good powder for rifle AND handgun?

[Guest 70below]

Is there such thing as a good powder for rifle and handgun cartridges? I'm working on get some supplies together to start handloading and if possible would like a powder that will do ok in both rifle and handgun cartridges. I would prefer just to limit how much I'm buying initially while I'm learning but still save a bit by buying in bulk. I believe initially I'd like to reload for 30-06 and .44 mag or possibly .380. The .44 and .380 loads would just be plinking stuff, but I would probably want a bit more accuracy from the '06. Any suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Guest Astra900]

I have been on a quest for many years to condense my powder inventory, but what you seek really doesn't exist. You will need ATLEAST 2 different powders. Currently I use only 1 kind of rifle powder. AA 2520. Also known as the Camp Perry powder. With it I get very accurate results, acceptable load density and low pressures. I use it to load .223, .308, 8x57, and .303 British.

Pistols? I have been using AA No2, but will be switching to No5 soon cause i got a good deal on it in bulk. No2 is very good for 9mm and .45acp. It would do very well in your .380 as well. It has one of the lowest load densities (uses the least powder) which makes it very economical. Your .44 mag??? No go, you will probably need a better powder for that. I use AA Nitro 100 for light .45 LC loads, and AA No7 for more serious stuff.

Some people use a myriad of different powders, but I don't. Needless to say, no matter how many powders you decide to stock for yourself, CHeck, Check AND DOUBLE CHECK, AND ALWAYS KEEP TIGHT RECORDS!

Good Luck!

[Curiousgb]

I wouldn't avice loading rifles with pistol poweder, can you say Darwin award. Rifles and Pistols are two very different beasts when it comes to reloading. Pistol powders have much faster burn rates than rifle. If you put 40 grains of unique in a 06 case it would probably blow up the rifle. Unique can be used for both 380 and 44. You really need to get a couple of load manuals. Be careful and follow the manuals.

[Guest Astra900]

I have seen first hand in a controlled experiment, what a 6.5mm carcano loaded with bullseye will do. Wow. If some fool ever tried that, he would be permanently removed from the gene pool 4 sure!

[Guest 70below]

Load manuals are first on my list of things to get........I'm just trying to decide which ones to start with.....I thought maybe the Lee reloading manual since I have a Lee press and have heard its a good beginners manual, and something like Lyman or Speer.

[Guest Astra900]

You're doing right. The Lee manual will do you well. As would anyone who is loyal to a specific brand, I would steer you toward an Accurate Arms manual. I am a die hard AA man, but there are so many good powders out there, that's going to be one of your biggest problems, choosing a brand to get started with.

[Westwindmike]

I use AA 5 for all my pistol loads. I used to load hundreds of 44spl for cowboy shooting and it was a good powder for that.Loaded 9mm and 38spl with it too.

For most of my rifles, I like Winchester 748. It flows well in the powder measure and is very consistent. I've heard it works well in .223/5.56 also.

[glockster157]

There are some rifle and pistol combos that are possible but we are not talking 30-06 and 38spl. My 45-70, I have used 2400, AA MP5744, H110/296, reduced loads with Unique. 30 Carbine(I know, glorified pistol round), H110/296, 2400, 1680. Not great examples. but magnum pistol powders or medium burning pistol powders with lots of filler can be used for reduced velocity loads in many rifles.

[Guest 70below]

Thank for all the help and suggestions guys. I swung by the gander mountain on the way home thinking maybe they would have a manual to get me started. Not one! All they had were some sort of plastic bound caliber specific loading manuals that looked like someone sat around photocopying and binding all day. Guess I'll order 'em.

[Curiousgb]

Thank for all the help and suggestions guys. I swung by the gander mountain on the way home thinking maybe they would have a manual to get me started. Not one! All they had were some sort of plastic bound caliber specific loading manuals that looked like someone sat around photocopying and binding all day. Guess I'll order 'em.

I have a few of those. They can be quite handy.

[glockster157]

Just look online

http://www.accuratepowder.com/reloading.htm

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

http://gunloads.com/

http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp?

This is just some of what is available.