what's the right powder for me?

[txshooter524]

Got some lee molds in .45. 230 and 200gr. Tumble lube. Will be shooting single stack. Got recommendations for clays but heard it smokes alot. Someone else suggested unique. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated

[putteral]

In my 200 gr SWC'S and RNFP'S I use 4.6 grs of titegroup or 5.2 grs of 231 (HP38). Tried unique but it doesn't meter well for me.

[docone31]

I personally like Blue Dot, especially in the .38s, 9mm, and 45ACP.
I can shoot a long time at the range without issue.

[Calamity Jake]

You'll get more smoke from the lube than the powder, stay with your clays, or, tightgroup, AA N100, #2 or #5, Red or Green Dot. Look in your load books for suggested charge weights

[Vly]

I've burned a few pounds of Clays in the .45 ACP and I have been satisfied with it. Most castboolit loads will smoke due to the lube burning off. I don't find the smoke a big deal shooting outside.

[sniper7369]

I use W231 and Bullseye exclusively in .45 ACP. Both relatively fast, clean burning powders that give excellent accuracy out of my 1911 with cast 230gr boolits. Unique also works well, but I've found it to be a very dirty powder in my 1911.

[copdills]

winchester 231

[jonk]

Bullseye. Softish alloy, just enough to cycle the action reliably, about 2.5 gr works for me.

[Willbird]

I made a spread sheet the other day from Powder Valley powder prices, and the maximum load for 45 acp in Lyman #49 for a 200 grain cast bullet . We do not always have to use maximum loads but it gives a basis for comparisons

800x 958fps $1.40 per 100 rounds(all others per 100 rounds)
SR4756 966 fps $1.68
HS-6 907 fps $1.80
Autocomp 914fps $1.44
Universal Clays 962fps $1.24
WSF 970fps $1.34
231 914fps $1.12
HP38 914fps $1.05
SR7625 952fps $1.71
PB 915fps $1.39
WST 910fps $1.02
Trail Boss 816fps $1.30
Titegroup 957fps $.97
700x 921fps $.95
Clays 888fps $.81
Bullseye 860fps $.86
Clay Dot (Alliant) $.70

Clay dot is an Alliant analog of Hogdon Clays. it is cheaper than Clays. Clays is the cleanest of any of the powders I have tried, TiteGroup may be the most versatile powder because it can be used to generate higher velocities in 357 magnum and 44 magnum than some of the other fast burners.

[Sprue]

If you shoot lead, expect some smoke. If you shoot a lot, expect things to get a little dirty. Its the nature of the beast. Pretty good trade off but Alox both smokes & stinks PU.

Any of the powders above will work, if you can find it on the shelf, that is the question - in my neck/woods.

Unique is popular around here.

[leftiye]

Boolit Mold


Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12 what's the right powder for me?

I'd use body powder on my armpits & etc. , Maybe Baby powder on your bu##crack.

[Leadforbrains]

Boolit Mold


Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12 what's the right powder for me?

I'd use body powder on my armpits & etc. , Maybe Baby powder on your bu##crack.

Wow! Looks like someones hittin the sauce early.:kidding::drinks:

[MtGun44]

Hodgdon says Clays won't make full power loads in 45 ACP within SAAMI
pressure limits. Clays burns very cleanly but you need to push past the pressure
limits to reach full power loads.

I have had excellent results with Bullseye, Titegroup and Win231 over the
last 30 years and literally several hundred thousand rounds.

Unique is OK in 45 ACP for heavy bullet loads, but while it is accurate for
200 gr or lighter loads the extreme spread on velocities is very high, like
100-125 fps. Also, as much as I love Unique for heavy revolver loads and
the 'magic' 10 gr load for milsurp bottleneck 20th century cartridges, it meters
much more poorly than the three above powders. It also requires quite a
bit more powder, so is more costly.

The final issue is cost. BE and TG are nearly identical at about 4.7-4.8 gr
for 200 LSWC, W231 will take about 5.7gr. So, BE and TG are the lower cost,
are very accurate and relatively clean. Most "fouling" and crud are from the
lube more than the powder.

Bill

[Rick N Bama]

AA5 is my choice for 200gr boolits.

Rick

[rbuck351]

I have two that I like very well. Win 231 or 230 if you can find any and universal clays. Both meter well and only use around 5gr for a stiff load.

[jleneave]

I have been using 6.0grs if Unique under a 230gr LRN (RCBS 45-230-RN Mold) and have been fairly satisfied. I have been getting 2" to 2.5" groups @ 20yds free handed. But like the above posters say, Unique doesn't meter very well from my RCBS Uni-Flow powder measurer.

What is a good mid level load using Bullseye and a 230gr LRN(RCBS 45-230-RN)??

Jody

[sniper7369]

What is a good mid level load using Bullseye and a 230gr LRN(RCBS 45-230-RN)??

Jody

I don't have my load book right in front of me, but IIRC my target load for .45 230gr LRN with Bullseye is 4.3 or 4.5gr.

[870TC]

I use 4.3 grains of Clays for the 200 grainer, goes around 850fps. Used to use Bullseye, Win231, 700X, or Red dot, think clays is cleaner and smokes less.

[fallout4x4]

Trail Boss 816fps $1.30






Can you double check that price? It sells in a container that would hold one pound of any other powder but its really only 9 oz for the $20 you pay.

[zxcvbob]

If you like Clays, try Alliant Promo. It's super cheap, it burns clean as long as you don't load it too light, and it's spooky-accurate. You use Red Dot load data with it (just a little slower-burning than Clays.)

Titegroup sucks with cast bullets. It's smoky and messy. Does OK with jacketed or plated though. I bought a pound of Titegroup and I'm trying to use it up to get rid of it, but it just keeps going and going...

[waco]

sorry bob.....i have had great results with tightgroup and cast boolits.
my kimber .45, and my .357mag love it
no mess.....no more smoke than anything else.i guess your guns dont like it, ....or....you should just put down the koolaid.......lol:kidding: