Powder for Beginners
- Thread starter Finch
- Start date
boltonscouter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- parts unknown
Rifle, pistol or shotgun??
What caliber?
Buy a reloading book and see what they recommend for your situation.
Once we know what you're reloading we would have a better idea of what to suggest!
What caliber?
Buy a reloading book and see what they recommend for your situation.
Once we know what you're reloading we would have a better idea of what to suggest!
powder
i like winchester 231 for most of my pistol loads, .38spl, .357 mag, .40S&W and .45ACP. I know that there are better powders for specific calibers but,
this one is a good compromise for all of them. Added bonus, i don't have to fuss with changing the powder in the powder measure every time i change calibers and not have to worry about the loading with the wrong powder.
cons: winchester 231 can have higher pressures compared to other powders.
i also have tried Hogdedon Tite group and it also works well.
i'm basically target shooting so, i'm not really loading to the higher end.
good luck with your choice
i like winchester 231 for most of my pistol loads, .38spl, .357 mag, .40S&W and .45ACP. I know that there are better powders for specific calibers but,
this one is a good compromise for all of them. Added bonus, i don't have to fuss with changing the powder in the powder measure every time i change calibers and not have to worry about the loading with the wrong powder.
cons: winchester 231 can have higher pressures compared to other powders.
i also have tried Hogdedon Tite group and it also works well.
i'm basically target shooting so, i'm not really loading to the higher end.
good luck with your choice
You will need different powders for pistol and rifle. And even that is very general. What works great in your .30-06 might not work well or at all in your .223 etc.
A very common question is what powder should I buy for these 3 calibres. And there isnt really a right answer for it. Although there are some powders that perform well for many people in many calibres, eventually you will need several types if you load for more than one gun.
A very common question is what powder should I buy for these 3 calibres. And there isnt really a right answer for it. Although there are some powders that perform well for many people in many calibres, eventually you will need several types if you load for more than one gun.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
There are some that work in many chamberings, they may not be the perfect accuracy or performance but they will work.
Check out Winchester powder and their sister powders, you can pick a chambering and see what the different powders do in a particular choice and then you can see how many they over lap with, it is actually quite broad.
A ball powder is nice for handling, I use W760 and it does work in a range of chamberings and is easier to handle/meter.
Once you get more experienced and fussy you will fine tune with trying different powders to make improvements, I still consider myself rather novice in reloading as well, still much to learn.
Check out Winchester powder and their sister powders, you can pick a chambering and see what the different powders do in a particular choice and then you can see how many they over lap with, it is actually quite broad.
A ball powder is nice for handling, I use W760 and it does work in a range of chamberings and is easier to handle/meter.
Once you get more experienced and fussy you will fine tune with trying different powders to make improvements, I still consider myself rather novice in reloading as well, still much to learn.
3 go-to powders in my arsenal:
Hodgdon Clays - handgun and shotgun cartridges.
Varget - small to medium rifle cartridges. RL-15 or IMR 4064 could work equally well in these applications.
H4831 - Magnum Cartridges.
Add Lil-gun to the mix if you want to do a lot of reloading for magnum handgun cartridges.
Most of my reloading is with one of those powders, although I do keep stocks of a dozen others for specific applications.
Hodgdon Clays - handgun and shotgun cartridges.
Varget - small to medium rifle cartridges. RL-15 or IMR 4064 could work equally well in these applications.
H4831 - Magnum Cartridges.
Add Lil-gun to the mix if you want to do a lot of reloading for magnum handgun cartridges.
Most of my reloading is with one of those powders, although I do keep stocks of a dozen others for specific applications.
If your loading pistol, I've just gone through this experience myself and am very happy I started with Unique. Especially if you are starting on a progressive.
The reason is was good for a new progressive reloader is that the powder flakes are of a size that when you forget to prime a cartridge on the ram downstroke, the powder won't fall through the flash hole.
Having said that, I have since moved on to power pistol because the large flakes in Unique don't meter as consistently for the same reason above. If you happen to live in GTA, i have approx 0.5lb Unique that you can have to get started.
The reason is was good for a new progressive reloader is that the powder flakes are of a size that when you forget to prime a cartridge on the ram downstroke, the powder won't fall through the flash hole.
Having said that, I have since moved on to power pistol because the large flakes in Unique don't meter as consistently for the same reason above. If you happen to live in GTA, i have approx 0.5lb Unique that you can have to get started.
I suppose I didn't fill people in well enough, for that I'm sorry. I'm well aware that I need different powders for different applications I was wondering more along the lines of which brands/composition you prefer.
Here is what I should have asked:
I'm currently getting the pieces together to begin reloading some 45-70. It's going to be a target practice round, utility only, not high precision. I'm going to be keeping the load fairly mild, I've got no one to try and impress with recoil.
That being said, does anyone have any propellant suggestions with regard to the 45-70?
Here is what I should have asked:
I'm currently getting the pieces together to begin reloading some 45-70. It's going to be a target practice round, utility only, not high precision. I'm going to be keeping the load fairly mild, I've got no one to try and impress with recoil.
That being said, does anyone have any propellant suggestions with regard to the 45-70?
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Yup.... Goex FFg!
Kidding... Sorta
Look for cowboy action load recipes in smokeless powder, lite recoil and easy on the brass! Then when you want to test you pain threshold step up to heavier bullets... 45/70 is very forgiving to reload.
