Can you reccomend me a good powder for 45ACP please

[Lavid2002]

I have heard HP 38 was one of the best powders available for the .45 ACP....but I cant find it anywhere. I found a few shops who stock 1 lb. containers but the 8 lb containers are no where to be found. I dont want to have to go on a crazy search every time I want to buy powder... Generic, readily available powders are favorable.

I will be loading mostly 230 grain cast boolits (I am learning how to cast now)

Pistol reloading is new to me. If you can recommend a good powder I would be appreciative : )

Thanks
-Dave

[CowTowner]

I use W231. It does the job I need it to for the range.

[Don P]

+ 1 on the w231, +1 on Titegroup, and Unique. Only problem with Unique its dirty and does NOT meter well

[Slamfire]

HP38 is the same powder as W231.

There are a lot of excellent powders that function well in the 45ACP. I have used lots of W231 and can recommend it.

However I am switching over to Bullseye. Bullseye was the original powder in the 1910 Cartridge which was used in the development, testing, and fielding of the M1911. Bullseye is still a top choice in the 45ACP.

I am loading a 230 LRN with 4.5 grains Bullseye. That load clocks just at 800 fps. For practice loads, I do not recommend higher velocities, it just beats up the pistol. In fact, I have shot ammo cans of loads that just chronographed at 725 fps.

A target load that has very little recoil and is very accurate is a 200 LSWC with 4.0 grains Bullseye. This was a favorite target load of the Bullseye Shooter types.

[Fishslayer]

Tried some different loads Saturday, including W231, Bullseye and Green Dot.

Seems like the most accurate loads I come up with always seem to be Bullseye.

I'm still new to W231, though, & will be trying some different stuff.

I've found I almost always get best accuracy at the lower end of the load range.

[Lavid2002]

I know HP38 and W231 are the same....BOTH ARE VERY HARD TI FIND

hahaha

Bullseye huh? Ill go see if I can find them ... Looking in the reloading book now it recommends 4 gr. starting, 5 gr. max for 230 LRN

Edit: 225 LRN

[MDS]

I only use, Win 231 and Unique. Great performance from both.

[totaldla]

Ramshot Silhouette is a good 45acp powder as is Ramshot True Blue - both are easy to find where I live. Hodgdon Clays and Universal Clays are good powders and easy to find.

[elwaynum1]

+1 on Titegroup

[Nate1778]

Anybody know how AA#5 does, I stumbled on 5lbs of it and notice there is a lot of .45 data. Would love to start putting it to work.

[rantingredneck]

Add me to the chorus of W231 and Titegroup users.

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

I used W231/HP-38, now I use titegroup exclusively for 45acp.

[crimsondave]

All I use is Bullseye. Works well and don't take much.

[lee n. field]

What powder?
I will be loading mostly 230 grain cast boolits (I am learning how to cast now)

Bullseye, 4.7 grains thereof.

[BigJimP]

Hodgdon TiteGroup is what I use .... and I use it on all my handgun calibers from 9mm up thru .44mag .

Its a good clean powder and meters very well .

[Don H]

Nate1778,

AA#5 does just fine with 200 gr. LSWC in .45 ACP.

[Lavid2002]

Bullseye seems to have good reviews among the internet. It is also available in every store I checked! The price is right too....Thanks fellas. Ill be buying some bullseye : )

[asavo757]

For lead I like Universal Clays. I load 5 grains for 230 grains rn. For platted I like Auto Comp. Both powder meter perfect in my dillon 550

[totaldla]

Originally Posted by Nate1778

Anybody know how AA#5 does, I stumbled on 5lbs of it and notice there is a lot of .45 data. Would love to start putting it to work.

AA#5 is THE best 45acp powder - hands down. Unfortunately for me, it is never in stock anymore. People who do mouse-fart loads don't like AA#5, but if you want real 45acp performance, AA#5 is the way to go.

[totaldla]

Originally Posted by Lavid2002

Bullseye seems to have good reviews among the internet. It is also available in every store I checked! The price is right too....Thanks fellas. Ill be buying some bullseye : )

Bullseye was the best - about 100 years ago. Honestly, some people need to get with the times. Bullseye keeps selling sort of the way RCBS Rockchuckers keep selling - via ignorance. There are many, many, MANY, better formulations available today (This is 2010, not 1898).

Go ahead and play with some Bullseye. After you get a little experience you'll switch to a good powder.

[Old Grump]

Bullseye was the best - about 100 years ago. Honestly, some people need to get with the times. Bullseye keeps selling sort of the way RCBS Rockchuckers keep selling - via ignorance. There are many, many, MANY, better formulations available today (This is 2010, not 1898).

Go ahead and play with some Bullseye. After you get a little experience you'll switch to a good powder.

Good thing I'm not a weepy sissy tender feelings kind of a guy or I would have been mildly insulted. Bullseye worked for me in 72, treated me good at several levels of competition. Still using the same gun and like the gun I am an old dinosaur. I like old hats, old dogs and old shirts too. Sue me.

Its not that I don't play around with other powders but at least I know exactly what I am going to get for performance every time I put pressure on that trigger and a 45 caliber hole is a 45 caliber hole no matter what you push it with. Oh yeah, I can find it everywhere and that is a big plus.

[Nate1778]

Thanks guys on the AA#5 info, I am casting a 200gr SWC and a 230gr TC, Looking forward to trying it out, starting mid chart at 8gr.

[Powderman]

Bullseye was the best - about 100 years ago. Honestly, some people need to get with the times. Bullseye keeps selling sort of the way RCBS Rockchuckers keep selling - via ignorance. There are many, many, MANY, better formulations available today (This is 2010, not 1898).

Indeed.

You might want to let the hundreds (if not thousands) of Conventional Pistol shooters--including National Champions--know that Bullseye is outdated, because that's what they use.

And, as far as "ignorance" is concerned, Rockchuckers sell well for one reason--they're solid as a tank. They will last a lifetime. I personally know a few precision oriented folks who shoot extremely small groups--1/4 MOA and better--who load 95% of their ammo on progressives--and trot out the old Rockchucker for their precision loads.

There are many single stage presses that are as good as a Rockchucker--but there are none better.

What presses do you use? And, what powders do you load .45 ACP with?

[Lavid2002]

Totaldla....A few things...

AA#5 is THE best 45acp powder - hands down. Unfortunately for me, it is never in stock anymore. People who do mouse-fart loads don't like AA#5, but if you want real 45acp performance, AA#5 is the way to go.

Remember...I said I was going to buy HP38 or Win but... No one stocked it. Thats like buying a car that runs on vegetable oil. Efficient? Eco-friendly? Clean? Yes...but what good is it if the fuel to keep the machine going isnt readily available and or expensive! Worthless. Everyone I have read about says bullseye is a very sooty powder. But it is because the powder acts as a lubricant too. My .45 wont be a safe queen...

I am using cast boolits. My loads will be mild. No need for "real performance"...the paper doesnt care...

Bullseye was the best - about 100 years ago. Honestly, some people need to get with the times. Bullseye keeps selling sort of the way RCBS Rockchuckers keep selling - via ignorance. There are many, many, MANY, better formulations available today (This is 2010, not 1898).

Go ahead and play with some Bullseye. After you get a little experience you'll switch to a good powder.

Can you explain the differences in the powders please?

[Tacoma]

W231 or Clays. I preffer Clays for my range loads as it just burns cleaner. I now use it in 38 spl and 45 acp.