School me on powders.

dearslayer

dearslayer

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So is is a good idea to have a bunch of different brands of powder ( aside from possible supply shortages ) for different applications or do most just find a powder that works for ones pistols for instance and just stick with that one particular brand.

GT
 
I started of with known staples (old stuff) 3031 and 4895 and (new stuff) Varget. Still load most of my stuff with those.

I'll throw in a caveat that I load for hunting under 200 yards
 
My basement should be a metal blasters cabin.....complete with flashing lights.

For.the.most part I'm well supplied.and I run to magnum powders.

Anyone have some H870........im hurting.....help a brother out.....need....need>>>>drops to floor, begins to convulse,.foam from lips, head turns backwards ......Turdough....peoplekind.....Pew....Pew.

Sorry had too much coffee and not enough sleep.
 
Buy 1 pound cans of several powders.

Take detailed notes on how each perform (keep targets for each load experiment)

Choose best group.

Confirm the load that gave you best group by making another small batch.

If you have confirmed a good load, then wait until that powder is on sale (example, when SFRC has a 13% flash sale) and borrow as much from the line credit as the wife will allow and stock your cabinets deep with that powder. Preferably all containers of the same lot #.

BTW, for pistol Bulleye works awesome in 45 ACP (and so-so for 9 mm), Power Pistol works very nice for 9mm ... IMO
 
I think I have just over a dozen different types of powders on hand. I have been working through my rifles one by one doing load development, so its been helpful to have a bunch kicking around. I've been having luck with Reliant powders, but I'm starting to think about getting away from them as it sounds like they are very temperature sensitive. Hunting seasons for me can range about 40-50 degrees depending on the year.
 
Munkey1973 said:
Buy 1 pound cans of several powders.

Take detailed notes on how each perform (keep targets for each load experiment)

Choose best group.

Confirm the load that gave you best group by making another small batch.

If you have confirmed a good load, then wait until that powder is on sale (example, when SFRC has a 13% flash sale) and borrow as much from the line credit as the wife will allow and stock your cabinets deep with that powder. Preferably all containers of the same lot #.

BTW, for pistol Bulleye works awesome in 45 ACP (and so-so for 9 mm), Power Pistol works very nice for 9mm ... IMO
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great way to approach it. I'm just starting out to learn. I currently have 2lbs of HP-38 and 1 pound of Titegroup. I've loaded 10 rounds each of 9mm/.40/ and .45 with HP-38 and I'll be going to the range in the morning. It's been closed for quite some time so I'm looking forward to trying these rounds while at the same time feeling a little nervous thinking about what if I goofed something up. Anything I should look out or be prepared for??
 
dearslayer said:
Sounds like a great way to approach it. I'm just starting out to learn. I currently have 2lbs of HP-38 and 1 pound of Titegroup. I've loaded 10 rounds each of 9mm/.40/ and .45 with HP-38 and I'll be going to the range in the morning. It's been closed for quite some time so I'm looking forward to trying these rounds while at the same time feeling a little nervous thinking about what if I goofed something up. Anything I should look out or be prepared for??
Click to expand...

If your just doing handgun loads at this point in your reloading career, then I would suggest the thing you should be wary of most is the risk of a double charge. While it is nearly impossible to do in about 95% of the rifle cartridges in this world.....most pistol cartridges (maybe all?) can potentially hold twice the desired powder charge. I suggest that this is something that you REALLY need to pay attention to if you are using a progressive style reloading press.

Its never happened to me, but I have once shot beside others in an indoor range that had a double charge go off in a 1911. Nobody was injured and the gun did not appear to be damaged, but the additional percussion of the blast was almost a "brown note" laxative for everyone on the firing line. A lot fudge was almost made.




When I started out, I avoided rapid fire until I became more confident in my reloading abilities.
I've never had a squib (no powder) load ever, but imagine what would happen if you had a projectile stuck in the barrel because a charge powder was missed.... then followed it up with a regular load ?

Like I said, never had a squib...there might not be enough energy to chamber another round (someone with more experience might answer that)... just take er' easy until your confidence and experience grows.
 
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Munkey1973 said:
If your just doing handgun loads at this point in your reloading career, then I would suggest the thing you should be wary of most is the risk of a double charge. While it is nearly impossible to do in about 95% of the rifle cartridges in this world.....most pistol cartridges (maybe all?) can potentially hold twice the desired powder charge. I suggest that this is something that you REALLY need to pay attention to if you are using a progressive style reloading press.

Its never happened to me, but I have once shot beside others in an indoor range that had a double charge go off in a 1911. Nobody was injured and the gun did not appear to be damaged, but the additional percussion of the blast was almost a "brown note" laxative for everyone on the firing line. A lot fudge was almost made.




When I started out, I avoided rapid fire until I became more confident in my reloading abilities.
I've never had a squib (no powder) load ever, but imagine what would happen if you had a projectile stuck in the barrel because a charge powder was missed.... then followed it up with a regular load ?

Like I said, never had a squib...there might not be enough energy to chamber another round (someone with more experience might answer that)... just take er' easy until your confidence and experience grows.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like good advise and dually noted. I tried to pay extra care when reloading them but by the same token I did catch myself a couple times making minor mistakes. Well fingers crossed ( and hopes I keep them ) that it goes well tomorrow.
 
A lot (such as myself) here that learned to reload on their own via CGN, manuals, and Youtube probably all had butterflies in their stomachs when the shot their first batch of their own brand.

Shooting my first handloads was just as intense as the first time I ever shot a gun (handgun).

Now-a-days I honestly have more faith in the safety (and obviously accuracy) my own handloads then I do of anything that made in factory. I know precisely the level of care and attention to detail that went into my handloads.

I'm sure it will work out well for you tomorrow. Cheers.
 
Munkey1973 said:
A lot (such as myself) here that learned to reload on their own via CGN, manuals, and Youtube probably all had butterflies in their stomachs when the shot their first batch of their own brand.

Shooting my first handloads was just as intense as the first time I ever shot a gun (handgun).

Now-a-days I honestly have more faith in the safety (and obviously accuracy) my own handloads then I do of anything that made in factory. I know precisely the level of care and attention to detail that went into my handloads.

I'm sure it will work out well for you tomorrow. Cheers.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for the vote of confidence. Need all I can get at this point.

Next question... So I assume if I bring one 9mm for instance ( I have 3 different 9mm's ) the loaded rounds would perhaps shoot differently in all three pistols? I have 2 CZ's and a 1911. Also would it shoot differently in a Ruger PC9 rifle? I don't know the answer but I think it probably would due to different springs tensions etc to cycle the action? Would this be correct ,and if it is, would I be better served to take say just one 9mm and go from there. By the way the 9mm loads are Campro 115gn RN FCP bullets with 4.7gn of HP-38.
 
Buy a versatile pistol powder like TG (or whatever powder will load the majority of what you shoot).
 
Munkey1973 said:
If your just doing handgun loads at this point in your reloading career, then I would suggest the thing you should be wary of most is the risk of a double charge. While it is nearly impossible to do in about 95% of the rifle cartridges in this world.....most pistol cartridges (maybe all?) can potentially hold twice the desired powder charge. I suggest that this is something that you REALLY need to pay attention to if you are using a progressive style reloading press.
Click to expand...

Agreed that you need to pay attention while reloading.
The comment regarding loading on a progressive depends on what type of press.
My Hornady has auto advance and case activated powder drop so under normal operations (not manually backing it up or running out of powder) it is pretty much impossible to skip a charge or do a double charge.
So imo a good progressive can reduce these type of mistages.
 
bertn said:
Agreed that you need to pay attention while reloading.
The comment regarding loading on a progressive depends on what type of press.
My Hornady has auto advance and case activated powder drop so under normal operations (not manually backing it up or running out of powder) it is pretty much impossible to skip a charge or do a double charge.
So imo a good progressive can reduce these type of mistages.
Click to expand...



What exactly does "Hornady has auto advance and case activated powder drop " mean? The Lee Classic Turret that I'm using turns with each pull of the handle and the powder is dropped with the Lee Drum measure on one of those pulls... is that the same principle or no?? Just trying to understand is all.
 
Yes but define differently!

For example, how did you come up with the overall length of your round? You should have tested for max overall length in all of your barrels. Also, velocity and accuracy can/will change etc.

hxxps://forums.brianenos.com/topic/292584-9-mm-147gr-jhp-rmr-23538-recipes/?tab=comments#comment-3247079

There's a lot to learn but you'll get there...
 
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