One Powder for 45ACP and 40 S&W

John Boy · December 21, 2000, 05:06 PM

I'm just getting started in reloading.
For simplicity I'd like to find a single powder
that feeds/measures easily and makes up
good loads in both 40 S&W and 45ACP.

Any help appreciated!

MikeFromIowa · December 21, 2000, 07:36 PM

John Boy: I am sure others will chime in with lots of information, but I have found Ramshot True Blue to meter really well through my 550B, and it should work well because the stuff is very small grained and just "looks" great. Performance in .40 has been impressive, but I have yet to try it in .45. Ramshot's data for .45 looks okay, I will let you know when I try it out. You only problem may be finding it in your area, as I think distribution is still a little "thin".
--Mike From Iowa

Patrick Graham · December 21, 2000, 07:59 PM

Power Pistol

Keith J · December 21, 2000, 08:35 PM

N320 or N350 (little slow but great for full power loads)

WESHOOT2 · December 21, 2000, 08:41 PM

Correct response is (drumroll, please) Accurate AA5.

Suggest W231 for 45ACP, and Power Pistol for 40.

tonyz · December 22, 2000, 09:56 AM

I have had very good luck with HP-38. It is a exellent all
around pistol powder. From 380ACP to 45 cal.

Except for magnum loads.

Tony Z

NAD · December 22, 2000, 10:52 AM

If I had to use one powder for both my 40 and 45 cal I would use VV N-320. This powder may be hard to find, so as a second choice it would be Win 231 or HP-38 they are the same powder and fairly easy to get.

Kenneth L. Walters · December 22, 2000, 11:37 PM

Once upon a time I got to wondering if I really needed to have a couple dozen different cans of powder sitting around. After I went through all my reloading book I realized that I could load almost eveything I ever wanted to with Unique. That included several dozen different handgun cartridges and 18 or so different rifle cartridges. I was using cast bullets in all of them, which undoubtedly helped.

Unique isn't perfect. It is actually a bit dirty. Still it works well.

I sold off many of the cans I had and bought 50 pounds of Unique. Never regretted the decision.

tuc22 · December 23, 2000, 01:10 AM

I would say since you are new to use Winchester W-231. The main reason is availability and ease of getting data from company literature. There has been concern over AA#5 and KB's in 40 S&W, I only mention that because the manufacturer itself prints a warning in their data listings. Another factor some point to with regard to 40 S&W over pressure rounds is the use of 180 gr. bullets; the longer length of the 180 increases the chance of dangerous pressures if seated too deep. I like 165gr. bullets in 40 cal., for the .45 ACP you'll have more margin for safety in slight variations of powder/bullets.

WESHOOT2 · December 23, 2000, 08:31 AM

Unique vs. Universal Clays.

Highly recommend to all Unique lovers: give Universal Clays a try. It is the modern easy-metering clean-burning ballistic equivalent to Unique, and charge weights rarely vary more than .2g from your Unique loads.

Same thing different day/manufacturer/soot.

December 22, 2000, 09:56 AM	#6
tonyz Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Location: Wa Posts: 922	I have had very good luck with HP-38. It is a exellent all around pistol powder. From 380ACP to 45 cal. Except for magnum loads. Tony Z __________________ Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

December 23, 2000, 08:31 AM	#10
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Unique vs. Universal Clays. Highly recommend to all Unique lovers: give Universal Clays a try. It is the modern easy-metering clean-burning ballistic equivalent to Unique, and charge weights rarely vary more than .2g from your Unique loads. Same thing different day/manufacturer/soot. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 21, 2000, 05:06 PM	#1
John Boy Member Join Date: December 29, 1999 Location: IL - ORD area Posts: 22	I'm just getting started in reloading. For simplicity I'd like to find a single powder that feeds/measures easily and makes up good loads in both 40 S&W and 45ACP. Any help appreciated!

December 21, 2000, 07:36 PM	#2
MikeFromIowa Member Join Date: May 13, 2000 Location: Darn Near Canada Posts: 46	John Boy: I am sure others will chime in with lots of information, but I have found Ramshot True Blue to meter really well through my 550B, and it should work well because the stuff is very small grained and just "looks" great. Performance in .40 has been impressive, but I have yet to try it in .45. Ramshot's data for .45 looks okay, I will let you know when I try it out. You only problem may be finding it in your area, as I think distribution is still a little "thin". --Mike From Iowa

December 21, 2000, 07:59 PM	#3
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	Power Pistol

December 21, 2000, 08:35 PM	#4
Keith J Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2000 Posts: 469	N320 or N350 (little slow but great for full power loads)

December 21, 2000, 08:41 PM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Correct response is (drumroll, please) Accurate AA5. Suggest W231 for 45ACP, and Power Pistol for 40. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 22, 2000, 10:52 AM	#7
NAD Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 1998 Posts: 169	If I had to use one powder for both my 40 and 45 cal I would use VV N-320. This powder may be hard to find, so as a second choice it would be Win 231 or HP-38 they are the same powder and fairly easy to get.

December 22, 2000, 11:37 PM	#8
Kenneth L. Walters Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 1999 Location: flagstaff, arizona Posts: 477	Once upon a time I got to wondering if I really needed to have a couple dozen different cans of powder sitting around. After I went through all my reloading book I realized that I could load almost eveything I ever wanted to with Unique. That included several dozen different handgun cartridges and 18 or so different rifle cartridges. I was using cast bullets in all of them, which undoubtedly helped. Unique isn't perfect. It is actually a bit dirty. Still it works well. I sold off many of the cans I had and bought 50 pounds of Unique. Never regretted the decision.

December 23, 2000, 01:10 AM	#9
tuc22 Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Posts: 367	I would say since you are new to use Winchester W-231. The main reason is availability and ease of getting data from company literature. There has been concern over AA#5 and KB's in 40 S&W, I only mention that because the manufacturer itself prints a warning in their data listings. Another factor some point to with regard to 40 S&W over pressure rounds is the use of 180 gr. bullets; the longer length of the 180 increases the chance of dangerous pressures if seated too deep. I like 165gr. bullets in 40 cal., for the .45 ACP you'll have more margin for safety in slight variations of powder/bullets.