45 ACP Powder

Macoute · June 28, 1999, 04:13 PM

What do you all recommend as a good 45 powder? I plan to reload 230 gr LRN and 250 gr SWC. Also, does anyone know of a manufacturer of 230 gr SWC? I cannot find them in any catalog or internet site. Thanks.

Fred · June 28, 1999, 05:26 PM

I'm sure you'll get a wide variety of replies, but FWIW, Bullseye and especially Wichester 231 work very well for me. Of course I am mainly concerned with light to moderate target loads for my .45, so these two powders fit the bill for me. If you're looking to load hotter or near maximum, then you probably should be thinking about a slower burning powder. Hope that helps some.

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Regards - AZFred

DDS · June 28, 1999, 05:39 PM

I have used WW231 for years and it is wonderfully accurate in my H&K P9S .45.
I use 200gr. SWC lead from BULL-X.

Enjoy!

DDS

ZFH · June 28, 1999, 06:24 PM

I use unique. My load fills the case over halfway so it's obvious if I double charge. That and it's accurate with 200gr SWC.

Chris

Paul B. · June 28, 1999, 06:27 PM

Macoute. I don't know if these are still available from Lyman. Bullet molds #452432/238 gr. in Lyman #2 metal. Might get close to 230 gr. using linotype. Also Lyman 452490/230 gr. in Lyman #2 metal. RCBS book has no semi-wadcutter in the weight you want. I am not sure Lyman will still make these molds, and you will have to cast your own.
As far as powders go, Bulleseye, Unique, and W-231 are all good.
Paul B.

Southside_Johnny · June 28, 1999, 08:08 PM

I really like win super target, and super lite. Also have used N340 from VV. A guy in Kaysville Utah sells a 225 SWC, I think called Dee's bullets, they are accurate and do pretty good on bowling pins, I have used 45LC 255 swc in .45 but they shoot slow and bounce off of pins, I also had to have the right brass and bullet seat depth just right.

Southside

Patrick Graham · June 28, 1999, 09:14 PM

Here's what I have used over the past 20 years of 45 reloading.

700x,
Bullseye (a favorite),
WW231 (most favorite),
AA#2,
Unique.

They all work.

Stephen A. Camp · June 28, 1999, 10:12 PM

Greetings. I still use Unique for the heavier loads and Bullseye for the lighter rounds. Best.

fal308 · June 29, 1999, 10:28 AM

Not sure if they have that exact bullet but Bull-X can be found at www.bull-x.com

BigG · June 29, 1999, 11:14 AM

200 grain LSWC pill over 6.0 grains Unique just fits my pistol. Ragged one hole 50-shot groups at 50 ft.

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Yankee Doodle

WESHOOT2 · June 29, 1999, 09:18 PM

W231 for lead/jacketed mild-to-medium loads, Alliant Power Pistol for jacketed +P loads, Bullseye for target loads.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"

Joe Portale · June 30, 1999, 12:05 PM

I have been using good old fashioned Red Dot with excellent results. I recommend 5 grains RD with a 230 grain bullet. This combo gives a stout load with good speed and burns very clean.

Joe Portale
Tucson, Arizona Territory

Reloader · June 30, 1999, 07:51 PM

Try Hodgdon's new Titegroup. I've had good luck in .44 Special and it is recommended for .45. burns clean, too.

PeterM · July 1, 1999, 07:28 AM

For target shooting, I've been using 3.6 to 4.1 of Clays in three different .45 ACPs. Very accurate and exceptionally clean as well. Accurate #2 and Bullseye work very well also, though not as clean as the Clays.

Pete

flatlander · July 1, 1999, 09:40 AM

Hodgdon's Clays & Universal Clays are the Winchester powders Super Target and Super Lite, though I'm not sure which is which. They are some of the most consistent and clean burning powders you can use in the 45. I loaded Win 452AA in my 45's for years; used 3 10lb. kegs of the stuff, and was upset when they discontinued it. But WSL and WST will do the job, and many of the guys loading 230gr. bullets for IPSC Limited matches are using them.

**Mal H** · July 1, 1999, 01:30 PM

flatlander - Why do you say Clays and Universal are the same as WSL and WST? Do the manufacturers say this? From fast to slow for each mfg they are: Clays, Univ.; WSL, WST. So Univ. would be the same as WST in theory. Those two certainly don't look alike. And if they don't look alike, you can be assured they aren't interchangeable. And even if they did look alike, it would be very unwise to assume they are the same.

flatlander · July 2, 1999, 09:32 PM

MalH: I shouldn't have posted what I said about Hodgdon's Clays and Univ.Clays being the same as WST & WSL without double-checking with my commercial loader friend. We've been talking about all the Win. powders that Hodgdon marketed over the years(HP38/W231, HS6/W540, HS7/W571 are some of the ones I'm more familiar with). Even if they are the same powders, it's not unusual to have enough variation in each lot to require charge weight adjustments with established loads.

Quantrill · July 3, 1999, 08:33 AM

700X for the light loads and Unique for the heavier loads. Luck!
Quantrill

Macoute · July 3, 1999, 10:00 AM

I went ahead and tried the Win 231 - 5.0 grains with a 200 gr SWC. It worked great. I was almost putting them all through one hole. Thanks to all of you for the responses.

CCV · July 4, 1999, 10:25 AM

I like Hodgdon's Clays with lead SWC's and Hodgdon's TiteGroup with jacketed bullets.

SFC · July 4, 1999, 02:40 PM

I have been using W-231 for years and never experienced any problems as far as consistency, it burns fairly fast and clean.

June 28, 1999, 04:13 PM	#1
Macoute Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Posts: 24	What do you all recommend as a good 45 powder? I plan to reload 230 gr LRN and 250 gr SWC. Also, does anyone know of a manufacturer of 230 gr SWC? I cannot find them in any catalog or internet site. Thanks.

June 28, 1999, 05:26 PM	#2
Fred Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 1998 Location: CA Posts: 465	I'm sure you'll get a wide variety of replies, but FWIW, Bullseye and especially Wichester 231 work very well for me. Of course I am mainly concerned with light to moderate target loads for my .45, so these two powders fit the bill for me. If you're looking to load hotter or near maximum, then you probably should be thinking about a slower burning powder. Hope that helps some. ------------------ Regards - AZFred

June 28, 1999, 05:39 PM	#3
DDS Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 1999 Posts: 101	I have used WW231 for years and it is wonderfully accurate in my H&K P9S .45. I use 200gr. SWC lead from BULL-X. Enjoy! DDS

June 28, 1999, 06:24 PM	#4
ZFH Member Join Date: April 20, 1999 Location: here, there, somewhere Posts: 25	I use unique. My load fills the case over halfway so it's obvious if I double charge. That and it's accurate with 200gr SWC. Chris

June 28, 1999, 06:27 PM	#5
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	Macoute. I don't know if these are still available from Lyman. Bullet molds #452432/238 gr. in Lyman #2 metal. Might get close to 230 gr. using linotype. Also Lyman 452490/230 gr. in Lyman #2 metal. RCBS book has no semi-wadcutter in the weight you want. I am not sure Lyman will still make these molds, and you will have to cast your own. As far as powders go, Bulleseye, Unique, and W-231 are all good. Paul B.

June 28, 1999, 08:08 PM	#6
Southside_Johnny Junior Member Join Date: June 15, 1999 Posts: 6	I really like win super target, and super lite. Also have used N340 from VV. A guy in Kaysville Utah sells a 225 SWC, I think called Dee's bullets, they are accurate and do pretty good on bowling pins, I have used 45LC 255 swc in .45 but they shoot slow and bounce off of pins, I also had to have the right brass and bullet seat depth just right. Southside

June 28, 1999, 09:14 PM	#7
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	Here's what I have used over the past 20 years of 45 reloading. 700x, Bullseye (a favorite), WW231 (most favorite), AA#2, Unique. They all work.

June 28, 1999, 10:12 PM	#8
Stephen A. Camp Staff In Memoriam Join Date: April 16, 1999 Posts: 2,570	Greetings. I still use Unique for the heavier loads and Bullseye for the lighter rounds. Best.

June 29, 1999, 10:28 AM	#9
fal308 Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,992	Not sure if they have that exact bullet but Bull-X can be found at www.bull-x.com

June 29, 1999, 11:14 AM	#10
BigG Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,334	200 grain LSWC pill over 6.0 grains Unique just fits my pistol. Ragged one hole 50-shot groups at 50 ft. ------------------ Yankee Doodle

June 29, 1999, 09:18 PM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	W231 for lead/jacketed mild-to-medium loads, Alliant Power Pistol for jacketed +P loads, Bullseye for target loads. ------------------ "All my ammo is factory ammo"

June 30, 1999, 12:05 PM	#12
Joe Portale Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 1999 Location: Tucson, Arizona Territory Posts: 715	I have been using good old fashioned Red Dot with excellent results. I recommend 5 grains RD with a 230 grain bullet. This combo gives a stout load with good speed and burns very clean. Joe Portale Tucson, Arizona Territory

June 30, 1999, 07:51 PM	#13
Reloader Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 1998 Location: Onalaska Tx, USA Posts: 116	Try Hodgdon's new Titegroup. I've had good luck in .44 Special and it is recommended for .45. burns clean, too.

July 1, 1999, 07:28 AM	#14
PeterM Member Join Date: March 14, 1999 Location: Kansas Posts: 17	For target shooting, I've been using 3.6 to 4.1 of Clays in three different .45 ACPs. Very accurate and exceptionally clean as well. Accurate #2 and Bullseye work very well also, though not as clean as the Clays. Pete

July 1, 1999, 09:40 AM	#15
flatlander Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 1999 Posts: 120	Hodgdon's Clays & Universal Clays are the Winchester powders Super Target and Super Lite, though I'm not sure which is which. They are some of the most consistent and clean burning powders you can use in the 45. I loaded Win 452AA in my 45's for years; used 3 10lb. kegs of the stuff, and was upset when they discontinued it. But WSL and WST will do the job, and many of the guys loading 230gr. bullets for IPSC Limited matches are using them.

July 1, 1999, 01:30 PM	#16
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,949	flatlander - Why do you say Clays and Universal are the same as WSL and WST? Do the manufacturers say this? From fast to slow for each mfg they are: Clays, Univ.; WSL, WST. So Univ. would be the same as WST in theory. Those two certainly don't look alike. And if they don't look alike, you can be assured they aren't interchangeable. And even if they did look alike, it would be very unwise to assume they are the same.

July 2, 1999, 09:32 PM	#17
flatlander Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 1999 Posts: 120	MalH: I shouldn't have posted what I said about Hodgdon's Clays and Univ.Clays being the same as WST & WSL without double-checking with my commercial loader friend. We've been talking about all the Win. powders that Hodgdon marketed over the years(HP38/W231, HS6/W540, HS7/W571 are some of the ones I'm more familiar with). Even if they are the same powders, it's not unusual to have enough variation in each lot to require charge weight adjustments with established loads.

July 3, 1999, 08:33 AM	#18
Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 725	700X for the light loads and Unique for the heavier loads. Luck! Quantrill

July 3, 1999, 10:00 AM	#19
Macoute Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Posts: 24	I went ahead and tried the Win 231 - 5.0 grains with a 200 gr SWC. It worked great. I was almost putting them all through one hole. Thanks to all of you for the responses.

July 4, 1999, 10:25 AM	#20
CCV Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 1999 Posts: 128	I like Hodgdon's Clays with lead SWC's and Hodgdon's TiteGroup with jacketed bullets.

July 4, 1999, 02:40 PM	#21
SFC Member Join Date: July 3, 1999 Posts: 18	I have been using W-231 for years and never experienced any problems as far as consistency, it burns fairly fast and clean.