Which Powder ?

[jrbsr]

I am going to Gun Smithing school.
The course is general gun repair.

Part of it will be to hand load
100 rifle bullets
100 shotgun shells
100 hand gun bullets

The primers and bullet and shot and wads I kinda know what to get.
But is there a powder that I could use for all 3
With out having to get 3 different powders ?

Thank You

Your going to have to get at least two I reckon. Let us know the calibers.

You definatley can combine pistol and shotgun, but rifle would be tough unless its 44mag out of a carbine or 22 hornet that can utilize fast burning powder.

A unique or longshot load can be combined for pistols and shotguns pretty easily. You can use those two powders for a multitude of pistols, and just about any shotgun load.

[fornra@yahoo.com]

Two powders for sure, but they wont be wasted. You'll likely start reloading soon. Then you'll be buying many more, and having fun doing it!! P.S. don't choose a large magnum, as you'll not likely get 100 rounds from a pound. Only 7000 gr per lb!!!

[gunnut2000]

Yes like the others have said you will need at least two different powders. For most of you rifle loads you would do good to use imr-4350 and then for your pistol and shotgun you would be good with Clays by hodgen. Good luck in school. Which school will you be going to? Jovan

[handloader1]

Maybe you can go halfers on powder with a fellow school mate. Good luck.

[HighDesertWolf]

Technically you can use just one powder if for the rifle loads you load up lead cast cowboy loads for a 30-30 or 45/70. the powder is Alliant Unique which you can use for lead cast cowboy rifle loads, any pistol, and medium to heavy 12 ga field loads. good luck

[eldeguello]

ORIGINAL: jrbsr

I am going to Gun Smithing school.
The course is general gun repair.

Part of it will be to hand load
100 rifle bullets
100 shotgun shells
100 hand gun bullets

The primers and bullet and shot and wads I kinda know what to get.
But is there a powder that I could use for all 3
With out having to get 3 different powders ?

Thank You

There are several powders that can be used for all three, but any powder that is fast enough for good performance in shotgun shells and handgun ammo will be way too fast for anything except reduced charges in a high-powered rifle cartridge, such as the .30/'06 or .270 Winchester. However, you could do justice to all three types with two different powders.

You can use Unique, Red Dot, HS6, or several others of similar buring rates for both shotgun loads and handgun ammo. For HP rifle rounds in the .30/'06 class, IMR or H 4350 or a similar powder such as H414 or WW760 will do well.

(Part of it will be to hand load
100 rifle bullets
100 shotgun shells
100 hand gun bullets -

BTW, not to be a nit-pickin' pain in the butt or anything, but if you plan on being thought of as the localfirearms "expert", better to start using correct nomenclature in your discussions with the shooting fraternity-you are going to load handgun cartridges, rifle cartridges, and shotgun shells. BULLETS are projectiles ONLY, even though for some reason most of the uninitiated insist on calling rounds of ammunition "bullets". I've even heard some media dum-dums call shotgun shells "shotgun bullets"! When I hear someone use the word "bullet" when talking about a complete round of fixed ammunition, I immediately markthis person down as one having little knowledge of the firearms business. I realize this is not a good reaction, but I'm not the only one who has this problem!)

[jrbsr]

BTW, not to be a nit-pickin' pain in the butt or anything, but if you plan on being thought of as the local firearms "expert", better to start using correct nomenclature in your discussions with the shooting fraternity-you are going to load handgun cartridges, rifle cartridges, and shotgun shells. BULLETS are projectiles ONLY,

You are right I just couldn't think of how to spell cartridges at the time.

Thank You for pointing this out.

[Mykey]

ORIGINAL: handloader1

Maybe you can go halfers on powder with a fellow school mate. Good luck.

I agree, that's a good ideal.Good Luck.