452374 and W231:Peaches and Cream, or S--t and Shinola?

[fourarmed]

I have a 4-cavity mold for 452374, a lot of 231, and several autos and a revolver to feed. None of my manuals list 231 as a particularly great choice for this bullet, except a Lyman manual that says "potentially" at about 900 fps with 5.8 grains. I don't really want that hot a load for all around use. I have loaded 5.0, and it was pretty ho-hum. Is there any consensus on the board regarding a charge of 231 that would do best?

[captaint]

I can only tell you what I would do. IF I had or needed to load WW231, I would try loading 50 at 5.2grs and give that a workout. I, too, am not fond of "max type" loads in my 45's. I tend to keep them around 800/825 fps and I'm happy with that. My favorite powder right now in the 45's is Titegroup. Very small groups...

[rintinglen]

5.5 grns of WW-231 has been accurate in my Sig P220. I now use an MP H&G 68 copy, but I have loaded hundreds of the 452-374 in the past. I envy you having "plenty" of ww-231. I am down to my last 4 Lber.

[Markbo]

.... My favorite powder right now in the 45's is Titegroup. Very small groups...

Bingo. Its all I use in .45s for target type loads. Accurate and clean. I love it.

[Deep Six]

I could never get the same accuracy out of 231 in 45 auto that I could out of almost every other powder from 700-X to HS-6. Just couldn't get 231 to behave right.

[CHeatermk3]

When I was shooting IPSC back in the 80's W231 was the go-to load in my 45acp...6.0 gn 231 behind H&G 68 SWC. Accurate and made major with room to spare.

In a 45 colt, prolly too much room unless you went with, maybe a wadcutter-type boolit?

[Ia.redneck]

Many years ago the American Rifleman listed military ball ammo duplication loads for the 230gr rn lead.
They showed 5.6gr of W-231 loaded at 1.240 in. with the 452374.

[oger]

5.0 to 5.5gr will work in anything that shoots 45acp with the 452374.

[Scharfschuetze]

I've shot pounds of 231 under the RCBS equivalent to 452374 with fine results. I'd have no issues in continuing to do so, but I've been migrating over the Tightgroup as it seems to produce more consistent ballistics and just as good of accuracy in both 45 and 38 Special loads. If I still had any 231, I'd burn it up with a smile under your boolit choice.

[Wayne Dobbs]

5.1 - 5.6 with a the -374 or the TC designs in .45 ACP have worked well for me for 40 + years. Unless you want more recoil, gun wear and wrist wear, use the 5.1 load and drive on.

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Supposedly 231 is going out of production. Seeing as you aren't having great results with it and there is limited load data I would suggest storing it for a different caliber or trading it for a better 45cal powder. Not sure if you are loading for 45colt or the 45auto but I have had good results with bullseye and unique in both calibers.

[fourarmed]

Thanks for the advice. It pretty much parallels my experience. I have enough Unique to go that way, and I have some 700-X I could use up, too. I will try some more test loads with 231 just to make sure. Maybe 4.0, 4.4, 4.8, and 5.2. If I don't hit something I like in there, I will try another powder. I really want a fairly light load, but with a bullet that speed loads well. That is what has kept me away from wadcutters.