Reloading 45 ACP, which Powder? - Page 2

redhawk41 · February 20, 2006, 09:14 PM

Another vote for W231. Gives me excellent accuracy and low recoil using 230 gr plated bullets.

sindiesel666 · February 20, 2006, 09:27 PM

Clays and Titegroup.

I keep coming back to these two, since they are great in just about any pistol caliber, at least for me. I only load .40, .45ACP and .38 Spl.

For the ACP, I went as low as 3.3 grains Clays and still made major PF with 230 grain cast lead bullets. And the brass inside looks as clean as if it had just been tumbled. Standard deviation is about 23 fps.

Now, I usually load about 3.6 grains and with that load SD is about 12 fps. At 4.o grains it's around 5fps.
Another good thing about Clays is that is kind of bulky, so it's fairly easy to see if you accidentally double-charged.

Titegroup is very clean, economical and gives me very good groups. Real fine powder, kind of hard to see in fat cases, like ACP. But i love it, load is about 3.8-3.9 grains, and very pleasant to shoot, usually use 10 lb spring in my 1911. That's with 230gr cast lead.

Both of these powders are fairly cheap, usually Titegroup slightly less expensive. Others I tried were:

1. Bullseye -- lots of unburned powder at lesser charges, anything under 4 grains.
2. Unique -- DIRTY, DIRTY... but if you load at or over 5 grains, it attains higher pressure and burns cleaner. And it has a nice "bark" to it.
3. 231, the old standard. Did not care too much for it, Clays and Titegroup worked better and cleaner.

Good luck with finding what works for you. I'm sure you'll try at least a few choices until you settle down on something that floats your boat.

joecad · February 20, 2006, 09:30 PM

another vote for win 231. it meters well and is very consistant

rnovi · February 22, 2006, 02:28 AM

I'm really liking TG and Clays.

drdirk · February 22, 2006, 04:46 AM

one powder for everything I do! May not be the best choice for all but I like the convenience of it.

Tacoma · February 22, 2006, 07:23 PM

I used to use W231 for 38 and 45ACP. I've since switched to clays as it's noticably cleaner and has less recoil. Works good for target velocity loads in both. If you want to load hot PD loads, clays is not the best choice though.

8ring · February 23, 2006, 10:18 PM

Winchester Super Target (WST) for lead and moly-coated bullets. It's cleaner than 231 and fills the case better. It creates much less smoke with lead bullets than Titegroup and some other propellants. WST is not temperature sensitive like 231. The US Army Bullseye Team uses WST in their 1911s so it must be fairly accurate.

Vithavouri N-320 is good for both jacketed and lead target loads. It is a little more expensive but it meters well, is very clean, and a relatively small charge is needed.

I haven't used VV-N340 in .45 acp., but I've had very good results with it in .357 mag with Masterblasters bullets.

Tang · March 11, 2006, 09:00 PM

I have been using WW231 and VVN320. VVN320 very clean burning but it does cost more.

crazylegs · March 12, 2006, 11:35 AM

For my 45 ACP, I've used BullsEye, Clays and W231. BullsEye for me, has worked the best. Clays is good also but leads my barrel excessively where as I get minimum leading with Bullseye. All three powders I mentioned are excellent in 45ACP. I don't know about accuracy, but W231 would probably be a better choice for full power loads.
Crazylegs

February 20, 2006, 09:14 PM	#26
redhawk41 Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2005 Location: Red Desert Posts: 819	Another vote for W231. Gives me excellent accuracy and low recoil using 230 gr plated bullets. __________________ {empty thought cloud}

February 20, 2006, 09:30 PM	#28
joecad Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: nky Posts: 263	another vote for another vote for win 231. it meters well and is very consistant __________________ I'ld rather die standing than live kneeling

February 22, 2006, 02:28 AM	#29
rnovi Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2005 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 401	I'm really liking TG and Clays. __________________ Robert N. "Remember, Eagles may soar but Weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!"

February 22, 2006, 04:46 AM	#30
drdirk Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2004 Location: houston, tx Posts: 179	win 231 one powder for everything I do! May not be the best choice for all but I like the convenience of it.

March 11, 2006, 09:00 PM	#33
Tang Junior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: San Mateo, Ca Posts: 8	Powder I have been using WW231 and VVN320. VVN320 very clean burning but it does cost more.

February 20, 2006, 09:27 PM	#27
sindiesel666 Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2004 Location: San Antonio Posts: 270	Clays and Titegroup. I keep coming back to these two, since they are great in just about any pistol caliber, at least for me. I only load .40, .45ACP and .38 Spl. For the ACP, I went as low as 3.3 grains Clays and still made major PF with 230 grain cast lead bullets. And the brass inside looks as clean as if it had just been tumbled. Standard deviation is about 23 fps. Now, I usually load about 3.6 grains and with that load SD is about 12 fps. At 4.o grains it's around 5fps. Another good thing about Clays is that is kind of bulky, so it's fairly easy to see if you accidentally double-charged. Titegroup is very clean, economical and gives me very good groups. Real fine powder, kind of hard to see in fat cases, like ACP. But i love it, load is about 3.8-3.9 grains, and very pleasant to shoot, usually use 10 lb spring in my 1911. That's with 230gr cast lead. Both of these powders are fairly cheap, usually Titegroup slightly less expensive. Others I tried were: 1. Bullseye -- lots of unburned powder at lesser charges, anything under 4 grains. 2. Unique -- DIRTY, DIRTY... but if you load at or over 5 grains, it attains higher pressure and burns cleaner. And it has a nice "bark" to it. 3. 231, the old standard. Did not care too much for it, Clays and Titegroup worked better and cleaner. Good luck with finding what works for you. I'm sure you'll try at least a few choices until you settle down on something that floats your boat.

February 22, 2006, 07:23 PM	#31
Tacoma Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2004 Location: SE New England Posts: 620	I used to use W231 for 38 and 45ACP. I've since switched to clays as it's noticably cleaner and has less recoil. Works good for target velocity loads in both. If you want to load hot PD loads, clays is not the best choice though.

February 23, 2006, 10:18 PM	#32
8ring Member Join Date: October 26, 2002 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 84	Winchester Super Target (WST) for lead and moly-coated bullets. It's cleaner than 231 and fills the case better. It creates much less smoke with lead bullets than Titegroup and some other propellants. WST is not temperature sensitive like 231. The US Army Bullseye Team uses WST in their 1911s so it must be fairly accurate. Vithavouri N-320 is good for both jacketed and lead target loads. It is a little more expensive but it meters well, is very clean, and a relatively small charge is needed. I haven't used VV-N340 in .45 acp., but I've had very good results with it in .357 mag with Masterblasters bullets.

March 12, 2006, 11:35 AM	#34
crazylegs Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2004 Posts: 145	For my 45 ACP, I've used BullsEye, Clays and W231. BullsEye for me, has worked the best. Clays is good also but leads my barrel excessively where as I get minimum leading with Bullseye. All three powders I mentioned are excellent in 45ACP. I don't know about accuracy, but W231 would probably be a better choice for full power loads. Crazylegs