 1 powder for pistol to load cast with, it would have to be Shooters World Buffalo Rifle and HS-6. Buffalo Rifle is D060, made by Lovex, and is the same as the old formula 5744 that's discussed in the 4th Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. It works well with all my rifle loads, and is exceptional in 7.65x53. HS-6 works good in everything from 38 Special, 357 Mag., 44 mag., and 45 acp.
I like to use faster powder than Unique for most of my cast pistol loads. I'm cheap. I keep what I have left of Unique for some of the higher velocity cast pistol loads.
If HS-6 is anything like AutoComp, I only use that for my hotter jacketed pistol loads, but then I don't have a 44 mag, yet.
Now days , it's mostly Unique followed by 2400 and a smattering of 700X . When I was shooting at small targets from a bench Reloder 7 was my go to powder in the .308 Winchester .
Uses will change for what is "best" .
Jack
Buy it cheap and stack it deep , you may need it !
Black Rifles Matter
I only have three pounds of SR4759 left. Not sure what I'll do when I run out!
Rule .303
The cast bullet editor for The Silhouette magazine once told me that he figured 4227 would go well in anything, including a bowl of Corn Flakes. That pretty much says it all. Unique by any other name would still be Unique, but 4227 might be the other powder that is very unique.
“There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
Cervantes
“Never give up, never quit.”
Robert Rogers
Roger’s Rangers
There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
Will Rogers
There is no 1, "the best powder" for all applications! Unique will work in the most applications but it can not be called the best.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |