[WG710]

/ I have question - Any experience using HP - 38 powder? I've been using 700x for reloading 9mm 124 gr.
Thinking of switching to HP-38 due to availability issues. Burn Rates are close as is the load data. Does anyone have experience with HP-38?

 

[sharpshooter]

Excellent powder for 124gr 9mm. You'll likely settle at 4.2gr for a daily plinker load.

 

[Bradley T]

Really close- like almost the same as W-231, but never is exactly the same on a reloading manual page. Some say it's the "same powder" with different labels even.
I've loaded several handgun calibers with W231. Can't say it's ever disappointed me. I'll get more 231 without batting an eye.

 

[Mark in GA]

It’s Exactly the same powder as W231. Contact Hodgdon and they will confirm. In the past any perceived differences were simply lot-to-lot mfg variations.

Mark in GA

 

[Mark in GA]

Oh, and it will work very well in 9mm 124 std loads. I wouldn’t go chasing max performance or +P type stuff with it though. There are much better safer powders for that!


Mark in GA

 

[jonb32248]

All of the above. Start low and work up.

 

[SargeMO]

I've burned lots of W231/HP38 in 38, 357, 40 S&W, 44 Mag and 45 Colt & ACP. It's a superb standard pistol powder and after 20 years of using it, is still my favorite in that role. It can be a little smoky with lead bullets but simply using coated bullets eliminates that problem entirely.

 

[dla]

Great powder when you want put-put loads. Not a good choice if you want top velocity.

 

[HAMMERHEAD]

HP-38/W231 is an excellent all around powder in 9mm.
It will deliver top velocity with 115 grain or lighter, delivers target speeds for 124 and heavier.
One of my most used powders along with Bullseye.

 

[sharpshooter]

There are a handfull of great 9mm powders. A bunch of good ones. And some poor ones (big flash/smoke, don't meter well in progressives, etc).

HP38/W231 is a great everyday target powder. Burns pretty clean, meters excellent, low muzzle flash, inexpensive, available.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have used HP38/W231 for most of my non-magnum handgun ammo. No problems except it gets erratic at the powderpuff level so I use Bullseye for .45 midrange.

When I was shooting Trap, I used 700X for pistol and shotgun. I did not find it to meter well in 3-5 grain pistol loads, requiring a vibrator on the measure, but then I have already been called dumb on the subject once today.

 

[fredj338]

A lot of shooters use HP38/W231 for service calibers. Its a good tweener powder, but I dont use much, prefer something a bit faster for gamer loads & slower for SD, but it is a good all around powder. It is quite a bit slower than 700x though.

 

[fredj338]

Really close- like almost the same as W-231, but never is exactly the same on a reloading manual page. Some say it's the "same powder" with different labels even.
I've loaded several handgun calibers with W231. Can't say it's ever disappointed me. I'll get more 231 without batting an eye.

Today HP38 is the same as W231, current data also reflects that.

 

[SargeMO]

dla and Jim mentioned something I forgot to; HP38/W231 is what I call a 'zero to sixty' powder. It will easily achieve factory standard velocity with excellent accuracy in almost all standard pistol and revolver cartridges, and make great 850-950 fps loads in the magnums.

But if you want to lean on the throttle, use a powder formulated for top velocity in your chosen cartridge.

 

[colin1230]

Yep, HP-38 is good stuff for 124gr 9mm.

 

[WG710]

Excellent powder for 124gr 9mm. You'll likely settle at 4.2gr for a daily plinker load.

Thanks

 

[recshooter9]

Agree with all the above posts plus HP-38 is an excellent 45acp powder. Using it with 200gr H&G 68 SWC. Softer shooting than my 9mm.

 

[crkckr]

With HP-38 & W231 being the same these days (it hasn't always been true) I use 231 for .32 ACP, 32-20, .380, 9mm, 38 & 357, 357 Max, 10mm, .44 Mag and 45 ACP practice loads. 231 will seldom if ever give you max velocity loads except perhaps in the .32 & .380's. Pressure goes up quickly at top loads and if I remember correctly there are no +P loads with 231. For low to mid range loads however, it's an excellent powder, certainly cleaner than Bullseye or Unique. I've loaded .38 Special using 148 wadcutters down to minimum loads with good success and even loaded .38 Special minimum loads in .357 Mag cases for over 30 years without any problems. The same goes for using .44 Special minimum loads with 190 wadcutters in .44 mag cases. The difference in case volume between the specials and mag cases simply isn't enough to make a difference!
HP-38/W231 is a great powder and is extremely versitile for reloaders and can go from the mildest mouse fart loads to high (but not too high!) loads. I can go up to 11.0 grains with a lead or coated 240 gr. SWC and get a satisfying boom of the .44 Mag or load the 190 gr wadcutter that go wufft and are quite accurate! The stuff is hard to beat unless you want a roar and huge fireball to impress your friends and/or newbies... then you need 296/H110! For max velocity stuff it's hard to beat!
Cheers,
crkckr

 

[rangerhgm]

Excellent powder for 124gr 9mm. You'll likely settle at 4.2gr for a daily plinker load.

Exactly what I use, only with W231.....which is the same powder as HP-38.

 

[Thylacine]

works good from my experience, but I've moved over to Ramshot Silhouette. Meters just a bit better and 231/HP38 I think and has published +p load data for most 9mm's (which is what I load most of my 124's to).