Powder Help 45ACP

[trixter]

I have been using 4.2 gr Bullseye for my 45ACP with Lee TL 200 SWC. I am finding that getting Bullseye is almost impossible. What would be some of my other choices of powder? I have checked the manuals that I have but not too helpful.

Thanks for your help.

[Idaho Mule]

W-231 does pretty well for me. JW

[mikeym1a]

I've used Unique, Herco is listed in a couple old manuals. Even found a listing for the old AL-5. If the old manuals were right back then, they should be good reference now. :-)

[w5pv]

Titegroup and 700x are also good.

[olereb]

I for the most part only use BE in my .45acp's but if I was going to switch I have had good results with Unique.

[KYCaster]

Anything on the burn rate chart between Bulls Eye and Blue Dot.

According to the Vihta Vouri book here on the desk, that's 37 choices. Any of them should work.....some better than others.

Some I've used successfully:
Solo 1000
AA #2
Red Dot
Clays
Royal Scot
HP38
W231
700X
WST
International
Green Dot
PB
AA #5
Universal
Unique
SR7625
AA #7
HS7
Blue Dot

Jerry

[tonysp101]

I use hp-38 I've had great results with it.

[trixter]

Anything on the burn rate chart between Bulls Eye and Blue Dot.

According to the Vihta Vouri book here on the desk, that's 37 choices. Any of them should work.....some better than others.


Some I've used successfully:
Solo 1000
AA #2
Red Dot
Clays
Royal Scot
HP38
W231
700X
WST
International
Green Dot
PB
AA #5
Universal
Unique
SR7625
AA #7
HS7
Blue Dot

Jerry

Thanks Jerry, that is just what I was looking for, now I'll see which one is available for me and then look it up in my manuals as to the quantity.

Again thanks.

[doctorggg]

I like Titegroup 4.2 grains under a 200 grain boolit.

[osteodoc08]

231 for me. Been using it for years

[David2011]

Winchester Super Target works for .45ACP as well. It will work for powder puff loads, full power loads and everything in the middle.

David

[Wolfer]

I like clays. Mainly because I had a 8 lb jug. If it ever runs out I'll probaly just stay with it.

[singleshot]

With heavy boolits, 230-260 gr, you can even go as slow as 2400 and AA#9. While not optimal, those loads work fine.

[wv109323]

The most popular powders used by Bullseye shooters are Bullseye, WW231 , 700X, Clays , VV310 and WST.

[Awsar]

love the win231 use it alot
700x also has been good for me

[KYShooter73]

I did some testing with Longshot and did pretty well. It was the only powder I could get my hands on for a while.

[jonp]

I use a bunch of promo as it is cheap and usualy available.

[gray wolf]

My 1911 does great with BE for Mid range target loads, 4 grains is the bees knees for me with a 200 grain SWC
However 4.7 of tight group performs the same. If all I had was tight group I wouldn't shed one singe tear.
Long shot is a great powder for speed and helps to keep the pressure down.
I use 1/2 grain under max for 200 grain bullets and 1/2 grain under max for 230 grain bullets.
I use Hodgons load dats from there web sight. Longshot can be a little sooty at low charge weights.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

On the long list to choose from I have successfully used Red Dot, 700X, Unique, Green Dot, 7625 and 4756 in 45ACP as well as 45 Auto rim....as well as Bullseye. All of them work well. LLS

[Finster101]

I'm using Promo lately as I have found a good supply of it. 4 grains under an HG-68 clone SWC shoots quite nice.

[Goatwhiskers]

A friend gave me 200rds loaded with 4.5gr Trailboss and a lead 200gr boolit. Quite accurate,cycles without fail, and deposits the empties all in one small area--don't have to hunt for 'em. GW

[Cajunconcealment]

Been using Bullseye for years and dont plan on changing. Problem is trying to keep it in stock. I use it for most if not all my semi auto pistol loads. Just keep it simple and guns clean.

[Lead Fred]

We only load 230 cast, and use in order: 800X, SC4756, Herco

[Ed_Shot]

Promo 4.5 gr drives Lyman 452374 @ 770 fps and 452630 @ 800 fps. Accurate and mild recoil.

[rexherring]

BE is still my first choice in the .45ACP but I also have used and liked the AA#2 and W231/HP38 for my second choices. 700X I have used and like it but my stock has since been used due to not shooting trap anymore.

[MtGun44]

Clays is not well suited for the cartridge, works well in lower vel loads and is clean
burning, but cannot produce full power loads with 230 gr boolits without hitting the
pressure limits. Too fast.

HP38=W231, great choice, as are Titegroup, Bullseye and Red Dot.

Bill

[fredj338]

Give WST a try, I doubt you ever go back to BE.

[captbligh]

Had a bunch of Red Dot available as I use it in 12 ga target loads. Really like it in the .45 ACP. Good accuracy, clean, and inexpensive.

[h8dirt]

WST for me, too. 4.4 grains under a 200 LSWC works great for mine (USFA SAA or Wilson Combat Classic). I like VV N310, too -- but it's hard to find now. WST has been one of the easier powders to find in my area lately.

[Shiloh]

Bullseye and Unique are my go to powders. 231 has worked very well as well. Haven't seen it in a long time though.

Shiloh

[zomby woof]

Winchester Super Target works for .45ACP as well. It will work for powder puff loads, full power loads and everything in the middle.

David


This......

[bobthenailer]

Although ive used alot of bullseye over the years , i have switched over to tightgroup years ago and have had excellent results with disconued WSL powder in many 45 acps and different cast bullets.

[gwpercle]

Don't ignore Ded Dot....works in my 9mm Luger, 38 special, 41. magnum, 45 acp, 30-30, 7.5 Swiss, 30-06 and 303 British...all with cast boolits of course. About two years ago I was in gunshop and spotted some cans on the shelf. Wanted to try Ed Harris' 13 grs of Red Dot "The Load" in my military rifles with cast boolits, so I bought two ( now I wish I had bought more) . Finding it works well in a lot of things. It is just slightly slower burning than Bullseye and not as slow as Unique....very useful and a lot of data is in the books.
Gary

[TenTea]

Alliant American Select http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/american_select.aspx
I was able to find this powder awhile back when almost all others (WIN231) were unavailable.
It is excellent under a Lyman 200 gr LSWC (452630).
Maybe you can find some to try.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Red Dot or Clays.
An advantage of using shotgun powders is that they are usually cheaper.

[jmort]

Unique and Blue Dot

[paul h]

The thing about the 45 acp is that it's harder to find a fast to medium rate handgun/shotgun powder that won't work well than one that will. I've found both bullseye and unique to be excellent powders, but would have little trouple choosing 1/2 dozen or more substitutes that would give equal results. I mostly use bullseye as I get more rounds per pounds of powder and have no need to load the 45 acp "hot".

[Garpo]

Red Dot and Unique both work fine for me. Just for the heck of it I'm going to try some Trail Boss next reloading cycle.

[Down South]

I hare to hear BE in your area is hard to come by. I have it running of my ears here with two 8# jugs and four 4# jugs full. I shoot a lot of 45 acp plus I use if for 9mm, light loads in 357 mag and 38 special.
I can find it reasonably priced around here.

But as mentioned, find something close on the burn chart and work up a new load.

[ACrowe25]

5.2 gr of w231/hp38 work fine for me

[Outpost75]

I have used 4.5 grains of Bullseye as my "Go To" load in. 45 ACP with any cast bullet from 185 to 240 grains for over 40 years.

I have found that if your Star or Dillon machine is set to to throw 4.5 grains of Bullseye by volume, that the same measure setting throws 5 grains of W231, 4.5 of SR7625, 4.1 of 452AA, 4.5 of Universal Clays, 4.0 of N310, 4.1 of WST or 6.1 of WSF, which are all satisfactory. 45 ACP loads, with H&G68, which is my most often used bullet.

[catboat]

http://www.lapua.com/upload/reloading/reloadingburningratechart2011.pdf

I found the above powder burn rate chart useful. It lists powders "slow" to "fast" (up and down), and then powder manufacturer's similar burn rate products "side to side" / (horizontally).

There are a couple I don't agree with (ie H4198 is listed as "faster" or "as fast as" H4227, 1680, 680, 5744, Lil gun) , but overall, a handy chart.

For the 45 acp, a powder with a burn rate from "Bullseye" to "Unique" would be a good area to consider.

[waco]

+1 on Titegroup. Great in the .38SPL also!!

[oscarflytyer]

I use Bullseye, and my pref. Never used 231, but here it is great. I also use Power Pistol and Unique.

[Steve Steven]

I agree with Garys post (#33) below, I have used Red Dot for 25 years, started when I was given most of an 8# keg and I have used 4.4gr of Red Dot since.

"Don't ignore Ded Dot....works in my 9mm Luger, 38 special, 41. magnum, 45 acp, 30-30, 7.5 Swiss, 30-06 and 303 British...all with cast boolits of course. About two years ago I was in gunshop and spotted some cans on the shelf. Wanted to try Ed Harris' 13 grs of Red Dot "The Load" in my military rifles with cast boolits, so I bought two ( now I wish I had bought more) . Finding it works well in a lot of things. It is just slightly slower burning than Bullseye and not as slow as Unique....very useful and a lot of data is in the books.
Gary "

Steve

[Steve Steven]

I agree with Garys post (#33) below, I have used Red Dot for 25 years, started when I was given most of an 8# keg and I have used 4.4gr of Red Dot since.

"Don't ignore Ded Dot....works in my 9mm Luger, 38 special, 41. magnum, 45 acp, 30-30, 7.5 Swiss, 30-06 and 303 British...all with cast boolits of course. About two years ago I was in gunshop and spotted some cans on the shelf. Wanted to try Ed Harris' 13 grs of Red Dot "The Load" in my military rifles with cast boolits, so I bought two ( now I wish I had bought more) . Finding it works well in a lot of things. It is just slightly slower burning than Bullseye and not as slow as Unique....very useful and a lot of data is in the books.
Gary "

Steve

[HeavyMetal]

Another strong suggestion to go with Winchester WST, long ago this was called 452AA and I still have 6 Lbs of it for my 45 ACP loads.

Incredibley consistant, my buddy had one of the first Chrony's and during a load test we put some of my 452AA loads over it out of the wife's Commander:

775
775
775
775
775
775
775
776 when we shot this last one he looked at me and said glad to see a change I thought it was broke!

I havre never found a Colt Mark 4 series 70 that would not put that load in a 5 shot group you could cover with a Quarter at 25 yards.

Add in the fact that it is very easy to meter and get consistant powder charges and it's about 300% cleaner than Bullseye and I honestly don't know why anyone uses Bullseye in a 45 any more.

Got 12 lbs of the stuff and found it makes a great 7/8's ounce 12 gauge load!

[chboats]

To summarize what everybody is saying, you can use almost any powder on the burn rate chart from Clays to Unique/Blue dot.
Carl

[Char-Gar]

I would be happy with Bullseye, 231, Unique or AA5, with Bulleye being the odds on favorite.

[varmint243]

I also use WST it seems to be working well for me and is usually fairly easy to find.

[bosterr]

Another strong suggestion to go with Winchester WST, long ago this was called 452AA and I still have 6 Lbs of it for my 45 ACP loads.

Incredibley consistant, my buddy had one of the first Chrony's and during a load test we put some of my 452AA loads over it out of the wife's Commander:

775
775
775
775
775
775
775
776 when we shot this last one he looked at me and said glad to see a change I thought it was broke!

I havre never found a Colt Mark 4 series 70 that would not put that load in a 5 shot group you could cover with a Quarter at 25 yards.

Add in the fact that it is very easy to meter and get consistant powder charges and it's about 300% cleaner than Bullseye and I honestly don't know why anyone uses Bullseye in a 45 any more.

Got 12 lbs of the stuff and found it makes a great 7/8's ounce 12 gauge load!

What's the granulation of WST like? I was looking for a powder that was more accurate than Win 231 in my Kimber Stainless Gold Match and found it in Red Dot. However, Red Dot dosen't measure very well at all in my Square Deal B/Dillon powder measure. I'm not looking for a powder that "shoots great at 7 yds", I'm looking for a powder that will remove the head of a fly at 25 yds. out of my VERY steady rest setup! HeavyMetal, I hope you have the solution to my problem!

[35remington]

A misconception is that Red Dot is slower than Bullseye in metallic cartridges. In most applications, Red Dot is slightly faster than Bullseye when so used. Red Dot makes a very good 45 ACP powder, with the observation that some measures do not dispense it consistently when charges get much below 4 grains.

WST is an entirely different powder than 452AA. 452AA was noted for being an "inverse" powder, in that it went faster as temperatures went lower. It was discontinued some time ago, and WST is not a relabeling of the very same product. Hodgdon sold 452AA and badged it Trap 100. Both 452AA and Trap 100 are long gone.

[jonk]

4.5 gr of Red dot was my go to load for that bullet for a long time.

Of late with that one, 5 gr of trail boss has done really well out of my 1911, and 5.5 out of the long colt.

[avogunner]

Bullseye is my primary .45ACP powder too but I've also had good results with 231, HP-38, 700X, and others. .45ACP is just one of those calibers that is easy to get good results from just about any suitable powder, primer, and cast boolit combo.