One Powder for Everything?

[flmason]

Hi All,
   Years ago when I was reloading I pretty much used 2400, IMR 4198 and Red/Green/Blue Dot.

In reading C.E. Harris' article, I got to wondering if there's one powder I could use for everthing, which for me would be:

20 gauge shotgun
.44 mag
7.62x54r (cast bullets)

I know 2400 covers .44, and 7.62x54r with cast. Haven't managed to find any data for 2400 and shotshells. I've heard some folks say Unique is the most versatile powder going (well I guess other than fffg black and subs when you get right down to it).

Anyone else have a favorite "do it all powder"?

[anachronism]

Sounds like a Unique situation...

[.22-5-40]

Hello, flmason.  I shoot mainly cast in most everything, so the first go-to powder for me is either IMR or H4227. 

[Dezynco]

I have a dozen or so different powders on the shelf, but I ALWAYS keep some Unique. I can find some load for almost anything.

[Ranch13]

Not a real big fan of the one powder for all thing, it sounds like a good idea but seldom works out that way.
 Having said that you may want to take a look at unique, or bludot.

[flmason]

Not a real big fan of the one powder for all thing, it sounds like a good idea but seldom works out that way.
 Having said that you may want to take a look at unique, or bludot.

Was digging though an old Philip B. Sharpe reloading book from the 40's. Looks like the "10 Grains of Unique" thing has some basis in fact. Though haven't cross checked it for shotgun loads.

Looks like 2400 may have promise as well if it can be used in the 20 gauge. With the added advantage of more velocity for the pressures I think. (I'm always looking to get the best combination of velocity to peak pressure in the belief that more velocity for less pressure means a less peaky load... thus longer gun life.)

Oh well, worst case would be 3 powder types. Not neccesarily bad. Say 2400, Some IMR xxxx, and some * Dot.

[Ranch13]

2400 is my pick of all powders for the 44. I also like unique for midrange cast loads in the 44. I have used bludot in the 44 spec and magnum . I've scrounged around alot of the data I have on hand and can't find any loads for the 20 for it.
 I load bismuth in the 20 with longshot.
Not a drop of experience with the russian, but from alot of what I've read 4198 seems to be a favorite.
The reason I threw out the bludot suggestion is that it's pretty easy to find recipe's in the 44 and 20 with it, and it shouldn't be to hard to extrapolate some charges in the 7.62x54, if a no tested data could be reasonably found.

[tacklebury]

I'm up to 10 different cartridges I load for and I do 90% of my loads with Unique and Reloader7.  Only other powder I have is H110 for barn burner handgun loads and my .30 M-1 Carbine loads. 

[anachronism]

I've been told that Unique is even good on corn flakes. 

It gets bashed a lot because it leaves more reside than some of the designer powders, but I'd bet that it still outsells the designer brands.

[tacklebury]

RL7 and Unique are also on average here about 4-12 dollars less a pound than the others. 

[flmason]

Well... sounds like Unique is still the all around choice, here what 110 years later, LOL!

Am still hoping for 2400 since it's my fave for .44. Ran into a web page last night that says some older reloading manuals had some 20 gauge loads for it. Being a little slower and more progressive than Unique, I like it better. Harris' article mentions it's not position sensitive either.

But no denying Unique is also a low cost leader. Generally it takes only 50% to 75% as much by weight as 2400.

Anyone know if there's something similar in the Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester(?) lineup?

[Ranch13]

231,clays,universal and 800x

[tacklebury]

Unique is 100% non position sensitive also in my findings.  I've used as little as 6 gr. in a cavernous .45-70 case and never had an FTF on light loads and I'm loading 4-6gr in .223 Rem for a nice squirrel load with no misfires in the first 50 at least.  Biggest problem is making sure you don't double charge on loads.  I only use a max of 10 gr. for my medium .45LC loads in my blackhawk, then switch to H110.  For the carbine, it can shoot any of the pistol loads fine, but I really like loading these with Reloader7 per Paco Kelly's article I've posted before.    In the longer barrels, (14" or more), it performs awesome and kicks less than the H110 loads with higher velocities.