Does anyone have any WST loads they really like?

ScottRiqui · March 13, 2012, 07:47 PM

In pistol calibers, I'm currently reloading .380 ACP, .38 Special, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. I have Unique, Power Pistol and W231, but I was given four pounds of WST and would like to find a use for it if I could.

There's not a lot of WST load data in my manuals, although I did find some on the Hodgdon site. But I was curious if anyone here used WST for something where it performed very well, perhaps better than some of the other powders I have.

Thanks,
Scott

P.A. Dutchman · March 13, 2012, 07:48 PM

I use it in both my 40 S&W and 45 ACP and like it a lot. Plus I use it to load my 12 guage trap loads.

slugoo · March 13, 2012, 08:56 PM

I've had real good accuracy using 2.6 WST in 38 special 158gr swc and 4.4 WST in 45 Acp 200 gr rnfp. These are milder loads and you can increase them a little.

ScottRiqui · March 13, 2012, 09:14 PM

Thanks for the replies. The .38 Special 158 gr SWC suggestion, along with a .45 ACP 230 LRN load I found on the Hodgdon site, cover two of the specific bullets I'm using. Dutchman - what .40 S&W bullets are you using with WST?

kalevatom · March 14, 2012, 07:38 AM

I use WST for .40 with 180gr fmj. I'm going to start playing with it for 9mm.

Misssissippi Dave · March 14, 2012, 12:45 PM

I use it in 9 mm 124 grain FMJ. 4.4 grains produced a rather light load that was accurate. I use a well lubricated pistol for these rounds and the cases were hitting the ground a couple feet away.

4.8 grains would cycle any pistol I have even with a new slide spring. There was a noticeable increase in recoil over the 4.4 load. I finally went with 4.6 grains and used an OAL of 1.125. This produced a load I am very happy with.

When I made some using 4.8 grains of powder I was also using 1.130 for OAL. Using an even shorter OAL might start causing pressure problems. The limits you can use are close to those for W231 powder with one exception. You can use a little more W231 powder then you can WST for the max load. As an example the max load for W231 was 5.0 grains of powder for a given bullet and OAL. I stopped loading at 4.8 grains of WST for the same load. WST does fill the 9 mm case quite nicely. I doubt you will ever get a double charge to fit in the case.

P.A. Dutchman · March 14, 2012, 04:41 PM

Scott - I usually use Hornady 180 grain XTP, but I have also used Berry 165 grain flat point. I stay in the mid range area with the powder charge.

HiBC · March 14, 2012, 06:08 PM

It is a good powder for 45 ACP,try it with the 200 gr cast SWC

March 13, 2012, 07:47 PM	#1
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Does anyone have any WST loads they really like? In pistol calibers, I'm currently reloading .380 ACP, .38 Special, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. I have Unique, Power Pistol and W231, but I was given four pounds of WST and would like to find a use for it if I could. There's not a lot of WST load data in my manuals, although I did find some on the Hodgdon site. But I was curious if anyone here used WST for something where it performed very well, perhaps better than some of the other powders I have. Thanks, Scott

March 13, 2012, 07:48 PM	#2
P.A. Dutchman Member Join Date: August 17, 2011 Posts: 51	I use it in both my 40 S&W and 45 ACP and like it a lot. Plus I use it to load my 12 guage trap loads.

March 13, 2012, 08:56 PM	#3
slugoo Member Join Date: May 3, 2011 Location: Littleton Colorado Posts: 78	I've had real good accuracy using 2.6 WST in 38 special 158gr swc and 4.4 WST in 45 Acp 200 gr rnfp. These are milder loads and you can increase them a little.

March 13, 2012, 09:14 PM	#4
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Thanks for the replies. The .38 Special 158 gr SWC suggestion, along with a .45 ACP 230 LRN load I found on the Hodgdon site, cover two of the specific bullets I'm using. Dutchman - what .40 S&W bullets are you using with WST?

March 14, 2012, 07:38 AM	#5
kalevatom Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2010 Location: northwestern Michigan Posts: 198	I use WST for .40 with 180gr fmj. I'm going to start playing with it for 9mm.

March 14, 2012, 12:45 PM	#6
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	I use it in 9 mm 124 grain FMJ. 4.4 grains produced a rather light load that was accurate. I use a well lubricated pistol for these rounds and the cases were hitting the ground a couple feet away. 4.8 grains would cycle any pistol I have even with a new slide spring. There was a noticeable increase in recoil over the 4.4 load. I finally went with 4.6 grains and used an OAL of 1.125. This produced a load I am very happy with. When I made some using 4.8 grains of powder I was also using 1.130 for OAL. Using an even shorter OAL might start causing pressure problems. The limits you can use are close to those for W231 powder with one exception. You can use a little more W231 powder then you can WST for the max load. As an example the max load for W231 was 5.0 grains of powder for a given bullet and OAL. I stopped loading at 4.8 grains of WST for the same load. WST does fill the 9 mm case quite nicely. I doubt you will ever get a double charge to fit in the case.

March 14, 2012, 04:41 PM	#7
P.A. Dutchman Member Join Date: August 17, 2011 Posts: 51	Scott - I usually use Hornady 180 grain XTP, but I have also used Berry 165 grain flat point. I stay in the mid range area with the powder charge.

March 14, 2012, 06:08 PM	#8
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	It is a good powder for 45 ACP,try it with the 200 gr cast SWC