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What Kind, How Much, and Where?

698 views 13 replies 10 participants last post by  Taterhead 
#1 ·
New to the forum. Signed up specifically for the reloading forum. Tying to stock up on supplies before the impending doom.

I need powder. Plan to load for 9mm, .38 Spl., 10mm, and .223. What are the best powders for these calibers? How much should I buy for an initial investment, and where do you guys like to buy from?

Casual, recreational shooter. AR platform for the 5.56/.223.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Right now, every online place has powder. My advice to anyone, newb or old hand, have a minimum of a two year reserve on hand, never go below that. So what ever your shooting needs are per year, add 2 years to that & rotate as you buy more. Look at a reloading manual, choose a power that a matches your needs. I look for a powder that gives me the vel I want & not be pushing max pressures.

Primers are THE thing to keep in good supply. I can find at least 12 diff powders from 4 diff manuf to work in the 223, can make another 12 work if need be. There are 5 real diff primer manuf. So things start going bad, the supply dries up quick. You want the same 2 year minimum reserve with primers & bullets too IMO.

7000gr to a pound, about 280 loads for the 223 in a pound. If you shoot 1000rds a year you need about 7.25# or one 8# jug for your 2yr reserve + 2000 small rifle primers. Then another for the 1000rds you are gonna shoot for a year.
Pistol powders are really economical. At 5gr avg for each, 1400rds per #, more than 11,000 from an 8# keg. Primers, lots of primers. I could take 12ga shotgun shells apart & get powder for 5-6 pistol loads, but I need primers.
 
#5 ·
Not at all, just depends on what you want to do. I am only pointing out there are literally dozens of choices. How are you loading, progressive or turret or ss? Weighing or throwing charges?Target shooting or factory duplication loads?
You can get one pistol powder for those three but your 10mm won't be full power ammo. I won't load TG, always disliked it but it is cheap. Better would be WSF, AA#5, Universal or Ramshot TrueBlue. That still leaves your 10mm lacking. You would want a slower powder for that like BlueDot, Longshot or AA#7 or AA#9
In 223, ar15 plinking or 223 bolt gun precision? H335 is used by many to duplicate 55gr FMJ factory, but TAC, CFE223, W748, AA2230, AA2520, BLC-2, Benchmark, just a few that will work fine in any progressive loading AR15 ammo. All have a following.
 
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#4 ·
For 9mm and 38 spl I have no problem recommending Hodgdon Titegroup. HP-38 is another for those applications. Right now they are both easy to find and fairly inexpensive for an 8 pound keg. I think it would be ok for 10 mm also.

For .223 I use Hodgdon Varget but that powder is a bit hard to locate in 8 pound kegs. Others may offer better solutions. There is no "one" particular must have powder. Too bad you haven't been developing your handloads because you are now at a great disadvantage not knowing what will be best for you in a crunch. It might be ok but my gut tells me it's 11:45 and the timer is running at full steam.

As Fred has said, powder is good to have but your going nowhere fast if you don't have primers. Lots of primers. I don't mean to sound like a jerk but most of us who handload and shoot a lot have been in preparation mode for quite some time. The last shortage is basically over and supplies are in fairly good condition with a few exceptions. But still there are holes in my supply inventory but I would do ok in another extended time of want. Time to open up that wallet.
 
#6 ·
I can't really help with rifle, as I'm just starting w/ .223 (haven't even loaded a round yet.. hoping to start in about 2 weeks).. but Pistol... 231, Unique, WSF, WST, are all pretty pretty versatile for pistol.

I buy from Powdervalley almost exclusively, and occasionally Graf and Sons.
 
#8 ·
"New to the forum. Signed up specifically for the reloading forum. Tying to stock up on supplies before the impending doom.
I need powder. Plan to load for 9mm, .38 Spl., 10mm, and .223. What are the best powders for these calibers? How much should I buy for an initial investment, and where do you guys like to buy from?
Casual, recreational shooter. AR platform for the 5.56/.223."
I like to buy powder & primers locally to save on Haz-Mat charges, so depending on where you live I would recommend starting there. This week I payed a visit to the store I purchase from and with the exception of primers, the shelves were fully stocked!
"best powders..." I don't know about "best" however for 9mm & 38 special, if I had to choose just one, i'd go with Hodgdon Universal. I don't reload for 10mm or 223 so I can't help you out there - sorry.
"how much..." I agree with fred on this one, have enough on the shelves for at least a 2 year supply at your current rate of shooting. REMEMBER... you have to be able to properly store all those supplies or your investment(s) will be all for nothing.
"where to buy from" Bullets - https://www.precisiondelta.com/ good source for lead bullets - http://www.missouribullet.com/index.php

I hope this helps get you started
 
#11 ·
I think Powder Valley has the best pricing for components online.

I would need to know what you wanted to achieve with your loads to be able to recommend powders (primarily target or SD/hunting, etc. there is a big difference between those from an optimal powder perspective). Fred is right, primers are the key. Stock lots of primers.
 
#12 ·
For 10mm, can't go wrong with Accurate no7 or Hodgdon Long Shot. They will run just about everything well at warm to medium-high impulse 10mm ammo. Long Shot is more efficient and better top end velocities. But No. 7 is less flashy, is cleaner, and meters supremely well. My favorite full-house is Accurate no. 9, but it is very inefficient in the context of long term inventory. It uses about 2/3 more powder than Long Shot.

In 223, I assume it is for an AR. H335 is a standard for 55s and 62s. It meters great too. For 69s and heavier, TAC, Reloder 15, and Varget are good. My preference is for TAC since it meters really well and I load 223 progressively. plus TAC is usually available these days unlike Varget.

WSF, Accurate no. 5, 231/HP-38, Silhouette would all be ok for 9.
 
#13 ·
If you can find it, give AA2520 a go with 68-69gr in 223/5.56. Meters Like TAC or CFE but I get better accuracy.
 
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