Best powder for 200gr SWC?

[chris in va]

I'm discovering Universal may not be the best powder for the Lee 200gr SWC in 45 ACP. I suspect it is too slow as I keep getting FTE even at higher charges and it just nets me shotgun patterns off a rest.

An RO friend said he's had great success with Clays. I'll look, but can't remember seeing it recently.

Thoughts?

[Hammerhead]

I like N310, Clays, Bullseye with 200 grain SWC's. N310 is my favorite, meters perfectly, burns real clean even with very light charges.

Titegroup and HP-38 are useable.

Didn't like Universal or SR-7625, incomplete burn at target velocities.

[Hammerhead]

Does your gun have a stock recoil spring?
1911?

[chris in va]

Custom CZ 97b, stock recoil spring.

Didn't like Universal or SR-7625, incomplete burn at target velocities.

I noticed the same thing with both.

[m&p45acp10+1]

Bull's Eye is my first choice. After that would be HP38/Win231. Red Dot will work in a pinch. Trail Boss works well, and is very clean burning it just gets more costly per round.

[Hunter Customs]

5.7 grs of WIN 231.

[kerreckt]

I like N340 with 200gr SWC .45acp.

[Nitescout]

4.6 to 4.8 grs Titegroup works fine in my Rock Island .45.

[Dufus]

N340 is the cleanest powder I have shot and accurate with good velocities.

It gives very good load density in 45ACP and 9mm.

[Master Blaster]

Bullseye between 4.0 and 5.0 grains and you will find the best load for target shooting with your gun.

Trailboss and solo 1000 also work great. Win 231 also a good powder at 5.4 grains.

[Tuxedo007]

Have shot a LOT of .45 ACP SWC over 4.5 gr. of Bullseye. As long as I do my part, it is very accurate, pretty clean, & seems to work well in pistols other than 1911's.

While other powders may burn a little cleaner, the number of loads/pound, cost/pound & consistency make Bullseye hard to beat!!

[GeauxTide]

7.0 grains of Unique gives me all in the 10 ring from a rest on a 50ft NRA target and two in the 9 ring, offhand. 1000fps, too.

[rodfac]

Here' a vote for Win 231or its duplicate, HP38 as a first choice. Superb accuracy and either meters well through a measure. Another perennial first choice is Bullseye, though it doesn't meter as well for me. A third would be WST, an easy metering and bulky powder that makes double-charging difficult should you get distracted while loading.

HTH's Rod

[hoghunting]

Hunter Customs ...5.7 grs of WIN 231

Used that same load for 5 years in competition, still use that same load even though I no longer compete.

[springer99]

Always had good luck with Titegroup for target level loads in 45ACP. About 4.2-4.4gr should get you about 800fps which is a good very accurate bullseye load for me. I found that 231/HP38 ran alot dirtier at that velocity level. 231/HP38 burns alot cleaner at heavier loads though.

[Hammerhead]

GeauxTide 7.0 grains of Unique gives me all in the 10 ring from a rest on a 50ft NRA target and two in the 9 ring, offhand. 1000fps, too.

I'll bet you get solid ejection with that load!

[Nick_C_S]

I have three full-size 1911's. One I've had for 31 years; one has just been broke in (about 800 rounds); and one is still being broke in (266 rounds).

For decades, I've loaded 200 SWC's with either 4.6gns W231 or 5.0gns W231 - most at 5.0gns. It's a great round with a clean burn and superb accuracy. Probably my all-time "pet load." Although, I've moved "over" (or "back," I guess I should say) to predominately 38 revolver target shooting these days. But considering my recent purchases, I sense I'll be shooting more 45 ACP as the weather warms .

So W231 (or HP-38) gets my vote. At least for standard recoil spring target shooters.

Someone mentioned TiteGroup. From my experience with 38 Spl & 357 Mag, it seems to run hot and lay down lead in the barrel. Not sure if it would do the same in 45 ACP; as 45 ACP is among the most forgiving when it comes to barrel leading. None-the-less, I have put a moratorium on TG under lead bullets. I have three pounds of it and trying to find load recipes to exhaust my supply asap.

N310 is my favorite, meters perfectly, burns real clean even with very light charges.

This is on my list of powders to try for a light recoil spring (11 Lb) pure target application. Nitro 100 too. In 38 Special, both propellants run clean; but especially, N310. I like N310 - double the price of other powders and worth every penny.

Bullseye is always a great choice too. From time to time, I've loaded 4.6gns under the 200 LSWC's. Although I usually reserve my Bullseye for lead 38/44 Spl target wadcutters.

[Mike38]

My choices for 200gr LSWC in .45acp are in this order: Titegroup, Bullseye, Clays.

[Hunter Customs]

Used that same load for 5 years in competition, still use that same load even though I no longer compete.

Yes sir that's what I was using it for, very accurate load in my 45 caliber 1911's.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter

[rodfac]

Hunter and Hog, What kind of velocity are you getting from that load: 5.7 grs of WIN 231. Don't have my manuals with me, here, but is it an upper end load? Are you using standard recoil springs with it?

I generally use 5.2 to 5.4 gr of Win 231 with good ejection and great accuracy from my stock 1911's and three Commanders. Just wondering if your 5.7 gr suggestion would give me a bit more accuracy, etc. I'm not using that 200 gr bullet for hunting or defense, just day to day practice with minimal wear and tear on the gun.

Rod

[Hunter Customs]

rodfac, I don't remember the FPS of that load but I'll check my records and see if I still have that info.

I'm now loading a heavier charge of 231 and using heavier bullets.

As for springing your 1911 do not over spring it, as that's harder on the gun.

I set my guns up with a 16.5 pound variable power recoil spring and a 19 pound mainspring.

I shoot mainly what would be considered +P loads in my 1911's with no ill effects, and have done so for years.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter

[Hunter Customs]

rodfac, I checked my records, 5.7 grs of Win 231 with a 200 gr cast bullet seated to an OAL of 1.245 was giving me 912 FPS.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter

[chris in va]

I found some Bullseye!

I'll work up between 4 and 5 grains and will report back.

I did notice my Lyman manual shows a similar 200gr SWC design with 6.0 gr as their most accurate load out of all powders tested. Seems awfully stout but might as well try it.

[noylj]

If accuracy is your goal, start with Bullseye. That has been THE .45 Auto powder for almost 100 years and is probably still #1 in the NRA Precision Pistol game (Bullseye competition).
I find that 231/HP38 is most accurate in my .45s, with AA2 close behind. My goal is consistently <2" at 25 yards.
N310, Clays, and TiteGroup have given me pressure spikes/velocity variations, using weighed charges.

[Nick_C_S]

I found some Bullseye!

Then you're on your way. Bullseye is a natural for 45 ACP.

As far as 6.0 grains being the most accurate load per the Lyman manual goes: Don't read too much into that. It was the most accurate load in their gun, on that day.

Assuming you're using properly made and sized bullets, the specific loading isn't going to make much difference. We're not talking rifles at 300 yards here. At normal pistol ranges, you'll be hard pressed to load an inaccuate round with a lead SWC.

Find a charge weight that "feels right" and go with it. (For me and my gun, that was at 4.6 grains of Bullseye)

BTW, I just finished loading 300 rounds of 200gn LSWC's today. My usual 5.0 grains of HP-38 .