Which Powder for 40s&w + 45acp ????

[Air-Wolf]

Hi All!
I shoot IPSC and go through TONS of bullets and powder for reloading. I was wondering what others out there use for powder for both the 40s&w and the 45acp loads?? I have been using tightgroup for powder but there are some threads on this forum that say this powder is not that consistent for these loads. What would be the cleanest, most smoke free and accurate powder to use for these loads?

Thanks in advance for everyone's input!


Dwayne

 

[Ndenway]

man I use red dot with lead and blue dot with jackets, both give good velocity and burn fairly clean,

blue dot does smoke a bit with middle of the road charges.

 

[cpaspr]

Got a bunch

of Clays, so I've started loading with that. Loaded up 3.2 gr of Clays (3.5 gr is max per Hodgdon) behind a 180 gr .40 cal Ranier plated hollow point. Shooting from a Sig P239. Seems to shoot good, but occasionally I could see flashes as burning powder was being expelled from the barrel. I may not worry about it for the rounds I have loaded, but I may or may not load more. Haven't decided yet.

For .45 ACP, I loaded 4.0 gr behind a 200 gr LSWC. Shot well for the one mag I ran through the gun, but that was just to make sure they'd cycle, just in case. I was shooting the .40 in IDPA that day, and since they worked, I didn't shoot any more of the .45s. Hodgdon doesn't list Clays and LSWC together in the 200 grainers, so I took their JHP load and backed it down a bit. Seemed to work well.

Course, that said about Clays - there are many who swear by 5.0 grains of Bullseye behind a 230 grain bullet. Long, long time popular effective load for the .45 ACP.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

Bullseye

 

[alucard0822]

I like to load 200gr rainier flat point 45s over 8.3gr of hs-6, 230gr fmj over 8gr of hs-6, for 40s&w 180gr fmj over 6.8 of hs-6 for a warm load, and 155gr xtp over 8.5., Its a very clean ball powder, measures consistent, fairly dense and works well in just about anything from 380 to 44 mag. I use win 231 for practice/plinking and like it.(50% less powder per shell=cheaper practice, but a little dirtier), but for competitions, hs-6 and win 231 deliver similar pressures and velocities, but hs-6 usually uses about 50% more powder, feels about the same, but allows a little more leeway with slight variations in charge, and has a little more gas for comped pistols.

 

[alucard0822]

just in case you were interested cpaspr, the 07 hodgdon manual lists a min of 3.6gr for 759fps at 11,800cup and a max of 4.3gr for 888 fps at 17,000cup for clays (not universal clays) in 200 gr LSWC at 1.225oal

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

I like bullseye...fairly cheap and it's accurate

 

[solvability]

I like Titegroup - 9/40/45/45 colt

 

[Walkalong]

AA # 5 for .45 Universal for .40. HS6 has a good rep for these apps. Now for target loads its a whole nother ballpark. Since you have gone thru "TONS of bullets and powder for reloading" you must have your favorites. Tightgroup works for many. Try WSTor Clays for target loads. Many report great success with these two.

 

[Werewolf]

I have to 2nd the vote for AA#5 and .45ACP. Works great in a 5" bbl gun. For 4" bbl .45 ACP though I prefer HP38 or Win231.

 

[AZrider]

.40 Cal powder

I'm new to reloading my .40 S&W so I ask a lot of questions. I was talking to a tech who shoots IDPA with .40 S&W the same question. I bought a Dillon press and wanted to know what he recommended. He told me that he shoots 155 grain FMJ and uses 6 grains of "Unique". That's what I bought and reloaded about 400 rounds with. I've shot about 200 and they seem pretty accurate with low recoil but there's enough oomph to cycle the action.

I suppose it's like everything else, it's a matter of opinion and experience. I can't speak to the .45 cal. Those guys are a "cult" anyhow......

AZ

 

[bobfxd]

45 cal.

I use Clays,light smoke & recoil. 4.0 grains with Berrys plated 200 gr. hollow point.Bob

 

[mscott]

Don't forget WST

 

[HSMITH]

Minor or major loads? Long loads or standard loads in 40? What bullet weights? What is your ability level?

Lots of possibilities, but not enough info to make a recommendation.

 

[Khornet]

If you want one powder for both,

231 will work. So will Bullseye and Unique. I've done it with all of them, but now use Accurate #5.

 

[TonyT]

I like American Select, goood velocity uniformity and it burns clean.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I use 5.1 grains of Unique behind a 180 grain cast lead bullet in 40 S&W. I've had very good results with this load, although Unique is a little on the dirty side.

 

[FieroCDSP]

5.6gr Unique behind a 155gr Oregon Trail SWC. My first lead load, but felt better and seemed straighter than 180 FMJ. Might have just been me and limited skills, but that's why I shoot. Practice makes perfect. I've used Rainier 135 TMJ's with 9.6 gr IMR 800x. Waaay too fast MV (1350 or something someone quoted me) for short indoor ranges. My mistake got me some shrapnel cuts, but nothing serious. I imagine it'd be pretty accurate at longer ranges. I'll have to try that.

 

[Clark]

800X for 40
Power Pistol for 45

 

[Air-Wolf]

Wow....

Thanks All!
Lots of great information. Some of you had asked what bullets I was using and for 45...I was using 200 gram fmj fp bullet's (Montana Gold). For 40 I was using 185gram fmj fp (Montana Gold). I recently purchased some 230 gram fmj round nose and I am going to try them out as they are readible available from the supplier as Montana Gold are getting harder to purchase in Canada. I need to shoot major and definately clean with little smoke would help.

Thanks in advance for everyone's input!!!!!


Dwayne

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Dwayne,

Switch over to a 200 grain SWC and you'll likely get a little more accuracy. You may have to have your gun tuned to feed the semi wadcutters, but the accuracy gain will be worth it or at least that's what I've found in my 1911's.

The clays is a real clean burning powder and will save cleaning time on your guns. Tite group isn't quite as clean, but you would use a little less powder per load, thereby seeing some economy.

Another factor to consider is what powder measure you're metering through to load your rounds. Selecting a powder that meters well through your measure is also a consideration.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Walkalong]

I'm guessing Clays is a lot cleaner from a 5" gun than a 4" or 3" because I just have not had much luck with those two. I will have to try it in a 5" gun and give it another chance.