Looking for a alternate powder.

[evil5826]

Any one got any good suggestions for Gun Powder. I am looking for one brand of powder to use for 125grn lead HP 9mm and 185-200grn HP 45ACP. Currently using Alliant Unique. Was thinking about going with Bull's Eye but heard its just as dirty as unique. Look for a clean burn if possible. Was thinking about the IMR 4756. Trying to look for a powder that's sold at Bass Pro Stores since its the closest place that actually has powder instock unlike online stores.

Any help/ideas would be great.

Thanks

[Naphtali]

An unusually forgiving powder I use for [up to] strong-medium loads in my 480, 475, and 45 Colt revolvers is Hodgdon's TightGroup. It is insensitive to where it's positioned in case, type of primer strength. And very little is needed for robust exterior ballistics.

Hope this helps.

[evil5826]

An unusually forgiving powder I use for [up to] strong-medium loads in my 480, 475, and 45 Colt revolvers is Hodgdon's TightGroup. It is insensitive to where it's positioned in case, type of primer strength. And very little is needed for robust exterior ballistics.

Hope this helps.

Pretty clean on the out? Better then the two alliant makes?

[P.K.]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?174200-Powder-for-9mm-and-45acp-rounds

[Naphtali]

Pretty clean on the out? Better then the two alliant makes?I have no idea what "Pretty clean on the out?" means.

I have no knowledge of Alliant powders. When I confirmed TightGroup met my needs, I chose not to try to obtain a superior result - that is, since I have sufficient TightGroup, and it does what I want done, why waste my time and money trying to identify a "more acceptable" solution? The dichotomy is between "acceptable" and "not acceptable" rather than "acceptable and "more acceptable." And my way of avoiding circling the drain is to identify "acceptable" results before I begin experimenting.

[evil5826]

Pretty clean on the out means clean barrel after shot. Alliant can dirty up the barrel.

[mpmarty]

Cleanest powder I've ever used is the AA-9 in my 10mm Red Dot does pretty well in 45acp also.

[Recluse]

Pretty clean on the out? Better then the two alliant makes?


Pretty clean on the out means clean barrel after shot. Alliant can dirty up the barrel.

I quit worrying about "dirty" powders over twenty years ago and instead concentrated on accurate powders, accurate and consistent loads and reliability. I was taught in the military that when you fire your gun, you clean your gun and I pretty much adhere to that practice even today.

Today's Unique is world's "cleaner" than the Unique of the 70's and 80's, but even then, a few swabs with a patch and some Hoppes (or now Ed's Red) and a quick wipe-down and the gun was shiny and clean again.

:coffee:

[evil5826]

I quit worrying about "dirty" powders over twenty years ago and instead concentrated on accurate powders, accurate and consistent loads and reliability. I was taught in the military that when you fire your gun, you clean your gun and I pretty much adhere to that practice even today.

Today's Unique is world's "cleaner" than the Unique of the 70's and 80's, but even then, a few swabs with a patch and some Hoppes (or now Ed's Red) and a quick wipe-down and the gun was shiny and clean again.

:coffee:

Very true.

[Redd508]

I am told Universal is pretty clean. But around here right now clean takes a back seat to available.

[Shiloh]

Yeah it is dirty, but I shoot a lot of Bullseye and Unique. I like the results. Outdoors it is not an issue. Indoors it can be quite acrid and smoky. Especially so if used with Alox as the tumble lube.

Shiloh

[evil5826]

Yeah it is dirty, but I shoot a lot of Bullseye and Unique. I like the results. Outdoors it is not an issue. Indoors it can be quite acrid and smoky. Especially so if used with Alox as the tumble lube.

Shiloh

Never again will I use alox. Feels like the bullets farting fecal matter in my face. Carnuba Red FTW.

[luky-dude]

Well I know IMR 4756 is not the way for me--alot of unburnt powder was at 90% max. load too. My best for 9 mm is IMR 7625 or WSF but 45 acp in 200 gr. is WST.

[Larry Gibson]

Bullseye.

Larry Gibson

[knifemaker]

I have had very good results with W231 in both 45acp and 9mm. In fact I have started using W231 for medium loads in 38 spec. 44 spec. and 41 mag. Very good accuracy and consistant velocity. It has replaced Unique as my all around pistol powder in numerous calibers.

[Recluse]

I really, as in REALLY like the Accurate Arms (AA) powders, and in particular AA#2 and especially AA#5 which has become my primary powder. The AA powders burn very clean, thoroughly, no excessive smoke, no foul or acrid smells and meter through a powder measure very easily and consistently.

:coffee:

[garym1a2]

WST is great in 45 acp and WSF is pretty good in 9mm.

[stubshaft]

I usually substitute AA #5 for Unique in my handgun loads. It meter a whole lot better and burns cleaner to boot. All in all, I have found that I can use the same data.

[Hawkeye45]

I have used bullseye and unique for the last 40 some years and have not had a problem with being dirty if I kept the tension between the boolit and case fairly tight, since I cannot crimp the 45.

Joists IMHO for whar it is worth

Ed

[Boyscout]

I second Win 231 as a good all around powder for 45 ACP and 38 Special. It meters well and burns fairly clean.

[shooter93]

I've experimented a fair amount and keep going back to Unique. It's not that dirty, nothing seems to shoot any better, I have loads for 5 handgun rounds now and if the next three work out I'm down to ONE pistol powder. Then it also works for a number of cast rifle loads. That's a hard powder to beat. I'm also working on getting rifles to shoot the fewest powders with 4895 on the list for sure.

[Wolfer]

I've had good luck with titegroup but I'll stick with unique. Dirty doesn't bother me. Since I bought a 8# jug of clays a few years back I don't have any experience with Bullseye. When the clays is gone that's what I'll try. Clays is clean and accurate in everything I've shot it in and I may go back to it once I try BE.

I know unique and I think BE is made in the USA. This is important to me.

[Wilkie]

Titegroup works very well for my loads. It works for all bullet types including cast. I love it in my .45 carbine!

[RoyEllis]

The only powder I buy in 8# cans is unique. Used to load all sorts of things and as far as "dirty", I look at cleaning weapons like taking a bath...just normal routine maintenance that isn't optional, it's a necessary part of life.:bigsmyl2:

[Boz330]

In today's climate of not being able to find powder, whatever you can get might be the best. I powder that I had good luck with and is economical for pistol is Titewad. It is a light recoiling powder as well. I used 5.5gr in 45ACP for IPSC competition behind an H&G68.

Bob

[Boz330]

In today's climate of not being able to find powder, whatever you can get might be the best. I powder that I had good luck with and is economical for pistol is Titewad. It is a light recoiling powder as well. I used 5.5gr in 45ACP for IPSC competition behind an H&G68.
Just checked Powder Valley and the have Titewad as well as Clays in stock


Bob

[reg293]

Bullseye for both.

[1Shirt]

Unique then Bullseye in that order
1Shirt!

[ddaniel1]

I am in the same boat, I agree with everyone on the Bullseye, Unique and 231 for 45 but it is out of stock everywhere, I finally found some Bullseye at Grafs and jumped on it but it is a month away from shipping and I have had 231 on order from Midway since Jan 6th, I have decided to try Green Dot, I use it for shotgun but it has some decent reviews for 45 ACP, I will be testing some in the next week or so, it seems to be in stock most places, I guess shotgun loading isn't getting the same run as center fire.

[ddaniel1]

Bob, I will try that Titewad, I have seen it in stock in several places also. Thanks

[RobS]

231 is a decent one. I've used green dot in 45 auto and it's was a really great powder and burned pretty clean at the mid/upper levels around 15K up. I never used it in 9mm though but I think I will go back there when I need powder again for 45 acp and 45/454 Casull plinker rounds.

[TheCelt]

Another vote for W231, clean burning, consistent and meters well. Excellant accuracy in 38 (125 gr), 9MM (125 Gr) and 45ACP (200gr)

[MtGun44]

BE or Titegroup are very good in .45 ACP.

Not sure what to make about the whole "dirty powder" nonsense.

It's a gun, it's ammo, it gets dirty - more so with cast boolits than Jbullets. But
so what?
Bill

[ku4hx]

I have grown to really like Ramshot True Blue. In my guns it burns exceptionally clean and gives very consistent velocities in both the 9mm and 45 ACP. And it meters well through my Dillon powder measure.

[Forrest r]

Titewad
American select
Greendot
Reddot
HS-6
WST
True Blue

To name a few, just because most people haven't used these powders doesn't mean that they aren't any good.

[Boz330]

Titewad
American select
Greendot
Reddot
HS-6
WST
True Blue

To name a few, just because most people haven't used these powders doesn't mean that they aren't any good.

Absolutely correct, but most folks are reluctant to try powders that they don't know anything about or don't have data for, me included. Most of the shotgun powders are available and work well in pistols. I use to use 452AA for 45, and when they stopped production I went to the Titewad. 452 AA was $50 for 10lbs when I first started using it and the recoil was very soft which was a real advantage for IPSC. The downside is that it is very temperature sensitive.
The shotgun powders also have the advantage of usually being cheaper. I just picked up an 8 pounder of Promo for $84 which is very close to Red Dot. In a 45 I can get 1275 rounds of 45 ACP per pound and it makes major power factor. That is pretty cheap shooting especially in today's atmosphere.

Bob

[Forrest r]

Yup, I used to shoot a little aa452 back in the day.

61947

I only have around 4# left & I have a killer load (5gr) for the 44spl with it pushing the Mihec 44hbwc boolit.

There's a lot of data out there @ the mfg's website for a large # of powders. I like to try a new powder every year, this year is American select's year.

[fredj338]

TG for lead bullets, not even a distant 4th choice. I feel sim about BE, it produces a lot of carbon & mix that w/ bullet lube, it gets ugly fast. If you only want plinking ammo for the 9mm & any load for the 45acp, WST (used to be 452AA) has been very good to me w/ lead bullets.

[spfd1903]

I have found AA #5 most accurate with my 9 mm and .40 S&W. Unique is most accurate for my. 45 acp and. 380 acp cast. I clean every firearm after return from the range. I could understand the "Dirty" concept for indoor shooting, but accuracy is my main concern.

[rond]

I vote for Titegroup.