Powder sales at gunshows

[dickttx]

I had seen it mentioned towards the end of last year that the Fort Worth gun show vendors would not be carrying powder and I have not seen any at the two shows I have been to since then.
Is this something to do with the City of Fort Worth, the Will Rogers Center, the sponsors, or what?
IIRC the two I have been to have been different sponsors.
Are vendors in shows in other towns not carrying powder also.
Anyone have any info?

 

[robin303]

Don't know but I just go to Cabela's. They went down on their prices and seen powder from $14 to about $21. Only once did I ever seen them with W-231.

 

[dickttx]

I bought a pound of HP38 there a while back for $21.95+tax. The guy said they only carried the one pound size.

 

[shortround]

W-231 seems to have gotten quite scarce again, as has loaded .45 Auto ammo of all kinds at Wal-Mart.

Don't know why all the .45 Auto ammo has dried up.

Thoughts?

 

[dickttx]

Shortround, let me ask a variation on your question. I just recently decided to try w-231 or HP38 after reading a lot about how good they were. Like you, I could not find 231. Therefore, I bought HP38, for which Hodgdon shows the same load weights on every one I have looked at. However, the Lee manual shows different load weights for the two powders, and, I believe, Lyman only ever shows one, not both. Are they really the same powder? I notice that even on the 8# jugs, the 231 is $1.00 per pound higher. Does Hogdon have to pay Winchester a royalty or something.
By the way, I have managed to hijack my own posting!!!!!

 

[robin303]

HP-38 and W-231 you can use the same recipe. I would get rid of the Lee book and get at least a couple good books like the Lyman #49 or Lyman #3 Pistol book. Another Gun Guides Reloading Guide for Pistols " 9mm Luger, 357 SIG, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP" Book - MidwayUSA Here are some places to go and search:
Reloading - Glock Talk
General Reloading - Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

 

[shortround]

Shortround, let me ask a variation on your question. I just recently decided to try w-231 or HP38 after reading a lot about how good they were. Like you, I could not find 231. Therefore, I bought HP38, for which Hodgdon shows the same load weights on every one I have looked at. However, the Lee manual shows different load weights for the two powders, and, I believe, Lyman only ever shows one, not both. Are they really the same powder? I notice that even on the 8# jugs, the 231 is $1.00 per pound higher. Does Hogdon have to pay Winchester a royalty or something.
By the way, I have managed to hijack my own posting!!!!!

For years I loaded my .45 Auto with Unique. It shot well, but was dirty. About five years ago, I met a fellow at the range who loaded his .45 Auto with W-231. So, I tried it, and never looked back. I use the Hodgon Reloading Manual, which does show data for W-231.

I never compared that data to HP-38.

As for HP-38, I don't know, other than Hodgdon started off selling surplus military powders, and over the years bought up a bunch of commercial powder brand names.

I trust Hodgon powders, but have not used HP-38 in .45 Auto.

Be well.

 

[PopsXD9sc]

According to the reloading gurus at the local GS the only difference between HP38 and W231 is the bottle it's in. I have used a lot of W231 and love it in .45's although I am now leaning toward WST. Several others I know swear by HP38.

 

[Pappy]

A note to remember...when buying powder at a gunshow, ensure it still has the factory seal intact. If broken, then ask why...

Wrong powder in cannister.
Some powder has been removed.
Or who knows?????

 

[Charlie]

A note to remember...when buying powder at a gunshow, ensure it still has the factory seal intact. If broken, then ask why...

Wrong powder in cannister.
Some powder has been removed.
Or who knows?????

The above is VERY, VERY good advice!!! According to Brian Pearce of Handloader Magazine, HP38 and W231 come out of the same tap!

 

[dickttx]

The above is VERY, VERY good advice!!! According to Brian Pearce of Handloader Magazine, HP38 and W231 come out of the same tap!

Why do people pay a dollar a pound more for 231?

 

[Charlie]

Know of no reason to do that other than maybe you wanted some HP38 but all they had was W231. "Sales technique"

 

[RickP]

They had all sorts of powder for sale @ the Big Town show in Mesquite this past weekend. 8 lbs. of 231 was going for $130.

 

[Pappy]

W-231 seems to have gotten quite scarce again, as has loaded .45 Auto ammo of all kinds at Wal-Mart.

Don't know why all the .45 Auto ammo has dried up.

Thoughts?

Tried several Wallys and can't find wwb in 100 value pak....plenty of every thing else??????

 

[Charlie]

Try finding ANY 10mm ammo at Wally World or most any place else! They had some 100 ct. boxes (.45 ACP) down at the Kerrville WW a month or so ago ...and also .40S&W.

 

[OLDVET]

Winchester no longer makes it's own powder. Hodgon is making the power for Winchester these days. You can save money by buying in bulk. Try Powder Valley.com or Midsouth Shooters Supply.com. I have had good luck ordering from them in the past. I reload my 45 ACP rounds with 5.6 grains of Winchester 231 power and a Laser Cast 200 grain semi-wad cutter bullet. The load is rated at 917 feet per second and has a chamber pressure or 16,00 cup ( lup ?) according to a Winchester reloading pamphlet I acquired a few years ago. This load has considerably less felt recoil than factory ammo and since the chamber pressure is lower, it is easier on the pistol.

 

[dickttx]

Hi OLDVET. Enjoying the Dillon powder scale. I had tried HP38 and 200gn bullet and lost some accuracy. Went back to Unique. May try the HP38 again as I have quite a bit of it.

 

[OLDVET]

Glad you are liking the scale.

 

[Rum Runner]

FYI, there were several tables with powder at the lats Dallas Market Hall show.

 

[dickttx]

FYI, there were several tables with powder at the lats Dallas Market Hall show.

It must be a City of Fort Worth or Will Rogers Center thing.