Looking for a good clean powder?

The Kimber Kid · February 3, 2002, 02:14 AM

I was just looking for some opinions on what would be a good
clean powder to use. I am shooting 200 SWC 45 ACP. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Casey · February 3, 2002, 02:55 AM

Hello Kimber Kid.

I have a lot of luck shooting Clays with my Kimber, and with all the other .45 ACP pistols, including a whopping big S&W revolver.

I shoot bullseye with the Kimber, using both LSWC and JSWC in 200gr. I load these down as low as 3.3gr of Clays, OAL at 1.265. I also use Clays with the 230gr JRN and LRN, pushing it harder.

The only problem with the light loads in the .45 ACP is that the brass doesn't seal the chamber and it will get the brass and chamber dirty. But that isn't just a function of Clays. Overall, it is pretty clean.

FWIW.

Casey

**Mike Irwin** · February 3, 2002, 03:14 AM

WW 231 is one of my favorite powders. I use quite a bit of it.

sricciardelli · February 3, 2002, 03:16 AM

Johnson's & Johnson's Baby Powder...it even prevents rash...

Jorah Lavin · February 3, 2002, 03:09 PM

This seems like an accurate load in my Kimber Ultra (2" barrel, I believe).

Does this sound like enough "oomph" to overcome the situation Casey mentions?

Quote:

The only problem with the light loads in the .45 ACP is that the brass doesn't seal the chamber and it will get the brass and chamber dirty.

I've got a general feeling that the gun is less cruddy now than when I was loading 4.7 gr of the W231.

-Jorah

**Mike Irwin** · February 3, 2002, 04:32 PM

Jorah,

I'm using 5.6 grains of WW 231, a load from the Hornady book, which should give me about 900 fps. It's a lot closer in recoil to the standard military ball load.

Casey · February 4, 2002, 01:00 AM

Jorah,

Yes, 5.2gr of 231 should be enough to make the brass seal the chamber.

I have used 231 for 45 ACP, it works very well. I just seems to me that Clays works a little better, but I still load with 231 on ocassion.

Casey

Turk · February 4, 2002, 11:32 AM

My favorite is Win. 231 as one of cleanest powders I've used. Really can't say anything bad about it.

Turk

VTR996 · February 4, 2002, 11:33 AM

I too use 231 because of all the great recomendations from this sight, then I stumbled on "CLAYS" and I like it more better. It takes about .5gr-1gr less than 231. I use 3-3.5gr of CLAYS with a 200 lswc, wlp, oal 1.20 give or take, accurate enough for me outta my charles daly and blackhawk, 1-1/2-2" group size @ 25 steps. It also seems to be a little cleaner than 231.

Ala Dan · February 4, 2002, 12:42 PM

With large capacity loads, I like Hodgdon's Universal Clays.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

KP95DAO · February 4, 2002, 03:42 PM

I use a surplus called 102 sold by Jeff Bartlett at gibrass.com. It is supposed to be the same as Accurate #2 improved. It works for me in my 9mm IDPA loads and my 45 ACP loads. The price is right.

whizz · February 5, 2002, 04:48 PM

I recommend that you try the Vihtavouri N320, very clean burning.

tonyz · February 5, 2002, 05:55 PM

Hodgdon's Universal Clays.

W231.

Vihtavouri N340.

Not in any particular order. All these powders are clean, and consistant.
The Vihtavouri N340 has Virtually no flash.

Tony

Northwest Cajun · February 5, 2002, 06:10 PM

I'll go with Bullesye,
It is the only thing I use in my 45acp. Very clean
My bullets are from Berrys, 200gr RS Plated lead.
I put a light coat of Kleen bore TW25B then shoot, and to clean all I need is to wipe down the gun. no solvent or scrubbing needed.
Cajun

T.Labren · February 5, 2002, 09:53 PM

200 gr SWC with "Clays" oh yeah! Very clean, low muzzle flash, best of all very accurate and consistant. Easy to find too.

Timothy · February 5, 2002, 10:20 PM

Kimber Kid

I had a problem with my Kimber compact and the brass not sealing which caused lots of blowback and real dirty brass with Bullseye and 231. I switched to WST and presto....no more dirty brass. The cleanest powder I've tried!
I shoot cast with no leading problems.

My two favorites:
185 gr. SWC over 4.5gr WST
200 gr. SWC over 4.4gr WST

I have also loaded 185 gr. JHP over 5.1 gr. WST which works equally well.

Give it a try

Boondocker · February 6, 2002, 09:30 PM

One of the cleanest powders I found is Titegroup and I second Clays.

la rue · February 7, 2002, 01:14 AM

i pretty much use w231.its pretty clean and versatile

February 3, 2002, 02:14 AM	#1
The Kimber Kid Junior Member Join Date: December 25, 2001 Location: Wheatfield,IN Posts: 5	Looking for a good clean powder? I was just looking for some opinions on what would be a good clean powder to use. I am shooting 200 SWC 45 ACP. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

February 3, 2002, 03:14 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	WW 231 is one of my favorite powders. I use quite a bit of it. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 3, 2002, 04:32 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	Jorah, I'm using 5.6 grains of WW 231, a load from the Hornady book, which should give me about 900 fps. It's a lot closer in recoil to the standard military ball load. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 5, 2002, 04:48 PM	#12
whizz Member Join Date: January 25, 2002 Location: sweden Posts: 93	Vihtavuori I recommend that you try the Vihtavouri N320, very clean burning.

February 5, 2002, 05:55 PM	#13
tonyz Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Location: Wa Posts: 922	Hodgdon's Universal Clays. W231. Vihtavouri N340. Not in any particular order. All these powders are clean, and consistant. The Vihtavouri N340 has Virtually no flash. Tony Last edited by tonyz; February 5, 2002 at 10:38 PM.

February 3, 2002, 02:55 AM	#2
Casey Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2000 Location: Delaware, OH, USA Posts: 279	Hello Kimber Kid. I have a lot of luck shooting Clays with my Kimber, and with all the other .45 ACP pistols, including a whopping big S&W revolver. I shoot bullseye with the Kimber, using both LSWC and JSWC in 200gr. I load these down as low as 3.3gr of Clays, OAL at 1.265. I also use Clays with the 230gr JRN and LRN, pushing it harder. The only problem with the light loads in the .45 ACP is that the brass doesn't seal the chamber and it will get the brass and chamber dirty. But that isn't just a function of Clays. Overall, it is pretty clean. FWIW. Casey

February 3, 2002, 03:16 AM	#4
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	Johnson's & Johnson's Baby Powder...it even prevents rash...

February 4, 2002, 01:00 AM	#7
Casey Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2000 Location: Delaware, OH, USA Posts: 279	Jorah, Yes, 5.2gr of 231 should be enough to make the brass seal the chamber. I have used 231 for 45 ACP, it works very well. I just seems to me that Clays works a little better, but I still load with 231 on ocassion. Casey

February 4, 2002, 11:32 AM	#8
Turk Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2000 Location: USA Posts: 517	My favorite is Win. 231 as one of cleanest powders I've used. Really can't say anything bad about it. Turk

February 4, 2002, 11:33 AM	#9
VTR996 Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2001 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 195	I too use 231 because of all the great recomendations from this sight, then I stumbled on "CLAYS" and I like it more better. It takes about .5gr-1gr less than 231. I use 3-3.5gr of CLAYS with a 200 lswc, wlp, oal 1.20 give or take, accurate enough for me outta my charles daly and blackhawk, 1-1/2-2" group size @ 25 steps. It also seems to be a little cleaner than 231.

February 4, 2002, 12:42 PM	#10
Ala Dan Member in memoriam Join Date: August 14, 1999 Location: In The HOT, Humid, and Mu Posts: 6,116	With large capacity loads, I like Hodgdon's Universal Clays. Best Wishes, Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

February 4, 2002, 03:42 PM	#11
KP95DAO Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2000 Posts: 699	I use a surplus called 102 sold by Jeff Bartlett at gibrass.com. It is supposed to be the same as Accurate #2 improved. It works for me in my 9mm IDPA loads and my 45 ACP loads. The price is right.

February 5, 2002, 06:10 PM	#14
Northwest Cajun Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 1999 Location: Spanaway Wa. &Lafayette La,(Cajun Country) Posts: 189	I'll go with Bullesye, It is the only thing I use in my 45acp. Very clean My bullets are from Berrys, 200gr RS Plated lead. I put a light coat of Kleen bore TW25B then shoot, and to clean all I need is to wipe down the gun. no solvent or scrubbing needed. Cajun

February 5, 2002, 09:53 PM	#15
T.Labren Member Join Date: December 13, 2001 Location: Lafeyette,La. Posts: 35	Red Dot or Clays 200 gr SWC with "Clays" oh yeah! Very clean, low muzzle flash, best of all very accurate and consistant. Easy to find too.

February 5, 2002, 10:20 PM	#16
Timothy Member Join Date: November 26, 2000 Posts: 97	Kimber Kid I had a problem with my Kimber compact and the brass not sealing which caused lots of blowback and real dirty brass with Bullseye and 231. I switched to WST and presto....no more dirty brass. The cleanest powder I've tried! I shoot cast with no leading problems. My two favorites: 185 gr. SWC over 4.5gr WST 200 gr. SWC over 4.4gr WST I have also loaded 185 gr. JHP over 5.1 gr. WST which works equally well. Give it a try

February 6, 2002, 09:30 PM	#17
Boondocker Member Join Date: January 15, 2000 Posts: 47	One of the cleanest powders I found is Titegroup and I second Clays.

February 7, 2002, 01:14 AM	#18
la rue Member Join Date: November 24, 2001 Location: no.kalifornia Posts: 65	i pretty much use w231.its pretty clean and versatile