Lennyjoe
Member
Unique with lead and 231 with jacketed. That's what I use for .45's.
What powder do you suggest for 45 ACP for a new reloader?
- Thread starter Lone_Gunman
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tbeb
Member
I've used 231 for 15 years. It meters uniformily through my Lee powder dispenser. I used to load 200 gr. lead semi-wadcutter bullets and 230 gr. lead round nose bullets, but now I use the 230 gr. exclusively. Check your reloading manual, but 4.9 grs. works for me. I believe the .45 was originally designed for a 230 gr. bullet.
Chuck R.
Member
I've been loading .45ACP since 1978, used to rely on 700X simply because I was primarily a shotgun loader and 700X was what I had. I’ve also used Unique, Red Dot, Green Dot, 800X, Clays, Tight Group, and now finally WW231.
It’s really a personal preference thing, all seemed to work pretty well. I like the 231 the best, it's clean, cost effective and I get the velocity I want. Clays was good, but I had trouble getting the min PF with a max load.
Settled on 5.0 under a HG #68 either home cast or store bought and have been happy since.
Chuck
It’s really a personal preference thing, all seemed to work pretty well. I like the 231 the best, it's clean, cost effective and I get the velocity I want. Clays was good, but I had trouble getting the min PF with a max load.
Settled on 5.0 under a HG #68 either home cast or store bought and have been happy since.
Chuck
Sistema1927
Member
W231 and HP38 are the exact same powder. Buy whichever one you can get cheapest at your locale.
JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone
Member
I'll vote for 231 and Unique and Bullseye. Each of them meter very well, are tollorant of warm or light powder charges, loads of lead or jacketed bullets from 185gns to 240gns.
A 200gn Rn or SWC with a light load of 4gns of Bullseye is a great practice or Bullseye competition load. Unique is a very tollorant powder building very even pressures. Although it's not quite as clean burning. A happy medium is 231. But the cat's meow is Bullseye for light plinking loads.
-Steve
A 200gn Rn or SWC with a light load of 4gns of Bullseye is a great practice or Bullseye competition load. Unique is a very tollorant powder building very even pressures. Although it's not quite as clean burning. A happy medium is 231. But the cat's meow is Bullseye for light plinking loads.
-Steve
jjohnson
Member
No Stupid Questions
Hey, don't sweat the questions. You'e doing the right thing. Handloading's not a good place to be assuming you know something. It could be expensive, dangerous, or both. The only stupid questions are the ones you didn't read posted answers to. You'll find piles of good answers here. It's a great thing when somebody posts info that will save you money - or your safety.
Hey, don't sweat the questions. You'e doing the right thing. Handloading's not a good place to be assuming you know something. It could be expensive, dangerous, or both. The only stupid questions are the ones you didn't read posted answers to. You'll find piles of good answers here. It's a great thing when somebody posts info that will save you money - or your safety.
Vitamin G
Member
No matter what powder, the lighter the load, the dirtier it is (compared to a stout load) in my experience anyways.
I use bullseye because its so economical, and my perception is that 4.3gr under a 200gr Berry's SWC is pleasant.
I use bullseye because its so economical, and my perception is that 4.3gr under a 200gr Berry's SWC is pleasant.
grislyatoms
Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2004
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My preference:
W231, Winchester large pistol primers, Rainier plated 230 grain RN. Brass is whatever I can scrounge / beg / sweep up / trade.
I have gone through just over 6K rounds (I've only been reloading for a couple years) with the above and I am quite pleased.
W231, Winchester large pistol primers, Rainier plated 230 grain RN. Brass is whatever I can scrounge / beg / sweep up / trade.
I have gone through just over 6K rounds (I've only been reloading for a couple years) with the above and I am quite pleased.
RickSavage
Member
Unique
Been using unique for 20 yrs. 6 gs , 230 lead rn. I see a lot of you use bullseye. I had a real hard time with that powder.Every match i shot in with that powder,I started getting jams after 50 rounds or so. I found it really dirty and gritty. But unique was good to go. I shot in a match once that was 400 rounds long and not 1 jam.......my 2c......Rick
Been using unique for 20 yrs. 6 gs , 230 lead rn. I see a lot of you use bullseye. I had a real hard time with that powder.Every match i shot in with that powder,I started getting jams after 50 rounds or so. I found it really dirty and gritty. But unique was good to go. I shot in a match once that was 400 rounds long and not 1 jam.......my 2c......Rick
Clays in target loads for everything but the ultimate accuracy loads. Bullseye or N310 if you want all the accuracy you will get out of the gun. Unique is about as good as you will get if you want full power with lead bullets. Power Pistol is about as good as you will get if you want full power with jacketed bullets.
Lloyd Smale
Member
bullseye and aa2 surplus
cherryriver
Member
After thirty years of using Unique, I branched out and tried several others. In the end, Winchester Super Target (WST) wins out. Inexpensive, fairly clean, nice, snappy, reliable action in 1911s, and the big bonus- it's quiet. I actually had a match director question my power factor because my loads seemed too quiet. (I chronoed fine.)
I also went away from lead after even more than 30 years of it. Rainier TMJs make cleanup time easy, and if you buy right (Cabelas works for me), they're only slightly more expensive than lead. Last I looked, they could be had for 7 1/2 cents.
4.5grs of WST with the 230gr round nose Rainier makes a little more than 700fps in warm weather. I just plain settled on 5.0 (according to my ancient scale) to get 810fps from a 5" gun on a warm day and know that my 4 1/4" Commanders will make major even in winter. I can't find actual official data for this exact Rainier/WST combination, and it does seem to exceed some 230gr published lead load limits, but I get no overpressure signs in my guns. If you're using a different bullet, you may be over the line with 5.0gr, and of course, starting lower is always necessary.
I also put up a puffball load with the same 230gr bullets and 3.5gr of WST to get barely 600fps in a 5" gun, and about 550fps in a 3 1/2". This runs well in most guns, even my Para Companion, with the nice quick burn to get the slide going, and recoils like a .22 in a GM. With a 10-pound spring, this is super-quick for steel plate competition, and may bring cheating complaints from the peanut gallery. Heh.
My wife thinks it's just the thing for "doing the dishes"- plate rack cleaning.
Bullseye was indeed the original .45ACP powder and can't be beat for reliable function, if not cleanliness.
1911s, it seems to me, prefer a quick start to the burn cycle and WST and Bullseye (and their ilk) are the best in this regard.
Bill
I also went away from lead after even more than 30 years of it. Rainier TMJs make cleanup time easy, and if you buy right (Cabelas works for me), they're only slightly more expensive than lead. Last I looked, they could be had for 7 1/2 cents.
4.5grs of WST with the 230gr round nose Rainier makes a little more than 700fps in warm weather. I just plain settled on 5.0 (according to my ancient scale) to get 810fps from a 5" gun on a warm day and know that my 4 1/4" Commanders will make major even in winter. I can't find actual official data for this exact Rainier/WST combination, and it does seem to exceed some 230gr published lead load limits, but I get no overpressure signs in my guns. If you're using a different bullet, you may be over the line with 5.0gr, and of course, starting lower is always necessary.
I also put up a puffball load with the same 230gr bullets and 3.5gr of WST to get barely 600fps in a 5" gun, and about 550fps in a 3 1/2". This runs well in most guns, even my Para Companion, with the nice quick burn to get the slide going, and recoils like a .22 in a GM. With a 10-pound spring, this is super-quick for steel plate competition, and may bring cheating complaints from the peanut gallery. Heh.
My wife thinks it's just the thing for "doing the dishes"- plate rack cleaning.
Bullseye was indeed the original .45ACP powder and can't be beat for reliable function, if not cleanliness.
1911s, it seems to me, prefer a quick start to the burn cycle and WST and Bullseye (and their ilk) are the best in this regard.
Bill
+1 to WST, especially with lead and moly-coated bullets.
In addition, it meters very well, is bulky so it fills the case, and is light gray in color so it's easy to see it inside the case.
I find it cleaner and much less "snappy" than Titegroup at target velocities.
Chris
In addition, it meters very well, is bulky so it fills the case, and is light gray in color so it's easy to see it inside the case.
I find it cleaner and much less "snappy" than Titegroup at target velocities.
Chris
DIXIEKIMBER
Member
I shoot both USPSA and IDPA, at least two matches a month. I use Winchester 231 with 200 grn SWC cast lead bullets. I use 5.5 grns of 231 and this makes a good low recoil load that is accurate. Between me and my son-in-law we load around 400 to 500 rounds a month. Been very please with the 231 for competiiton use.
If you want to stick with the Accurate line of powders, go to AA#5 instead of AA#7.
I hated HS6 exactly for the reason you mention, but I didn't have anything like the same problem with AA#5.
Also, AA#5 meters so well weighing charges has so far just been wasted time. Ok, so it's not really "wasted" but you get the idea.. meters like water.
I load 230g lead (Zeros) to GI velocities (8.0-8.1grns AA#5, IIRC) for cheap practice loads, and full power 185 or 230 Golden Sabers for more serious practice loads and backup carry loads.
I hated HS6 exactly for the reason you mention, but I didn't have anything like the same problem with AA#5.
Also, AA#5 meters so well weighing charges has so far just been wasted time. Ok, so it's not really "wasted" but you get the idea.. meters like water.
I load 230g lead (Zeros) to GI velocities (8.0-8.1grns AA#5, IIRC) for cheap practice loads, and full power 185 or 230 Golden Sabers for more serious practice loads and backup carry loads.
birddog
Member
I've also had excellent luck with Unique for .45acp. Here is my combination:
(***consult a quality reloading manual...don't trust guys on the Internet***)
230 FMJ: 6.5gr Unique
230 LRN 5.5gr Unique
I use Unique for .44 mag hunting and target loads, .357, and .45, and have had great luck with it. Not any dirtier than factory loads, and easy to come by.
(***consult a quality reloading manual...don't trust guys on the Internet***)
230 FMJ: 6.5gr Unique
230 LRN 5.5gr Unique
I use Unique for .44 mag hunting and target loads, .357, and .45, and have had great luck with it. Not any dirtier than factory loads, and easy to come by.
AgentOrange
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2007
- Messages
- 110
5.7 grains unique with 230gr hornady XTP HP
1 hole 25yd groups from a rest out of a 5" colt government MKVI series 70 custom built match gun with KKM precision match barrel
1 hole 25yd groups from a rest out of a 5" colt government MKVI series 70 custom built match gun with KKM precision match barrel
FoMoGo
Member
I load .45 acp and .44 special... just got rid of all my .357... and use unique.
It meters well for me, consistent, not very dirty, and worked well with everything I loaded.
Jim
It meters well for me, consistent, not very dirty, and worked well with everything I loaded.
Jim
The Bushmaster
Member
Reading back through this thread I notice that people seem to think that AA #7 is "too slow" (burn rate) for .45 ACP...My Colt 1911 sure works fine with AA #7 and is accurate with 185 grain JHP. From 9.7 grains (900+ fps) to 11.0 grains (1,000+ fps).
When you settle on a powder and have time to experiment with other powders you might have a look at AA #7...
When you settle on a powder and have time to experiment with other powders you might have a look at AA #7...
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