Guide to Smokeless Powder

For all your cast boo-lit needs.
Winner
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Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Winner » Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:04 pm

I don't know anything about reloading. So this looks like a good place to start.

https://www.wideners.com/smokeless-powder-guide

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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Wyldman » Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:16 pm

Get Lee's Reloading guide and a couple of other reloading books. The recipes included have many powder type recommendations, and the whole first half of the Lee book is step by step reloading instructions.

It's a great place to start.

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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by PDM » Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:19 pm

Good information, but doesn't really help with reloading. The best place to start is something like the current edition of the Lyman Reloading Manual
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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Wyldman » Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:28 pm

Or the latest Speer, Hornady, Sierra, Nosler, etc. Almost all bullet manufacturers have them.

The Lee Reloading manual is a great primer for the novice to get started with, that's why I specifically suggested it.

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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by PDM » Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:29 pm

Wyldman wrote:Or the latest Speer, Hornady, Sierra, Nosler, etc. Almost all bullet manufacturers have them.

The Lee Reloading manual is a great primer for the novice to get started with, that's why I specifically suggested it.

Crush, kill, mangle, maim, destroy.

Sorry. Didn't see your first post
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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Whootsinator » Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:47 pm

http://www.vihtavuori.com/upload/guide- ... engwww.pdf

Vihta Vuori reloading manual, if anyone has a use for it.
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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Wyldman » Thu Nov 03, 2016 8:19 pm

I have one, actually I have about 14 different loading manuals. I like to be able to see different data from different sources and compare data for mistakes, which can and do happen.

One word of caution, utilizing load data from Internet forum posts can be extremely dangerous. Another reason to have as many sources of data as possible.

Even powder manufacturers can have errors creep into thier data. Cross check often until you get familiar with the products you are using.

Although they are not always the absolute very best powders, I use Bullseye and Unique for pistol cartridges a lot. They are very consistent and have decades of user data available for reliable cross checking of loads.

Either of those powders can be used for everything from .25 ACP to .454 Casull.

Blue Dot, Red Dot, Green Dot, etc. all started our as shot shell powders but, over the years, have been used in nearly every kind of cartridge you can think of.

Optimal? Maybe not, but very consistant and reliable data that produces excellent results.

IMR 4320, a great rifle cartridge powder that can be tuned like a piano in bottle necked cartridges is an old stand-by from over 50 years ago, but some of my best .308 loads utilize it. I buy it whenever I can find it.

The point is, find a powder that works for you, develop your loads, and stick with it. Experimentation is fine, but proceed with extreme caution when doing it.

Learning how to ladder load is far more important than what new powder you are using this week.

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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Dustin » Thu Nov 03, 2016 8:39 pm

Data changes over time. I was using red dot in 45 Acp. But it has been dropped for all manuals.

Titegroup is a great pistol powder be carful of a double charge.


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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Joe » Fri Nov 04, 2016 9:41 am

As Wyldman said you can never have enough information. I have used a lot of Unique, 38Special 357Mag 45ACP 45LC 44Mag. I have never used it in my 454Casull. 8grs of Unique and a 240gr LSWC in my Humble Opinion is one of the greatest practice loads that can be had in a 44Mag. There are many opinions like this. Check each and every one you get.

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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Toddstang » Fri Nov 04, 2016 11:11 am

Yep.
I actually cross reference 3 different loading manuals myself.
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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by Vividia » Fri Nov 04, 2016 10:20 pm

+1 on all the cross checking. I have a dozen or more loading manuals, and all are checked every time i start to build a new load.

The ABCs of Reloading is a good place to start for a concise discussion of the basics.

Another more esoteric book is "Pet Loads." Older info but useful.

I also highly recommend the book "propellant profiles." It is a collection of articles and reviews on many powders, complete with testing and recipes. Very useful when selecting a powder for a particular cartridge. On the more common powders, it may have 2 or 3 articles that were written years/decades apart. It's interesting to see how loads change over the years. I find this book useful when I have chosen the bullet, and then compare the info from the bullet maker's manual to the various powders they list for the bullet i have chosen.
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Re: Guide to Smokeless Powder

Post by guncrank1 » Sat Nov 05, 2016 6:44 am

I have seen more firearms blowed from reloading errors , than I would like to see.

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