best powder for .45 ACP
- Thread starter hk940
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King Medallion
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- Jan 12, 2021
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WST!
Charlie98
Member
For full-house 230grn XTP's, I use Unique.
Thanks, I have a lot of that.
Charlie98
Member
I load 6.5grn Unique under any 230grn jacketed bullet, but I know there are some differences in other data... I know the Speer Gold Dot is different, and if memory serves, so is the XTP... but a lot of that has to do with OAL, so I would go off published data for that. If you need the Hornady data, I can post it for you.
That would help me a lot the newest Hornady I have is #3 hard back #4 digital
Nuke8401
Member
Parden for jumping in,
I have the 11th edition of the Hornady app
Please get a verification from someone else (Dennis) before using, I'm old and make mistakes!
230gr XTP 1.230 OAL
5" barrel
Unique starting 5.2gr/700fps
5.6gr/750fps
5.9gr/800fps
6.2gr/850fps
MAX=6.6gr/900fps
I use WST because that's what I have but pressure goes up before you get to 850fps.
Also Hodgden lists 1.210" OAL for 230gr XTP not that it matters.
Good luck.
I have the 11th edition of the Hornady app
Please get a verification from someone else (Dennis) before using, I'm old and make mistakes!
230gr XTP 1.230 OAL
5" barrel
Unique starting 5.2gr/700fps
5.6gr/750fps
5.9gr/800fps
6.2gr/850fps
MAX=6.6gr/900fps
I use WST because that's what I have but pressure goes up before you get to 850fps.
Also Hodgden lists 1.210" OAL for 230gr XTP not that it matters.
Good luck.
Blue68f100
Member
WSF is what I use for full power loads. W231 works well too.
Charlie98
Member
Yes, I was right... Hornady 7th max is 6.1grn for the 230 XTP!
Sorry for the blurry margin... the max load for Clays Universal is 6.4grn, just for reference.
Sorry for the blurry margin... the max load for Clays Universal is 6.4grn, just for reference.
.45Coltguy
Member
Unique or Universal. They're both very good.
N555
Member
There is no single best powder.
All depends on what you want to do.
Bullseye is the all around classic cheap 45acp load.
Load up around a 4.5gr charge of wst under a 230gr bullet and you will get amazing accuracy, but muzzle velocity will be around 700fps.
Unique gives a softer shooting full power load and you can use unique in just about any semi common handgun round you load.
A 13 to 14gr charge of enforcer will give near 45super level power, barely or not at all exceeding 21,000psi.
All depends on what you want to do.
Bullseye is the all around classic cheap 45acp load.
Load up around a 4.5gr charge of wst under a 230gr bullet and you will get amazing accuracy, but muzzle velocity will be around 700fps.
Unique gives a softer shooting full power load and you can use unique in just about any semi common handgun round you load.
A 13 to 14gr charge of enforcer will give near 45super level power, barely or not at all exceeding 21,000psi.
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I consider Bullseye pistol powder the standard powder for the 45 ACP. We know from Clawson's book, the original powder used in the cartridges for the 1910 tests, which were the last before the 1911 was adopted, was Bullseye Pistol powder. The charge was 5.0 grains with a 230 FMJ at 800 fps. This load was a common Hardball target load by 2700 Bullseye Pistol competitors. If you search, you will find a number of old military drawings where the specified powder is Bullseye pistol powder.
Most of the 2700 Bullseye Pistol competitors I know use Bullseye pistol powder, followed by Titegroup, and a couple of WST users. That sport requires an accurate powder that burns well, functions the pistol with minimum recoil. All of these powders do that. Bullseye/Titegroup are well suited to the 1911 they have a fast pressure rise, followed by a quick pressure drop which ideal for this mechanism. A swift kick to the slide followed by a pressure drop that keeps the case from clinging to the chamber during extraction. You want all the bolt thrust imparted to the breech face, you don't want case friction slowing the mechanism. You also don't want a powder with a slow pressure drop as that will over accelerate the slide which will damage the pistol in time. You can find lots of cracked slide pictures on 1911forum, and I think I saw one where the slide nose cracked. Those guys are shooting tens of thousands of rounds, and hard recoil shows up as fatigue fractures. There are lots of slower powders than Bullseye/Titegroup, I don't know if there are faster, or why anyone would want faster. In so far as the 1911, it was developed around Bullseye pistol powder, and 230 gr bullets.
These are old loads for the 1911, and you can see the allowed velocity spread.
I chronograph my loads and tailor them so 230 gr bullets are moving at 800 fps plus or minus at 70 to 80 degrees. I have determined that a 230 with 5.0 grs of Bullseye Pistol powder moves around 800 fps, plus or minus. I think Unique is an excellent powder in the 45 ACP, and to get 800 fps I used 5.5 grs of Unique. In colder weather, the bullet moves slower, don't we all
if you can find AA#5, it shoots well in the 1911
the secret to impressive looking groups, is not to place the target too far away from the muzzle.
some Unique data with 230 grain bullets
Kimber Custom Classic
230 LRN Valiant 5.5 grs Unique lot UN331 1989 Mixed brass WLP (brass)
OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469"
16-May-09 high 83 °F
Ave Vel = 827.4
Std Dev = 17.63
ES = 85.68
High = 871.6
Low = 785.9
Number rds= 31
230 LRN Valiant 6.0 grs Unique lot UN387 6/21/93 Mixed brass WLP
OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469"
18-Mar-07 T = 62 °F
Ave Vel = 898
Std Dev = 21.44
ES = 75.58
High = 944.3
Low = 868.7
N = 25
accurate lots recoil 15' foot ejection
230 LRN Valiant 6.0 grs Unique lot 6/21/1998 Mixed brass WLP (nickle)
OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469"
16-May-09 high 83 ° F
Ave Vel = 885
Std Dev = 16.79
ES = 67.26
High = 917.8
Low = 850.5
N = 30
strong recoil 15' foot ejection
230 LRN Valiant 6.5 grs Unique lot UN387 6/21/93 Mixed brass WLP
OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469"
18-Mar-07 T = 62 °F
Ave Vel = 926.4
Std Dev = 16.64
ES = 71.16
High = 963.4
Low = 892.3
N = 32
light leading accurate centered hard recoil 20 foot ejection
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GeoDudeFlorida
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- Dec 1, 2020
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- 11,059
You didn’t say if you were willing/wanting to try a new to you powder. However, given how well Unique (and Bullseye) works, you really don’t need to.
edited to correct my shameful oversight of leaving Bullseye out.
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ColtPythonElite
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- Jan 8, 2011
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- 10,473
Unique gets my vote
Typo is fixed.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
I've had good results with CFE Pistol!
Ironicaintit
Member
Bullseye and unique are the only two I've tried and they both work great. Bullseye is the one that set the bar for it. I'll use unique if I wanna push them a little harder
Sudden Thunder
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- Dec 23, 2021
- Messages
- 50
Unique…..
Mr.Revolverguy
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- Feb 24, 2007
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- 1,882
titegroup
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Since you have no more W231 either Bullseye or Unique will serve you well in the 45 ACP, BUT, just as W231 seems to be a perfect match so is Bullseye. Bullseye was and is a favorite and classic for Bullseye matches using a 45 ACP 1911. Of the two I would for sure go with Bullseye if I had no more W231...
If you have any ZIP in stock it is very close to W231 in performance. W244 is also an excellent choice.
I hope this helps a little.
If you have any ZIP in stock it is very close to W231 in performance. W244 is also an excellent choice.
I hope this helps a little.
Fat finger syndrome!
