testtest

Powder selection

Wet noodle or straight as an arrow

  • Wet noodle

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Straight as an arrow

    Votes: 4 100.0%
  • Total voters
    4
TEXASforLIFE

TEXASforLIFE

SAINT
When one makes a choice are they basing it on, "Do I compress or use a faster burn for less capacity?" Do you like baby rattles or peace end quiet for your case? Is it about keeping your lead stiff so that copper flies? Maybe there are those out there that always feels the need for speed. I going to poll on "wet noodle or straight as an arrow".
 
TEXASforLIFE said:
When one makes a choice are they basing it on, "Do I compress or use a faster burn for less capacity?" Do you like baby rattles or peace end quiet for your case? Is it about keeping your lead stiff so that copper flies? Maybe there are those out there that always feels the need for speed. I going to poll on "wet noodle or straight as an arrow".
Click to expand...
Different loads call for different powders loaded to different configurations. To preclude set back on the 357 SIG bullet I go with a filled case. A handgun loader I use Clays or Tightgroup as a fast powder say in 9mm and then some slower Win 296 in 454 and such. Mind you that the slowest powder I use is really a mid range for burn rate. There are much slower that will of course be used quite well in the long guns.
My hand cannons that are fired for fun I like to Kick, Flash and go BANG! EDC is of course quite sensibly loaded for effect.

This response was actually started two weeks ago... some how I got side tracked and it didn't get posted.
 
When I got started 2 years ago, the only place around me that I knew of was Cabela’s. I had press, dies, and 1000s of fired 9mm that I’d saved for 2 1/2 decades...knowing one day I wanted to reload. I also had Hornady 9th edition (came with the press). My wife and I went to Cabela’s where I looked at the shelves of powder and picked the only one I saw with 9mm recipes on the bottle...HP-38. I also grabbed a brick of CCI Small Pistol primers (without seeing the tiny red letters M A G N U and M). Who knew it would be a fine powder for every pistol caliber I ended up reloading, save the .357Mag...which I am loading with .38 Spl recipes? I also grabbed a box of Berry’s 115gr CPRN and got busy.
Nearly all of my early powders were serendipitous purchases, as I took huge advantage of the bullets.com going out of business sale in early to mid 2018. I ended up with Vihtavuori 3N37 (4 lbs) and N320 (1 lb), as well as 3 bottles of Silhouette and 1 of WST. I tried to get more VV N320, but all of the VV powders went quick.
Since then my powder purchases have been more thought filled, as I had specific purposes in mind...and I‘ve assembled multiple ARs. My H110 was with thoughts of loading the 357 magnum, as magnum loads. It remains unopened at this point. CFE Pistol was a strategic purchase to test against 3N37, but with (hopefully) cleaner results. I recently picked up a jug of N330, as everyone was out of N320, and it appears that N330 will fill in for nearly all of my favorite loads, and the Vihtavuori app has as many loads for it as it does N320.
My “rifle” powders are all focused on .300 Blackout...thus the IMR 4227, Accurate 1680, Vihtavuori N120 and N130, CFE-Black, and the H4198.
This takes me to my largest stash of powder...and my least favorite...I picked up 16 lbs of Universal on a Gander Outdoors clearance. When you pay less than $10/lb for powder....maybe something’s not right. Fighting terribly with this powder...but with 16 lbs I’ve got to keep working at it. The loads just aren’t right...and thus...EVERY load I‘ve tried with Universal is limper than a limp noodle. I’m at maximum on some 9mm loads, and nearly every tested firearm fails to cycle. The only pistol that tends to eat all the loads is my Kimber Micro 9. Taurus G2C fails, Beretta 92FS fails, Kahr CM9 fails, Smith & Wesson Shield fails, the Ruger runs some round, and the Glock is worst of all.
Long post...but it makes up for the fact that no one else is responding.
 
markr6754 said:
When I got started 2 years ago, the only place around me that I knew of was Cabela’s. I had press, dies, and 1000s of fired 9mm that I’d saved for 2 1/2 decades...knowing one day I wanted to reload. I also had Hornady 9th edition (came with the press). My wife and I went to Cabela’s where I looked at the shelves of powder and picked the only one I saw with 9mm recipes on the bottle...HP-38. I also grabbed a brick of CCI Small Pistol primers (without seeing the tiny red letters M A G N U and M). Who knew it would be a fine powder for every pistol caliber I ended up reloading, save the .357Mag...which I am loading with .38 Spl recipes? I also grabbed a box of Berry’s 115gr CPRN and got busy.
Nearly all of my early powders were serendipitous purchases, as I took huge advantage of the bullets.com going out of business sale in early to mid 2018. I ended up with Vihtavuori 3N37 (4 lbs) and N320 (1 lb), as well as 3 bottles of Silhouette and 1 of WST. I tried to get more VV N320, but all of the VV powders went quick.
Since then my powder purchases have been more thought filled, as I had specific purposes in mind...and I‘ve assembled multiple ARs. My H110 was with thoughts of loading the 357 magnum, as magnum loads. It remains unopened at this point. CFE Pistol was a strategic purchase to test against 3N37, but with (hopefully) cleaner results. I recently picked up a jug of N330, as everyone was out of N320, and it appears that N330 will fill in for nearly all of my favorite loads, and the Vihtavuori app has as many loads for it as it does N320.
My “rifle” powders are all focused on .300 Blackout...thus the IMR 4227, Accurate 1680, Vihtavuori N120 and N130, CFE-Black, and the H4198.
This takes me to my largest stash of powder...and my least favorite...I picked up 16 lbs of Universal on a Gander Outdoors clearance. When you pay less than $10/lb for powder....maybe something’s not right. Fighting terribly with this powder...but with 16 lbs I’ve got to keep working at it. The loads just aren’t right...and thus...EVERY load I‘ve tried with Universal is limper than a limp noodle. I’m at maximum on some 9mm loads, and nearly every tested firearm fails to cycle. The only pistol that tends to eat all the loads is my Kimber Micro 9. Taurus G2C fails, Beretta 92FS fails, Kahr CM9 fails, Smith & Wesson Shield fails, the Ruger runs some round, and the Glock is worst of all.
Long post...but it makes up for the fact that no one else is responding.
Click to expand...
3N37 has been versatile for me, as in my 9, sig, 40, 10 and 45acp.
 
TEXASforLIFE said:
Silhouette is a hot one for the heavier bullets.
Click to expand...
I wasn’t a big fan of Silhouette at the start. It grew on me over time. I’m on my 2nd bottle now. The only other powder I’ve used a full pound is HP-38. If I went to an AP I’d definitely want an easy loading powder like Silhouette or HP-38. No way would I ever use Universal...I have to fight my powder dispenser.
 
markr6754 said:
I wasn’t a big fan of Silhouette at the start. It grew on me over time. I’m on my 2nd bottle now. The only other powder I’ve used a full pound is HP-38. If I went to an AP I’d definitely want an easy loading powder like Silhouette or HP-38. No way would I ever use Universal...I have to fight my powder dispenser.
Click to expand...
Or unique
 
markr6754 said:
When I got started 2 years ago, the only place around me that I knew of was Cabela’s. I had press, dies, and 1000s of fired 9mm that I’d saved for 2 1/2 decades...knowing one day I wanted to reload. I also had Hornady 9th edition (came with the press). My wife and I went to Cabela’s where I looked at the shelves of powder and picked the only one I saw with 9mm recipes on the bottle...HP-38. I also grabbed a brick of CCI Small Pistol primers (without seeing the tiny red letters M A G N U and M). Who knew it would be a fine powder for every pistol caliber I ended up reloading, save the .357Mag...which I am loading with .38 Spl recipes? I also grabbed a box of Berry’s 115gr CPRN and got busy.
Nearly all of my early powders were serendipitous purchases, as I took huge advantage of the bullets.com going out of business sale in early to mid 2018. I ended up with Vihtavuori 3N37 (4 lbs) and N320 (1 lb), as well as 3 bottles of Silhouette and 1 of WST. I tried to get more VV N320, but all of the VV powders went quick.
Since then my powder purchases have been more thought filled, as I had specific purposes in mind...and I‘ve assembled multiple ARs. My H110 was with thoughts of loading the 357 magnum, as magnum loads. It remains unopened at this point. CFE Pistol was a strategic purchase to test against 3N37, but with (hopefully) cleaner results. I recently picked up a jug of N330, as everyone was out of N320, and it appears that N330 will fill in for nearly all of my favorite loads, and the Vihtavuori app has as many loads for it as it does N320.
My “rifle” powders are all focused on .300 Blackout...thus the IMR 4227, Accurate 1680, Vihtavuori N120 and N130, CFE-Black, and the H4198.
This takes me to my largest stash of powder...and my least favorite...I picked up 16 lbs of Universal on a Gander Outdoors clearance. When you pay less than $10/lb for powder....maybe something’s not right. Fighting terribly with this powder...but with 16 lbs I’ve got to keep working at it. The loads just aren’t right...and thus...EVERY load I‘ve tried with Universal is limper than a limp noodle. I’m at maximum on some 9mm loads, and nearly every tested firearm fails to cycle. The only pistol that tends to eat all the loads is my Kimber Micro 9. Taurus G2C fails, Beretta 92FS fails, Kahr CM9 fails, Smith & Wesson Shield fails, the Ruger runs some round, and the Glock is worst of all.
Long post...but it makes up for the fact that no one else is responding.
Click to expand...
Maybe has 8# of sand mixed in!! Kidding of course......
Looking at some of my load books it has the lowest pressure when used in the 9's and such. I like Clay's and Titegroup. Uncorks nicely and cycles too.
 
IMR-4227..... years ago I used that in my 44 mags as I recall. 265JHP with a compressed powder charge
made the old Super Blackhawk bark pretty good.
But, man that stuff was soooooooo dirty...... Since I started back a couple years ago I made a rule to
never have that stuff in the house ever again.
 
SMSgtRod said:
IMR-4227..... years ago I used that in my 44 mags as I recall. 265JHP with a compressed powder charge
made the old Super Blackhawk bark pretty good.
But, man that stuff was soooooooo dirty...... Since I started back a couple years ago I made a rule to
never have that stuff in the house ever again.
Click to expand...
Now you tell me! Actually, I guess I don’t mind dirty powder. I clean my pistols often...I used to clean them after every shooting session, but have relented a bit, and now generally wipe them down and do a full cleaning as needed, or when I’m particularly motivated. It always possible that I haven’t actually shot any “dirty” powders yet. I’ve still to test the IMR 4227 loads, maybe give it a go on Monday.
 
markr6754 said:
Now you tell me! Actually, I guess I don’t mind dirty powder. I clean my pistols often...I used to clean them after every shooting session, but have relented a bit, and now generally wipe them down and do a full cleaning as needed, or when I’m particularly motivated. It always possible that I haven’t actually shot any “dirty” powders yet. I’ve still to test the IMR 4227 loads, maybe give it a go on Monday.
Click to expand...
Guess I should have been a bit more specific. When I say dirty I wasn't so much referring to the 44 mag.
I mean after a 100 round session I, as in me and the wife, where physically filthy. Every time I'm going through
reloading manuals and see IMR-4227 I cringe. Now I use a number of others and it seems that they all burn
cleaner.
 
SMSgtRod said:
Guess I should have been a bit more specific. When I say dirty I wasn't so much referring to the 44 mag.
I mean after a 100 round session I, as in me and the wife, where physically filthy. Every time I'm going through
reloading manuals and see IMR-4227 I cringe. Now I use a number of others and it seems that they all burn
cleaner.
Click to expand...
Got it...doesn’t apply. I scrounge brass off the disgusting range floor, so I’m always filthy after a shooting session. I have to scrub up in the restroom before even considering leaving the range. I should probably stop doing that, but I don’t hate picking up some extra brass. A few months ago I picked up over 50 .357 Mag shells. Sweet!
 
I load to near/at 100% to try to get the accuracy I'm looking for.

I avoid compressed loads since I looking for accuracy vs. max velocity.
 
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