I usually use Unique powder for reloading 357 and 38 spl. Cant find any around. I know it’s all in short supply but what is a good alternative as i scrounge around? Thanks
I've had very good luck with Ramshot True Blue in any application where you'd use Unique. It has consistently produced good accuracy in mid to upper mid level loads in the .38 and .357 with standard weight 158 grain bullets and is very clean burning. 7.0 grains in the .357 produces around 1000 fps in 4" barrels and at or just over 1100 in a 6" barrel. At lower charge weights it can leave a few unburned powder granules in the barrel but still produces very little soot. 50 rounds through a stainless revolver leaves the outside clean where other powders leave a lot of crud on the cylinder and frame.
Fwiw, it's also produced very accurate loads for me in the 9x19, .44 Spl. and .45 Colt.
IMR Unequal, Herco, CFE Pistol, Universal, AutoComp, Power Pistol, just for starters
Universal.....iffin ya find it.....
I just bought a 4# jug of Titegroup from Natchez..$116 shipped
Last week...W231....4# from Midway....same price...for my 9....40 & 45's
231 is much faster than Unique..Universal is much closer
Since I load trap, my other pistol powder is Red Dot. It works very well as a backup to Unique. If you have some try it you might like it.
BE, BE86 and 231/HP38 work well too.
there are still a FEW powders around where I live that work well HS-6 and Blue Dot
Mabey for a 38spl but for me a NO-GO in 357
Another vote for True Blue.
I use W296 for my 158g jacketed bullets.......
Have used a bunch of powders in the .38 Special, including of course Unique--which I stocked up on during the last panic. The two best in recent years have been True Blue and Accurate #5.
In the .357 generally use 2400 and H110/W296, but Accurate Enforcer and Longshot have been recent standouts.
Mabey for a 38spl but for me a NO-GO in 357
4/TB with a cast boolit in the 357 is a fun plinker
also useful with jacketed boolits...read the on line formula
Works in pistol or rifle cartridges
H110/W296 for full nuts loads as we know....crimped
All of us don't want full nuts loads all the time
I would recommend Longshot for loads in both 38 and 357, along with several other powders that have been mentioned. It is a bit slower burning than Unique, but not too slow for 38's, and because it's got a bit more energy than Unique, it can produce some fairly impressive performance in both 38 and 357.
All of my SD 357 loads contain various 125-140 grain bullets and Longshot. It produces some perfect velocities for this application without "maxing out".
I started reloading back in the 80's with Winch. 231 for .357 and .38 special and that's what I still use.....as of a couple days ago both Midway and Powder Valley had 231 in stock.
HP38/W231 and H110/W296....nothing else is needed.