"Ask the Rabbi" by R. Mermelstein
QUESTION: Dear Rabbi
Mermelstein:
I was reading your column in the April 1999 issue of Handguns today and you said:
"The truth is, handloaders could make do nicely with only three
propellants for all pistol and revolver cartridges: Alliant Bullseye,
Unique and 2400." (page 29)
Since I'm about to stock-up on powder, I was very interested in that.
I've only used Winchester 231 in handguns so far. I load .380 ACP, .38
Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Would you recomend
changing to Bullseye, Unique and/or 2400 instead?
And: do you have a similar list for rifle cartridges?
I'm pretty much a "find a good load and stick to it" kind of feller.
Ken Holder
14 September 1999
ANSWER: Dear Ken,
W-W 231 is always used by low brow
commercial reloading companies in all calibers because it's cheap and
many rounds can be loaded with an 8 pound canister. I've never liked
231 for two reason: 1) It has the characteristic of scattering itself
all over the shell plate of a progressive reloading press, unlike other
Ball powders. 2) In magnum cartridges the pressure curve of 231 is such
that many load combinations using cast bullets cause serious bullet
tumbling (keyholing). My theory is that 231 applies a rapid bump to the
bullet's base and deforms it. Inexplicably, even the faster burning
Bullseye doesn't cause this. The finest rifling cannot true up a
deformed bullet. In crooked, out crooked.
Bullseye for all non-magnum autoloading pistol cartridges, Unique for
medium and magnum revolver rounds, and 2400 for full power magnum load
combinations, except for the IMI Desert Eagle gas operated autoloaders.
They require slow burning Ball powder, e.g. AA #9, W-W 296, or H110.
As of late, Hodgdon is offering Titegroup. Titegroup provides superior
performance in literally everything, from the .380 ACP through the
heaviest .44 Magnum handloads. It demonstrates no sensitivity to
positioning in the cartridge case.
IMR or Hodgdon 4895 has the greatest versatility in the widest range of rifle cartridges. Don't be caught without it!
Sincerely,
R. Mermelstein
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