What is your favorite powder for 45 ACP

[mnoirot64]

I load a lot of 45 ACP. Primarily practice rounds with 200 or 230 grain FMJ bullets. My go to powders are Unique, Power Pistol, No. 5 and 800-X. What is your favorite powder for 45 auto?

[Nick_C_S]

W231 for the light-medium stuff (about 80% of what I load); and HS-6 for the hot stuff.

[mnoirot64]

I've heard a lot about HS-6, and want to try it, but I never see it on the shelf of my LGS.

[hodaka]

231/HP-38 with Unique as a backup.

[m&p45acp10+1]

Bull's Eye is my go to for cast lead. I shoot mostly cast as in about 99% of the time. If I can not get my go to then next in line is Win 231/HP38.

Red Dot works though I hate hand weighing every charge it meters poorly.

[pete2]

WST at the moment but I have used 700X, Bullseye, Clays, 231, HP38, Unique, Green Dot. I like the faster ones better, I load mostly target loads, Unique and 231/HP28 for full blast. Ball powders meter better out of a measure.

[BigJimP]

Hodgdon TiteGroup is my favorite.../ Hodgdon Universal would be my # 2 ....or Alliant's Unique as # 3.......

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Of the four powders I have worked up loads in I like the WST best for light-medium target loads. Accurate and very clean burning.

[Nick_C_S]

I've heard a lot about HS-6, and want to try it.

HS-6 is good stuff. It's not without its quirks, however. In the semi-auto world (45ACP, 9mm, etc), it behaves fairly normal. But in revolver cartridges, it can cause fits. I don't think it likes the cavernous interiors of revolver cartridges. But I digress. . .

In 45 Auto, I like it for full-power rounds because it is a well-behaved powder. It seems to have a very linear pressure curve. So as you work up a load, it, gives a lot of warning before you get into serious problems with it. A good quality to have when you're working up top-end, high-pressure rounds. It's behavior is very predictable, and that's why I recommend it for beginner loaders.

I don't think it's a very energetic powder, however. It's no Power Pistol for instance (PP is a very energetic powder), because it won't yield maximum velocities. There are powders that will make bullets go faster.

But overall, I'm willing to give up a few FPS, to get the good, consistent, clean burning rounds that HS-6 delivers. I'm a big fan of HS-6.

[RickB]

I've used nothing but Hodgdon Clays, the last six or eight years, for 200gr and 230gr "major power" loads. Clays is inexpensive, burns clean, and you don't need much to make mid-range velocities.
I've burned lots of 231/HP38, WST, Zip, and N320, and if I needed higher velocities I would have to change to one of those that's slower-burning.

[JimDandy]

I was able to get four pounds of power pistol which had the best range for 185 and 230 grain in the Hornady book, and I've got so many free Hornady bullets, or bullets I've bought myself FMJ-RN, XTP and so forth that was something I was looking for. I like Unique when I tried that, but it was better represented in 230 than 185 grain pills. And 185 grain pills are what I get for free for all the stuff I've bought from them.

With that said Power Pistol feels flashier, more blinding at the muzzle, so if I could use Unique the same, I would.

[Nick_C_S]

Power Pistol feels flashier, more blinding at the muzzle

Oh yeah. Power Pistol is quite the flashy powder. One of the worst.

[chiefr]

Unique for 230 hardball match. Bullseye is #2

[Gster]

Titegroup is my powder for all my handgun loads. It is very accurate in my 1911.

[4runnerman]

Another titegroup here

[Slamfire]

Bullseye. Four and half grains with a 230 LRN, 5.0 grains with a 230 FMJ. While I have shot around 10 pounds of W231, I have decided to standardize on Bullseye.

Bullseye, the original powder in the 45 ACP, it is the powder used in the 1910 experimental cartridges, and it is still a top choice.

Kimber Custom Classic

230 gr LRN Valiant 4.5 grs Bullseye Mixed Brass WLP (brass) OAL 1.250"
taper crimp .469"

16-May-09 high 83 °F

Ave Vel =805.2
Std Dev =38.07
ES =136.9
High = 912.4
Low =775.5
N = 24


230 gr FMJ (R-P) 5.0 grs Bullseye Mixed Brass WLP (brass) OAL 1.265" taper crimp .469"

12-Dec-11 T= 53 °F

Ave Vel =793.5
Std Dev =18.92
ES =61.99
High = 817.4
Low =755.4
N = 16

[leefan]

Titegroup is it. Good on salads, too.

[reload]

HP-38, but that's all I've ever used. Works well for my 9mm and .45 ACP.

[Nick_C_S]

HP-38, but that's all I've ever used.

Well then, you got it right the first time out

[02bigdogs17]

My favorite powders for lead loads on my 1911 are Titegroup and W231. My favorite powder for fmj bullets is Accurate No.5

[Louca]

W231/HP-38 lite charge for target 200 gn SWC lead; Power Pistol and W231 heavier load for 200 gn RNFP for IDPA.

[boondocker385]

700x for plinkers... unique and 231 for SD

[burrhead]

Bullseye (my favorite), 231, Unique.

[chris in va]

Pretty good luck with Universal and PB. Nothing is ever in stock on a regular basis so I have to work up a new load every time I get another powder.

Didn't care for Unique though, like loading with corn flakes.

[darkgael]

Bullseye. I have also tried IMR 7625....works nicely, meters well.
Pete