llred

I finially got my Lee Anniversary Kit yesterday for my birthday from my girlfriend. I'm headed off to bass pro today to get dies. I noticed last time I was there they had a good selection of powder. Any advice on which ones to try for .45 acp and .38/.357? I have a pound of Bullseye I got awhile back. Thanks in advance.

thylordjj

I use 5gn of bullseye under a 230gn .452 diameter lead round nose, in my Kimber... I can make 1-2 inch groups all day long... Note… while this load is safe in my gun please start at a lower amount and work up...(butt officially covered)

BaserRonin

I have been using a lot of Win 231 recently. Found a load for my .38's and .45's that I find to be incredibly accurate. However, Unique will work in anything, and I have used a lot of Bullseye in the past.

You are looking at 3 very established cartridges. You won't have trouble getting loadings with any of the older powders. Grab a few pounds of pretty much anything your manual says will work, work out a load, and switch up powders later if you feel like a change. Bullseye and Unique are the typical powders to start with as they are almost universal.

Edit: Hey, congrats on the kit. Your girlfriend sounds like a keeper!

mcp1810

I have had excellent results with Bullseye. I would have to check my records but I think for the magnum I use Red Dot.

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Tubby45

What are your goals? Economy? Performance?

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llred

I little bit of both. While it is going to be hard to mass produce in a single stage press. I hope to save some money by buying in bulk. I am also going to get some dies for my rifles (7mm-08/.243win/300 wby) so performance loading will be part of the equation too. To gain experience I am going to start off just loading for my pistols right now.

llred

I saw that unique was used in the majority of pistol cartridges in the Lyman manual. I will try and pick up some. Atleast that will give me 2 powders to try and compare.

Tubby45

I like medium to slow powders.

Unique, WSF, AA #5, HS6, W231/HP38 (same powder) will work in the 38/357 and 45.

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Ammunition- Retail, Wholesale, Law Enforcement

automatic slim

Back in the 70's when I was unemployed I loaded up and sold military cases of .223 using a RCBS Rockchucker which I still have and use. I think each case holds 820 rds.
Since then I have loaded thousands more of all calibers. Everything from .32ACP to 500S&W. A single stage will last forever!

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BaserRonin

+1 on the single stage press maintaining it's usefulness. I probably still spend almost as much time on my old Rockchucker as I do on my Dillon 550. I use it for smaller loading sessions, for developing new loads, for accuracy rifle loads, etc...