Recomendations on bullets and powder - The Firearms Forum

hero0526 · 06-02-2009, 10:57 AM

Hello all,

I am about to venture into reloading with the assistance of my Grandfatehr who has reloaded before, but has been a few years. I intend to reload .45 ACP for a glock g30sf and .38/.357 magnum for a Colt python. This ammo will primarily be for target practice and I am looking for recomendations on bullet and powder combinations that work well in these pistols. I would like to get a powder that will work for both is possible. Please let me know what you guys think. I already have dies and press (lee) if that is usefull as well.

retired grunt · 06-02-2009, 11:08 AM

I shoot titegroup myself here is the link to hodgdon powder reloading data, pick the bullet weight and type you will be shooting and choose a powder that is available. http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Lotsdragon · 06-02-2009, 11:34 AM

HP 38 works fairly well in both..................it really depends on what grain/type of bullet you are going to use. Myself I load a bum full of 38's with trailboss, just about my favorite powder. Good luck and be safe......

Lotsdragon · 06-02-2009, 11:36 AM

Oh and be careful of your wallet, its addictive as all get out..........

doug66 · 06-02-2009, 02:18 PM

Welcome aboard,

158gr for 38/357
200gr for 45ACP
I use Unique for both, most importantly buy and read a modern reloading manual. I enjoy Lyman's.

Terry_P · 06-03-2009, 07:50 PM

I have burned up a lot of Blue Dot in both those calibers over the years. My advice is to buy a brand new reloading manual like a Speer Manual as that will contain instructions, safety considerations and equipment choices for you to make. There may be a lot of new stuff out there since your Grandfather loaded and you can both learn together. The main thing is to stay safe and then have fun. Good luck.

JLA · 06-03-2009, 08:07 PM

unique and bluedot are excellent all arounds for both cartridges. I also like the hp-38. some real good suggestions here...

Suwannee Tim · 06-04-2009, 03:40 PM

I don't like Blue Dot for 45 ACP or 38 Special, it is too slow for these applications. Blue Dot needs a lot of pressure to burn cleanly, more pressure than you will develop in any 45 or 38 load and it takes more BD to do the job than most other powders. Yeah, I know they publish data for it..... Unique is the slowest powder I will use in these cartridges and it works good enough and you can use it to load near magnum in 357, 44, etc. it also works well in 9mm. For most 38 and 45 loads I prefer Titegroup but HP38 is good too.

312shooter · 06-04-2009, 10:04 PM

check out the thread "glock cast boollit help please" its a good one to keep in mind...... you may shoot lead cast bullets in your python but avoid shooting cast in your glock due to the rifling in these guns. Just a tip to consider. Have fun!

hero0526 · 06-09-2009, 10:39 AM

Some great suggestions here, thanks guys. Sounds like I got some research to do. But sounds like HP38 might be a good starting place to see what bullets I wanna use.

38 special · 06-09-2009, 03:19 PM

I dont load 45's but for 38's I like red dot, bullseye, and unique

medalguy · 06-19-2009, 11:58 PM

I load .45 with 230 gr FMJ, and I like Unique. Burns fast, good for short barrels, little flash & soot, meters very well. But you will find that most of these choices come down to simple personal choice. There's no one perfect powder or bullet.

Insulation Tim · 06-20-2009, 07:03 AM

I started about 4 months ago and have reloaded several thousand .45 acp's using HP-38 and 185 gr. LSW bullets. It has worked well for me.

Just for grins, I just loaded a couple hundred using 3.5 grains of Bullseye to see if I see a difference. So far, to my untrained palate, I can't. I still miss the "X". It must be time to buy a new fiddle as it sure can't be a problem with the fiddler.

Bboomer · 06-21-2009, 02:48 AM

I use Unique in all my pistols and revolvers along with a rifle or two. Bullseye also occupies my shelf space but use it seldom.

06-02-2009, 10:57 AM	#1
hero0526 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4	Recomendations on bullets and powder Hello all, I am about to venture into reloading with the assistance of my Grandfatehr who has reloaded before, but has been a few years. I intend to reload .45 ACP for a glock g30sf and .38/.357 magnum for a Colt python. This ammo will primarily be for target practice and I am looking for recomendations on bullet and powder combinations that work well in these pistols. I would like to get a powder that will work for both is possible. Please let me know what you guys think. I already have dies and press (lee) if that is usefull as well. -->

06-02-2009, 11:08 AM	#2
retired grunt V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern NY Posts: 416	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder I shoot titegroup myself here is the link to hodgdon powder reloading data, pick the bullet weight and type you will be shooting and choose a powder that is available. http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

06-02-2009, 11:34 AM	#3
Lotsdragon Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Potosi, Mo Posts: 813	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder HP 38 works fairly well in both..................it really depends on what grain/type of bullet you are going to use. Myself I load a bum full of 38's with trailboss, just about my favorite powder. Good luck and be safe...... Last edited by Lotsdragon; 06-02-2009 at 11:35 AM.. Reason: misspelling

06-02-2009, 11:36 AM	#4
Lotsdragon Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Potosi, Mo Posts: 813	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder Oh and be careful of your wallet, its addictive as all get out..........

06-02-2009, 02:18 PM	#5
doug66 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 538	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder Welcome aboard, 158gr for 38/357 200gr for 45ACP I use Unique for both, most importantly buy and read a modern reloading manual. I enjoy Lyman's.

06-03-2009, 07:50 PM	#6
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder I have burned up a lot of Blue Dot in both those calibers over the years. My advice is to buy a brand new reloading manual like a Speer Manual as that will contain instructions, safety considerations and equipment choices for you to make. There may be a lot of new stuff out there since your Grandfather loaded and you can both learn together. The main thing is to stay safe and then have fun. Good luck. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle

06-03-2009, 08:07 PM	#7
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder unique and bluedot are excellent all arounds for both cartridges. I also like the hp-38. some real good suggestions here... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

06-04-2009, 03:40 PM	#8
Suwannee Tim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,227	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder I don't like Blue Dot for 45 ACP or 38 Special, it is too slow for these applications. Blue Dot needs a lot of pressure to burn cleanly, more pressure than you will develop in any 45 or 38 load and it takes more BD to do the job than most other powders. Yeah, I know they publish data for it..... Unique is the slowest powder I will use in these cartridges and it works good enough and you can use it to load near magnum in 357, 44, etc. it also works well in 9mm. For most 38 and 45 loads I prefer Titegroup but HP38 is good too.

06-04-2009, 10:04 PM	#9
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,148	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder check out the thread "glock cast boollit help please" its a good one to keep in mind...... you may shoot lead cast bullets in your python but avoid shooting cast in your glock due to the rifling in these guns. Just a tip to consider. Have fun!

06-09-2009, 10:39 AM	#10
hero0526 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder Some great suggestions here, thanks guys. Sounds like I got some research to do. But sounds like HP38 might be a good starting place to see what bullets I wanna use.

06-09-2009, 03:19 PM	#11
38 special Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 548	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder I dont load 45's but for 38's I like red dot, bullseye, and unique

06-19-2009, 11:58 PM	#12
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 585	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder I load .45 with 230 gr FMJ, and I like Unique. Burns fast, good for short barrels, little flash & soot, meters very well. But you will find that most of these choices come down to simple personal choice. There's no one perfect powder or bullet. Last edited by medalguy; 06-19-2009 at 11:58 PM.. Reason: misspeeling!

06-20-2009, 07:03 AM	#13
Insulation Tim Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,295	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder I started about 4 months ago and have reloaded several thousand .45 acp's using HP-38 and 185 gr. LSW bullets. It has worked well for me. Just for grins, I just loaded a couple hundred using 3.5 grains of Bullseye to see if I see a difference. So far, to my untrained palate, I can't. I still miss the "X". It must be time to buy a new fiddle as it sure can't be a problem with the fiddler. __________________ Tim *"Remember the Ark was built by amateurs....Professionals built the Titanic"*

06-21-2009, 02:48 AM	#14
Bboomer Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: WV Posts: 32	Re: Recomendations on bullets and powder I use Unique in all my pistols and revolvers along with a rifle or two. Bullseye also occupies my shelf space but use it seldom.