Pistol powder

[acloco]

HS6 - works in all of these calibers.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Blue Dot.

 

[ballistic64]

231/HP38, basically same powder and covers very wide range.

 

[wagonman]

HS6 - works in all of these calibers.

yes it does, and very well in upper midrange loads in 44 and 357

 

[rogn]

Unique and a couple other powders will make all of your collection of calibers go BANG, but what are your goals.
A powder that's efficient in a small case like a 9x19 is going to be a plinker in a 45C. Conversely a powder with good results in the 45C may be a total dud in the 9mm.

 

[JSH]

Unique.
As mentioned it may or may not be the best. It may burn a little sooty, but it wipes right off.
If you want ONE do all powder that can be pressed into service with pistol and rifle with cast bullets and jacketed, that will give very acceptable results with available published load data it IS
Unique. Buy an 8lb when you can find one.

 

[servant403]

I have to agree with those who have answered UNIQUE. I really like the versatility of Unique for almost any pistol caliber. And even light loads in some rifles. Its not the best for higher end.44 or .357 mag loads. There are better powders for that. It wont attain the velocities that 2400, AA9, H110 or other slower burning propellants will. Not close. But it will do in a pinch. I thought it was very good in .45acp and 38special in light cast loads or higher velocity jacketed. Not the greatest metering or cleanest powder. But if I could only have one powder for the calibers I have. Unique would be it.

 

[Twicepop]

Alliant Unique and Hodgdon Longshot. Unique works very well in shotgun loads and can also be used in many reduced loads in rifles.

 

[FNSafari]

Unique checks all the boxes listed above. I've used it in all of the rounds listed, except 45 long colt. I never owned one.

Ditto and H110 or 2400 for the 41 and 44.

 

[PopCharlie]

Ditto and H110 or 2400 for the 41 and 44.

Yeah, 2400 was my go to powder for 44 mag. It worked well in my Contender. I shot low power practice loads and full power loads using 2400.

PopCharlie

 

[FNSafari]

Yeah, 2400 was my go to powder for 44 mag. It worked well in my Contender. I shot low power practice loads and full power loads using 2400.

PopCharlie

Pop, my favorite heavy load powder for 44 mag when I shot metallic silhouettes was 2400, hand down.

 

[H2OBUG]

Unique and 2400

Also consider BE-86

 

[servant403]

Unique and 2400

Also consider BE-86

If we are going to pick 2 powders I would add 2400 after Unique. Its much more versatile than most slow magnum powders. Ive gotten good accuracy at listed starting charges and slightly below in .357 and .44 with it.
I dont go below listed start figures with any other slow burning powder. Trouble with 2400 and Unique is they are hard to find around here even in more "regular" times.
I tried some Universal the other day just to save me from shooting up all my Unique. I used Hodgdon Starting charges listed for pistol in a .44 mag rifle with both180 grain and 200 grain JHPs. I was impressed with the grouping potential. I had heard so much bad about the position sensitivity of this powder I was not expecting much. But the 25 shots I took with it were pretty darn good for a powder some say doesent work in big cases.
Im going to try it next in .45acp and .38 special

 

[powderbrake]

Bullseye for 38 through 45,
2400 for 45Colt and 44 Mag.

 

[skeeljc]

Hodgdon HS-6

 

[divingin]

Bullseye for 38 through 45,

I'm running Titegroup (up until I run out, anyway) for 32 Smith&Wesson Long, 38Spl (WC), and 45ACP. I have some Universal Clays, and some other powder I don't remember, to work up loads for when I do run out of TG in the next couple of months.

 

[GuitarmanNick]

I like Unique for all of my pistol loads and it is even good for 7.62x39 cast loads. Very versatile. The only caution I would give is to check all of your cases for a double charge before seating the bullets. On some calibers, there will be a lot of empty space. Burns pretty clean, too.
Got lucky and ordered some from Everglades this morning. It hasn't been in stock anywhere for many months.

 

[Retired Guy]

Unique will work well for all of those calibers. I find the current Unique is not as dirty as the stuff I used back in the 70-80s. Almost impossible to double charge.

These days, I have been using W231 for 9mm,, 38 Spl, and .45 ACP. Still using Unique for .44 Mag.