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  • SQLGeek

    Muh state lines
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    I know H110/W296 is a standby for full house loads but small pistol magnum primers seem to be very hard to come by right now.

    I have HP-38 right now and it seems there are some low-mid range .357 loads I can do up with regular small pistol primers. I can also do .38 Special of course but figure might as well do .357 and avoid the carbon rings in the chambers.

    HS-6 looks interesting but again, the magnum primer issue.

    What else do you like? I wouldn't mind finding something that works well for 9mm or .45 AARP ACP as well.

    Looks like from my research that Power Pistol, Unique and True Blue might all fit the bill for those.
    Lynx Defense
     
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    TxStetson

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    I use CCI and Federal Small Pistol primers with H110 without any issues. Of the manuals I use, Lee doesn't call for magnum primers but Hornady and Lyman do. I have stopped buying Magnum small pistol primers, because I'm not seeing any advantages to them.

    As for the 2nd part of your question, I use Bullseye and Blue Dot for low to medium power plinking loads, and Unique for medium power to not quite full house loads.
     

    SQLGeek

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    2400 works well if I recall correctly.

    Ah yes, that's another on my list.

    I use CCI and Federal Small Pistol primers with H110 without any issues. Of the manuals I use, Lee doesn't call for magnum primers but Hornady and Lyman do. I have stopped buying Magnum small pistol primers, because I'm not seeing any advantages to them.

    That is good to know and something I will keep in mind. Hodgdon data also calls for magnum primers for H110. Well, they call for Magnum primers for ALL .357 Magnum loads.

    What bullet are you using with H110? I'm looking at the Speer 158gr JHP because they're $0.14/piece from Midway.
     

    TxStetson

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    Ah yes, that's another on my list.



    That is good to know and something I will keep in mind. Hodgdon data also calls for magnum primers for H110. Well, they call for Magnum primers for ALL .357 Magnum loads.

    What bullet are you using with H110? I'm looking at the Speer 158gr JHP because they're $0.14/piece from Midway.
    I stumbled on a bunch of 158 grain Hornady XTP's at a price I couldn't resist so that's all I've been using lately. Of course, I was already impressed with the XTP's in 44 Magnum, and 10 mm so it was impossible to pass up.
     

    SQLGeek

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    They do seem to be a great jacketed bullet. I've fired some factory ammo with the XTPs and liked it. There's also more published load data for XTPs in the manuals I have and have access to.

    Debating whether to go for it at $0.19/piece in bulk. Not sure I'm going to find it any cheaper right now.
     

    Ozzman

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    Blue Dot is good powder also, as it is very forgiving.
    I use this almost exclusively for 158gr .357 Magnum (powder-coated) cast loads.
    Dings the gong at 100-yds almost every time from my 4" S&W 686.

    As far as primers go, don't worry about magnum primers... a standard primer will work just fine. Just add an extra 1/2 grain or so to the load and you shouldn't notice a difference.

    ETA ALSO!

    If these are the only two powders you have at the moment IMO, HP-38 is a better candidate than HS-6. Don't get me wrong HS-6 will work, but with such a small load range it does not give too much wiggle room to work with the charge at the range. In my experience, powders that have small charge variances, (ie min. charge 8 grains, max DNE load is 9 grains) are not the best choice. You may find that your groups are not as consistent.
     
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    TxStetson

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    They do seem to be a great jacketed bullet. I've fired some factory ammo with the XTPs and liked it. There's also more published load data for XTPs in the manuals I have and have access to.

    Debating whether to go for it at $0.19/piece in bulk. Not sure I'm going to find it any cheaper right now.
    I was at a yard sale with the wife and daughter, and my daughter made a comment to the lady about me always on the hunt for "guy stuff" so the lady asked if I knew what this stuff was, she just wanted it gone. So for $25 I got a little over 1,000 38 cal XTP's, an open box of 500 350 grain 45-70 projectiles, 900 Federal Large Rifle Match primers, 200 Winchester Silver Tip 308 projectiles, and a few Lee hand tools. I offered her more money but she wouldn't take it and said I was doing her a favor.
     

    Axxe55

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    I started using the Alliant Power Pistol powder some years ago. Very versatile powder and I use it for 38 Spl. and 357 Magnum loads that I load for my father's pistols. I use it for all of my pistol loads, I use it with mostly JHP and the Hornady XTP bullets. Accuracy is very good as well. Penetration is excellent.
     

    SQLGeek

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    I was at a yard sale with the wife and daughter, and my daughter made a comment to the lady about me always on the hunt for "guy stuff" so the lady asked if I knew what this stuff was, she just wanted it gone. So for $25 I got a little over 1,000 38 cal XTP's, an open box of 500 350 grain 45-70 projectiles, 900 Federal Large Rifle Match primers, 200 Winchester Silver Tip 308 projectiles, and a few Lee hand tools. I offered her more money but she wouldn't take it and said I was doing her a favor.

    Well hell, you can't beat that.
     

    Vaquero

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    Ditto on the blue dot. I ran through a bunch of it back in the day.
    Seems a little cleaner than unique.
     

    Deavis

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    In 357Mag you can get away with not running a mag primer with powders like H110 but only because your charge weight is low. Try that on full charge, big bore guns at low temperature and you will regret it when it hangs.

    For my money, power pistol and CFE pistol will give you great velocity, punchy recoil, and are way cleaner than the other powders listed. Plus they have low charge weights for the velocity provided, bonus.
     

    SQLGeek

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    Based on a recommendation I received, I am going to be giving Alliant's BE 86 a try. Load data is sparse but Alliant has published data for a 158 gr RNFP cast bullet out of a 6" barrel using Federal small pistol primers (the only ones I can find right now) so this should be perfect for a mid range magnum load.

    Alliant also has data in this powder for 125 gr RN cast bullets in 9mm.

    I'm going to order a sample pack of these:

    https://www.brazosprecision.com/38-158gr-SWCBevel-BaseGroove-664ct-00632bullet_p_14.html

    and these

    https://www.brazosprecision.com/9mm...aseNo-Groove-approx-835ct-005bullet_p_73.html

    And see what I think of them.

    This should keep me busy for a while.
     

    MTA

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    I was at a yard sale with the wife and daughter, and my daughter made a comment to the lady about me always on the hunt for "guy stuff" so the lady asked if I knew what this stuff was, she just wanted it gone. So for $25 I got a little over 1,000 38 cal XTP's, an open box of 500 350 grain 45-70 projectiles, 900 Federal Large Rifle Match primers, 200 Winchester Silver Tip 308 projectiles, and a few Lee hand tools. I offered her more money but she wouldn't take it and said I was doing her a favor.
    lucky sob
     
    Every Day Man
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