Whats your powder of choice for 45acp?

[hickfu]

I am going to load up my 45acp boolits I just made (some powder coated, some LLA'ed) I have 700X, 800X and Unique to work with. This will be the first time loading lead in 45acp and especially PC'ed and LLA'ed boolits. To those of you who have used these powders, which is the best one out of the 3?

Opps, I have titegroup as well.... so 4

Doc

[MOcaster]

I am a fan of Titegroup for everything, but I am a little biased towards it. I haven't used the others.

[krag35]

Unique

[pworley1]

Lyman 452374 over 7 grains of Unique.

[Bloodman14]

4.5 grs. of TiteGroup or Red Dot behind my LeeTL-230-2R.

[mikeym1a]

I've used Unique in the past, but have switched to Herco, due to availability. Don't have much 700x or 800x in stock. Gotta use what you have.

[waco]

Lyman 452374 over 7 grains of Unique.

Amen!!!

[Loudenboomer]

200 gr HG 68 over 5gr Bullseye
That's my favorite but all the powders listed will work. The O'l .45 ACP is not real fussy in the powder dept.

[Old Caster]

The only difference in them all is how economical they each are to do the same job. Fastest is cheapest because it takes the least. The slowest powder always gives less felt recoil to do the same job because it takes longer to do the same job, consequently feeling smoother.

[plainsman456]

Unique and 6.0grains of bullseye.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I have gotten good accuracy with 700X and Unique. There is a wide choice of powders that will also work namely Bullseye and Red Dot to name a couple of others. And there are others. Its a game of experimentation and it takes patience like many other things. I never worked with 800X or tite-group so can't comment on them. LLS

[williamwaco]

My first choice would be Bulls eye but tight group and 700x are as close to BullsEye as you can get.


http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

[True.grit]

Use unique, it takes a little more but burns cleaner.

[Bohica793]

W231/HP-38 or Bullseye

[bruce381]

on my dillion unique meters like corn flakes so right now whatver i can find AA2 but my standard is 231

[hickfu]

I guess I will try all 4 then to see how I like them all, I do want a good plinking load so Unique may be the go to powder then, I use only single stage press and I weigh every charge (Im disabled so not in any hurry to get anything done)

Thanks for all the replies

Doc

[True.grit]

Unique is about as versatile as powder it gets. I think there is a Sticky for it. Worth a read. Happy shooting

[MT Gianni]

I like Unique in the 45 but it can bridge in a measure. As long as you take precautions and check things it works very well.

[mpbarry1]

5.2 grains win 231 under H&G 68 is mine.

[Iowa Fox]

I always come back to 700X. Plus I've got a bunch of it from the shotgun days.

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

I used 5.2 grains of Vit N320. very very clean, no smokey residue to remove from your pistol
and it meters great in a measure.

[captaint]

I've been wanting to get some VV N320 to try. Glad to hear is meters well. I use almost no Unique because of the way it (doesn't) meters. Now to find some 320........ Mike

[Kent Fowler]

Both WW-231 or AA-5 run extremely well in my Series 70.

[paul edward]

1. Win 231/HP-38
2. Bullseye
3. Unique

[Shiloh]

Bullseye and Unique. Usually Bullseye.

Shiloh

[ShooterAZ]

1) Clays
2) 231
3) Titegroup
4) Unique
5) Red Dot

In that order.

[Jupiter7]

Unique of the ones you have. Bullseye is my favorite but impossible to find.

[gwpercle]

The BEST powder is....the one you have on hand or the one you can get! That being said, I loaded most of my bullseye match loads with cast 200 gr. SWC over 5.2 grains of Unique (even won a few matches with it ). Then I discovered Bullseye powder, the original 45 acp powder. same boolit over 5.0 grs Bullseye...great load. Have Red Dot now and it works, similar to BE.
I have a can of 700X, bought for 45 acp loads, but can't say it is better than the others...it does work and works well.
I don't have any experience with 800X or Tightgroup but have heard positive reports on Tightgroup. Might be worth trying it out.

My advice is to try the three powders you have the most of in a test and see if any one stands out...then go with that one.
Gary

[Big Steve]

6.0 grains Unique
8.0 grains HS6
8.5 grains HS7
5.4 Green Dot

All work good for me, but my preference is Unique.

[lightman]

Win 231 for target, bluedot for hot jhp's. Lightman

[jmsj]

Bullseye for target and standard loads and Unique for heavier loads

[HABCAN]

Usta was WW Action Pistol, now......WSF.

[SPRINGFIELDM141972]

4.7 grains of Unique for target.

[Garpo]

For now, I use Red Dot and it has worked well for me. When I use up the 2.5 pounds of that powder I'll start on my Unique stash. In my area I haven't been able to find Red Dot for the past several years.

[MtGun44]

4.8 BE or TG for first choice under H&G 68. W231 uses 5.7 under the same boolit.

For target 3.8-4.0 TG or BE.

Unique actually has a very high extreme spread with 200 gr cast in .45 ACP, does better
under 230 gr cast - but, it is still accurate despite the large extreme spreads in the
100-125 fps range with the 200 gr.

Bill

[Dutchman]

4.8 BE or TG for first choice under H&G 68. W231 uses 5.7 under the same boolit.

For target 3.8-4.0 TG or BE.

Unique actually has a very high extreme spread with 200 gr cast in .45 ACP, does better
under 230 gr cast - but, it is still accurate despite the large extreme spreads in the
100-125 fps range with the 200 gr.

Bill

empty your mailbox.

Unique.

Dutch

[klausg]

Of what you have on hand, Unique. I found a deal on some NOS WST a while back & am still shooting that right now, when it's gone I'll probably go back to the Unique.

[Warner C]

Lyman 452630 4 grains of clays

[sasquatch76]

4.5grs of Titegroup. "A little goes a long way". Plus, I can find Titegroup around here, but no Unique or Bullseye.

[jonp]

Promo. Much shooting for cheap. I have several pounds of 231 that i tried but is still sitting on the shelf next to the jug of Bullseye

[bigtee]

W231/HP-38 or Bullseye

+1 for 231/HP-38

[pastor]

#1 Clays

#2 Accurate #7

[MaLar]

Unique and IMR 4350

[GaryN]

Unique and IMR 4350

Okay. I think you are the first person I ever heard of using IMR 4350 in a 45.:kidding:

[DrCaveman]

Heres a second for imr 4350.

Kidding

But i will take the less popular choice among your offerings and say 700x is pretty dang good. Just under max loads at each weight i tried (200 & 230) gave EXCELLENT accuracy. At least in my limited experience.

I just wasnt liking the greater powder consumption over bullseye and competition so still mainly use those two

[GaryN]

6.0 grains Unique
8.0 grains HS6
8.5 grains HS7
5.4 Green Dot

All work good for me, but my preference is Unique.

Hey Steve, Does HS7 really work in a 45 ACP. I have some and I would not think that it would work?

[Cmm_3940]

+1 for 'whatever's available'. Unique is popular and has worked well for me. I really wish I could find some 700x, 800x, or bullseye.

For me, what I've been able to find/use lately:

PB, Red Dot, Clays make good target loads, AA#5 to go fast. Shooting 200gr. and 230gr.

Upside of the Alliant stuff I've tried (when I can find it) is that it's less expensive. Downside for me is big flakes that get stuck and don't meter as well - I use the electronic powder dispenser for every charge.

[dudel]

Bullseye

[h8dirt]

Wst, vv n310

[skeet1]

Unique is truly unique!

Ken

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I started using titegroup, then I switched to bullseye.

[Bohica793]

I have several pounds of 231 that i tried but is still sitting on the shelf next to the jug of Bullseye

Since you are not using that 231 or Bullseye, can you just send them to me? I hate to see good powder gather dust and age.

[hickfu]

OK, Im not the only one that went.. HUH? when I saw IMR-4350 listed. I happen to have a lot of 4350 though but I have never heard of anyone using it in 45acp before...

Doc

[Loudenboomer]

IMR 4350 + 45 ACP = PUUUUOOOOFFFFFF:mrgreen:

[jonp]

Promo. Much shooting for cheap. I have several pounds of 231 that i tried but is still sitting on the shelf next to the jug of Bullseye


Since you are not using that 231 or Bullseye, can you just send them to me? I hate to see good powder gather dust and age.
If you were closer i think we could figure some kind of trade. Ive got 4lbs of each and have had them for a couple of years. I just use promo and unique for about everything.

I was wondering about the 4350. He was kidding, right?

[dragon813gt]

What powder for 45acp? Same as every other non magnum pistol round I load, W231/HP-38. Not having 7485937484943933 different powders in the cabinet has allowed me to buy in bulk instead of a pound here or there. I don't chase tenths of an inch so I can make W231 work for any round.

[9.3X62AL]

Another devotee of WW-231 for the 45 ACP (and several other handgun calibers).

Of the powders mentioned by Doc, Unique is the one with which I have the most experience in 45 ACP. It did well, but took significantly higher load weights to get the same velocity.......so I went to the faster and more economical WW-231.

[TXGunNut]

I'd use Unique if I didn't have 231. I think 700 is a better powder than Unique but haven't used it.

[jonp]

Another devotee of WW-231 for the 45 ACP (and several other handgun calibers).

Of the powders mentioned by Doc, Unique is the one with which I have the most experience in 45 ACP. It did well, but took significantly higher load weights to get the same velocity.......so I went to the faster and more economical WW-231.

That's why I started using Promo. 8lbs x 7,000gr = 56,000 per jug. 56,000/4.6gr per load = 12,175 rounds a jug at about $100 each. Pretty cheap shooting.

[Big Steve]

Hey Steve, Does HS7 really work in a 45 ACP. I have some and I would not think that it would work?

Gary,

That HS7 load works just fine under a 230 gr bullet. Not my first choice, but I stumbled on to a few pounds for free so I tried it . Pretty dang good load.

[Pb2au]

Unique, but seeing as it is rather difficult to obtain, get a cheat sheet of 45ACP compatible powders and head to the LGS!

[hickfu]

I looked and looked but never found any W231, so I got what was available.... I hope this all turns around and powders start being available again. For now I guess I use the 700x, 800x titegroup and Unique to fine a good plinking load for the 200gr boolits, then I need to cast up some of the 230gr TC's
Thanks for all the advice guys!

Doc

[FredBuddy]

6.5 Unique works for me.

[Sekatoa]

I like W231, and AA#5 as an alternate. One thing I like about these two in .45 ACP cases is they fill them nicely. Maybe just me, but that's what I like. I've used a Unique and Bullseye in the past, and they performed well, but don't fill well.

[Bonz]

In my opinion, it has to be Alliant PowerPistol or faster burning powder. The slower powders shoot ok but the guns spit the unburned powder out, usually in my face.

[BigAl52]

I was using 231 but Im running out so I switced to 6grs of unique and it shoots real good. Better than 231 for me. Al

[Down South]

Of the powders you mentioned, I only have experience with one of them, Unique. That will work. My go to powder for the 45 acp is Bullseye.
On my MiHec 45-225, 45 acp, dropping at 204 Gr HP. I'm loading it over 5 gr of Bullseys and the Crony says 875-900 fps.

[dale2242]

700X because it works well and I was given 15# of it.....dale

[Lead Fred]

I bought 4 lbs of 800x, and using the max charge I can not get over 500fps, where it should be 940fps
Im not liking it. They do fly well tho

[Smoke4320]

Bullseye 5.0 grns ..followed by unique (can't remember the load right now )

[hickfu]

Well I loaded up 200 yesterday using all 4 powder choices... I went middle of the road on all of the charges for now (I didnt want to get anywhere near max yet)
6.0gr of Unique
5.0gr of titegroup
5.0gr of 700X
7.3gr of 800X
200gr cast boolit

Now I need to test them at the range, as well as to see how these powder coated boolits hold up in the barrel... Unfortunately there is no way for me to recover the boolits around where I live so I will be just checking to make sure they dont lead and they shoot good groups.

Doc

[pastime]

I have not been able to find any of the powders listed by the OP. I have been using SR4756 for the past couple of months. It was all I could find at the time. Ordinarily I would use 231 but have not seen it in a good while. Surprisingly to me the SR4756 has been working great. Bad thing though is I heard it was going to be discontinued in the near future plus I have not seen it available since I purchased it. I have a few pounds of it and a pound of SR7625 I have not tried yet but from what I have read it is also a decent powder for .45 ACP.

[doulos]

Ive shot a lot of 45ACP using Unique and W231. Like em both. Seem to get a bit better accuracy with Unique. I like AA5 also for the .45 ACP

[Garyshome]

Whatever I have available when I have some to reload.

[Blanco]

A buddy gave me a 4 # jug of fairly old Green dot. He used it for shotguns.
I have been using 5.2 grains behind the Lee 230 TC. Very accurate but is a bit flashy. easy shooting and moderately clean. My Glock loves it

[Freischütz]

If it's not cold I like powders in the Unique burning rate range. In cold weather the Red Dot range is cleaner.

[floydboy]

5.0 grs of SR7625 under a 200 gr SWC is the best load I've come up with. As accurate as BE and unigue in my gun with my abilities. I just shoot bottles and varmits. No competition. The main thing I like about it is the low smooth recoil. Much lest than 5 grs and it won't cycle as reliably. I have a Springfield Champion so don't know how this will work in a standard size 45. My wife enjoys shooting it with this load. I to will have to try the 4350.

Floyd