I have a chance to get a deal on a couple of cans (4lb or 7lb) of Universal and Titegroup powders. I've used Titegroup in some .40s&w loads and liked it but haven't tried Universal yet. Should I just stick with the Titegroup or is it worth it to buy a load of each. I'll be loading everything from 9mm to .454 Casull. (40s&w, .357 mag, .44 mag, 45 acp, 10mm, .38) :(

I've never used Tightgroup, but have used Universal. It is pretty much in between Bullseye and Unique in net performance, but burns a little faster and has lower energy density than either one, especially Bullseye, which is pretty high energy. Military hardball, for example, can be loaded with 5.0 grains of Bullseye, 5.2 grains of Universal, or 5.7 grains of Unique, all providing the same peak pressure. The velocities are all within 10 fps of 850 fps in an ideal barrel. The Universal burns most completely and is the cleanest burning of the three. Despite burning more completely, you need more of it than Bullseye because of its lower total energy content.

Haven't used TiteGroup, either but only because I have so many other kinds of pistol powders on my shelf that I'll never burn all of those.

That said, as good as TiteGroup is, Universal is probably better because it's almost...well, universal. There's hardly a pistol cartridge out there that can't burn Universal in at least some useful application. Never or seldom as a full-power propellant, but in the broad range of medium-power loadings, it is superb.

I have a chance to get a deal on a couple of cans (4lb or 7lb) of Universal and Titegroup powders. I've used Titegroup in some .40s&w loads and liked it but haven't tried Universal yet. Should I just stick with the Titegroup or is it worth it to buy a load of each. I'll be loading everything from 9mm to .454 Casull. (40s&w, .357 mag, .44 mag, 45 acp, 10mm, .38) :(

I have used both powders you mention. I still use Titegroup. I load every cartridge you list (except 10mm) and many more. Titegroup is my preferred powder of all the other pistol powders I load with, unless I am looking for a high performance load from the 44 or 454 Casull. In all but the largest pistol cartridges you can match or nearly match performance levels with any of the other powders, and do it with nearly half the powder! Titegroup is a fast burning powder and develops pressure fast. As long as you stay within the published loadings for it, you will get excellent, safe performance from Titegroup, in my experience. I have found it not to be volume finicky like some powders. Or to say it differently, although it may not fill the casing it still ignites perfectly fine and I have never had a hangfire with Titegroup. I cannot say the same with other powders when developing reduced loads.

I am not a universal fan. I found it to be dirty in every round I loaded, when compared to Titegroup. It is universal, but so it Titegroup.

Cartridges I load with Titegroup: 9mm, 40 S&W, 38 special, 357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 ACP, 454 Casull, 7.62x25, 7.62x38 (Nagant). I use strictly CCI brand primers and have had no problems.

have ezperience using both and was pleased with both. however in the 40 i prefer titegroup. it is a lighter charge and found to be more consistent in my guns. lighter charge results in more rounds per pound. also found it to be easier to get to the uspsa major power factor with titegroup. a few years back a lot of people were using universal with 180-200gr bullets in 40's and it was a milder round while still making the major power factor. in my xd40 titegroup tends to be sharp recoiling but in my 1911 type framed guns it seems slower maybe due to the weight difference. but if i had to use one and not the other that would be fine.

My Browning Hi-Power 9mm & Chas Daly .45 both cycle better with a slower powder, so I use Unique & W-231, respecively.

I find both don't cycle well with Bullseye / titegroup speed powders. Others do find they cycle OK. It's all what matches the tuning of your semi-auto's cycle.

For the mags, I'd prefer the Universal.

:)