Best handgun powder for light loads

Bushmaster

No goats. Just two horses.

stovepipe

Cool- as long as I keep them fed, my clothes are safe. Usually.

I like horses. Had an Appy stud for a few months as a kid training him. I got some pics at home I'll dig up if I kin findem. He was rough, 3yo, barn-stalled, thick neck, withered rump, long toe nails. Grained and trained him for a few...but riding was 15 mins of crowhopping and shenanigins. Plus he was mean. We got into it a few times, got bit, bit him back, dog's got bit and kicked. So- we cut him. Sad, but, he turned out to be a rider after that. Think he was 14.5h. Sucker was fast and rode smooth. Good legs for cross-country too. Only stumbled once walking into a draw-I went off the front into the dirt, he got up slow and a lil lame on the left front kinda scary, but I walked him off and on for a few, checking fer hot spots in his leg and he shook it off and never lost his footing again. Aftre that I could ride him in the canyons. "Beau" was a good guy after all. Never shot trained him, wasn't my horse. Or I would have. Yer lucky to have hay burners. Miss that bond, they can relate to the handler and are super trainable- even with a walnut sized brain. They are wonderful animals at times. Sometimes? Not so much. Laughing

Bushmaster

No matter how well you train them or how well they may "bond" to you. They will still remind you that they are still horses. And horses do what horses do.

stovepipe

Like I said...sometimes great, sometimes, not so much...hehehehe. Ya know- like when they post up during a trot or take a hard left for no appreant reason and now my new hat and shirt are all dirty. Hate it when that happens. Laughing

Pumpkinslinger

I realized long ago that the only thing dumber than a horse was two horses... Wink

I don't mess with them but my sisters make their livings with them.

inthedark

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

I realized long ago that the only thing dumber than a horse was two horses... Wink

I don't mess with them but my sisters make their livings with them.

I'll contest that statement! The only thing dumber than horse are cows. Dumb Dumb Dumb.
I have started more stampedes than any man has a right to.
I grew up on a ranch with only about 300 odd head of cattle.
The calves will bond with you but they will do the stupidest da*n
things at the worst times when they get older.

PaulS

The problem is that horses are smart - they just use "horse sense". You may not understand why they do what they do but they have a good reason as far as they are concerned. You gotta watch their ears and heads all the time - They can see and hear things that you haven't a clue about. They also have their individual experience, likes, and phobias. I used to ride a horse that would get uneasy around little kids - and would not tollerate being close to little kids with balloons. If I turned him away - with his back to them and talked real low he would stand there as calm as could be until they passed. If I couldn't get him turned then we were off to the races until he tired out or I pulled his lips into his brisket.
Good horse - just had a few peculiar reactions.

slimjim

stovey, its so good to have you back in full form so we can be enjoying the typical bushy-stovey interchange!

What was the topic again?

Bushmaster

The topic was.....How much powder to stuff in Stovey's ears to get the best results when we touch off those shot shells in his mouth.

TRBLSHTR

slimjim wrote:

I've just decided to start loading 9mm (Glock 17). Will follow with .40 (Glock 22 & 24), then .45 (if I get a 1911). I'd like to start with light, soft shooting loads for just general target practice. I've seen some posts that Bulleye, Unique, Titegroup might be some powders to consider. I'd like a powder that is accurate and clean burning. What are your recommendations?

one word.........Bullseye!

slimjim

Bushmaster wrote:

The topic was.....How much powder to stuff in Stovey's ears to get the best results when we touch off those shot shells in his mouth.

Now, Bushy, don't go telling stovey what he can do with this thumb!

Bushmaster

It's a family website. I can't do that... Very Happy

Suzanne

Take it outa his ear so's you can pour in the powder!! Sheeeesh!

Vince

Is the "new and improved" Bullseye the same as the old Bullseye Troubles?

When pistol shooting that is all I would use for target loads...down as low as 2.7gr pushing a 124gn cast 9mm Conical out of a .357 case...extremely accurate and very mild recoil. No way I would use that load in an auto though...doubt very much it would cycle the action.

I remember some of the guys used Bullseye for their autos, but cannot remember what loads they used...700X was another powder that got a bit of use. When ADI started producing their pistol and shotgun powders, I switched over to AS50, then AP50N...great powders.

I believe that the (then) Hercules range of powders were about the best for pistol loads from very mild target loads in a revolver up to and including rather stout loads in revolvers or autos, with Unique being probably the most versatile of the range.

If the Alliant range of powders are basically the same powders, I would certainly be looking at them. I would also be considering the Hogdon range of powders...in particular Clays, HP 38, International and Universal.

Cheers, Vince

Ominivision1

Vince wrote:

I would also be considering the Hogdon range of powders...in particular Clays, HP 38, International and Universal.
Cheers, Vince

Hogdon has gotten the distributorship's for IMR and Winchester powders in the USA. IMR is made by Expro in Canada, Winchester by St Marks Powder in Florida. Both FACTORIES are subsidiaries of General Dynamics. They make the powder and send it by the barrel to Hodgdon for packaging and sale.

Hodgdon Spherical powders are made in the St Marks plant. Several of them are the same as Winchester powders, just under different labels. HP38 and Win. 231 are the same stuff. Other Spherical powder is made to Hodgdon specs; new Bl-C2 is made to replicate the surplus powder that was one of Hogdon's first products. Others are grades of powder that Winchester does not sell any more. You can still get HS6 but not Win. 540, for example.

Hodgdon extruded and flake powders are imported from ADI in Australia. Varget is AR2208 within usual manufacturing tolerances.
Hogdon did have to get ADI to ship them a slightly slower variant of AR2206, listed as AR2206H, to sell as H4895. Hodgdon started out selling surplus DuPont IMR 4895 and when their supplies ran out, went to ICI in Great Britain for an equivalent to keep the product in their lineup. They later changed suppliers to ADI.

For example, Ramshot is a brand of Western Powder Inc who is owned by Accurate Energetics Systems LLC who make the Ramshot powder and explosives for defense industries. Western Powder distributes Ramshot brand powder that is made by the ultimate parent company called Accurate Energetics Systems LLC. That is their relationship. Ramshot is a name, Western Powder is a distributor, AES is the manufacturer.

Hodgdon makes powder just like Ford and GM make "American made cars". Wherever the powder is manufactured, it is done to Hodgdon's specifications and for their commercial gain. Smile

Its really hard to figure out who makes what anymore. Shocked